NeoStrata: EXUVIANCE® Gentle Cleansing Creme #Review #Exuviance #NeoStrata

When it comes to washes, scrubs and cleaners, the last thing that comes to mind in using a creme. It brings back memories of the old Pond’s tub my Mother used to remove her make-up, which left an oily residue after using it. You knew don’t touch Mom after she removes her make-up! When I received the Cleansing Creme from Exuviance, I must admit that was the first thought that came to mind. I also have to be frank that as much as enjoy “gentle” to my skin products, I stay away from them because they are sometimes too gentle yielding them ineffective. Okay, I have not opened the box and here I am bringing up childhood nightmares, but I always give products a chance and especially those from the NeoStrata family.

The Gentle Cleansing Creme from Exuviance, is advertised as a soap-free formula. It allows the user to gently remove everything from make-up, build-up, to the everyday impurities our face may collect during the day. At the same time it serves not only as a cleanser but a moisturizer. If you thought that was already impressive, the Gentle Cleansing Creme from Exuviance also contains anti-aging ingredients like Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA), and other botanical ingredients that help sooth and condition your skin. The product is gentle enough for sensitive skin suffers but can be used by people with combination skin too. It’s a friendly cleanser!

Ingredients (as listed on the website): Water (Aqua), Isododecane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/ Dicaprate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, PEG-100 Stearate, Triundecanoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chamomile Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Benzoate.

Retail Price Point: $32.00 via NeoStrata’s site. Ulta carries the same price point but has a current promo of a free deluxe sample of the Triple Microdermabrasion and Bionic Oxygen Facial with any Exuviance purchase (offer valid 3/13/16-4/2/16 or while supplies last). Amazon carries the product at a current price point of $26.49 and Amazon Prime members receive free shipping. See what deal suits you best!

Verdict:
Okay, I clear my head and start using the cleanser creme twice a day as recommended. The first day the product arrived, I washed my face in middle of the day to get an idea how it worked and how it would make my skin feel. You simply moisten your face and hands, pump out a small dollop, and begin to massage your face and neck. Always with an upward circular motion. The Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme gives you the option in using a facial tissue for removal, or you may simply just rinse your face off with warm water. The first difference I noticed and this is just after my first use, is a silky feeling. My face was super smooth and get this, not greasy. Even my hands were left feeling soft! I opted for the rinsing with warm water method for removal and mostly because it is what I am most comfortable with but I like the idea of being able to use a tissue if needed. This means no excuses when it comes to make-up removal no matter how late I get home! The next week I began to use the wash when I had make-up and for those days I did not wear any too. If you use a waterproof eyeliner or mascara, I did find I was left with raccoon-ish eyes if I just depended on the cleansing creme, but this also goes for when I just used a common cleanser/scrub before. I always have to address waterproof anything by using a facial wet wipe to insure full removal. Other than this, the cleansing creme is gentle on the skin but it still does it’s job very well at cleaning your face! I want a clean face and washing my face is almost therapeutic for me and this is why I have a unusual collection of face washes. Being able to enjoy make-up means I have to take care of my skin and the first thing I learned about skincare, is how you begin makes a difference. A clean slate is what you want but not a depleted one. Meaning you don’t want to to do what I did in my teen years and treat my skin like if you were stripping wall paper of a wall. I use to think in my teens the cleaner, the better. No oils, no natural sheen just take it all off because I feared blemishes. I did not suffer from them in my teen years, but this is probably why when I hit 25, my face had had it with me and I began to experience break-outs. With Exuviance’s’ Gentle Cleansing Creme, you avoid the over stripping but you do actually end up with a clean surface and super soft skin. As I used the cleansing creme, by week 2, my face was soft 24/7. I did not have to depend on serums for a natural glow and the texture of my skin improved naturally, I was left with a smoother looking surface that allowed my pores and imperfections to appear…..well, smoothed out. I can’t tell you (I know I’m harping on it) how soft my skin feels and appears now. I love it. I don’t have a kid but I assume this is why people state soft as a baby’s bum! I get it now and no breakouts or anything. Right now, the weather in Southern California is mixed. Gloomy days, windy days, to sunny days and my skin is in transition again like these undefined seasons. The calendar says Spring and my nose and allergies agree, but my skin thinks it’s Fall with the way the days change so drastically from one day to another. With Exuviance’s Gentle Cleansing Creme, my skin is moisturized the minute the cleanser finishes washing off the grime of the day and the best part, it comes in a tube versus the jar that I fear! Try it and see for yourself how much the Gentle Cleansing Creme from Exuviance will change your mind and how you can do more for your skin by just using this face wash.

Connect with Exuviance at:

• On-line
• Product link 
• Facebook
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• Google+
• Pinterest
• LinkedIN
• YouTube
• #Exuviance #NeoStrata

 

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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ISA Professional: XANADU 24K Gold Vitamin C Serum and Foundation Primer Review #ISAprofessional

I have used copper infused creams and serums in the past and with great results. I was eager to try gold, as I have nail polishes with gold flakes but never tried a gold infused product in my skincare routine. You do a courtesy google search and you find everything from masks and lotions, but all pretty much guaranteeing collagen stimulation, so I decided to look further into the data when it came to clinical results. I could find none! I found information in dental work and such, to even devices that contained the metal and for surgical procedures but nothing when it came to topical application. So, I went into testing this product by what results I witnessed and that means I needed to take extra care, so I decided to stop use of anything that may aid the product when it came to performance. Yup, and I did it for 22 days!

Let’s start with that I have tested out and was currently using a Vitamin C/Hyaluronic acid combo prior, so I expected results from daily use prior, to continue to present themselves (or even increase) with the use of ISA Professional’s Xanadu formula. The formula is gorgeous just in the bottle. The kind of thing you want to have light glimmer through while it sits on your vanity…..it’s that pretty.

Retail Price Point: $59.00 via their website and Amazon

Ingredients (as posted on their Website):
24K Gold, Deionized water, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Collagen, Rose Extract, Hyaluronic acid, Creatine, Beta-Glucan, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (Matrixyl-3000), Epidermal Growth Factor, P-anisi

Application:
As I mentioned the vial holds a beautiful serum but does that beauty transfer to the face? I was afraid of looking like Tinkerbell attacked me with highlighter powder after application, but thankfully my skin looked moisturized and natural with pretty much the same amount of glow left behind like any other product would leave. No chunky glitter look when it comes to application because I never exactly liked shimmering lotions that resulted in shimmering clothes and anything else you touched. You apply the product like any other serum by the thinnest going on first and I allow it absorb before proceeding to the next product. Like with any acid, I always follow with a moisturizer after to get the best results, even though ISA Xanadu’s serum does contain a lightly formulated amount of Vitamin E oil.

Verdict:
The price point is high but so is the metal and the claims made. This one I was looking at as it’s a buy or a bust in my mind……there was no in-between when it came to testing, so no 3.5 stars and the such. The product needs to outperform my $20 bottle that claims to do the same.

At day four, I noticed that any inflammation my skin exhibited from seasonal allergies to sun exposure was not as visible. That undesired puffy look I achieved I could only describe as how I look after doing the nasal spray, allergy pill and then eye drops in each eye regimen. Hey, I’m a little of a Puffer fish when I first wake-up! After I do my “so nature won’t kill me regimen”, I must admit my skin looked smoother than my $20 bottle could do. So, in 4 days this product surpassed what I had been using and this is why I continued use. In two weeks time, I did have a glow that remained and this was before product application. My skin had a nice healthy shine and a natural plump achieved by how well my skin could hold and distribute moisture. This made any fine lines less visible and that is always a positive! The bottle is easy to use and the dispenser pumps out the required amount with zero waste. No bacteria can build like when stored in a jar, and I can say a lot has been thought out when it comes to the Xanadu formula. I like products that work and I admit, I don’t always like the price tag. You bet I wish it cost less and the thrifty person in me wants a coupon or even a 1/2 off sale but sometimes we do have to pay for results. My results were positive and the only reason I discontinued use……well, I’m testing more stuff! I did however keep the bottle because I plan to add it to my skincare regimen when I discontinue use of the product I am currently testing. Just the results as a primer under my foundation made it a winner because many primers on the market contain so many synthetics and yes you get a smoother face, but later your skin’s health pays for it. With Xanadu, I did not have to worry about a plethora of chemicals that would cause a break-out and still achieve a smooth complexion that made applying foundation easier and I use less of it too! Maybe that is where my savings is 🙂

Connect with ISA Professional at:

• On-line
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• #ISAprofessional

I received the above product(s) free of charge from ISA Professional.  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.

Swaggable: Immune Perfect Continuous Active Hydration/Antioxidant Moisturizer #Review #Frownies

Oh, Frownies…….this is company that has been around for ages and has a line of products that is suppose to turn back the clock. I recall the “stickers” they would sell and you were suppose to apply them at night to achieve what they called “smoother” results because the appliques prevented you from moving your face while moisturizing. Unsure how much I move my facial muscles at night but I would think super moisturizing problem areas is a way to go minus all the sticker mess. I can see why the beauty line has changed and evolved with the times. That being said, “new and improved”, is not always the answer and especially when I feel the early versions over touted the results.

I received a small sample packet from Immune Perfect, which contained the product Continuous Active Hydration but seems now they changed the name to Antioxidant Moisturizer (so I have a former version labeled packet?). The Ultimate creation to combat wrinkles and cellular damage is then listed below the title. So does this prevent, correct, or alter my skin cells? Unsure how a facial cream could achieve such a thing and especially after breaking down the ingredient list.

Ingredients (as listed on packet but the site listed Avena Sativa Kernel oil): Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) (and Water Polymer Complex), Natural Vitamin E, Amino Acids, Phenols Phospholipid Complex, Cyclomethicone, Phenyltrimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Soluble Melanin

1. We know Aloe and it’s moisture properties, so that one I am skipping and so far Frownies scores for not selling me mostly water even though Water Polymer Complex follows..

2. Avena Sativa Kernel oil (Whole Wheat oil)– The Avena portion of the name sounds closely to the name Aveeno, and their main ingredient is delivering the power of the oats so that is why the name resembles. The oil is extracted from whole wheat oats and is rich in phospholipids and glycolipids. These membrane lipids deliver fatty acids but the good ones, not the trans fat ones. High in antioxidants, amino acids and also Vitamin E. Oat oil is very shelf stable and this is why it’s used in many beauty products. Low in cost but does hold moisture well, so a product you would be happy to find in a body lotion and/or facial cream. The ingredient will not create magic but because of it’s simple and nourishing structure, you will find that areas that may be red and/or inflamed will calm after application and hydrate. A great way to get moisture to dry and irritated skin.

3. Cyclomethicone- Is a silicone and base ingredient. Think of the base that keeps the product whipped and this is what this compound does. It keeps the beauty product blended without the need of shaking and perfect for a product that is placed in a jar versus a bottle or pump. The product never enters pass the upper living cells, so it stays suspended above and cannot enter the cell’s membrane. The molecules are too large, so the product stays on the top layer of the epidermis.

4. Propylene Glycol- Is mineral oil, an alcohol produced by fermentation of yeast and carbohydrate and considered a synthetic. It is pretty much the white bread slice in a soup, the ingredient’s job is to absorb water. Keep the product rich and at a desired consistency…..so keeps your cream, well creamy 🙂

5. Phenyl trimethicone- another silicone and this one works as a way to slow down evaporation. Think of pouring water in a bucket and how quick you would hit the bottom. Now, think if the bucket had sand! The water would take longer to reach the bottom and take longer to fade. This silicone makes sure that soft and moist feeling stays on top of your skin.

6. Phenoxyethanol– a simple preservative. It kills bacteria and stabilizes the formula it is in. Frownies comes in a jar and we know how jars attract bacteria, so this is a form of antibacterial. It also helps extend the shelf life. This is also an ingredient associated with irritations……oh, and labeled as a formaldehyde-releasing preservative and also found to have neurotoxin potential.

7. Water-Soluable Melanin- As per the patent filed (1991) by John M. Pawelek and Seth J. Orlow, the melanin is also useful for providing a sun-screen to mammalian skin and hair, to treat post-inflammatory hypo- and hyperpigmentation, to tint glass and plastic, to protect industrial materials against ultraviolet damage, and as a coloring agent in foodstuffs such as coffee, tea, soda, whiskey and liquors. So this could be what colors the cream brown in frownies (as stated by them- carmel color because of the natural ingredient, water soluable melanan, that brings out your skins natural color and beauty). It may also be what may helps protect materials (your skin) from UV damage (aka- sunscreen) but who knows the SPF that is really there if any.

Verdict:

In conclusion, the power remains in the oat oil and it has power but I don’t feel (in my opinion) it supports the entire claims made by Frownies. Yes, it moisturizes and has several silicone properties and oils that help keep the potion floating and stable.  The preservative kills it for me as do many of the other ingredients.  My sample size at 4 ml did not help deliver any results due to the limit when it comes to number of applications, but then again I’m a science girl (even though I won’t botox myself).  I expect results! I’m all for science but the friendly kind that keeps me looking my best minus the neurotoxin potential. I think I’ll stick with Aveeno on the legs (cheaper and it works) and oats with my breakfast, plus some antioxidant rich fruit that will help me from within to feel and look better 🙂

If you want to learn more about Frownies/Immune Perfect, please visit:

• On-line– http://www.frownies.com/products.php
• Twitter- https://twitter.com/TheFrownies
• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/thefrownies

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Swaggable and Frownies.  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.