Exuviance: Depuffing Eye Serum #Review #Exuviance #NeoStrata

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I have featured Exuviance/NeoStrata products in the past on my blog and have become a huge fan of their lines. The company really addresses all your skin’s needs with products that not only target, but most even reverse and/or prevent from skin issues worsening. My biggest issue most of the year is puffy eyes. No matter how many hours of snoozing I get, I am a puffer fish every morning. As long as the world has nature, which produces pollen and the such, my eyes will swell. I take decongestants and allergy pills but none address the poof I get around my eyes. I have been target treating this area since my teens! My biggest worry was getting dark circles due to the constant pressure and swelling. So far taking care of the problem via eye drops has worked by reducing the problem by 50%, but I’m still puffy! Eye drops also make the sensitive skin around my eyes irritated. I will experience redness to peeling if my watery eyes cry out a few tears after application. Playing catch-up is not so simple, so when Exuviance stated they have a Depuffing Eye Serum, this Puffer Fishy raised her hand!

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Exuviance’s Depuffing Eye Serum, works in several ways. First, being in serum form, the product itself is easily and rapidly absorbed. No adding heavy creams that tend to make already that stressed out skin feel heavy and like it can’t breathe. Their proprietary “Eyeliss™ and Actiflow® ” promotes circulation to the area. This action aids with swelling dissipating the fluid that builds and causes the puff effect. This is why I am more puffy in the early morning when I wake up. Everything was allowed to pool up giving me that look that I have been crying when I have not been! As I mentioned and you have heard countless times, our eye skin differs in texture and fragility compared to the rest of our skin on our face. This is why even when applying products you have to be extra nice and why Exuviance created “NeoGlucosamine® “. Think of this as the body builder for your eyes. It will help firm the skin and regain it’s tone, plus this is like I said a new way to treat your eyes. You can apply the Depuffing Eye Serum to the bottom and top of your eyelids. So droopy eyelids also get a work-out! The roller itself creates a soft massage while you apply and being softer is better than being told to use your ring finger when applying. Can’t count the times my ring finger has not played nice and applied product to my eye versus outside of my eye. Exuviance, also added caffeine to the product for instant results. While the other ingredients help your skin regain it’s losses, the caffeine gives you instant lift. You will see in seconds shrinking and tightness, and your eyes look more…..well like they should.

 

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Retail Price Point: $72.00 via Exuviance and Ulta. Ulta currently offers a gift with purchase. You get a FREE full size Targeted Wrinkle Repair with any $75 Exuviance purchase (offer valid 7/3/16-7/23/16 or while supplies last). Amazon has a price point of $49.04 but zero free item and because the free gift is at full size, it is hard to overlook a product for free that usually costs $65!  Free shipping via Ulta with a $50 purchase too 🙂

 

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Ingredients (as listed on the website):
Aqua (Water), Isododecane, Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Polysorbate 80, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, PEG-14M, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Citric Acid, Steareth-20, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090 (Blue 1), CI 15985 (Yellow 6).

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Verdict:

The price. I know. One thing I have learned though that price in the beauty world says zilch about a product. You can pay a lot and get zero results, or it will be the best thing ever. I have also been using a fair priced eyebrow pencil and it works better than the $40+ kit for brows I purchased last year. So, when evaluating this serum, I measure by how it works/if it works, and it has to outperform products of like kind. I love the applicator from the get go. No risk of contamination by messing with fingers in a jar, easily slides and allows me to be kind to the skin around my eyes. Game changer, you can address both upper eyelid and under eye areas. Yes, this is an all purpose eye product that addresses finally the entire eye! So tired of under eye limitations with everything called E-Y-E creams! It’s a serum and my skin loved it. Absorbed it just like the ground in California absorbs water when it rains! I love this because this means no messing with my foundation or even BB Creams. I tend to go light with coverage in the Summer anyways, so this plays well with the let’s go light what I put on my face habit. Now, the results. I wanted to not like you. Okay, the price stings but when I applied Exuviance’s Depuffing Eye Serum to my right eye and lost my Puffer Fish status……..well, it’s a cute name from a Husband that is trying to be sweet about my puffy eyes but it looks like I am sad when I am not. This serum brought the happy me out. I know, I wanted to really say whatever. It works like any caffeinated/Green Tea thingy you can get off the shelf at the drug store, but it did not. I was left with zero residue to deal with like with some gel formulas that peel and my eyes just looked open and like they should. This made me feel better because looking better has a positive effect (at least for me it does). It also lasted.  That is the real kicker because 8 hours later and I look in the mirror, still me with normal eyes! I am not trying for model status but I sure as heck want my eyes to look like my own and not like I have been partying all night (looking like you had fun and did not……so wrong). The price is a hit but softened by Ulta when I hunted because I knew I would be re-buying this serum. Giving me a $65 product that I like and would use…..you got me! I tried running but you worked, so I can either moan and groan (and then give myself more wrinkles) or walk out with smooth eyes and you may call me now the former Ms. Puffer Fish lady 🙂

 

Connect with Exuviance at:

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from NeoStrata/Exuviance. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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Derma-E : Now available at Target Stores! #NoticeTheLotus in 2016 Derma-E Skincare #Review

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I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year. With a new year, means new products for 2016 and this is always something I look forward to when it comes to new trends and beauty related products.

I reviewed Derma-E products in late 2015 and I am happy to report they will be starting the new year with us! This also means new changes and Derma-E will also now be available at Target stores, both on-line and in stores. If you have the Red Card from Target, you not only save 5% with every Derma-E purchase, but you can also subscribe to get timely delivered products (refills) and save an additional 5% on top of that! You combine that with any rebate/money-back program, the savings will be non-stop as will be looking younger, which always makes me feel better. You add a cartwheel deal from Target, or if you purchase a Target beauty box, they always come with a $3 off $15 purchase coupon…….well, I get excited when I see my receipts from Target because I want to save as much as I can! It has become a challenge for this girl!

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Great Coupons that come with the Beauty Boxes from Target

Derma-E sent me 4 products to try that will be hitting Target stores this January:

Shopping at Target just got better for me and I am guilty of bargain shopping but it’s only a real bargain if the product works. With Derma-E, I get the best of both worlds, the products are not super expensive, so any additional savings just adds up instantly and the products perform well. I don’t leave feeling guilty because I wanted to take better care of myself and with Derma-E, this just does not happen. The company is open about what their products contain and also do not oversell how they perform. You know what every bottle, tube and jar will be able to do for you without any “photoshopped like” picture that will never yield what real world results do. Honesty, in the beauty world has always been hiding behind an asterisk and you will notice the Lotus is Honest. I don’t have to flip a Derma-E product to find what that little star by a statement really means, so when I first tried the products, I instantly gained a new respect for the company. I then tried the products and it shifted how I shopped for beauty items (again). I already knew a price tag was not an indicator of results/performance, but companies change formulations and what was a bargain once, stops and then the product you relied on stopped working too! It’s the same with beauty products as it is with food products, always read the label and know what it means.

We finally have a real Winter in Southern California and it has been cold, windy, dry and now wet. My skin has been feeling the stress from both the climate and the holidays. All because the calendar flipped and Christmas was a month ago, I am still in week one trying to box anything that glitters. So, I am trying to box last month while dealing with a new one. You would think with every passing year I would get use to what to expect, but I don’t. New traditions, dropping old ones and so forth is just a juggling game that I pretend I do well. My motto was not to get overwhelmed this year and I thankfully took it easier but still experienced some stress. I started to skip on masks, peels, and then moisturizing. Events meant I was trying new looks, new make-up and now my face is as tired as I feel. I still want to pretend I can juggle, so I started 2016 with new face products from Derma-E.

 

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Derma-E Firming DMAE Eye Lift- This product comes in a tube and I like that because it means less contamination or air that can affect how a product performs, plus easy to just toss into my drawer when storing. I eat Goji berries every morning, well now so does my skin! The product has a patented ingredient called InstaLift, which is Goji berry glycopeptides, which are rich with antioxidants. A small amount used twice a day is all that is needed. This is an eye cream that not only fights signs of aging, but also helps smooth away any that you may already have. It works double duty as preventing, slowing down and helping you with any fine lines that sneaked by! The formula is light enough to use under cosmetics but provides enough moisture through out the day, no matter the season!  Available at Target for $21.99, before any discounts apply.

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In case you have never seen a Goji Berry 🙂

 

 

 

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Derma-E Firming DMAE Moisturizer- Just like the eye cream, this product gives you the same benefits but this is formulated for use on the entire face. The moisturizer hydrates, which helps with elasticity that is visible to the eye and also touch. Your skin improves with daily use and as long as I gave the product about 5 minutes to absorb before applying make-up, I did not experience any issues with application.  Available at Target for $18.99, before any discounts apply.

 

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Derma-E Hydrating Day Creme- This little creme is my everyday go-to moisturizer. Any little dry patch that an acne gel caused, this creme will fix in no time. I suffer from blemishes and breakouts when my stress goes up, so I apply topical acne treatments that kill the pimple but everything around it too. I try to dot with a q-tip but that never works and I flip so much in my sleep that I am lucky I never ended up with acne anything in my eye! The Hydrating creme from Derma-E will even out the skin’s color and any little “peelies” of skin will either go back and stay with the rest of the party, or I can simply rub softly enough that they will come off. I then can look normal and like nothing happened. The moisture is retained all day, so come noon I don’t look how I did when I woke up.  Available at Target for $23.99, before any discounts apply.

 

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Derma-E Hydrating Night Creme- I started a new technique where I apply a light layer of night cream around the healthy edge of my skin, that is between the pimple I want to kill.  I then apply the dot of acne gel onto the pimple itself and this has reduced the side effects of redness to peeling that would be the end result of what would happen to the skin closest to the blemish.  This Night creme created a barrier of protection and kept my healthy skin safe.  I also found this creme to work well enough on my skin that when I needed extra hydration, I would add a few dots to my other moisturizer to pump up the effects.  Great for around the lips after exfoliating because we tend to neglect that area between our skin and lips.  I always treat my lips to achieve smooth results but I noticed as I age, that edge where I apply lip liner……well it could always be smoother!  Available at Target for $25.99, before any discounts apply.

Connect with Derma-E at Target by visiting them at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Derma E.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Solvaderm: Eyevage an Age Defying Eye Rejuvenation Treatment #Review #Solvaderm #Eyevage

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The second product I was sent from Solvaderm targets the sensitive skin around the eyes. Eyevage, is intended for use on “mature skin” and also for people that are experiencing problems in this area.

Eye skin can be tricky and some of us may have drooping of the eyelids, while most tend to want to target the area underneath the eye. This area is where people tend to experience issues from under-bags, puffiness, dryness, fine lines to the ever disliked crow’s feet. In other words, the skin there tends to show the most stress because of it being more sensitive than skin in other areas of your face. This also means a product needs to be strong enough to address the above issues but kind enough to not cause irritations.

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Eyevage by Solvaderm, combats the aging we experience around the eye area and also helps keep the less stressed areas from rapidly showing the signs of aging. You end up with a fresher look that is associated with younger skin.

Ingredients (as listed on the website): Purified Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytonadione, Arnica Montana Extract, Oxido Reductases, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eriobotrya Japonica Extract.

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In the list of ingredients, the first few are identifiable so for the sake of not breaking down the obvious, I will address the ones that are usually not listed in eye creams and why Eyevage stands out from other products that are of like kind. Squalane, is usually derived from olive oil and in the list you find it comes after a few other oils/emollients listed. After that you find Phytonadione listed. Phytonadione, is Vitamin K and this vitamin is associated to be beneficial to the blood and circulation. Dark circles is a result of how veins and capillaries appear under the skin. Think of when a sheet of thin fabric is draped over a dark wooden table. The dark wood and it’s pattern is not distinctive through the sheer material but you still get a dark shadow that shows through and more in the areas where the grain is darker and deeper in the wood. This is what the thin skin under our eyes reflects towards the outside. The Phytonadione combined with other powerful ingredients like the antioxidants found in Apricot oil, and this can help diminish that dark appearance.

Retail Price Point: $74.99 for a 0.5 ounce bottle of Eyevage, which comes with a pump action top that allows the product to remain free from exposure to air, bacteria and even light.

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Verdict:

I used Eyevage for a period of 3 weeks to see how well it would perform with the problems I experience. My skin issues in this area are puffiness due to allergies and even though I’m fair when it comes to skin color, my veins in this area do not reflect through to give my eyes a dark circle appearance. It’s the one of the things I have been lucky in and even though my allergies are bad, I never rub my eyes because that can cause the capillaries to become damaged and even break. I just was addressing moisture retention and attempting to avoid fine lines and lessen the one I have under my left eye (yeah, I don’t even wrinkle evenly). The formula is light from Eyevage and again applies easily. My skin absorbed it quickly and eagerly. Week one passes and I am happy with the moisture effect and how it keeps my skin plump and supple in this area. Week two arrives, and I still remain content with the results and I notice improvement towards the end of the second week on texture. My skin looks smoother. I get to week three and I remain satisfied with how Eyevage is performing because the product has kept the skin around my eyes nourished and problem free. The only short coming I can find is the lack of a retinol. I know the eyes are sensitive but in my case I can tolerate a small percentage in this area but I do know others can not no matter how much they attempt to “desensitize” that area. Some people can even apply every other day and experience more negative effects than any positive ones from the retinol because their skin just can’t tolerate it. Mine can, so I will be adding a very low amount of retinol here just to increase the benefit of reducing small fine lines and making sure (an insurance policy) I don’t develop any new ones. This is just a personal choice in my part, I am however happy the Eyevage treatment is a good enough of base product that I find it worthy enough to deliver that little bit of retinol to this area because it’s not something I waste just on any product. The base product has to be good enough on it’s own and Eyevage is!

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Connect with Solvaderm and their skincare solutions at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Solvaderm.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Body Merry: Retinol Surge Moisturizer #Review #BodyMerry

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Body Merry has been a guest over here in the past and always welcomed! Like you don’t need to call before you arrive type of guest 🙂 and it’s because I really enjoy using their products. They work and who doesn’t like using stuff that shows results because my beauty regimen is not just for fun……I’m sort of on the run from the tick-tock clock of time. I enjoy the memories with people and experiences, just don’t wrinkle me!

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I was sent Body Merry’s Retinol Surge Moisturizer. It’s an all-in-one product that can be used by itself as a last layer application or you can amp your routine by using a serum and then a thin layer of Body Merry’s Surge Moisturizer. The product offers:

  • 2.5% Retinol in a cream form
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin B5
  • Green Tea

Ingredients (as listed on website): Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Sunflower Oil, Palm Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Plant Derived Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Wildcrafted Propolis, Shea Butter, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid.

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The moisturizer really covers everything from giving you an instant boost from the green tea, uses Aloe Vera versus water as it’s base and you have nourishing agents like Shea Butter, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E. Body Merry goes one step further by making sure their Hyaluronic acid is derived from plants and let us not forget the major player here, the 2.5% percentage of retinol. The product is all packed in a pump action bottle, so no air, light or even bacteria can easily come in contact. That to me is insurance on your purchase!

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Application:
A one pump serving was enough for me to cover the areas I wanted to treat on my face because I have combination skin and that means some areas get more moisturizer than others. I then had enough to treat my neck and chest area because people tend to over focus on the face when the rest of your body can also show aging. I applied the product under make-up and never had issues of my foundation not looking right hours later or even problems with blending. The acids in the moisturizer keep everything in check. Make sure to use SPF (even though you should already be) because retinol products may make skin sensitive to the sun, plus why damage the skin you are trying to take care of.

Retail Price Point: $23.49 via Amazon or $24.99 via their website for a generous 3.4 fluid ounce bottle.

Verdict:
Like with all of Body Merry’s products so far, I am happy with the results and the price point. I got tired of OTC products not declaring the percentage of retinol in their products and just taking their word that there was even a significant amount to make a difference. I might as well squeeze a bottle down the sink if it’s not going to work! With Body Merry products, everything is forthcoming and no proprietary blends to hide behind. Body Merry tells you what you are getting, how it’s going to work and what to expect, plus goes beyond and adds a satisfaction guarantee. No hassles and I like exchanges like that because the beauty world should not be complicated. We all want to look our best, we all can’t afford and/or don’t want to undergo surgery, so we just want stuff that works. Body Merry’s stuff works and that is something I (and my skin) truly appreciates.

Connect with Body Merry at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Body Merry.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Poppy Austin: Green Tea & Vitamin C Bright Eye Moisturizer #Review

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Poppy Austin, is a beauty company, which carries products derived from natural and organic sources. The sources may not be your everyday common lingo, like Barbary Fig seed oil, but that does not mean it’s not something that should be overlooked. The old ways are becoming the new ways, so look at it like you would your skin, new ways to find rejuvenation.

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I was sent an eye cream from Poppy Austin to test-drive. The eye cream has green tea, vitamin C and 72% of the ingredients are organic. The base of the solution is mostly an herbal infusion and Aloe Vera, so the product feels light when applied. The skin quickly absorbs the product and the eye moisturizer targets these major issues:

  • Puffiness
  • Dark Circles
  • Increases Elasticity
  • Fine Lines and Wrinkles
  • Protects against signs of Aging
  • and also Moisturizes

 

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Directions: Being that this is an eye cream, a little goes a long way and I use a dabbing technique to disperse the product and then gently applied it to create an even layer. I waited for the eye cream to fully absorb, which ranged between 1 to 2 minutes time lapse, before applying any make-up. I did not experience issues during application of cosmetics to the area or hours later, when some eye creams can cause a “bubbling up” film that tends to make your foundation look like you forgot to blend. This eye cream gave me none of that, so I continued use for 3 weeks.

 

Retail Price Point: $22.49 via Amazon for a 30 ml fluid ounce bottle, which has a top with a pump dispenser.

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Ingredients (as listed on the bottle): Herbal Infusion, Jojoba Esters, Glycolic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Grapeseed oil, Green Tea, Licorice, Methylsulfonylmethane, Evening Primrose oil, Sodium Ascorbyl.Phosphate (Vitamin C), Wildcrafted Euphrasia Officinails, Tamanu oil, Oregon Grape, Helichrysum essential oil, Jojoba oil, Rosehip seed oil, Palm oil, Hydrogenated Castor oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Coenzyme Q10, Phytic Acid, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl, Lecithin, Apple, Lemon, Sugar Cane, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lemongrass, Vitamin C Palmate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, and Alcohol.

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Verdict: On the first week of use, I noticed that the skin surrounding my eyes was moisturized and because I suffer from allergies, I continued use to see if I could get rid of some of the puffiness. I do not suffer from dark circles thankfully, so I could not test the cream against that. My skin remained the same but nourished with continued use. On week two, I still use my eye drops to get rid of my red eyes but also the puffiness and swelling I wake up with. I am happy with the way the product disappears after being absorbed. Zero residue and it does not haunt me later in the day by creating an oily film. The manufacture desires two applications per day for maximum results and I continue use into week 3. As I’m in California, the Winter we have has been mild but I did notice that when the nights are cold, my skin looks firm and feels like so, however not as moisturized. I have been needing to add a small droplet of oil (argan) on those evenings. I attribute it to my own needs due to my seasonal allergies that tend to be serious as we get closer to Spring. I will say for firming and protecting the skin around your eyes, this cream does the job as long as you keep in mind that puffiness will only go so much down without the use of eye drops but compared to the over-the-counter eye creams I have tried, this one fought the battle of the “Puffy Eyes” with great valor!

Connect with Poppy Austin and check-out their line of products at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Poppy Austin.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

 

Petunia Skincare: Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Moisturizing Serum #Review #PetuniaSkincare

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I have been wanting to incorporate Vitamin C into my skin care regimen after doing some research. In the following weeks, I will be reviewing products that will focus around brands that deliver to your skin the maximum Vitamin C and hoping to see positive results. You can read my post on my research at- Topical Vitamin C use in Beauty Products Research and Information

My third product to try, is by Petunia Skincare. This Vitamin C product has Hyaluronic Acid and a short ingredient list, which is always welcoming. Other features from this like kind products that differs from previous ones reviewed, is that this one comes with a nice pump top versus a dropper. This allows the serum to get zero light when in use and/or air to help the oxidation process along; causing the active ingredient to become inert. So far Petunia Skincare has thought ahead of other manufactures.

Petunia Skincare carries a line of beauty serums to Derma rollers. A small collection, however Petunia Skincare remains focused in providing serums that aid with anti-aging and provide a powerful punch of moisture that our skin needs as we age! That’s a punch I’ll take!

Ingredients (as listed on their website):
Water, Neroli (Citrus Aurantium) Distillate, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid.

I also noticed that the ingredients differ from others I have covered, so I will highlight the new ones I have not addressed before.

  • Neroli Water- A blossom originating from the Bitter Orange tree, which is usually used to create an oil. Due to the fragile like nature of the blossom, the oil is produced using a method called water distillation. This floral water is not only pleasant when it comes to scent but is also very refreshing to the skin. Usually used for it’s soothing and hydrating qualities.
  • Ferulic Acid- A plant-based antioxidant, which helps neutralizes free radicals, may inhibit UV-induced skin discolorations, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Combining Ferulic Acid with L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), helps amplify the protecting effects these two ingredients have. Think of it as making it more powerful!

Directions:
If using toner, apply before serum. Apply on clean and damp face. Follow with regular skincare regimen and lastly, apply moisturizer to secure optimum moisture in the skin.

I tried Petunia Skincare’s Moisturizing Serum for a period of two weeks:

  • Week One- Instant hydration and my one fine line (between my eye brows) continues to diminish and soften in appearance. I get a nice but even “plump look” that appears to last day after day. The effects are long lasting, as long as I continue use and my skin continues to repair by reflecting a more even tone (both in color and texture).
  • Week Two- The aforementioned results continue and I find myself looking into BB and CC creams when it comes to future foundation purchases. I am that happy with my skin’s appearance and you can’t beat the glow you get from Vitamin C based serums of this kind.

Retail Price Point: $35.00 for a 1 fluid ounce bottle on-line or on Amazon for just $19.97

There is a large range of Vitamin C based serums and some are identical with just variations in price tags, and then you have those that provide the difference in ingredients that may seem slight quirks, until you use them for a couple of weeks. Petunia Skincare products are 100% Natural and Made in the USA, at a FDA Approved Facility. That is a major plus and they took the extra measure in making sure how the product dispenses via a pump, keeps the serum cleaner and more effective. At just $19.97 and just a few drops a day, Petunia Skincare added the final touch to seal the deal: Try It RISK-FREE With Our 30 Days Money Back Guarantee.

Check-out what Petunia Skincare can do for you by connecting on:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Petunia Skincare. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sano: Vitamin C Serum+ Daily Skin Revitalizer and Vitamin C Eye Gel+ with Silk Peptides #Review #SanoSerum

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I have been wanting to incorporate Vitamin C into my skin care regimen after doing some research.  In the following weeks, I will be reviewing products that will focus around brands that deliver to your skin the maximum Vitamin C and hoping to see positive results. You can read my post on my research at- Topical Vitamin C use in Beauty Products Research and Information

My first to test and review is by a brand named Sano Naturals.  I liked from the get-go that they back-up their beauty products.  If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase and skin care experience, they will refund your entire purchase price, no questions asked.  They also include a bonus item with purchase and that is always a positive!

 

Sano Vitamin C Serum+:

On the bottle it states the product is of high potency and a Daily Skin Revitalizer. The bottle is a beautiful cobalt blue in color and the dark hue aids with preserving the product, which is rated at 20% concentration. I next looked at the ingredient list and you have an Organic Herbal Infusion, Aloe, and then Vitamin C. So far I am happy that water is not the delivery agent and other good quality binding ingredients were used along with the vitamin. The list goes on but everything is recognizable and friendly, not something I am use to in the “beauty world”. You get Hyaluronic Acid, which helps with inflammation (puffiness) and dry skin. It’s an ingredient you see for treating Eczema. Sano also uses kosher Vegetable Glycerin to Organic Jojoba oil. Jojoba has many good properties from being used as a fungicide and preventing mildew growth, to being able to deliver moisture without leaving an oily residue.

Results-

Even though most studies for Vitamin C ranged from a month to 12 weeks, I used the product for a period of 2 weeks. I eat a pretty balanced diet that is rich in greens, vegetables and fruit but I have those days that I wish I could say I ate bad, but it’s mostly that time gets in between meals and I eat late. Inconsistency happens! I noticed when I apply the Sano Vitamin C Serum+, my skin quickly absorbs it. It was so quick that my skin felt soft but with no product residue. I even tested one side of my face by applying just simple H2o and even water does not get absorbed at this rate. It usually would roll off but not this serum. So far I was happy with my first application and in not getting an oily appearance and/or feeling. I continued use and by day 4 saw what appeared as smoothness. Let me add no blemishes, pimples, blackheads or any skin occlusions. This serum is friendly when it comes to any acne suffers and even though people say mine is in the mild range, I myself is the one that deals with it so I rate it moderate at times to those moments that you get the monster bump that never comes up. My pores appear smaller just because my skin looks smoother and plumped up but in a good way! I continued use and noticed less was needed as I continued to use the product. My skin was hydrated enough that where I used 2 to 3 drops in one area, then changed to only needing one drop. The one drop then glided better when applied because my skin did experience positive changes. I don’t feel I have lost “years” when it comes to aging but I definitely look better. I look like I slept well, drank all my 8 glasses of water, and even ate well……even though that is not always the case. I was definitely happy with the results!

Retail Price Point: $18.95

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Sano Vitamin C Eye Gel+:

This is a bonus item with purchase.  You again have a cobalt blue colored jar and I love that the product comes with a safety seal that you peel, so no air or anything that can damage or eat up the Vitamin C benefits while in storage. Easy to store and even pack in an overnight bag.

Results-

I never thought a gel could deliver moisture I was happy with but this one did the trick. Being that it’s a gel, the product goes on cold and instantly starts working on my morning’s puffy eyes. The Aloe in the product is very gentle to the skin in that area and I love how my make-up glides on after. Some eye creams would roll up sometimes due to the residue left behind and I had to then try to collect these little eye cream left-overs while at the same time not messing up my make-up. Not with the Sano’s Vitamin C Eye gel+. The product is rich in Peptides to Hyaluronic Acid. Do not be fooled, this gel does moisturize but the area is left with a supple and replenished look. I had zero eye irritations and found the gel friendly to my allergy suffering eyes. A little goes a long way, I used what I could as lightly dab out of the container, maybe the size of two rice grains per eye. The instant results alone of reducing puffiness is hard to beat and I used it with the Sano Vitamin C Serum +, just to get that extra help in my problem areas. My only small con is the product coming in jar form. I prefer bottles with pumps or that have an applicator like a dropper. I’m just not a fan of dabbing into a jar due to bacteria/germs, but due to the performance of the product, it would not deter me from buying it.

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Check-out the products provided by Sano Naturals at:

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Sano Naurals.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

 

Topical Vitamin C use in #Beauty Products Research and Information

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I have been researching and doing my homework on the effects of Vitamin C at the dermis level because even though I have tried products that contain trace amounts, I have never tried a beauty item that it’s main focus was delivering Vitamin C.

How does Vitamin C benefit our Skin:
Upon reading and even finding “home-remedies” for DIY serums to putty like creams, I decided to leave my Vitamin C manufacturing to the professionals.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a collagen builder. Collagen is a protein that helps in the growth of blood vessels, to cells (and yes, the skin kind too). Your body needs collagen to be able to rebuild and to even creating scar tissue, as this is a form of “rebuilding”. Collagen is what also gives our skin firmness and that supple look we all want due to it’s smooth looking effects. We all want to look vibrant and younger, so this where the antioxidants also play a part, something that Vitamin C contains. Antioxidants aid with everything from inflammation to neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals is what causes damage to our DNA and it’s results is aging, so may see early signs like fine lines, wrinkles, just plain old cell damage that comes from products, to the environment (oxidative damage) and sun exposure/burns. The vitamin is used for dry skin, healing wounds, helping with reduction of fine lines/wrinkles to elasticity.

The research is still limited to the total effects and benefits from Vitamin C via topical application, however I did read that the pH of our skin does effect how much we can absorb, thus benefit from the vitamin. Topical application of ascorbic acid will cross the epidermis into the underlying dermal layers, but you want the higher percentage (concentrate) to be able achieve maximum benefits.

What to look for in Vitamin C beauty products:
Like with most vitamins and my experience with Vitamin A (retinol), oxidation is a factor in deterioration of a skin product that contains Vitamin C. Just exposure to sun, air, light will start the degrading process, so look for products that come in dark colored bottles to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Many of the better products will add other antioxidant rich ingredients to boost and also slow the rate of deterioration and conserve the ascorbic acid properties.

What can you expect by using Vitamin C:
I read studies both in humans and animals. Mostly noted was a high potency of Vitamin C levels being used and in combination with other binding ingredients but the main impact came from the 5 to 10% concentrations used in those studies. This may be why a high potency level will give best results. People reported elasticity changes to reduction of fine lines/wrinkles to a supple and smoother appearance. The impact is greater in people who may not consume diets rich in Vitamin C but even those that did have such a rich diet, noticed positive changes just not as apparent as those that did not. Topical Vitamin C may also have skin lightening effects in a mild form, which are caused by reductions in melanin production and melanin oxidation.

I hope the above helps when making decisions to include Vitamin C as part of your beauty routine!

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