March 14, 2010
Posted by marta
We have two new products from Dermophisiologique: the Xomega body cream ($79.29) and Optyma Lip ($19.89).
The first thing to love about Xomega is the texture. It is really silky, thick enough to imply that it is going to be deeply moisturizing and absorbs quickly. As the name might imply, omegas 3 and 6 (olive and soy oils) feature strongly in Xomega. There are also a few of my newly found favorite ingredients, especially hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans, which bind with water efficiently and increase depth hydration, improving the elasticity and firmness of the skin. The handful of botanicals include black currant seed oil, which promotes healthy cell respiration and stimulates microcirculation, and borage oil, with proven antaging effects. Borage is one of the richest known source of the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Fatty acids such as GLA serve as essential components to the structure, elasticity and lipid barrier of the epidermis, and borage oil is believed to help retain moisture and revitalize the skin. Read more...
February 6, 2010
Posted by marta
Italian brand, Dermophisiologique, makes a very good eye cream called Optyma – in fact it is one of our Five Best. So I was excited to try out a lip balm from the Optyma range called Lip Perfect ($18). When I tried it out, I liked the rich, but not greasy texture and it was immediately soothing and hydrating.
What makes this standout amongst other lip balms is something called Tinosorb. I once described this as a sun protection ingredient that might actually work and it was approved some time ago in the EU and Australia. Tinosorb is a broad spectrum sunscreen and it is unique amongst chemical sunscreens in that it both absorbs and reflects like the inorganic filters such as zinc and titanium. But the thing that makes Tinosorb (its chemical name is bemotrizinol and the individual ingredients are listed by Optyma: listed below as bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphinyl triazine) special is that it is extremely stable, whereas many other sunscreen actives are decidely not. Read more...
December 31, 2009
Posted by Roberta
I am always eager to try a new foundation, especially if it’s of the anti-aging variety. And I was even more interested in HissyFit’s “Saving Face” because it provides SPF 50+. “You never see an SPF that high in a foundation,” murmured my sister-with-the-beautiful-skin as she inspected the packaging. That was all I needed to hear.
HissyFit has the usual suspects in its ingredient list: specifically, the minerals titanium and zinc dioxides for protection against the sun’s UVA/UVB rays. Here’s why the sun can be so damaging: just 15 short minutes of exposure can prematurely age your skin. Even in winter, just think about how much you walk around (usually without sunglasses), and the amount of sun that comes through the windshield while you’re driving. It’s easy to see why sun protection becomes critical. Read more...
December 14, 2009
Posted by jimmy
When Kyoku for Men recently launched in the United States, I wondered if it would be just as good as some of our own great brands. After all, it was kind of a big thing in the UK. The fact it incorporates ancient Japanese rituals and tradition with modern scientific research had me at hello so I got my hands on some samples. What really impressed me was the Koyku for Men Facial Moisturizer SPF 15.
The interesting thing about Kyoku for Men is that the developer, Asim Akhtar, was inspired by the skin of men in a small village in Japan. Their skin was quite impeccable (the average age is over 60) and he learned that—due to their diet and skincare regimen that consisted of local plants and herbs—they had five times the amount of hyaluronic acid than the average male. Hyaluronic acid, a water-binding agent that fully hydrates the skin, helps promote collagen formation and is one of the best moisturizing agents. The irony? There is none in the Facial Moisturizer. Read more...
December 5, 2009
Posted by Roberta
Okay, I admit it. I have always had a love-hate relationship with facial moisturizer. I know every woman needs it, especially as she waves goodbye her early 30s (for me, that was around the time of Meg Ryan’s first facelift). And as the dangers of sun damage and air pollution have been trumpeted to us so thoroughly that we can recite their perils in our sleep, I thought, why not give the new Canyon Ranch SPF 30 moisturizer a try?
Here’s why not: moisturizer has always made me break out. And why would I want to wear something that gives me zits at the age of 47, when my skin is supposed to be as dry as the Sonora Desert? Sadly, this chic moisturizer produced the same effect as anything I ever bought at the Walgreen’s down the street. Read more...
