Why You Should Start Using Serums

Sometimes people will ask me what I use on my skin or if I have suggestions on what products to use to keep skin looking young and healthy. 

I have spoken extensively on my love of the acids. Now I want to tell you about my lust affair with serums. I'm hot for serums right now. 

So what exactly is a serum? It is a highly concentrated blend of beneficial anti aging ingredients. 

Why do I love serums and why should you? Like I said, they are a highly concentrated formulas consisting of high performing ingredients, such as antioxidants and/or retinol, which means there is less room for filler ingredients or thickeners. 

Due to the formulations, the quality of ingredients and the lack of fillers, serums are generally more expensive than other skin products such as moisturizers. However, you really do get the best bang for your buck and for your skin. They are chock full o good stuff!

Serums can be thin and runny or a thicker, more gel like consistency. You would use a serum after the toning stage and before applying your moisturizer or sun protection. You can use either day or night or both. These are a product you want to commit to because you really see the best results if you stick with them for a while. 

Serums are like any other product and ingredients will vary so I like to layer serums and have been using a few different ones. 

The first one I will write about is from SkinCeuticals and I happened upon it quite accidentally. I thought I had ordered a sample/travel package of their very popular CE Ferulic (which I still want to try), instead I accidentally ordered their Serum 10 AOX+. 

According to the website: 

Ideal for sensitive skin types or conditions to help restore healthy looking skin, Serum 10 AOX+ neutralizes free radicals, defends against environmental damage, and helps to fight the appearance of accelerated aging.

• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, neutralizes free radicals, and defends against environmental damage
• Once absorbed, this serum can't be washed or rubbed off. It remains effective for a minimum of 72 hours, making it an excellent step in your skincare routine
• Ideal for sensitive skin types and conditions

It is good for normal to sensitive skin and will help with acne and aging. They also described this as a starter serum for beginners.

It really chaps my arse when a company does not post the full list of ingredients on there website. Here are the key ingredients, I did not search for the full list: 

10% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C): Neutralizes damaging free radicals and protects against oxidative stress.
0.2% Ferulic acid: This plant-based antioxidant neutralizes free radicals.

I will say that my skin definitely seems clearer and more vibrant since using this serum but I am not completely blown away. I have not had a "holy grail" moment over this serum. If you think this product is something that you may want to try, you can purchase 30ml for $69. I still want to try the CE Ferulic because it is supposed to carry a bigger punch. 

So sorry their are no photos with this post. Thursdays post will be about Skin Inc's customized serum and there will be photos with that one. 

Jessica Savino Professional NYC Makeup Artist

The Magic Pads and Why Anyone With a Face Should Purchase Them

The Magic Pads

I love when I find a product that does exactly what I want it to do! I have been searching for an AHA/BHA product that is not full of fluff, that is fragrance free and that I don't have to sell a kidney to purchase. Imagine my delight when a celebrity makeup artist that I follow on Instagram recommended this product called The Magic Pads. With a name like that, it really better be good. 

So what are The Magic Pads? According to the website, they are cleansing pads for the treatment of acne. You would use these at the toner stage of your cleansing routine. I clean my face first and then go over it with one of these pads. 

First awesomeness is the ingredients. 6 very identifiable ingredients. Purified water, Glycolic Acid (AHA), Salicylic Acid (BHA), Alcohol, Aloe, Tocopherol (Vitamin E). That is it. No fragrance, no parabans, no unnecessary nonsense. I was a little concerned about the alcohol, however it has not been a problem for me. No irritation or drying out and no alcohol odor either. There is only 2% alcohol in the formulation and it has to be there due to the Salicylic Acid not being water soluble. That is chemistry geek sh$t that I don't understand so I am just repeating what I've been told. 

So these Magic Pads are really magical! They have helped clear up any blemishes pretty quickly and gives my skin a bit of a glow. I've been using them for a few weeks now and I am really impressed. You all know how I love my AHA/BHA Acids! Even though the jar says you can use these up to three times a day, I have been using them once a day at night and I've been sticking to a two days on, one day off routine. Even though these are on the mild side (2% Salicylic and 2% Glycolic), I want to avoid exfoliating my face off. You MUST wear sun protection while you are using these, which really is a no brainer because you should be using sun protection all the time.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the creator of The Magic Pads, Rob Harmon (who besides being a skin care wizard, is also a makeup artist on the hit Broadway musical, Wicked) and when I asked him why he decided to create these, he basically said he wanted a product that worked without all the unnecessary ingredients and was affordable for the people who really needed it.

 "I know how hard it is to get people to trust in a new skin care product. That's one of the many reasons I kept the price as low as it is. I'd like to say they are unlike anything I've ever found, and they are great for everyone with all skin types." 

Which brings me to awesomeness number 2-the price!

This jar of 50 pads only cost $19.95! How great is that!? There are a few really good anti-aging acid products on the market, however they cost a small fortune. This product is great AND will not break your bank. 

So who should purchase these?

• Anyone with a face
• Anyone who has acne/skin blemishes
• Anyone who is looking to put a little glow on their skin
• Anyone who is looking for an anti-aging product
• Anyone who is not looking to bust into their life savings in the name of beauty

The Magic Pads

Run out and purchase these and subscribe to this blog while you're at it!

Your face will thank you! 

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RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 Review

Summer is fast upon us! Not nearly fast enough but be patient my little goddesses, it will be here before you know it. 

Every year I re-post my sun protection post reminding you why you need to wear sun protection. I usually post it in April because the weather starts getting nicer, the sun is out longer and everyone starts spending more time outdoors. Let me be clear my lovelies, it goes without saying that you should be wearing sun protection all year long, everyday no matter the season. 

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a Paula's Choice fan. I look for certain things in my products that she usually has in her products so it's a no brainer. Also besides producing quality products, she will suggest other companies products as long as she feels they are up to par. That's a great supportive trait to have as a successful business woman. 

I decided to try PC's Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30.

PHOTO CREDIT

PC's Resist line is aimed at anti-aging so all of the products have ingredients with anti-aging properties. 

According to the website, Resist Anti-Aging Collection:

Smooths Wrinkles

Builds Collegen

Fades Dark Spots

 
RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 is a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen designed for combination to oily skin with signs of aging. Its multi-purpose formula not only protects skin from sun damage, but also fortifies it with potent antioxidants to repair and stimulate collagen production for firmer skin. You will see a more even skin color, fewer visible lines and wrinkles, and the return of a younger healthy-looking glow.

I choose the  Super-Light because it is supposed to have a shine free finish. A lot of mineral based sun protection can make you look a little shiny and I was looking for a more on the matte side, natural finish. I had tried the Hydralite sunblock and although a good product, it was a bit shiny for me. It is also supposed to be shine-free. It was not.  

I have been wearing this for a few weeks now and I am very happy with it. I wore it for 1 week in sunny Florida without any burning/tanning issues and no breakout issues as well. It has a high Zinc content so it is tinted to combat the white cast that comes along with Zinc and Titanium Dioxide products. I find the tint to be an odd shade of pinky mauve although it does not translate that way on the skin (or in the photos). Once applied, there is absolutely no white cast and really no tint to speak of.  

One pump out of the bottle.

Blended into the skin.

My one complaint is Paula's Choice packaging for their suncare products suck! At the least the one's I have tried do. This comes in a plastic tube that you squeeze to get the product out. Have I mentioned that it sucks? It squeezes out way too much product and you can easily waste your product. I usually re-package the product into a dark, glass bottle with a pump that used to house a competitor's sunblock. 

Please Paula! Put a pump on your squeeze tube! 

This is supposed to be good for Oily/Combination skin. I have true combination skin, oily t zone, normal in some spots and dry in others. I have read reviews from people with dry skin saying it looked a little chalky on them. I have had no problem at all with chalkiness on any dry parts and it has been very cold in NYC. I do apply a moisturizer underneath this product.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Paula's Choice products. 

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Rodin+Fields Product Review

Through some good old fashioned networking on Linked In, I connected with a woman who works for Rodan + Fields, the doctors who created Proactiv. She invited me to a function for Rodan+Fields, which I am almost positive was a recruiting session to hire sales people. She offered to send me some samples,  I told her I had no interest in selling any products but I would be interested in trying the products so I could review them and who doesn't like trying out new products? So just for integrity's sake, I did not pay for these products. I received them as a sample from Rodan+Fields and as always, I will give my honest review of them.

I have never tried Proactiv or any Rodan+Fields products. I never had that much interest in Proactiv but I was interested to try these products as Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields are well respected doctors and they obviously know what they are doing. 

So this is going to be a first impression review, as I only received single use samples which I attempted to spread out over two days. The samples came packaged in a cute little mesh bag with some marketing material about R+F and a little instructional card with directions on how to use the products. The directions were written out in a cute little poem, until the last line when they seemed to have a problem rhyming the word  "spread". Also, it doesn't tell you exactly what you are trying. The only thing that was labeled was the Enhancements Microdermabrasion Paste so we will start with that. 

The Microdermabrasion Paste ($78) is a sugar and salt scrub with Vitamin C and E. According to the directions on the package, you are supposed to scrub your face using the whole packet of paste, without water. If you prefer a more gentle exfoliation, you can add water. I was a little skeptical about this because I feel sugar and salt would be a little harsh for your face. I do not like manual exfoliates and prefer the more gentle chemical kind and I was right, this was a little too harsh for me. I saved half the packet and will use it in the shower as a body scrub. I did notice how slick this feels on your skin, the description says it glides over your skin and it certainly does. It does contain fragrance (which makes me mental in face products) and some color additives. 

Next up is the Night Renewing Serum ($90) which I had to do a little research to figure out what I was using because the instructions refers to it only as the "blue capsule". According to the website:

Each REDEFINE Night Renewing Serum capsule contains a potent, proprietary blend of peptides and retinol to visibly improve skin texture and firmness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Retinol, favored by dermatologists for decades, improves skin texture and minimizes the appearance of pores. Patented time-release technology increases skin’s receptivity throughout the night while reducing potential irritancy. 

I had high hopes for this product, the ingredients list is not long which I do like and there is no fragrance.  This does not feel like a serum, this is pretty silicon heavy and it feels and wears exactly like a primer. It's really just ok for me. I don't know what the long term effects of this product would be on my skin but first impression is eh.

The last product was the best out of the three. The Redefine Lip Renewing Serum ($54) was a homerun for me. It has been in the single digits here on the East coast and my central heating system has been working over time trying to keep me toasty. My skin is feeling the effects of the dry forced air but my lips are getting the brunt of it. Dry, cracked, peeling lips. Sexiness at it's finest. This serum was like a delicious drink of moisture drenching water for my lips. This is a true serum and feels like a dream, also it stays hydrating all night. I usually wake up at some point during the night and need to reapply my Alba Unpetroleum. Not with this stuff! I would wake up to lips that were still slick and hydrated. They are also packaged in these little grey capsules which sucks because I would want to carry this around with me. They should package this in a Lip Smackers roll top gloss tube, that would be awesome!

Sorry for the blurriness

So these products were just ok for me. I really loved the lip serum but everything else fell short. I also feel they are a bit on the pricy side for what you get. I am thankful that I did get to try them but this will be a pass for me.

If you are interested in learning more about Rodin+Fields, click here:

Rodin+Fields

Also, don't forget to subscribe. It's the best way to start your week.

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DIY Alpha Hydroxy Face Masque for Younger Skin

I had a few of my ladies ask me this past week what could be done about their aging skin. Sigh~I know you ladies read my blog. You should know the answer to this. 

Skin texture seemed to be their main concern. Some bumps and small lines forming. I cannot yell this loud enough!

ACIDS PEOPLE!

The famous Alpha Hydroxy and Beta Hydroxy acids. 

It's simple:

Alpha Hydroxy for texture, bumps and fine lines.

Beta Hydroxy for acne, pores and oily skin. 

I was watching the Rachel Ray show and she had a dermatologist on demonstrating DIY skin solutions that you can concoct right in your own kitchen. You know how much I love me a skin DIY from my kitchen! 

So here is a quick, little potion that you can whip up for a DIY Alpha Hydroxy Face Masque.

Combine:

• 2 Tablespoons Apple Juice
• 2 Tablespoons Milk
• 1 Egg White

Whip together until frothy then apply to your face with a flat foundation brush. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with a soft wash cloth. This goes on very liquid-y and then you will feel it tighten up on your face. Your face will look very smooth and plastic-y while the masque is on and then very glow-y after you rinse it off. Apply 2 times a week for smooth, glowing, radiant skin.

Cracked bowl and all! There is nothing fancy going on here.

What makes this an Alpha Hydroxy Acid is the malic acid in the apple juice and the lactic acid in the milk. 

This recipe will make enough for like 3 or 4 people to use so invite your besties over for a girly spa day or maybe refrigerate until your next use. I'm not even sure if you can refrigerate and reuse but go for it, that's what I'm doing next time.

Speaking of DIY beauty routines, I am about half way through my olive oil/eyelash experiment. This is a very unscientific experiment. I have not measured my eyelashes, I wouldn't even know how to do that. This will be judged strictly by photo comparison and my honest opinion if my lashes grew or not. So far, they still look exactly the same. A heads up for anyone looking to try this, oil in your eye sucks!

Don't forget to subscribe!

 

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My Skin

So this is what's going on with my skin.

I have relatively good skin but suffer from breakouts. I feel as I am getting older, it has gotten worse. The first half of this year, my skin was a bit out of control. I am not sure if it was because of stress, hormones or a product I was using but it was constant and in my opinion, ridiculous. I am well past the age of constant breakouts. So in the middle of June, I decided to get real help and visit a dermatologist. I had also become curious about Retin-A. 

So off to the derm I go! After a thorough, up close and personal examination of my skin, she announces:

Your acne is quite unusual. 

Apparently, teenagers and adults break out differently. Teenagers usually breakout on the upper part of their face (forehead, cheeks, nose), while adults have their blemishes on the lower part of the face (mouth, chin, neck). She was perplexed by the teenage breakout I was having and found it interesting. However, that makes absolutely perfect sense to me, as I believe in my head that I am still a teenager and I act accordingly. Could I have possibly tricked my skin into believing it as well? I believe so! Now I will have to work on tricking the rest of my body.OK, back to the subject. 

The diagnosis was Adult (teenage) Acne and the prescription is Retin-A and a topical antibiotic. 

Two months in and so far so good. I am going to do a separate post on the Retin-A as that is a long term process and besides being a blemish annihilator, it is also the best (some say the only besides sun protection) anti-ager in existence. I also want to tell you about the other changes I have made to my skincare routine. There is definitely a difference in my skin and so far I am very pleased.

Anyone have any Retin-A experiences? Please share!

Until next time~

Jessica

Paula's Choice and Skinetica

Oh hello there pretty kitties!

Just a heads up-this is going to be a long one. 

Regular readers of this blog know that I am fanatical about protecting my skin with the proper sun protection and that I treat my skin with my favorite acids-AHA's and BHA's. You would also know that I have very reactive skin and struggle with breakouts. 

I have recently upped my skincare game to include Retin A (this will be a separate blog post) and a topical antibiotic to help banish the breakouts and generally improve the health of my skin. At the same time that I started this new skincare regime, I had discovered an AMAZING blog written by Caroline Hirons (carolinehirons.com) that has changed the way that I take care of my skin. All of this will be a separate blog post as there is just too much to write.

What I do want to tell you about are two products that you may be interested in trying. 

The first one is from Paula's Choice (paulaschoice.com). Reasons I love Paula's Choice: good products with good, quality ingredients, very reasonably priced, fragrance free, you can try it before you buy it, and she takes on the big named companies who sell sub par products with basic ingredients at ridiculously expensive prices. 

So earlier this year, Paula's Choice rolled out their Resist BHA 9 for Stubborn Imperfections.

Click here to read my post on BHA's

Now usually the highest strength you can find for a BHA product is 2%. The good folks at Paula's Choice have managed a 9% formulation that is very gentle on the skin. The texture of this product is like a serum bordering on an oil. I am on my 2nd bottle of this product, however I had to stop a few month's ago as per doctor's orders, when I started using the Retin-A. According to Paula's Choice website, Resist BHA 9 is effective for: Acne Breakouts, Anti-Aging, Blackheads, Brown Spots, Enlarged Pores, Keratosis Pilaris, Redness, Rosacea, and Wrinkles. 

It:

• Reduces clogged pores-Yes
• Diminishes enlarged pores-Yes
• Reduces white bumps (milia)-Not Sure
• Minimizes flesh-colored bumps (sebaceous hyperplasia)-Yes
• Softens rough, dry, and flaky skin-Yes
• Calms redness and irritation-Yes
• Fades marks from past breakouts-Yes
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines-Yes
• Dissolves stubborn blackheads-Nope
• Clinically proven non-irritating-Definitely non-irratating
• 100% fragrance free, no added dyes-Yes
• No animal testing
• Reduces Breakouts-Yes

Pros: A well formulated product that definitely makes a difference in the skin's appearance and helps with controlling breakouts.

Cons: Very expensive for a Paula's Choice product. $36.95 for .3 oz. That is not a lot of product.  

This product confused me at first. It was touted as a spot treatment, however my blemishes, wrinkles, pores, etc are located on all different parts of my face so I was applying it all over as a full face treatment. The original pump sucked. This was being marketed as a spot treatment but the pump only pumped out a full face pump. They seem to have gotten that in order with their New Precise Control Pump so you can use it any way that benefits you. 

This is definitely worth a try if you have any skin imperfections. You can purchase a sample to try it first before committing. I tried the sample first and didn't see any major changes until 1/2 way through the sample bottle. 

The next product I've found, I am on the fence about. 

I found Skinetica (http://www.skinetica.co.uk/) while snooping around online and decided to give it a whirl. The reviews looked good and the price was right-around $21 USD. This product ships from the UK.

According to the website, it is:

•    anti-blemish skincare treatment~  for the removal of acne, spots, pimples, blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads
•    a Super Toner – removes virtually all skin impurities
•    a Base to Foundation – prevents make up running even in hot climates

•    With visible results in 2-3 days and no side effects

•    No harsh chemicals, non-toxic, non staining, non greasy and can be used under make-up

•    Safe for all skin types and all areas of the body

It claims to "kill 99.99% of P.Acnes Microbes without using toxic chemicals". The technical explanation from the website is:

 As Skinetica air dries after being applied to the skin, it forms a molecular matrix, attached to the skin surface, which consists of very sharp pointed molecules. P.Acnes microbes cells are negatively charged, whereas the Skinetica molecules carry a positive charge, and when in close proximity the two are electrostatically drawn together. The Skinetica molecule being sharp like a sword, penetrates the outer cellular wall of the microbe, thus killing it. The medical name for this process is “lysis”. 

The ingredients list is short:  purified water, ethyl alcohol (only 18%), fragrance (BOOO-we no likey fragrance in our facial products), quaternary ammonium compound. 

So basically, you would use this product twice a day after you cleanse your skin, just like a toner (this product is a liquid- It is thin like water). Apply to a cotton round (I feel you lose too much product with a cotton ball) and swipe all over your face, neck, hairline, chest, back-wherever you may have a blemish. 

One thing I noticed while reading the online reviews, either people loved it and described it as a miracle product or they didn't see a difference. There was very little in between. After using this for a few weeks, I did not feel it did anything for my breakouts, existing or preventive. It definitely made my skin look and feel much more soft and conditioned in the morning but blemishes were still present and did not disappear, especially within the 3 day time frame. Once Retin A came on the scene, I put this on the shelf for about a month or so. I am now back to using it and like it much better the 2nd time around. My face is much clearer than it has been in a while but I am not sure if Skinetica has anything to do with it or if it is the result of the Retin A/Antibiotic combination. Either way, I am not sure if I will be repurchasing this when the bottle runs out. 

So there you have it! 

Please feel free to post any questions in the comment section below and I will answer as best I can. 

Until next time!

Have a safe Labor Day weekend!

~Jessica~

The Awesome Yogurt Mask

Here's a tip: If you want to stay young looking, take really good care of your skin.

It's that simple.

 Besides the obvious like staying out of the sun and not smoking (y'all know who I'm talking to), you have to feed your skin and keep it healthy and supple by moisturizing, and you have to exfoliate!

I cannot stress this enough. As we age, it takes longer for your skin to shed and new, healthy skin to form. It takes longer for cells to turn over and it takes longer to build collagen which keeps your skin plump and young looking. You need to help your skin along by exfoliating. There are a few different ways to exfoliate your skin but I think chemical exfoliation as opposed to manual is more gentle. 

I also like DIY projects when it comes to my skincare, for a few different reasons. First, I can control what goes into the product which means less unnecessary stuff. Second, it is usually cheaper than purchasing some expensive potion.

Now with all of that being said, let me tell you all about the Yogurt Mask. So yogurt contains lactic acid-you know how much I love my acids for keeping the skin young looking! Acids are gentle exfoliators.

Click here to read all about AHA's & BHA's and why you should use them for your skin.

Lactic acid falls under the Alpha Hydroxy Acid(AHA) category, which means it will dissolve and gently exfoliate the top layer of your skin so new skin can form. Some of the benefits of using a Yogurt Mask 2-3 times per week are:

• It will smooth skin.
• It will soften fine lines.
• It fights acne.
• Reduces discoloration
• Prevents premature aging.

The only rule for a yogurt mask is to make sure it is plain yogurt. None of that fruit on the bottom nonsense.

Basically, just take some plain yogurt and apply it to your clean skin. I like to massage it in and let it sit on my skin for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. I also like to kick it up a notch by dissolving an aspirin in the yogurt and applying. Aspirin is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) which means not only does it exfoliate your skin, it exfoliates the inside of your pores, therefore keeping them clean and blemish free! 

This is what you will look like. Puurrttyyy.

So using a Yogurt Mask a couple of times a week will keep your skin healthy and glowing AND it is inexpensive and chemical free!

Try it and let me know what you think. What are your DIY skincare solutions?