I wrote eons ago about a facial peel by Exuviance that helped rid me of acne scarring and bumpiness along my jawline. Well, recently Exuviance launched something even more hard-core! The Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 contains a 25% level of active peeling ingredients (alpha hydroxy acids, polyhydroxy acids, glycolic acid, mandelic acid and gluconolactone). The gang’s all here!
In this blogger’s humble opinion, Exuviance skin care products are some of the best available when it comes to dealing with skin woes. God only knows I sampled dozens of different products before, only to be utterly disappointed.
Using this at-home peel is super simple. After testing a small area of skin–to ensure you won’t be irritated–just follow these instructions: First, remove makeup. Then, wipe an Activator Pad over your entire face. Wait for 10 minutes (unless you experience discomfort) and then wipe a neutralizer pad over your entire face. It’s that simple! Each pad is individually packaged, making them extremely totable for travel, or even if you want to do the treatment at the gym!
12 peels (a 6 week supply) retails for $60. It’s apparently the highest concentration of these ingredients available outside of a doctor’s office!
Click HERE to check out the product at NeoStrata.com.
Lately I’ve been dating one skincare brand pretty exclusively. Since our relationship has been devoid of drama, I’ve rejected the notion of sampling other brands.
But I simply couldn’t resist trying Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, and I’m so glad I took the plunge!
Spring is the season of major damage-control for me. Wet Seattle Winters take their toll on my dry skin. Flaking, peeling, dullness and even irritation are frequent complaints. Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator is ideal for the t-zone of the sensitive-skinned. Extremely gentle, the formula still exfoliates well. After two uses, my peely nose looked NORMAL again! Miracle!
Retail price for a 2.3 fl. oz. pump bottle is $24, and a travel sized 0.5 fl. oz. tube is $9.
Click HERE to shop Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare.
The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.
Many beauty-lovers swear by the advice of now-famous “Cosmetics Cop” Paula Begoun. When she reviews her favorite beauty products, women everywhere fall silent to listen!
Just in time for the summer, here are some tips from Paula Begoun
Your Personal SPF: Determining Your Number
by Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop
The Basics
Sun protection is an everyday must for anyone concerned with keeping their skin in top shape (and that includes avoiding wrinkles, brown discolorations, building collagen, keeping skin firm, and even preventing skin cancer). SPF 15 is the minimum rating to look for and greater is better for some skin colors and conditions; all sunscreens must be liberally applied; and UVA protection is critical.
UVA protection depends on the active ingredients in the product you are using so be sure one or more of these active ingredients are included: avobenzone (sometimes listed as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, Mexoryl (ecamsule) or, outside the U.S., Tinosorb.
Decisions, Decisions
There are several important factors that influence how you choose and should apply a sunscreen:
- How long you are going to be in the sun or sitting next to a window (UVA radiation, the sun’s most damaging rays, come through windows). The longer you are going to be in the sun or exposed to UVA radiation via windows the higher the SPF number you need to look for.
- Are you willing to apply your chosen sunscreen liberally? No matter what SPF rating you choose, you have to apply it liberally. If you aren’t applying it liberally always go for a higher number to assure you are getting as much sunscreen ingredients on your skin as possible.
- Will you be swimming or perspiring heavily? If so, go for sunscreens labeled water resistant or very water resistant. Be sure to reapply as directed, especially after toweling off.
You’ll also want to take into consideration your skin type and whether or not you’ll be wearing makeup.
- Those with normal to dry skin should use sunscreens in a lotion or cream base.
- Those with oily or combination skin should go for sunscreens formulated in a lightweight lotion with a matte finish, a liquid, or an alcohol-free gel base. Many spray-on sunscreens are excellent for oily skin.
- If you’re going to be wearing foundation, you can choose a foundation with sunscreen and pair it with a moisturizer with sunscreen and a pressed powder with sunscreen!
What’s Your Rating?
Your ideal SPF number is a multiplication figure based on your skin color and the SPF number on the product.
Identify Your Skin Color:
- Level 1 skin is very fair and often freckled. It burns easily within about 20 minutes of direct sun exposure and never tans. This is common for people with blue eyes and blonde or red hair.
- Level 2 skin is fair to light and often burns with about 30 minutes of direct sun exposure. Tanning may occur but is minimal. This is common in people with blue, green, or hazel eyes and red, blonde, or light brown hair.
- Level 3 skin is light to medium or olive and sometime burns with about 40 minutes of direct sun exposure. Tanning is possible, but typically sunburn happens first. This level can apply to those of any hair or eye color.
- Level 4 skin is medium to tan skin that rarely burns but can turn pink in about 60 to 90 minutes of direct sun exposure yet often tans easily. This is commong for people with dark hair and eyes.
- Level 5 skin is brown to dark brown skin that very rarely burns and tans easily in about two hours of sun exposure. Those with dark hair and eyes and of Middle Eastern or African-American descent are usually at this level.
- Level 6 skin is black skin that never burns and always tans, though a tan is usually not apparent due to depth of natural skin color.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR SKIN COLOR AND HOW EASILY YOU TAN, WRINKLES, SKIN DISCOLORATIONS, AND SKIN CANCERS ARE PRIMARILY CAUSED BY UNPROTECTED SUN EXPOSURE!
Next, Do the Math:
Your Level of Sunburn Risk x by the SPF Rating = Safe Sun Exposure for Your Skin Color
The SPF number is a rating that determines how long you can stay in the sun without burning when you wear that product without needing to reapply it. It does not indicate quality of protection, just length of time. Here’s how to do the math. If you have:
Level 1 skin (very fair): That means you usually get a burn in about 15 to 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Determining your skin’s response to various SPF ratings works like this:
- SPF 15 x 20 minutes = 300 minutes (5 hours) of protection
- SPF 30 x 20 minutes = 600 minutes (10 hours) of protection
- SPF 45 x 20 minutes = 900 minutes (15 hours) of protection
Level 2 skin (fair to light): That means you usually get a burn in about 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Determining your skin’s response to various SPF ratings works like this:
- SPF 15 x 30 minutes = 450 minutes (7.5 hours) of protection
- SPF 30 x 30 minutes = 900 minutes (15 hours) of protection
- SPF 45 x 30 minutes = 1,350 minutes (22.5 hours) of protection
Level 3 skin (light to medium/olive): That means you usually get a burn in about 40 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Determining your skin’s response to various SPF ratings works like this:
- SPF 15 x 40 minutes = 600 minutes (10 hours) of protection
- SPF 30 x 40 minutes = 1,200 minutes (20 hours) of protection
- SPF 45 x 40 minutes = 1,800 minutes (30 hours) of protection
Level 4 skin (medium to tan): That means you usually get a burn in about 60 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Determining your skin’s response to various SPF ratings works like this:
- SPF 15 x 60 minutes = 900 minutes (15 hours) of protection
- SPF 30 x 60 minutes = 1,800 minutes (30 hours) of protection
- SPF 45 x 60 minutes = 2,700 minutes (45 hours) of protection
Level 5 and Level 6 skin (brown to dark brown or black): That means you usually get a burn in about 120 minutes (2 hours) of unprotected sun exposure. Determining your skin’s response to various SPF ratings works like this:
- SPF 15 x 120 minutes = 1.800 minutes (*30 hours) of protection
- SPF 30 x 120 minutes = 3,600 minutes (60 hours) of protection
- SPF 45 x 120 minutes = 5,400 minutes (90 hours) of protection
*Note that level 5 and 6 skin should do just fine with a well-formulated sunscreen rated SPF 15. However, liberal applications is still important. If you do not think you’ll be applying the sunscreen as liberally as you should, consider a sunscreen rated SPF 30.
For more articles by Paula Begoun, visit her website CosmeticsCop.com.
What do I love most about Estee Lauder’s new Perfectionist CP+ Targeted Deep Wrinkle Filler? Unlike some products intended to temporarily hide deep creases in the skin, this product is beneficial over the longer term. While instantly hiding the signs of aging, the formula actually works long-term to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Don’t believe it could possibly do this? Put it to the test! Apply this formula to the lines on the palm of your hand, and give it two minutes. They’re much less pronounced, right?
My 20 year high school reunion is coming up! I’ll need to stock up on this for my appearance. Eat your heart out, ladies! I haven’t aged a day…
Retail price is $39.50.
Note: If you’re a fan of Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme Lifting Concentrate, I think you’ll really like this Lauder product. It’s in the same thick-pen applicator, and delivers the same results.
Click HERE to shop at EsteeLauder.com
Click HERE to buy Estee Lauder at Nordstrom online.
Click HERE to shop Estee Lauder at Macy’s
.
The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.
At 14 years old, I was already an Estee Lauder junkie.
Unlike other youthful shoppers, I wasn’t snapping up color cosmetics in large quantities. I was obsessed with Estee Lauder skincare, and still am to this day! Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme, recently launched by Estee Lauder, is touted as one of the brands’ “most hydrating moistuizers EVER”. As a Lauder skincare junkie, I couldn’t wait to dive in to this product.
What can I say? My dry cheeks drink in this formula like a thirsty traveler lost in the desert.
Estee Lauder claims that products from the Hydrationist line immediately replenish dehydrated skin. I couldn’t agree more. If you’re into instant gratification, Estee Lauder’s Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme delivers. My skin looked healthier and more moist after using this product just ONCE. And now–I guess this comes as no surprise–I am totally hooked!
Retail price is $38. Just my own two cents here. I couldn’t believe this moisturizer is under $50.
Click HERE to shop at EsteeLauder.com
Click HERE to buy Estee Lauder at Nordstrom online.
Click HERE to shop Estee Lauder at Macy’s.
The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.
Aging, sadly, isn’t always gradual. About a year ago, I woke up one morning with a very noticeable–and very permanent–fine line on my forehead. Today, there are several, and they are ever more pronounced!
But if Mother Nature is going to be such a bitch, why not play hardball? One of my recent weapons in the war on aging is The SPF UV Protecting Fluid by the brainiacs at La Mer.
Introduced for Spring 2009, La Mer’s SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid is the ultimate multi-tasker! Not only does it shield your skin from the sun, preventing sun damage and future aging… The SPF 30 Protecting Fluid also provides light moisturizing benefits ideal for any skin-type, and a light-refracting technology that makes skin appear more luminous!
Perhaps my favorite aspect of La Mer’s formula is how fast it absorbs into the skin, leaving an almost powdery finish. It’s excellent for use under makeup!
Retail price of a 1.4 oz. bottle is $65. Click HERE to check it out at La Mer.
The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.
Join La Mer at Saks Fifth Avenue New York to discover
“The Ten Reasons to Believe”
For the first time ever, Robin Shandler, Executive Director of Global Product Development, The Max Huber Research Labs, will be on hand to personally answer questions while guests enjoy signature La Mer skincare and Skincolor treatments. Shop, pamper yourself and discover the miraculous benefits that have made La Mer a true beauty legend.
Thursday, September 10th 2009
7:00 to 10:00 PM
Cosmetics Floor
Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Avenue
ABOUT:
Discover ten reasons Crème de la Mer has become the most coveted skincare treatment
in the world.
If you've never watched Absolutely Fabulous, let me just pause for a moment and tell you to quickly get your hands on season one. I found it screamingly funny, and think you will too.
Back to this post. The second I read about these anti-aging products by Planet Skincare, I knew it was the kind of product Patsy Stone of AbFab would fall all over herself to get her hands on. While the character of Patsy and I have little in common, our constant search for the fountain of youth is one similarity.
Why is Planet Skincare beloved by beauty addicts across the pond? They contain synthetic snake-venom (called Syn-ake®) which mimics the results of botox, only it's applied topically!
Instant Firming Serum ($145, pictured at left) works in conjunction with Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer ($115, pictured at right). I've only recently started using this dynamic duo, but am already quite impressed with the results on my skin… especially the pesky little lines on my forehead. I can't wait to see what the long-term benefits will be!
Want to snag them for yourself? Click HERE to head to VitalityMedispa.net!
