TRANSDERMA is a beautiful line of highly potent serums that can be best described as scientifically advanced yet exceptionally pure.  The serums focus on vitamins and proven natural ingredients and feature patented delivery innovations that enable active ingredients to penetrate more deeply in the skin, where these actives can do the most good.  TRANSDERMA founder Graziella Gallelli is one of the most generous founders I have had the pleasure to meet.  She founded TRANSDERMA with her late husband, Dr. Alvin Ronlán, and the two of them built the company incorporating her skincare expertise and his experience of over 30 years of research on vitamins and their delivery systems.  Dr. Ronlán found a way to preserve vitamins’ potency without the use of preservatives, and TRANSDERMA Serums are unique in that they are water-free, preservative-free, and emulsifier-free.  The line focuses on high-impact formulations with only a handful of ingredients in each formulation.

TRANSDERMA Serums Review

I had the immense privilege of trying all five TRANSDERMA serums, and I can tell you quite honestly that this is highly effective skincare at its best.  Across the board, TRANSDERMA Serums are free of artificial colors, preservatives, fragrance, and other synthetic compounds.  TRANSDERMA offers truly pure skincare. The serums’ lack of preservatives is truly remarkable, especially when you consider the fact that these products all remained fresh and potent for a long duration of use!  Consider me impressed.  I am delighted to tell you a little about each formulation below.

TRANSDERMA C

Ingredients: Organic 1,2-Propanediol, L-Ascorbic Acid.

L-Ascorbic Acid is notoriously hard to keep fresh, but TRANSDERMA C has completely overcome this issue—without preservatives!  TRANSDERMA C uses a revolutionary technique for stabilization and improved absorption of this simple, potent formulation.  This serum goes on and sinks right in where it belongs.  Not only does it provide antioxidant protection, but it is also great for boosting collagen and elastin production.  I noticed brighter, smoother skin when using TRANSDERMA C regularly.

TRANSDERMA O

Ingredients: Organic 1,2-Propanediol, L-Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Creatine, Pyridoxine Cyclic Phosphate (Vitamin B6), Kinetin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt (Bio-Pqq), Biotin (Vitamin B7).

TRANSDERMA O is the first formulation I ever encountered with the key active PQQ, which is known to reduce inflammation and revitalize mitochondria.  With this active and B vitamins, TRANSDERMA O is truly energizing for the skin.  I particularly loved to combine TRANSDERMA O with red light therapy for the ultimate skin rejuvenation!

TRANSDERMA R

Ingredients: Organic 1,2-Propanediol, L–Ascorbic Acid, Trans–Resveratrol, Piceid.

TRANSDERMA R is perhaps the best serum I have ever used for evening skin tone and reducing pigmentation.  The formulation is deceptively simple; every ingredient counts, and this one really delivers!  TRANSDERMA R is wonderful for leaving skin brighter and more luminous.

TRANSDERMA A

Ingredients: Squalane, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate.

TRANSDERMA A is one of the best retinol products I have ever used.  I think the formulation is brilliant because the squalene balances out the retinol such that the serum is potent without ever being irritating or drying like so many retinol products tend to be.   TRANSDERMA A is excellent for stimulating skin cell renewal and rejuvenation.  I love TRANSDERMA A because it feels like a complete evening skincare routine (potent anti-aging actives and hydration) in one simple step.

TRANSDERMA M

Ingredients: Squalane, Isostearyl Isostearate, C10-30 Cholesterol / Lanosterol Esters, Alpha–Tocopherol, Ceramide Iii & Vi, Salicoyl Phytosphingosine.

Rather than a cream (which would require an emulsifier and preservatives—neither of which do the skin any favors), TRANSDERMA M is a moisturizing serum.  Formulated with skin-identical ceramides and lipids and using TRANSDERMA’s deep absorbing delivery system, TRANSDERMA M is great for providing deep, healing hydration.  I found TRANSDERMA M to be particularly calming for my skin.

Overall Conclusion:  The entire TRANSDERMA line is superb for maximum results with pure, deceptively simple formulations.  Each serum stands well on its own, but using them together makes for truly exceptional results:  smoother, more luminous, revitalized skin!  I give TRANSDERMA my highest recommendation.

The post TRANSDERMA Serums Review appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

A new launch from Okoko Cosmétiques is always a cause to rejoice.  Recently, I had the delightful opportunity to indulge in two new Okoko treasures, Diamant Bleu Clarifying Cream with Niacinamide and Blue Tansy as well as Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition Next-Level, Age Defying Face Oil with Retinol Fusion. Let’s take these beauties one by one.

Okoko Cosmétiques Diamant Bleu: Clarifying Cream with Niacinamide and Blue Tansy

How can I put into words the pleasure of using Diamant Bleu?  A much-requested item from the Okoko line, this cream is utterly luxurious with a sumptuous buttery texture, the gorgeous color of the sky on a clear and bright day, and a natural fragrance (with key notes of sweet Blue Tansy) so delicious that applying it will lift your spirits and allow for a moment of truly regal indulgence even during an otherwise harried day.

Diamant Bleu is a sensory delight to use.  Sometimes “skincare as self-care” can feel like a marketing gimmick, but not in this case!  It is no exaggeration to say that applying Diamant Bleu offers a precious and enjoyable moment of calm in the storms of life.  I have never smelled any product with a fragrance this delicious, and based on its uplifting effects on me, I would say it is the best aromatherapeutic I have ever tried.  All this praise is simply about the joys of applying Diamant Bleu, but there is so much more to this blue beauty than just delivering an indulgent experience.  As with all Okoko Cosmétiques treasures, every precious ingredient in the formulation is truly performance-driven and based on exhaustive R&D by Okoko founder and Chief Formulator, Oyéta Kokoroko. The gorgeous blue color, for instance, is not just for show; it comes from the combination of natural actives Blue Tansy and Blue Spirulina extract, two incredible plant-based ingredients and potent antioxidants that also deliver skin-calming and detoxifying properties.

If you have a history of complexion woes like I do, then when you imagine a “clarifying cream” you may have visions of harsh dermatological prescriptions that leave skin angry and flaking, but this could not be further from the beautiful reality of Diamant Bleu’s skin-calming results.  I have lovingly nicknamed Diamant Bleu “my blue heaven” because of how dreamy it is in both its performance and use.  The texture is like perfect, freshly-churned butter, delivering an immediate wave of calming hydration.  Before you worry that such a rich, buttery cream might be too indulgent for persnickety, acne-prone skin, let me assure you that Diamant Bleu is formulated precisely for the very concerns of rebellious skin. The importance of hydration plays in optimal healing is often neglected in traditional clarifying formulations, but this is Okoko Cosmétiques, and  Oyéta never delivers less than perfection.  Not only does Diamant Bleu not break me out, it soothes and diminishes inflammation of any sort—whether that is acne, acne marks, or redness and irritation.  Anyone with acne-prone skin can tell you that the marks acne leaves behind are often more stubborn and frustrating than the acne itself was.  Here Diamant Bleu also excels beautifully, with encapsulated Niacinamide proven to rapidly diminish the look of post-acne spots and scarring.

The results of Diamant Bleu will surpass even the highest expectations. My complexion is so much calmer and clearer after regular use of this blue beauty.  This transformative cream is both elegant and high-performance, healing and gently hydrating, all without any harshness–a true feat in formulation!  Diamant Bleu is exceptional and has quickly become my favorite moisturizer of all time.  Of all the moisturizers I have ever tried, none have been as pleasurable and had such an incredible array of benefits as the truly heavenly Diamant Bleu.

Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition Next-Level, Age Defying Face Oil with Retinol Fusion

Les 16 Précieux was already the best anti-aging face oil I had found, but with the new Prestige Edition, you get an entire anti-aging skincare routine all in a single product!  The R&D that went into this treasure is beyond impressive.  As in the White Label version of Les 16 Précieux , Bakuchiol is a key ingredient in the Prestige Edition, but here its effects are further boosted with two evidence-based anti-aging superstars, Encapsulated Retinol and Vitamin C.  The combination of Bakuchiol and Retinol is notable, as the two ingredients work synergistically together, such that their anti-aging and skin-clearing benefits are more than the sum of their individual parts.  Moreover, the Retinol in Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is encapsulated to improve its delivery and stability.  All this is further amplified by collagen-boosting  vitamin C in an oil-soluble form, L-ascorbyl Palmitate, that helps to brighten and smooth the complexion.

Other incredible ingredients in this luxury cocktail that is Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition include powerhouse antioxidants Astaxanthin, skin-smoothing Ceramides, Fermented Willow Bark to help keep skin clear and bright, White Lupin extract for firming sagging skin, and CoQ10 to help protect skin from environmental stress, and Seabuckthorn and Rosehip Oils to help reduce the appearance of scars.  These are just some of the highlights in this truly divine oil serum!  With all the precious actives featured in Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition, it is noteworthy that the formulation also includes Acai Goji Dehydrasome, an advanced natural ingredient that is not only highly antioxidant and hydrating, but also boosts the delivery and absorption of all the formulation’s beneficial ingredients, of which there are many.

Despite all the potent actives and their enhanced delivery, Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is incredibly gentle in its power, never causing even the slightest hint of a reaction even on my sensitive skin.  This rich oil is luxurious, hydrating, anti-aging and yet still a perfect choice for those of us dealing with aging and acne simultaneously, as it addresses both concerns and is non-comedogenic.  Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is by far the most advanced and effective oil treatment serum I have ever used.  Once again, Okoko Cosmétiques has surpassed my high expectations and delivered a product that truly elevates the entire category of facial oils.

The post Okoko Cosmétiques Diamant Bleu & Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Every now and then, I encounter a skincare line created so much depth, passion, and love that calling the line’s offerings “products” would be demeaning, as it would discount the soulful artistry and sacred alchemy involved in their conception and creation.  Elaa Living Organic Skin Care is such a line.  This is line that is natural, vibrant, handcrafted with love, and dazzling in its beauty and its effectiveness.  Elaa Skin Care is a wildcrafted, fresh, living/raw (e.g., never heated above 115 degrees, such that actives retain all their nutritional value), 100% natural, cruelty-free, 95% vegan/5% beegan (i.e., vegan + bee-produced ingredients carefully managed so no bees are harmed in the process) skin care line packed with beneficial skin nutrition.  Crafted with living, healing, transformational, and highly-active superfoods, oils extracts, and nectars, the line appropriately takes its name from the Finnish word for “to be alive.”

The woman behind Elaa Living Organic Skin Care, founder and formulator/alchemist Jill Stacey, is as lovely, soulful, and vibrant as the line itself.  The way she approaches her craft hints at the wonders you will experience with her treasures.  For instance, Jill describes Elaa Skin Care as “an expression of what lights me up” and views her creations as a way to share her passions, wisdom, and gifts.  Jill understands that our culture makes true self-acceptance difficult, writing, “Due to the conditioning of our culture for unrealistic, artificial, and impossible standards of beauty, girls and women (and boys and men as well) are punishing and self-abusing themselves in subtle to life-threatening ways. Almost everyone I have ever known, including myself, has struggled with body image and/or skin issues.” Jill herself has found that loving self-care is a valuable practice for embracing ourselves exactly as we are and cultivating and deepening self-acceptance.  She handcrafts Elaa treasures with the belief that each of us is inherently sacred and that skin care is a way to cherish our bodies and help propel each of us to our highest potential of vitality, health, and beauty.  Elaa Skin Care is a truly inspired line that offers the highest quality, highest performance, natural skin care treasures to inspire self-care and self-love.

Jill Stacey, Elaa Skin Care Founder & Alchemist

Elaa Living Organic Skin Care founder and alchemist Jill Stacey has the words of a poet, the vision of an artist, and a unique depth and breadth of skills that come from merging passion and natural gifts with a wealth of formal education and training.  An Ivy League graduate with a deep and longstanding love of nature’s bounty, the expertise Jill brings to her craft includes training as a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Nutritionist, an Herbalist, and an Aromatherapist, among other qualifications.  Though this wealth of formal expertise is evident in Elaa’s uniquely nutritious skin treasures, so is an undeniable depth that goes beyond book-learning.  Jill’s approach to alchemy and creation is informed by her deepest passions, her life-learned wisdom, and perhaps even a bit of divine inspiration.  As Jill shared in a recent social media post, “Much of the creation comes from knowledge, science, research… but also a large portion comes from my heart and soul… and how they speak to me while I’m creating. My intuition is really the most critical instrument of all in guiding me as I create Elaa formulas. My inner guide speaks to me when my mind is quiet and I’m dropped into being and feeling the creation that’s wanting to come into form.”  The results are spectacular.

Elaa Skin Care Superfood Dream Cream

The recipes of Elaa Living Organic Skin Care formulas are something to behold, each one bursting with bountiful nutrition.  Jill’s understanding of and appreciation for superfood nutrition is evident in the abundant superstar ingredients she includes in each Elaa treasure, and the ingredient blends in Elaa treasures offer the ultimate wholesome indulgence for skin and spirit.  For just one shining example (of many), we can admire the impressive array of beneficial actives in Elaa’s Superfood Dream Cream.  This luscious creation features wildcrafted Goji Berries, Organic Cacao, MSM, Organic Mangosteen, Wildcrafted Amla, Organic Rhodiola, Organic Baobab, Organic Camu Camu, Organic Acai, Organic Reishi and Chaga Mushrooms, Organic Spirulina, Organic Pomegranate Oil, Frankincense Essential Oil, and more!  In another line, any one of these dynamic actives could easily serve as a sole star active in a formulation rounded out by copious fillers; in fact, one of Superfood Dream Cream’s dozen or so star ingredients, MSM, is arguably the basis of/inspiration behind an entire skin care line (i.e., OSKIA).  With Elaa, you get treasures that are completely filler free and literally packed to the brim with an array of superstar actives.

Elaa Skin Care Superfood Dream Cream, once more

Jill’s alchemy is dazzling across the entire Elaa line, including two Elaa treasures that particularly caught my eye:  Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir and Bee Beauty Facial Oil.  I had the privilege of trying this dynamic, beegan, age-defying pair.  Both treasures draw on the amazing benefits of bee-produced actives (and, as I mentioned before, no bees are harmed in gathering these actives).  Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir and Bee Beauty Facial Oil both deliver high-performance results using dynamic natural actives in gorgeous, synergistic blends.  Let me tell you about each one.

Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir

Elaa Skin Care Bee Blessed Bee Venom Elixir

Elaa Skin Care Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir is a skin-smoothing dream for aging skin.  The elixir features one of nature’s most potent and dynamic anti-aging ingredients:  bee venom.  Bee venom itself contains at least 18 active components that include enzymes, peptides, and biogenic amines; among these, substances called melittin, phospholipase A2, and a small amount of histamine are thought to act together to have circulation-boosting, tightening, and brightening effects on the skin.  Elaa founder Jill first became enamored with bee venom after experiencing apitherapy (i.e., the treatment modality in which bee venom is utilized as an anti-inflammatory treatment for pain and illness).  The healing Jill experienced with this left her in awe of bee venom and inspired her to incorporate this versatile active in this Elaa treasure.  The Bee Venom used in Elaa Bee Blessed is pure, potent, undried, and unadulterated.  The active is carefully sourced such that bees are unharmed and maintain their stingers throughout the Bee Venom collection process; a panel of glass is placed alongside a hive, and a very weak current is run through the glass panel, prompting the bees to pump out a minuscule amount of venom, such that it takes a million stings to create just 1ml of the star venom.  Talk about a truly precious ingredient!

Called nature’s Botox, Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir’s star active delivers clinically-proven anti-aging effects.  For example, a bee-venom serum containing a mere 0.006% concentration of the active significantly reduced wrinkle area, wrinkle count, and wrinkle depth. These striking results were obtained using a far weaker concentration of bee venom than that contained in Elaa Skin Care’s potent, active-packed Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir, in which bee venom is a top ingredient.  As bee venom is water-soluble, Jill has formulated the elixir in a water-based serum for maximum penetration with a pinch of black pepper essential oil to facilitate and boost absorption.  Not only does Bee Blessed deliver the equivalent of 212 bee stings in a single ounce, it also further boosts the anti-aging potency of bee venom by including it in a synergistic anti-aging blend that also features:  six Anti-Aging Peptides, PhytoElastin, Liposomal Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Organic White Tea, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and select Organic Essential Oils.  These actives offer a wealth of rejuvenating, hydrating, antioxidant, and skin-firming benefits that make a beautiful difference for the complexion.

Elaa Skin Care Bee Blessed Bee Venom Elixir, anti-aging masterpiece

Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir is a transformative anti-aging gem.  Moreover, in addition to anti-wrinkle actions, bee venom has serious anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects as well, so this elixir truly offers benefits for nearly any skin type, including one as challenged as mine (e.g., inflammation-prone, sensitive, acne-prone, and aging).  I love that Bee Blessed promotes calmer and clearer skin in addition to delivering serious wrinkle-reducing results.  Bee Blessed is a beautiful, high-performance treasure that will benefit all sorts of complexions, and I feel confident recommending it.

Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir Ingredients:  Organic Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Radish Root Ferment, White Peony Tea Extract, Bee Venom, Peptides (6 varieties), Phytoelastin, Retinol Liposome, Silver Citrate, Organic Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils of Lavender, Frankincense, Rose Geranium, Neroli, Rose Otto, Black Pepper, Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Bee Beauty Facial Oil

Elaa Skin Care Bee Beauty Facial Oil, liquid gold hydration

Bee Beauty Facial Oil is another beegan gem from Elaa.  If you are a lover of natural facial oils, you will not want to miss this, and if you are not, this will make a believer out of you.  The star active is Triple Concentrated Royal Jelly, the substance that, when consumed by bees, turns them into queen bees.  The fact that royal jelly influences bee development this much (see Jill’s description in another incredible Elaa blog article) is pretty incredible, and it turns out that royal jelly also has amazing benefits for the skin.  Even at regular strength, Royal Jelly has been shown to boost collagen production, minimize inflammation by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improve hydration; the 3x concentrated Royal Jelly in Bee Beauty delivers these benefits in a big way, leaving skin calm and plump.  The gorgeous blend that rounds out the formulation includes Wildcrafted Goji Berries, Organic Elderflower, Organic Green Rooibos, Organic Seabuckthorn Oil, Organic Pomegranate Oil, Organic Horsetail, and more.

Bee Beauty Facial Oil is a standout in terms of its ingredients and its results.  I have tried dozens facial oils in my day, and most of them are pleasant, but few really qualify as high-performance. Bee Beauty Facial Oil is one of these special few.  This oil moisturizer markedly changed my skin for the better–noticeably improving my skin texture and leaving my skin softer, smoother, and suppler.  Bee Beauty left me so impressed that I marveled at its results–I could not stop touching my face because my skin was so smooth and hydrated that it almost felt like I was touching the soft, plump face of one of my young daughters.  Bee Beauty is easily one of my all-time favorite facial oils.  It is incredibly hydrating without being heavy and, as is the case with Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir, Bee Beauty is a dynamic, multi-benefit skin care treasure suitable for a variety of skin types and concerns; this gem delivers potent anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects, along with skin-plumping hydration.

Bee Beauty Facial Oil Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Immortality Alchemy’s Organic 3X concentrated Royal Jelly, Organic Rose Hip Seed CO2, Wildcrafted Goji Berry, Organic Red Clover Blossom, Organic Horsetail, Organic Nettle Leaf, Organic Oolong Tea, Organic Comfrey Root, Organic Chamomile, Organic Burdock Root, Organic Red Rose Petals, Organic ElderFlower, Organic Licorice Root, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Green Rooibos Tea, Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil, Organic Seabuckthorn Oil, Organic Unrefined Vitamin E Oil, Organic Supercritical CO2 extracted Rosemary Antioxidant, Organic Therapeutic Essential Oils of Sandalwood, Frankincense, Rose Otto, Organic Jasmine Sambac.

Elaa Skin Care Bee Beauty Facial Oil, in a gloriously fresh batch

CONCLUSION

Both Bee Blessed- Bee Venom Elixir and Bee Beauty Facial Oil are sumptuous, high-performance, multi-benefit skin care.  Bee Blessed is an anti-aging, wrinkle-smoothing powerhouse treatment serum, and Bee Beauty is one of the most effective skin-plumping facial oil moisturizers I have ever tried.  Each is a treasure on its own, but together they are a began masterpiece, offering countless benefits in just two (deeply enjoyable) steps.  Highly recommended.

The post Elaa Skin Care: Alchemical Treasures to Inspire Sacred Self-Care appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Can topical probiotics live up to the hype?  First, up
TULA Probiotic Skincare

 

 

 

 

What Attracted Me to the Line:  I have seen probiotics do amazing things for health when taken internally, so the idea of applying them topically was very intriguing to me.  The idea is that topical probiotics can strengthen the skin barrier and microbiome. It struck me as a smart innovation in theory, but I did not know if it would actually “work.”  As I read more, I discovered that the TULA line was created by a leading gastroenterologist and internist, Dr. Roshini Raj, and that there is a lot of medical knowledge that went into the line’s probiotic technology.  In addition to probiotics, the serum incorporates incredibly nutritious ingredients like yogurt extract, rice nutripeptides, chicory root extract, turmeric, white tea, blueberry extract, vitamins such as A, C, and E, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids from flax oil.

 

First Impressions: The packaging and bottles are lovely and designed in serene, calming shades of aqua that bring to mind a spa experience.  All of the ingredients are listed on the box, so you can inspect and know every single thing you are putting on your skin. The bottle is made of thick glass. The scent of TULA products is a barely noticeable, but pleasant, fragrance.

TULA’s special probiotic complex is supposed to stimulate the production of vital defense cells, making skin healthier, less sensitive/inflamed, and more resistant to environmental stressors and the aging process.  At first, I was intrigued enough to want to try it, but also a little skeptical, because how many times have I read about some new “innovation” in skin care only to end up disappointed?  Well, if you read on, you’ll see that TULA represents one of those rare, amazing times when an innovation actually lives up to its claims.

I wondered if I would immediately need to refrigerate TULA. I looked into this, and it does not require refrigeration because TULA’s probiotics are no longer alive.  As Dr. Raj explained in an interview with Forbes, “They’ve been broken down to release only their most useful elements ….[giving them] a longer shelf life without losing their powerful benefits on the skin.”

My Experience Using TULA: As I mentioned, I was intrigued, yet a little skeptical about what TULA’s “probiotic technology” could actually do for my dry, aging, sensitive skin.  Since my skin is parched, sensitive, and reactive, I am a tough test subject for skin care; I want visible results like anyone else, but harsh products do me more harm than good. To put the line to the test, I applied everything to my entire face and, more importantly, a wound on my neck where I’d had a biopsy–an area that wasn’t healing and seemed that it might scar.

 

Results? I saw the first improvement in my wound within just a couple of days; the red mark from the biopsy faded more over 2 days with TULA products than it had in weeks with other creams.  In just days, my face, too, started looking healthier and “glowier.”  What’s more, after using TULA just days, my skin tone was even enough that I didn’t even have to consider foundation or concealer (a big deal given my skin’s usual reactivity/redness).  No other product line I’ve tried (and there have been many) has given me visible improvements this rapidly. With Tula, I really do feel like my skin has a radiance it didn’t have before, and what really impresses me is that the radiance lasts all day–not just for the first five minutes after I apply it!  Best of all, after using TULA a few weeks, I got carded!  (Hasn’t happened in a while….)

The Players

TULA Exfoliating Treatment Mask – $54.00This dual phase treatment provides both a chemical and physical exfoliation to gently slough off dead skin cells to reveal a polished and glowing complexion.

My Experience with Exfoliating Treatment Mask–The Exfoliating Treatment Mask uses both physical and chemical exfolation to reveal softer, brighter skin.  I found this left my skin smooth and fresh, and despite the inclusion of clay, it is not too drying for my parched, sensitive skin.  The Mask delivers smoothing and brightening exfoliation that is gentle enough for sensitive skin.

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TULA Illuminating Face Serum – $78.00This light, easily absorbed formula helps to promote softer, even-toned skin, diminish the appearance of dark spots and helps to maintain a fresh, youthful-looking glow.

My Experience with Illuminating Face Serum–The Illuminating Face Serum is very light and absorbable, and it leaves skin gently luminous.  The glow is really remarkable because it is not a superficial shimmer nor an oily sheen, but rather a subtle, natural-looking brightness and luminosity.  Not just a temporary effect, this Serum truly seems to illuminate the complexion in a way that lasts all day and into the night.

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TULA Hydrating Day & Night Cream – $52.00Like a multivitamin for your skin, this rich, age-defying cream delivers intense sustained hydration and antioxidants protection to reduce fine lines and help improve the youthful appearance of the skin.

 

My Experience with Hydrating Day & Night Cream–Day & Night Cream provides light but effective hydration that I find perfect for daytime and under other products, as it absorbs so well it leaves little behind. For normal skin types, this would be an excellent double-tasking product for day and night, Personally, as dry as my skin is, I prefer something heavier and more deeply hydrating for night, but this suits me during the day under SPF.

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TULA Advanced Neck Cream – $80.00This super hydrating balm-like cream works to firm the delicate skin on the neck and decolletage while attacking fine lines, wrinkles and crepey skin.

My Experience with Advanced Neck Cream–-Advanced Neck Cream delivers amazing hydrating, rich and luxurious moisture that has been very healing to my parched skin.  Truly sumptuous, this is definitely one of my favorite products of the line (I like it so much I use it all over my face as well!).

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TULA Volume Defense Serum – $98.00This weightless, milky serum feels like a burst of hydration on your skin. Packed with vitamin C and retinol, this anti-aging powerhouse will leave your skin plumper and bring back its youthful bounce.

 

My Experience with Volume Defense Serum—Volume Defense Serum combines probiotic technology and Tula’s other beneficial ingredients with anti-aging Retinol to dramatically reduce wrinkles and sag.  This Serum is definitely effective; I have seen some softening of lines with just short-term use.  The inclusion of soothing and healing probiotic makes it more tolerable for my sensitive skin than other Retinol products I have used.  All in all, a highly effective anti-aging serum gentle enough for dry, sensitive skin.

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                                                  CONCLUSION

Overall Pros, Benefits, Cons:  Using TULA has lead to a dramatic improvement in the softness, evenness, hydration, and “glow” of my skin.  I have seen these improvements faster than I have with any other line.  With TULA, I am starting to see my worry lines soften as much as they ever did with prescription Retin-A (which left my skin a red, flaky mess). All the products I tried were suitable even for my sensitive, reactive, aging skin.  In fact, TULA achieved these “turnaround” results while *reducing* irritation and skin sensitivity!

BOTTOM LINE:  Highly recommended.  Slightly pricey, but worth the cost.  In my opinion, a FIND for anyone with sensitive skin.  Plus, TULA just came out with a new Overnight Rescue Treatment that promises to be even more potent, with three carefully selected strains as opposed to just one.  I have not tried it yet, but I would bet money that it’s fantastic.

The post TULA Probiotic Skin Care Review: More than Hype? appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Update 8 Weeks Later

I continue to be able to use Retinol Reform without redness, discomfort, or any of the usual “raw” feeling I usually get from retinol products.  My skin is noticeably smoother and also less dull.  What is perhaps even more remarkable than the striking improvements is that Retinol Reform is more tolerable for me than most weaker, less effective retinol products I have tried.  Although I still recommend starting up gradually, this is a very well-formulated product that delivers smoothing results without any of the side effects I had come to expect.  A great choice for people who want the benefits of a hefty dose of retinol in a smart formulation that makes it surprisingly tolerable for sensitive types.

Ingredients

Retinol Rx, Lactic Acid, Deionized Water, Aloe Vera,
Glycerth-26, Octyl Dimethyl, Polysorbate-80, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate,
Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Sodium Benzoate, Inositrol, Quaternium-15

The post Resurface by Shani Darden Retinol Reform: Magic in a Bottle? appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

GLOWBIOTICS MD is the first ever medical-grade probiotic skin care line–recently rebranded GLOWBIOTICS MD from mybody in order to better represent the transformative effects of their probiotic formulas.  What caught my attention about GLOWBIOTICS MD is that the probiotic element is just one facet of their formulations; they blend their immune-boosting probiotics with targeted bioactives (several patented) that enable cellular regeneration without traditional irritation.  Their formulas target and treat a number of skin conditions, such as: fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, redness/Rosacea,  acne, excessive dryness, and sagging skin.
I had the opportunity to test MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal Serum and MYHERO Probiotic Firming + Replenishing Lotion.

Although GLOWBIOTICS MD has named the product MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal Serum, the three featured anti-aging ingredients are only the top of the iceburg, as the product actually has several key ingredients. It features: a Smart Retinoid Complex that delivers the results of retinol without the traditional irritation; Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a highly stable form of Vitamin C to brighten skin, reduce pigmentation, and prevent free radical damage; Smart Peptides 239/240, safe biomimetic peptides that promote collagen production to firm skin; Renovage; as well as Skin Tightener ST, a unique marine peptide complex that tightens slack skin. Several things have proved special about MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal Serum. First, I am seeing true benefits of retinol on wrinkles and skin texture with absolutely no irritation (unheard of for my sensitive, reactive skin). I wanted to know how this was possible, because Retin-A and retinol have always ravaged my skin, so I sent my question to GLOWBIOTIC MD’s Director of Education, Daniel Clary, and he explained:

• Due to the acid moiety (arm) of the retinoic acid molecule (Vitamin A), when applied topically it literally dismantles and destroys the skin’s protective barrier in order to penetrate. Barrier disruption, to ANY degree, causes the inflammatory response to activate. Retin-A keeps the skin in a vicious and perpetual cycle of inflammation. This will age skin fast.
• Our Smart Retinoid Complex contains GDR (Glycerl Diretinoate), a retinoic acid ester, a biproduct of reacting retinoic acid with glycerin.  This represents the only bioactive form of Vitamin A  (retinoic acid) that the cell can actually utilize WITHOUT disrupting the skin’s barrier [and without triggering the vicious cycle of inflammation that will age skin]. This is the gold standard now in retinoid augmentation. Skin integrity intact, and no inflammation activated.

As someone whose skin tends to turn red as a beet at the mere first touch of Retin-A or retinol, I am highly impressed with this Smart Retinoid Complex.  My skin is gradually looking firmer, and lines are fainter.  Again, all this has been achieved without any irritation or drying of my temperamental skin. GLOWBIOTICS MD MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal Serum, with its Smart Retinoid Complex and abundance of anti-aging actives, is my favorite retinol product ever; because there is no drying or inflammation, I finally see the benefits retinol is “supposed” to deliver.

MYHERO Probiotic Firming + Replenishing Lotion is another gem.  The key ingredients that caught my attention were the probiotic bioactives, beta glucan, and smart peptides (including Septilift DPHP).  The probiotic bioactives are anti-inflammatory and help promote key structural protein gene expression of collagen and elastin. These probiotic bioactives are combined with beta glucan, a prebiotic that is powerfully synergistic and creates a match made in skin care (and chemistry) heaven to deliver maximum benefits. The smart peptides in turn, have been proven to significantly reduce wrinkle depth, act as potent antioxidants, protect the dermal matrix, and firm collagen. I found MYHERO Probiotic Firming + Replenishing Lotion to be an ultra-light yet hydrating moisturizer that absorbs easily, minimizes inflammation, and softens signs of aging.

After rapidly losing weight due to a lupus flare, I had found myself troubled by slack facial skin with marionette lines and sagging below the mouth.  MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal Serum and Probiotic Firming + Replenishing Lotion are the first products I have found that made a significant difference in sagging.  I especially saw an improvement in my nasolabial folds and sag under the corners of my mouth (see Before and After).  I still have some progress to make, but I can honestly say that I began to see glimmers of improvement within the first week of using these GLOWBIOTICS MD products, and I have no doubt the improvement will keep coming.  In less than a month, my face has tightened up to be much more like what I remember.  I consider that a significant achievement, and I would say that MYHERO Triple-Action Age Reversal and Firming + Replenishing Lotion are among the best anti-aging products I have ever tried. They both deserve a lot of credit. Together, they are a very powerful anti-aging combination and actually seem to reduce skin irritation rather than contributing to it.

Last but not least, I love that GLOWBIOTICS MD donates 1% of profits to mental health charities. This is a company that is also on the cutting-edge of science with their formulations. Thanks to Daniel Clary, Director of Education at GLOWBIOTICS MD, who helped me understand how the ingredients in each blend work together to deliver maximum benefits.  This is a company that has heart and is also on top of its game.

CONCLUSION:  I give GLOWBIOTICS MD my highest recommendation.  They offer unique targeted formulas that yield real results.

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• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil–moisturizes and softens skin, reduces inflammation, balances oil production
• Glycerin–moisturizes, helps skin retain water
•  Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)–healing, provides vitamins A and E to skin
• Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oil–excellent for the skin barrier
• Dimethicone–emollient to prevent dry skin
• Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Oil–uniquely balanced with the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids that skin needs, hydrating
• Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-skin beneficial peptide
• Calcium PCA--strengthens skin’s protective barrier
• Retinol--potentially transformative anti-aging ingredient
• Tocopherol–vitamin E, fats soluble antioxidant essential for healthy skin
• Squalane–hydrating, creates a barrier between skin and the environment

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I am someone who likes clinically-validated products, so I was immediately drawn to iS CLINICAL, a brand that holds itself to this standard for every single  one of its products. Sean Francis, Public Relations and Events Manager at iS CLINICAL, was kind enough to give me the opportunity to feature the brand, and he went above and beyond by thoughtfully selecting two products–Extreme Protect SPF 30 and Pro-Heal Serum Advance–best suited to address the dual concerns of photosensitivity and inflammation, major issues for most of us with lupus as well as nearly anyone with sensitive skin or photosensitivity.

Extreme Protect SPF 30 impressed me right off the bat, because in addition to providing broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection (featuring zinc oxide at 4.12%, always a favorite to see, along with oxtinoxate at 5.5%), the formula also includes Extremozymes (a combination of  enzymes proven to protect and repair DNA), Vitamin E, extracts of Centella Asiastica  to stimulate collagen synthesis and promote wound healing, as well as aloe and olive leaf extract. Just looking at the ingredients, this is an appealing product.  

My own version of the “inflammation test” was simply to see if my skin could handle the retinol in Pro-Heal Serum Advance without turning into a beet red flaking mess (the typical outcome of retinol).  Much to my excitement, my skin tolerates twice daily use of this serum without any of the usual retinol side effects.  This is remarkable given my reactive skin, and it proves to me that this is a very special serum. I never would have expected that a serum with retinol and vitamin C would help calm inflammation and even my skin tone, but this does! That was proof enough for me. I put my skepticism aside. Pro-Heal Serum Advance quickly exceeded my expectations; it reduced inflammation and left my skin with a better texture–and did so quickly, within just a few days.  In addition to taming inflammation, Pro-Heal Serum Advance has been shown to far outperform four comparable products in its ability to absorb free radicals. This means applying Pro-Heal Serum Advance before Extreme Protect 30 will boost photoprotection even more!

Based on many skin care trials, I can tell you that Pro-Heal Serum Advance is a one of a kind product in its effectiveness in healing and protecting irritation-prone skin, toning down redness and irritation, and improving skin texture.  For anyone concerned about inflamm-aging and/or looking for the ultimate antioxidant serum that boosts UV protection, this is a great choice and one that is wonderfully suited to sensitive, reactive skin. 

Conclusion: iS CLINICAL clinically validates all of its products, and my personal experience echos the empirical findings for both Extreme Protect SPF 30 and Pro-Heal Serum Advance.  Both products are excellent for health-challenged skin. Extreme Protect SPF 30 is an advanced formula with skin-beneficial ingredients, as well as data that suggests that skin protected by the product may receive less damage in direct sunlight than untreated skin in pure darkness.  My only wish is that they would make the product even stronger by offering a version that is SPF 50. Pro-Heal Serum Advance provides strong antioxidant benefits, boosts photoprotection, tames inflammation and redness, and improves skin texture–all in a single remarkable product.  This is a very unique formulation with a number of benefits: highly recommended.

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