Tag: antiaging

Review: Mario Badescu Dermonectin Eye Cream

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So I’ve been dealing with some serious itchiness on my eyelids since May. I thought that maybe it was an allergic reaction to something new so I stopped using any of the newer products, and still so no relief. I invested in Aquaphor and it soothed my problem for a few days, till it came back up. I’ve been Googling possible skin conditions, and finally, at the end of May, it became so unbearable that I made an appointment with my eye doc to find out what it is that’s been causing this itchiness.

Fast forward to July when I finally have my eye appointment only to find out that my doc can’t prescribe any eye creams, only eye drops. He didn’t think I needed eye drops. By then the rest of the month was consumed by ongoing dentist appointments for a root canal that I couldn’t fit in a derm appointment. SO….yet again I tried to self-medicate and just wanted a very nourishing eye cream that could help curb the itchiness as well as be non-allergic. So that’s how I ended up purchasing said eye cream.

Packaging: Simple and sleek

What It Is: Super hydrating Eye Cream for extremely dry skin

Active Ingredients: Vitamins A & E, with a special blend of vegetable, peanut, and coconut oils

Verdict: Emollient, soothing, and rich are three words to describe this cream. It feels very refreshing and moisturizing the moment you apply it, and for my recent condition, it even soothes the itching and doesn’t burn (which seems to be the norm with most creams right now). Did it stop the itchiness? Not entirely, but that’s not what this cream is designed for. Did it provide incredible moisture and calm the dryness? Yes, it sure did! I really recommend this eye cream if you’re looking for something that’s rich and intensely hydrating (it will quench any dry skin’s thirst for moisture). I’ll probably be repurchasing this eye cream again, whilst I still try to figure out exactly what it up with my odd skin condition (at least it’s not unsightly, just a tad bit bothersome).

Price: $18

Where To Buy It: Amazon

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HAUL: TonyMoly Korean Beauty

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Korean beauty products have become the biggest trend in the U.S. lately. One of the biggest Korean beauty brands is TonyMoly, who has everything you can imagine from face masks, peels, sheet masks, lip balms, creams, makeup, etc. They have skincare products for every skincare concern be it wrinkles, acne, dryness, redness, or sensitive skin. This brand recently launched in Sephora when the Korean beauty products became a popular thing. I hadn’t tried this brand till now. The packaging is obviously ultra adorable (it’ll make you feel like you’re thirteen all over again).

Egg Pore Care Set

Price: $28

Key Factors: Egg-powered ingredients such as Egg Yolk (lots of Vitamin A!) and clarifying Egg Shell Powder.

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I’m Red Wine – Gel Eye Patch

Price: $6

Key Factors: Helps tighten and purify skin.

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Mini Fruit Lipbalm Peach

Price: $10

Key Factors: Shea Butter and Witch hazel, helps lock in moisture and hydration.

I’m Hand Cream – Cherry Blossom

Price: $6

Key Factors: Rejuvenates skin.

Where To Buy It: https://tonymoly.us

Are you a fan of Korean beauty products? Which ones are your faves?

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Review: Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

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If you’ve been following my blog, then you know that I have a soft spot for skin oils. I know that it may seem counterproductive to use oils if you have oily skin (like I do), but in reality, in some weird way, drying out oily skin actually creates more oil than applying oils. So when I received this product in my latest Allure Beauty Box, I was thrilled to try it out.

Packaging: A gorgeous glass bottle with a dropper dispenser.

What It Does: Moisturizes, eliminates redness, fights wrinkles, makes pores smaller, and improves damaged skin.

Active Ingredients: Retinol and chamomile.

Verdict: Now, I know that some people may not be into this oil because it does have some fragrance to it (and maybe it can be irritating to sensitive skin). But the fragrance that it does have is due to natural essential oils from neroli, blood orange, ylang ylang, and vetiver. But if you don’t have sensitive skin, then this oil may be perfect for you. I really loved how it made my skin feel so velvety soft in the mornings (after applying it at night) and also making it plumper. It truly gave me the dewy skin that is oh so coveted by the beauty world. What I love is that the oil is very lightweight, and it’s perfect even for acne-prone skin as myself. I highly suggest to check it out if you need an oil, but if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to skin oils, then check out my favourite Vitamin C oils here.

Price: $105

Where To Buy It: Sephora.com

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Is Blood the new anti-aging secret?

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Elizabeth Báthory wasn’t too far off when she used to bathe in virgin blood to maintain her youthful beauty. New studies have shown that teenage blood, when injected in older subjects, reverses the aging process with significant changes. The founder of Ambrosia, Jesse Karmazin, MD, tells New Science that it’s the healthier proteins present in younger plasma that is the key. Patients who were treated with the plasma treatment also presented lower levels of carcinoembryonic antigens (these antigents can signal cancer), and also displayed lower blood cholesterol and decrease in levels of amyloids (which could help prevent Alsheimer’s disease). The downside to this anti-aging procedure is the staggering cost: $8,000 a session and it’s recommended to do it twice a year.

 

Another blood treatment has been Blood-Infused skincare creams, which pretty much incoporates your own blood into moisturizers (supermodel Hailey Baldwin is said to use this skincare routine from Dr. Sturm). Again, the costs of such a skincare routine are elevated as a moisturizer could cost you around $1,400.

 

A few years ago the web went wild when Kim Kardashian showed off a cosmetic procedure on Instagram dubbed the vampire facial. What this procedure consists of is a doctor takes a few vials of blood from your arm, centrifuges the blood so that it separates out the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells, and then adds the platelet plasma back into your face using small needles.

 

If all of this makes you feel woozy, don’t worry, as Marilyn Manson said years ago, the media sells fear so that you’re made to spend thousands as a way to prevent from losing your youth. Truth is, it’s probably about time that people began to accept the cycle of life, and embrace the aging process gracefully such as badass icons like Helen Mirren.

 

Would you try any of these anti-aging techniques? What do you think about them? Are they too extreme?

By: Azzurra Nox

Peels: Why does your skin need them?

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IMG_0882With so many skincare products floating around nowadays (masks, serums, moisturizers, etc.) it’s no wonder that a gal (or even guy!) may feel stumped as to where to begin and why they even need a certain product in the first place. But have no fear! My aim is to make this journey easier for you, and today the focus is on one of my favourite skincare products: PEELS.

What are Peels?

It’s another form of mask (usually one you can leave for up to 30-minutes to overnight) that allows for deep exfoliation of the skin. Facial peels will remove the top layer of skin, meaning that it’ll get rid of any dullness or imperfections by exposing the newer skin to the surface.

Chemical peels are the most potent, and depending on the strength of the acid is how deep your skin will be exfoliated. The higher dose of acid, the greater chances of getting fantastic results.

What are Peels best for?

If your skin concerns are: aging, acne scars, melasma, and hyperpigmentation, then chemical peels are the best thing that could happen to your skin. The only downside? Do NOT sunbathe up to a week before or after a peel, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Which Chemical Peels are best for you?

Oily skin – Salicylic acid based peel

Aging skin – Glycolic acid based peel

Dry skin – Mandelic acid based peel

Recommended Peel: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Original Formula

This peel visibly transforms your skin in just THREE days!

Benefits of this peel are:

  • firmer, smoother skin
  • smaller, tighter pores
  • a radiant, more even complexion

Key Ingredients: Glyconic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Retinol, Resveratrol, Genistein, Chamomile, Green Tea, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, and Vitamins A, C, E

Verdict: Dr. Dennis Gross’ peels come in two steps. The first step is a surface refiner, meaning that you apply this one to prepare your skin. You leave the product on for two minutes before applying step two, which is the deeper treatment. The deeper treatment is targeted to penetrate deeper into the pores, exfoliating and removing the top layer of skin. I usually use peels at night, so I can keep them on overnight, and wake up the following morning to brighter, smoother, and supple skin. If you’re in search of having the softest skin ever without blemishes, then I truly recommend a peel! And this one, in particular, is one of my favourites because it targets the majority of skin concerns: aging, dullness, and acne! So do your skin a favour, and treat yourself to a peel!

Price: $27.98 (5-count on amazon.com)

Frequency of Use: It’s usually recommended to do a peel at least once a week if you have problematic skin, but if you don’t, then even twice a month or once a month is enough to reveal brighter softer skin.

By: Azzurra Nox

Top 5 Best Eye Creams!

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If there’s one night time routine I never skip (apart from always removing my makeup before going to bed), is eye cream. I have to admit, I wasn’t always a fan and I had never tried it till I started working as a makeup artist a few years ago and was given some samples. Not wanting the creams to go to waste, and wondering if they hype behind them was true, I decided to give it a go. From that day on, I became a convert. I know list eye cream as a must-have for my night routine (along with lip balm).

I know there are many creams out there that promise the impossible, but if you’re going to invest in any sort of face cream, I’d say splurge on the eye cream. Here’s why. The skin around your eye are is the thinnest, meaning it’s also the first place to show signs of aging. Any sun damage, free-radical damage, and sleep deprivation comes in the form of crows feet. But there’s a way to combat this.

What you need is an opulent cream that locks in moisture and helps keep those dreaded crows feet at bay.

So, where do you start? Throughout the years I’ve come across over a hundred eye creams, varying in ingredients and price. I know everyone has different needs, but when I go to purchase an eye cream I don’t necessarily grab the one that’s “anti-aging,” but rather opt for the one that’s rich in moisturizing formulas.

Below are my current Top 5 Eye Creams and what makes them stand out from the rest:

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Skin & Co. Roma Truffle Therapy Eye Concentrate

Key Ingredient: Truffle Extract

Why I love It: This cream is thoroughly hydrating. It feels luxurious and has a fresh scent to it. It’s supposed to help diminish the the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet. Whenever I put it on my skin feels extra moisturized.

Price: $66

Where to Buy It: Skinandcoroma.com

 

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Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Cream Treatment

Key Ingredient: Retinol

Why I love It: This cream doesn’t feel as thick as my usual go-to eyecreams do, however, retinol is a key ingredient when it comes to fight the first signs of aging. This cream promises to visibly reduce crow’s feet and help cell turnover in just four weeks. I’ve found that it definitely keeps to its word.

Price: $24

Where to Buy It: Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, or CVS

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Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Panax Ginseng, and Magnolia extract

Why I Love It: This cream is thick and refreshing. It’s focus isn’t on wrinkles, but rather it helps with de-puffing, brighten, and reduce dark circles. I usually put this on at night, but with caffeine being one of its active ingredients, it could also be used in the morning to wake up your skin. It leaves your skin feeling tingly and fresh.

Price: $32

Where to Buy It: Sephora or Amazon

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Burt’s Bees Renewal Smoothing Eye Cream

Key Ingredient: White Hibiscus

Why I Love It: This cream is lightweight but at the same time feels incredibly emollient. Unlike the previous creams, this one targets both wrinkles and dark circles. Another bonus is that the ingredients are all natural, which is one of the reasons why I love Burt’s Bees products so much. The texture of this cream is wonderful, it quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving any oily residue. I also used this cream when I burned my wrist with my straightening iron and it just so happened to be on my tattoo, and this cream helped the burn heal seamlessly without causing any damage to the tattoo. It’s seriously a very nourishing cream for your skin.

Price: $12

Where to Buy It: Target, CVS, or Amazon

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Bare Minerals Renew & Hydrate Eye Cream

Key Ingredient: Active Soil Complex

Why I Love It: This cream is incredibly rich. It makes my eye area very soft whenever I use it. It’s not oily and fast absorbing. This was the first eye cream I ever used and probably why I got hooked on eye creams in general. It does help tremendously with fine lines. Now, I don’t know how well this cream does on deep wrinkles, but if you’re between the ages of 25-40, then this is a good cream to use. I know that it helped prevent any lines to appear and any ones I did have, they magically disappeared after about six weeks or so. I only used the cream once a day, before going to sleep since I’m not a fan of using creams during the day.

Price: $39

Where to Buy It: Sephora, Ulta, or Amazon

By: Azzurra Nox