new skincare!

for the past couple of months, i've been looking for a new moisturizer/night cream to replace my old one (creme de la mer). don't get me wrong, i really like la mer but it's just so expensive! $230 for a 2oz pot!

when looking for a moisturizer, or any skincare product, you should first ask yourself what your skin needs the most. for me, my problem is hydration. i have combination skin (oily in the T-zone, dry in other areas) so it does have oil, but w/o makeup, my skin looks dull and lackluster -- this is due to dehydration. one of the best things you can do for this is to drink more water, but quite honestly, i don't like drinking loads of water because i hate having to go pee so often. that's why i need to seek help from some good topicals. ^__^

a friend of mine - who is actually younger than i am - recommended that i check out estée lauder. (yes, the brand your mama uses. but know this: they own more than half of the cosmetic companies you see @ the department stores.) from estée lauder's line of moisturizers/creams, i tried Hydra Bright, Daywear Plus, and Time Zone and decided on:

Hydra Bright


i liked Hydra Bright because it really sunk into my skin and made it feel well-hydrated and supple. my skin didn't feel like it had something sitting on top of it. unfortunately, by the time i made my decision to get this moisturizer, it went off the shelves to be "reformulated." grrrrr-eat. i guess i'll wait until it comes out again (in JANUARY!) and test it again.

another line i'm testing (and i did get to purchase!) is derma-e. for now, i'm only testing the moisturizer and the face wash.


why all the fuss w/ DMAE, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and C-ester? well ladies, we're not getting any younger! and even though we may not look old, we should do our best to preserve what we have now.

dimethylaminoethanol or DMAE has been found in clinical studies to tighten skin and to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, and nasolabial folds (the "smile line" some ppl get). in addition, the results of this anti-aging agent has been noted to last even after you stop using it (so you know it's not just a quick, superficial pick-me-up). don't believe me? read here.

how about alpha lipoic acid? ALA is a powerful natural antioxidant found in plants and animals. when taken orally, it offers many benefits to your body (i.e., regulating cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function). for your skin, it helps to prevent and minimize wrinkles. maybe i'll start taking the oral pills in the future, but for now, i'll use the topical version.

C-ester (ascorbyl palmitate) - everyone knows that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, but vitamin c-ester is thought to be better by some skincare professionals because it is more soluble. per dr. weil (from the Origin's line), vitamin c -ester helps to "reduce the redness and inflammation of sunburn and thus protect against sun-related skin aging." and we all know (or should know) that sun-related skin aging is the most powerful and damaging kind!
ok, i'll update again when i've tested the goodz.

ciao!

alpha hydrox 12% glycolic AHA souffle

don't waste your money on microdermabrasion. exfoliate w/ AHA!


anti-wrinkle, fragrance-free, oil-free

this is a wonderful product. it may be a little harsh on your skin in the beginning for some people (like me), but it's one product that i can say that has definitely improved the texture of my skin. AHA stands for "alpha hydroxy acid" - it is an exfoliant. i usually use it @ night before bed and i wake up with soft, exfoliated skin without the need for scrubbing! one thing to note is that you HAVE TO use sunscreen (during the daytime) when using an AHA product, as it causes your skin to be more sun sensitive. this shouldn't be a surprise to people who have used ANY anti-aging or acne skin products.

the only problem i have w/ this souffle is its packaging. i hate products where you have to dip your fingers into it.

here are the basics:
Application: smooth, sinks in to skin (non-greasy), but tingly (kinda like you got hairdye on your skin -- not a great feeling, but if you can endure it, it'll be worth it)
Price: $14.99 - $15.99 (cheap!)
Where to Buy: neotericcosmetics.com, drugstore.com
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars!
Tip: if you have sensitive skin, make sure you do a skin test before using it on your whole face. recommended areas to test: right under your ear OR on the lighter part of your wrist (underneath).

kinerase C6 peptide intensive treatment

this is the treatment that Courtney Cox uses and has gotten a lot of exposure because of it. however, that doesn't say much because (w/ all due respect) Courtney Cox doesn't look young anymore. either way, due to all of the good ingredients in this product (e.g., argireline--an advanced hexapeptide, vitamin C & E, green tea), i decided to try it out.

my impression:
i am a little on the fence about this product. knowing the ingredients make me feel like it's a wonderful product; however, i have not seen any visual improvements on my skin. i don't have many skin problems as is (and maybe that's why it didn't do much), but i was still looking for some type of improvement as far as skin texture, tone, etc. goes. i haven't noticed a thing. the only thing i can say is that it might have helped prevent additional skin damage, along with my sunblock -- but that's about it. i may repurchase for preventative reasons but definitely not to help fix anything.

basic 411:
Application: smooth, sinks in to skin (non-greasy)
Price: $96 (but you can find it cheaper if you search online)
Where to Buy: various places online (e.g., amazon.com, skinstore.com, dermadoctor.com), Sephora
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars (not worth it, but definitely not a bad product)
Tip: if you wanna try it, i suggest just getting it at Sephora and returning it if it doesn't work out.

what are antioxidants?

ok, so we keep hearing about antioxidants and how they are so good for you. but do you really know what they are? here's a good definition that i found from wisegeek.com:

"Within the human body, millions of processes are occurring at all times. These processes require oxygen. Unfortunately, that same life giving oxygen can create harmful side effects, or oxidant substances, which cause cell damage and lead to chronic disease.

Oxidants, commonly known as "free radicals," are also introduced through external sources such as exposure to the sun or pollution. Other mediums include stress, as well as things that people put into their bodies, such as alcoholic beverages, unhealthy foods, and cigarette smoke.

In much the same way as oxidation creates rust, causing a breakdown on the surface of inanimate objects, oxidation inside the body causes a breakdown of cells. Free radicals produced by this breakdown attack healthy cells, usually DNA as well as proteins and fats. This chain of events weakens immunological functions as well as speeding up the aging process, and is also linked to several diseases such as cataracts, various forms of cancer, and heart disease."

food for your skin

a good diet won't guarantee perfect skin (because some people do have to battle with heredity), but it definitely can't hurt. and if you think about how food allergies work and how quickly they can affect someone, the things you put into your mouth can definitely make a big difference!

here is a brief list of good-for-you foods. hopefully, you guys won't be allergic to any of them. =X

avocados - lots of good fats/oils and vitamin B3, which can help w/ redness & blotchiness
mangoes - lots of vitamin A, which maintains and repairs skin
blueberries - my personal favorite(!) these babies are LOADED with antioxidants.
almonds - good source of vitamin E as well as protein & magnesium
carrots - vitamins A & C
flaxseed oil - not only is this type of oil good for your heart, it's also good for your skin. omega-3s and good fats. (remember, fats aren't the enemy!)
pomegranate juice - contains anthocyanins (helps strengthen tiny blood vessels under your skin)
salmon - omega 3! BUT say "no" to atlantic salmon. a chef and writer from the LA Times (Foods section) once told me that anything from the Atlantic has more mercury that any other ocean/lake. YUK! King salmon is better.
sunflower seeds - lots of vitamin E, but watch out for the sodium if you're going sit there like a bird and crack away!
whole grains - lots of vitamin b, helps to reduce/avoid cracking skin.
green tea - you keep hearing that green tea is good for you... because it is! green tea has lots of vitamins and other good stuff like zinc, magnesium, calcium and so forth - one of the best sources for antioxidants.

(gathered from various sources from the web. i'm not that smart!)