before and after pictures Archives • The Beauty Librarian

JeNu Plus Ultrasonic Infuser with Marine Collagen Gel: Pictures over 30 Days

Melissa Davis — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 06:30:00 +0000

The JeNu Plus Ultrasonic Infuser: is easy to charge and clean, compact, and takes up virtually no counter space. The experience is quiet and painless. Using it, I fee a very subtle sensation; it does not feel extreme or unsettling in the least, nor is its ultrasonic action at all irritating for my sensitive skin. Using the JeNu Plus takes just 1 minute for your entire face. For me, it has quickly become as automatic as brushing my teeth. Of several devices I have tried, JeNu Plus is the one that will never sit on the shelf collecting dust, because it’s simple, fast, painless, and truly makes a positive difference without causing irritation, and that’s a tall order.

Clinical studies have shown that using JeNu Plus with MicroSphere Conducting Gel will boost the absorption and effectiveness of any skincare product; just by using the JeNu Plus to apply your skin care product rather than your fingers provides six times the absorption and six times the strength, and therefore yields faster and more dramatic results. I used JeNu’s brand new Collagen Marine Serum and had fantastic results. Without any pain or discomfort, JeNu Plus lifted and firmed my skin, minimizing droopiness.

BEFORE

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

CONCLUSION: The JeNu Plus Ultrasonic Infuser will give the skin care routine you already use an incredible boost and will change (and improve) your beauty routine without complicating it. Using this device is the easiest, fastest, and most comfortable way I have ever seen to get and speed up the results you want for your skin. If you want a great firming product, I had great luck with JeNu’s new Collagen Marine Serum. At the same time, you can keep your favorite, trusted products; by adding JeNu Plus you’ll get six times better absorption and six times the strength in just 60 seconds (this is based on a clinical study that tested JeNu with a leading anti-aging topical). A slogan might be: your favorite products, made better. Because of this, not only is the JeNu Plus a game changer, in the long run it’s also a money saver (applying a $50 serum with the JeNu Plus, the results you can get are likely to surpass far pricier products). Without a doubt, the JeNu Plus Ultrasonic Infuser has earned a place in my heart and my daily routine. Highly recommended.

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NuFace Mini Review: All Up from Here?

Melissa Davis — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 01:50:00 +0000

The NuFACE Mini is a slightly smaller (and more affordable) redesign of the buzzy microcurrent device NuFACE Trinity. Both have been described as the “5-minute facelift.” I had the exciting opportunity to test and feature the NuFACE Mini. NuFACE treatment is quick and easy—just five minutes (unless you prefer an advanced technique that can take slightly longer). NuFACE provides several helpful, foolproof video tutorials that guide the novice through basic or advanced treatments, which enabled me to feel like I knew what I was doing from the very first go. You might expect microcurrent to feel like a mini-electrocution, but with a generous application of the NewFACE Gel Primer, the sensation is quite tolerable, even on the maximum level. Note: NuFACE treatment was uncomfortable when I did not apply the Gel Primer generously and/or when my face started to dry during the treatment.

In terms of results, the NuFACE provides a pinch of instant gratification and more rewarding long-term results (if you continue treatment daily). I noticed a very slight visible improvement in my marionette lines and the sag under the corners of my mouth within the first treatment, and my results gradually improved with continued use. At no point did I feel like I had received the equivalent of a facelift, but facial sagging markedly minimized with consistent treatments.

BEFORE NuFACE

AFTER ONE 5-Minute NuFACE Mini Tx

After my gradual, but notable, success with the NuFACE Mini, I decided to invest in a NuFACE Trinity, which is very similar to the NuFACE Mini, with the exception that the Trinity allows the user to incorporate attachments for even better, more precise anti-aging results. Both are FDA-cleared devices that deliver dramatic anti-aging results. The attachments are the Trinity Wrinkle Reducer Attachment, which features LED, and the Trinity ELE Attachment. I hope to try the ELE Attachment and document further progress. In the meantime, I have continued using my NuFACE Trinity consistently for several more weeks, and you can see my rather remarkable improvements in firmness below.

AFTER 12 WEEKS of NuFACE

CONCLUSION

PROS: The NuFACE has been called a “5 Minute Face Lift,” and it at least approaches that claim, particularly with cumulative results from ongoing use. Considering how
impossible it often feels to lift sagging skin, with some dedication, the NuFACE Mini is highly effective at a fairly reasonable price. If you want to take your results to even
greater heights and are willing to pay more, the NuFACE Trinity allows the use of attachments that (I am assuming) allow for greater precision and perhaps even better results.

CONS: To see good results, you have to be quite consistent. Microcurrent treatment can be somewhat uncomfortable and could potentially be truly painful for individuals with low pain tolerance and/or particularly sensitive skin. I found the sensation of treatment slightly aversive, but tolerable. I have sensitive, reactive skin, and often NuFACE treatment left my skin somewhat red and irritated for an hour or so; I would not recommend attempting treatment with this device when skin is at all inflamed or compromised.

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Quasar MD PLUS: Worth the Investment?

Melissa Davis — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 06:07:00 +0000

I was thrilled to be able to try the renowned Quasar MD PLUS, but given my skin’s proneness towards redness, irritation, and inflammation, I did not know whether my skin would be able to handle it or if I would turn into a beet-faced mess. After all, the company advertises their devices as being several times as strong as any of the competition. The Quasar MD PLUS uses 4 wavelengths of light: 610nm, 630nm, 660nm, and 850nm. The energy output is about 65 milliwatts per square centimeter. I tried to compare the milliwatts per square centimeter of the Quasar MD PLUS to other devices, but many competing companies claim that information is proprietary.

I needn’t have worried about sensitivity, because the directions instructed me to conduct a test on a slightly less obvious area of skin than the face for a full three-minute treatment cycle and to observe my skin over time to see if it became red (in which case a person is not well-suited to this professional-strength treatment). Lucky for me, I encountered no problems with the test area and eagerly moved onto my face. The device itself runs in treatment cycles that are 3 minutes long and shuts off automatically at the end of each to be sure you do not lose track of time and overdo it. The treatment I conduct takes me only 12 minutes. I mentally divide my face into just four sections, gliding around within each section for the three-minute treatment cycle. It would certainly be possible to follow up with some additional spot treatment on areas of concern, and I often (but not always) do this. The device is bright, such that you’ll want to close your eye on the side of your face where the light is being applied, but the treatment itself is completely painless, and I personally have not experienced any troublesome irritation despite my skin’s sensitivity.

Glamorous goggles included

After using the Quasar MD PLUS for about four weeks consistently, I see improvement in my skin tone and softness and an improvement in both fine lines and expression lines. Is it everything I dreamed? Not quite, but I do feel that it is helpful. In terms of tackling and taming wrinkles, I would put the Quasar MD PLUS at the same level as the excellent skin care. It seems to boost the effectiveness of my regular skin care. At its price tag ($595), this is not a purchase to make lightly. Yet if you consider that it comes with a 90-day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty and is—in my experience –fairly effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles with ongoing treatments, this kind of low-risk trial may be worth the rewards you could potentially begin to see well before 90 days are up.

BEFORE AFTER

Personally, I like and recommend Quasar MD PLUS, but I must admit that if I had paid (the hefty) full price for the device, I would be disappointed that my results are not miraculous. The improvements I have seen are real, but they are not jaw-dropping. As with many beauty devices, I feel like I have to use this regularly to try to maintain results, especially on expression lines. There are other options; the Quasar MD PLUS has a treatment head of 1.94 inches in diameter with 5 mm LEDs, whereas the Baby Quasar PLUS has a treatment head of 1.44 inches in diameter with 3mm LEDs. If you are willing to devote a little extra time, Baby Quasar PLUS will deliver the same results as the more expensive model.

Bottom Line: This device, although not as miraculous for me as I may have hoped, does make a difference, possibly shaving off 3-4 years my appearance when I use it regularly. I personally have not had any particular issues with sensitivity or inflammation from using it, but I do recommend caution on sensitive skin as well as always doing spot tests as advised in the directions.

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Erasa XEP 30 Review: Time in a Bottle

Melissa Davis — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:06:00 +0000

This product was provided in exchange for an honest review. No additional compensation was provided.

What it is: Erasa XEP 30 Extreme Line Lifting and Rejuvenation Concentrate ($160) is an anti-aging concentrate that promises to deliver brighter, clearer, more youthful skin –and visible results in two weeks or less.*

How it works: Its power player, the patented neuropeptide XEP-30 is a biomimetic neuropeptide (i.e., a synthesized version of cone-snail venom) that helps block the receptors that make facial muscles contract. Two additional peptides, X-50 Myocept, and argireline, that work synergistically with XEP-30 to relax facial muscles. Together these peptides dramatically reduce wrinkles caused by muscle contractions and facial expressions. Moreover, tiny bits of silicone in the concentrate fill lines and wrinkles, making them less visible. If that were not enough, Erasa XEP 30 also includes a unique combination of whey protein and creatine to stimulate collagen production.

How it does on sensitive skin: For those of us with sensitive, reactive skin prone to inflammation, the comprehensive formula includes: niacinamide to increase the skin’s protective barrier and improve skin tone, galabridin (a licorice extract that fights inflammation and brightens skin tone), as well as magnolia, boswellia, and white birch to reduce inflammation.

*Clinical studies have shown a significant reduction in wrinkles within two weeks. Studies were conducted by AMA Laboratories, a well-respected, independent testing laboratory.

What attracted me to the product: Erasa XEP 30 had such impressive results in clinical trials (applying the concentrate twice a day just for two weeks, subjects’ lines and wrinkles were reduced by an average of 64%) that I had trouble believing that it would live up to its advertising. I wanted to see if the product really delivered results as dramatic as the claims. I was skeptical, but then again, if it lived up to its claims, I definitely wanted to be using it…

First impressions: The concentrate has a light, pleasant floral fragrance and is a lovely pink peach color; XEP 30 spreads and absorbs easily and leaves very little if any residue. As someone with sensitive, reactive skin, I was not sure if I would be able to tolerate a product as potent as XEP 30.

Sensitive Skin Tolerability: With many potent anti-aging ingredients and products, my skin stings/burns, dries out and flakes, revealing angry red splotches where the irritation is worst; I end up looking far worse than I did when I started. To my great relief, Erasa XEP was not painful to apply and did not cause any irritation or adverse skin response. Instead, with its many anti-inflammatory ingredients, XEP 30 actually calmed my skin and reduced redness while doing its anti-aging magic.

XEP 30=Botox in a Bottle? The anti-aging results achieved are similar: Erasa XEP 30 has been shown to reduce wrinkles by 74% in 14 days. However, unlike Botox, XEP 30 does not cause “frozen face.” Erasa’s tri-peptide formula still allows for natural facial movement and expression, so you look natural, only better.

Results: After just one night of using XEP 30, my husband (unaware that I had a secret weapon) complimented my skin, noticing how smooth it looked. By the end of the second day, I could tell my lines were softening. Within a week of using XEP 30 twice per day, my skin looked visibly less dull and more radiant. Deeply entrenched lines were far less visible. Perhaps most impressive of all, areas of my face that been starting to sag–my jawline, marionette lines, under the corners of my mouth–were firmed back up. This is within one week.

BEFORE

1 WEEK LATER

ERASA XEP 30

After seeing my own results, I had to ask myself, why doesn’t the whole world know about XEP 30? This is an anti-aging product so good, part of me wants to shout about it to the entire aging world. Another part of me wants to keep it my little secret, sharing it only here and with my closest and truest girlfriends. I think the reason it continues to fly under the radar is that most satisfied Erasa XEP 30 customers are keeping this secret to themselves.

Conclusion: Erasa XEP 30 Extreme Line Lifting and Rejuvenation Concentrate is both the fastest-acting and most effective anti-aging product I have yet had the privilege to try. For me, a year of prescription Retin-A did not yield anti-aging results half as dramatic the ones I got within one week of using Erasa XEP 30. Additionally, I found XEP 30 concentrate far less irritating than either Retin-A or retinol. Even if you have had trouble tolerating other anti-aging ingredients and products, I highly recommend giving XEP 30 a try. It is suitable for and calming to moderately sensitive skin.With XEP 30, my skin not only looks younger and firmer, but also generally healthier–brighter and more even with less inflammation.

Bottom Line: If you want to look younger, stop wasting money on all the things that don’t work, and invest in a bottle of Erasa XEP 30.

Update: Erasa XEP 30 is uniquely effective. The only thing I would add is that to maintain its striking results you need to apply it consistently and not let yourself run out of the product for more than a day or two.

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Review: SENTÉ Labs with HSA Technology

Melissa Davis — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 01:47:00 +0000

SENTÉ Labs is a privately held specialty aesthetics company leading the field in the development of differentiated medical grade skincare products based on the science of
glycosaminoglycans. SENTÉ‘s motto is Firm. Elastic. Strong. The results, given a little patience, are just that.

The Science: Why Target GAGS?

Glycoproteins are emerging as an essential target for reversing skin aging. With age, we lose glycoproteins, which leads to loss of firmness and sagging. A key part of the actions of many glycoproteins is the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chain. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) used to be considered inert molecules restricted in their functioning to space filling during the orientation and organization of the extracellular matrix (ECM), but recent advances have begun to reveal their huge importance (e.g. in regulating inflammation, wound healing, and tissue repair), such that a recent article named them “the unsung heroes of biomolecular signaling.” It turns out that glycoproteins and GAGs are essential for life and play key roles in tissue remodeling, cell adhesion, growth factor responsiveness, and immune function

Heparan Sulfate: “Master Molecule” GAG for Skin

When it comes to GAGs, most consumers will be most familiar with hyaluronic acid (HA), which holds a great deal of water, leading to its inclusion in countless skin care products as well as injectable fillers. However, despite HA’s renown, it actually has far less biological activity than another GAG, heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate is present in all layers of skin and—due to its key actions in skin health and wound repair–has been termed a “master molecule” for skin. For instance, heparan sulfate can bind and interact with extracellular matrix molecules, collagen types I, III, IV, and V, growth factors and cytokines (the basis of stem cell skin care lines), elastase, and much more (see Gallo, 2000). Heparan sulfate also plays a major role in tissue
remodeling, cell adhesion, immune function, and growth factor responsiveness. With age, our levels of heparan sulfate decline, and our skin sags, collagen becomes less organized, and wounds heal more slowly. Replenishing this vital molecule is likely to have a myriad of marked benefits for aging skin.

SENTÉ Labs

Only one cosmeceutical company utilizes heparan sulfate in their products: SENTÉ Labs. SENTÉ features a patent-pending low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparan sulfate molecule. Using Heparan Sulfate Analog (HSA) Technology, their product line features a modified form of endogenous heparan sulfate (HS), in which molecular shape, size, and charge were optimized to improve the appearance of mature, photo-aged and dehydrated skin. The benefits have been proven.

SENTÉ’s topical product line with HSA: penetrates the epidermis, basement membrane, and dermis within 24 hours of application. An 8-week study demonstrated that SENTÉ’s topical formulation significantly improved: skin hydration, barrier function, elasticity, and fine lines and wrinkles within 8 weeks. If that is not enough, other research suggests that with its proprietary HSA, SENTÉ products also have: soothing and wound-healing properties and antioxidant properties stronger than vitamin C, as well as anecdotal reports of skin lightening and
brightening effects.

My Experience with SENTÉ Bio Complete Serum and Dermal Repair Cream

Both products are extremely light, quickly absorbed, and leave no residue behind. Most anti-aging strategies either completely backfire on skin like mine or offer some temporary
result with no lasting improvement. The irritation-free results I am getting from SENTÉ Bio Complete Serum and Dermal Repair Cream surpass just about everything
else I have tried (which is quite a collection). My skin tends to be pathologically dry, and SENTÉ is the first line ever to make a difference in my skin from the inside (rather than just a
superficial difference). Irritation and dryness are problems of the past. By effectively creating hydration within, my skin is becoming plumped and firmer. With ongoing use, I am watching SENTÉ Bio Cellular Serum and Dermal Repair Cream tackle both sagging and wrinkles, almost like I am getting gradual internal “filler” in all those sagging, droopy spots and areas of entrenched wrinkles. I noticed the first visible difference within just a few days of consistent application, and the results are still coming. More than temporary, superficial changes, my skin also just feels and looks better. I have experienced no irritation—in fact, the opposite—SENTÉ has been healing for my skin, as well as highly effective in tackling signs of aging. This is a remarkable, groundbreaking product line, and I give SENTÉ my highest recommendation.

Before SENTÉ

After SENTÉ

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Skin Actives Scientific: Collagen Serum, Every Lipid Serum, and Olive Anti-inflammatory Cream

Melissa Davis — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 17:18:00 +0000

If you are looking for a company based on science, where you truly get good quality without the usual price markup, I cannot think of a better line than Skin Actives Scientific. This gem of a brand is results-driven, a little under the radar of the masses, but loved by true skin care aficionados (I first learned about them on the sub-Reddit Skincare Addiction when people kept recommending their Collagen Serum). When I went to skinactives.com to look up the Collagen Serum, the first thing I noticed was the affordability. An ounce of this number-one selling anti-aging product is just $14. Then I looked at the “expert details” outlining the utility of each of the active ingredients, and my mind was blown. This is a very well thought out product.

I was impressed enough that I contacted them, and they generously allowed me to try their Collagen Serum, Every Lipid Serum, and Olive Anti-inflammatory Cream.

The Skin Actives Scientific website is highly informative and even includes a forum. Just looking around a bit, it seems that the individuals who flock there tend to be quite knowledgeable about skin care and the science behind it. For each of their products, Skin Actives Scientific provides ingredients, expert details, and scientific references. Having had the chance to try their Collagen Serum, Every Lipid Serum, and Olive Anti-inflammatory Cream, I will share what I like about each one and how I think they work well together for those of us with the dual concerns of aging and reactive skin. I will also include the ingredients of each product so you know exactly what is in it.

The Collagen Serum: has a consistency somewhere between a liquid and a gel, making it easy to apply (i.e., it’s not going to drip out of your hand before you can get it to your face). It has had a gently exfoliating effect on my skin, and it caused a little peeling the first couple of nights, but it was the gentlest peeling I’ve ever experienced. Even when I had some initial peeling, the Collagen Serum never made my skin red or angry, and I didn’t look like a patchwork quilt. My skin adjusted to the Collagen Serum quickly, and it has continued to reveal fresher, softer, smoother skin. My worry lines are a little less pronounced. I’ve been impressed enough that I’m also been using the Collagen Serum on areas where I’m beginning to show some sagging: marionette lines, beneath the corners of my mouth, and my jawline, and I have faith that this will both slow down sag and firm those areas up a bit as well.

Ingredients: Distilled Water (Aqua), Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate, Glycerol, Sodium PCA, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Carnosine (L-), Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) Extract, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Acetyl Glucosamine (N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine), Centella asiatica Extract, Betulinic Acid (from Betula alba Bark Extract), Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG, Green Tea, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract ), Glutathione, Thioredoxin, Citric Acid, Epidermal Growth Factor (sh-Oligopeptide-1, EGF), Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid.

The Every Lipid Serum: nourishing enough that I (someone with parched. often-flaking skin, living at high altitude in the desert) could get by with applying just this and no moisturizer and still have soft, smooth skin–with no flaking –after 18 hours. In consistency, it is like an oil, and it spreads easy and leaves skin with a gentle glow. A little goes a long way and is very effective at moisturizing and improving the skin barrier as well. My skin is so dry that it has often appeared dull, but with Every Lipid Serum, the dullness is gone. Yet as nourishing as Every Lipid Serum is for parched skin, you will not have to worry about this breaking you out, because it actually helps control oil for those with blemish-prone skin. It’s an all-around great, multitasking skin savior!

Ingredients: Squalane, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Lecithin, Cholesterol Oleyl Carbonate (and) Cholesteryl Nanoate (and) Cholesteryl Chloride (and) BHT, Astaxanthin, Tocotrienols, Lycopene, α-D-Tocopherol, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, Xanthophyll (Lutein), Beta-Carotene, Ceramide-3, Phytosterols, Oryzanol.

Olive Anti-Inflammatory Cream: absorbs easily and leaves skin moisturized without a heavy or sticky residue. The Olive Anti-Inflammatory Cream took my skin from red, chapped, and inflamed to even and calm in about a week. This is a soothing moisturizer that did a lot of good for my reactive skin. This cream has a track record of being as effective as prescription creams when it comes to healing inflammatory skin issues, and I found it to be a better moisturizer for my skin than prescription Hylatopic Plus. It cream offers wonderful moisture and relief for those of us dealing with inflammation.

Ingredients: Water, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Rosa moschata (Rose hip) Seed Oil, Sesamum indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cetyl Myristoleate, Beta Glucan (Yeast), Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane (and) Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Xylitol, Luteolin, Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) Extract, Quercetin, Boswellia serrata (Indian Frankincense) Extract, Polypodium leucotomos Extract, Andrographis paniculata Extract, Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract, Cyanocobalamine, Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil (and) Astaxanthin (and) Tocotrienols (and) Lycopene (and) Tocopherol (and) Thioctic Acid (and) Lutein, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Methylparaben (and) Propylparaben

Conclusion: Skin Actives Scientific Collagen Serum is an effective anti-aging product that is suitable for sensitive, reactive skin, especially when used in conjunction with their skin-calming and nourishing Every Lipid Serum and Olive Anti-Inflammatory Cream. With this trio, I was able to efficiently achieve some noticeable anti-aging effects while simultaneously reducing skin irritation! You don’t have to take my word for it. See the Before and After photos below.

BEFORE AFTER

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