March 12, 2010
Posted by marta
I have been seeing red recently. I have had a little rosacea flare up and I start to look hot bothered as soon as the temperature rises above fifty degrees. I have been casting around in earnest for a cure and alighted Serious Skin Care’s Blushers & Flushers Redness Relief. It had my name on it. And it was only $26.50 – almost cheap enough for an impulse buy.
I resisted and took a closer look first. If I were to apply Flushers & Blushers, I might no longer be seeing red, but I would certainly be seeing an optical illusion. Nestling in a bed of silicones (five, no less) is the key ingredient: polymethylsilsesquioxane benzimidazole diamond co-polymer. This also goes by the name Granpowder Lumiere and, if you are into optics, it is rather clever. Diamond granules are encapsulated in a spherical polymer and in long wave UV light they photoluminesce an intense blue color. This takes the visible edge off red skin, but it doesn’t provide a treatment or even relief (other than to the eye of the beholder). Read more...
March 2, 2010
Posted by Summar
Exotic ingredients are no strangers to luxe cosmetic lines, so upon reading that Amala’s Purify collection (we have used and reviewed Amala’s Rejuvenating line) uses the rare Blue lotus as the common thread in each of its seven facial skincare products (Rejuvenating products major in on antioxidant cocoa), it seemed like high time to give the beautiful botanical a second glance.
Blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) and its cousin the Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) are native to Africa and parts of Southern Asia. The sacred flower was celebrated in ancient Egyptian times as a perfume, health tonic and possible aid for sexual stimulation; its blossoms were even found scattered over Tutankhaman’s body when the pharaoh’s tomb was opened in 1922. In cosmetics, the ingredient can be found in cleansers, moisturizers and exfoliants, functioning as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is also rich in phytosterols, cholesterol-like molecules found in plants that can make skin sensitive to light. Read more...
January 28, 2010
Posted by Sarah
I am, unluckily, one of the many adults in this world who still suffers from breakouts. While my acne issues are generally minor, because of my pale skin, I find that I am left with discoloration on my skin even after my blemishes have healed. Because of this unfortunate affliction, I jumped at the chance to try out iQ Derma’s Clear Remedy Acne Treatment Lotion ($65).
To be completely honest, when I opened the package, I was somewhat disgusted. The first strange thing that caught my eye was that the small, frosted glass bottle was noticeably oily, presumably from the product within. The concoction itself reminded me of the scene outside the liposuction clinic in Fight Club - the formula was a yellow, semi-viscous substance with an unpleasant odor, which made me understandably reluctant to slather the stuff on my face. However, after I did, I found myself pleased with some of the results. Read more...
January 27, 2010
Posted by Reader
The bottom line: our reader loved the Clarisea cleanser, but the Face Soak was a pain in the butt
Reviewed by Robin
Okay, acne and breakouts have been a part of my life since I was in junior high. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the REALY ugly! It has been a rollercoaster of treatments, from topical to oral medication. There have been periods in my life when I had the peaches and cream complexion. But now, at the age of 30 my skin is imperfect and still waiting to grow out of it. Read more...
December 12, 2009
Posted by copley
In spite of the immeasurable ways that skin comes into contact with the outside world, you really only perceive three distinct things through the skin: pressure, temperature, and pain. Gentle stimulation of pain receptors result in a neurological transmission that triggers your body to itch. Scratching nips an itch in the bud by creating a counter-irritation on the skin that diverts the brain’s perception of the itchy sensation. But imagine an itch that never goes away no matter what you do. This state of perpetual itchiness is a fact of life for many people suffering from dermatitis conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rashes.
Luckily there are solutions like Greensations ThermaSkin Natural Skin Therapy ($12). This super-charged spray is suitable for any area that feels itchy or inflamed, from bug bites to dry skin. When the all-natural, cucumber-infused mist comes into contact with skin, it generates a warming sensation that extinguishes the urge to itch, thus using temperature to overcome pain. By boosting blood flow and circulation, the thermal action triggers nerve receptors to promote the healing process. ThermaSkin’s blend of herbs, antioxidants, and emollients further nourish and repair the affected area. Read more...
