February 12, 2010
Posted by marta
I’ve been meaning to look at Franbrand, the cosmetics by The Nanny actress 53-year-old Fran Drescher, for some time and have been putting it off because I didn’t want to be confronted with yet another mediocre line fronted by a celebrity. Well, I finally took a look and my first reactions was good on ya Fran. She set out to make a line that is good the buyer and the planet and to a large extent she seems to have succeeded. A deeper dive, however, came up with a few ingredients that she might want to reconsider.
I haven’t tried any Franbrand products, but looking at the ingredients and reading some reviews I’d say that the night cream relies on palm and other oils and there is nothing exceptional about it (except the smell, according to some reviewers, and not in a good way). Read more...
February 8, 2010
Posted by Reader
Posted by Sal
I have been using Olive’s Organic Botanicals Pomegranate Facial Replenisher Cleanser (available at the TIA store for $57.49)for the last month and I love it! The cleanser is housed in an old fashioned amber apothecary bottle with a dropper to dispense. The smell of the product is innocuous but hints of an oil of some sort are evident.
The ingredients of the cleanser are: organic saponified olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic jojoba oil, organic aloe vera, organic rosemary extract, and 100% pure, organic cold pressed/unrefined oil from certified organic pomegranate seeds. I like this wash because my face feels and looks “really” clean after I use it.
The instructions on the charming bottle read that you should first massage a small amount of product all over. I used it on my face, neck, and chest, then allowed it to sit for one minute. I then lathered, washed with warm water, and rinsed the creamy solution away. Read more...
February 5, 2010
Posted by copley
January was a month of bad complexion karma. Whether due to incompatible products or inclement indoor conditions, my skin let me know that it was not happy. Scaly patches below my mouth battled with relentless flakes on my nose for the title of driest place on my face. My standard daily and nightly moisturizers were no longer cutting it. Using lightweight lotions could not conceal swathes of flaking skin, while layering various creams resulted in gunky residue that made applying makeup impossible. Once Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog saw his shadow- thus forecasting another six weeks of winter- my dry skin plight became more desperate than ever. Read more...
February 1, 2010
Posted by marta
Gravity can wear your spirits down as you encounter the depressing sight of sagging skin and drooping jowls. I believe that the source of a lot of disappointment with skin creams is due to the fact that although, these days, many of them do iron out fine lines they don’t necessarily restore elasticity.
If your budget will stretch to it (pun intended), stump up for a Baby Quasar or some form of LED (light emitting diode) device. In October 2008, German researchers identified how the visible light works — by changing the molecular structure of a glue-like layer of water on elastin, the protein that provides elasticity in skin, blood vessels, heart and other body structures. The light strips away those water molecules that are involved in the immobilization of elastin, gradually restoring its elastic function and thus reducing facial wrinkles. It isn’t cheap ($439.29), but if you are a subscriber to our newsletters you are entitled to 10% off in the TIA store and it really works. Read more...
January 11, 2010
Posted by marta
Vitamin A itself does not have a direct effect on skin, but is only effective after specialized enzymes in the skin cells convert Vitamin A into retinoic acid (tretinoin). Retinoic acid facilitates communication between cells, encouraging aging cells to continue their renewal process, and regenerate collagen and elastin to prevent the appearance of aging skin, wrinkles and fine lines. It is also effective at producing new, healthy skin cells to replace skin previously damaged by acne. However, Retinol cannot communicate with a cell until it has been broken down into Retinoic Acid (SmartSkinCare.com and RetinolSkincare.org). Once this breakdown has occurred, communication begins and the cells’ turnover rate increases, increasing the production of collagen at a higher rate. Read more...
