EXUVIANCE PEEL – REVEAL YOUR NEW BEST SKIN
There is nothing like the fresh, radiant skin revealed after a rejuvenating peel. But due to the acid compounds in most peels, that feeling has been a once a week or once a month occurrence – until now. Exuviance has just launched Daily Antioxidant Peel CA(10), a one-step, daily peel that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, restoring radiance, texture and tone.
Formulated for at-home use, the peel is packed with 10% citric acid to gently exfoliate on a daily basis. Derived from citrus fruits, citric acid also is well-known as an antioxidant and anti-ager. It works by neutralizing damaging free-radicals that result from daily environmental exposure, thereby fighting the signs of age such as fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration.
In a clinical study, 100% of participants reported healthier looking skin, smoother texture and more even skin tone after just one use of the Daily Antioxidant Peel CA(10).
An easy to apply one-step formulation, the peel requires no rinsing or neutralizing after use. With the supplied pad, wipe the solution over cleansed skin in the morning, gently massage in any remaining fluid, and follow right away with serum and moisturizer. Morning use is recommended but the peel can also be applied in the evening, if desired. Daily application of sunscreen is recommended while using the peel to minimize the risk of sun sensitivity or sunburn.
Packed in two parts, the peel carton contains a jar of 36 pads and a bottle of solution. Before the first use, pour the entire bottle of solution into the jar of pads and then discard the bottle. You are all set for daily application.
Exuviance Antioxidant Peel CA(10), priced at $65, is currently available now at www.exuviance.com, and in March, at Ulta stores nationwide.
A MANE TAMING TREATMENT CALLED JUVEXIN
Call me curious, but also a coward. I’ve wondered about hair-straightening systems, but wasn’t sure the bone-straight result was for me. Also, I’ve witnessed the unpleasant smell that goes with Brazilian straightening systems and read about the emission of formaldehyde.
So when I was offered the opportunity for a hair taming, non-Brazilian treatment called “The Best” Juvexin Treatment by GKhair, I was excited to try it out. The results were spectacular – frizz free locks that retained some of their natural wave but with reduced curl and soft, manageable body.
Kristina Barricelli, co-owner of the Gemini 14 Salon in New York City applied the treatment. A total doll and an unbelievably knowledgeable professional, Kristina explained the treatment’s effects and results.
“What I love about Juvexin is that it doesn’t do more than what the hair needs,” she said. Unlike traditional keratin treatments, which basically iron on layers of chemicals to the hair to straighten, the Juvexin blend of proteins and peptides penetrate the hair shaft to deliver conditioning and moisturizing benefits. But as Kristina explained, it only delivers as much as the hair requires – never more. “Anything the hair doesn’t want to absorb gets washed out.”
The concentration of Juvexin and the processing time are customized to the hair and expected results of the client. With me, Kristina left the treatment on for 40 of a possible 60 minutes.
The treatment is said to repair damage and protect the hair from environmental factors like blow drying, flat ironing and even natural elements like humidity. It also makes blow drying one’s own hair much easier, Kristina said.
The result is a very natural looking finish. “The hair fiber still looks and behaves like a real hair fiber – not a piece of plastic,” Kristina said. “’The Best’ Juvexin Treatment increases shine, smoothness, movement, tames the wild beast, relaxes curls and eliminates frizz.”
Following the 40 minute processing time, Kristina carefully dried my hair with a blow dryer then used a flat iron to finish the treatment. I left the salon with perfectly styled tresses.
But they say the real test is after the first washing. My air-dried hair was frizz free and manageable with just a hint of wave and body. I used the recommended GKhair Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner ($20 each). Unlike Brazilian or traditional-Keratin treatments, no wait time between treatment and washing is required. However, I did notice a slight odor emitting from my hair, which disappeared after a couple of washings.
As an alternative to other straightening systems, I was completely satisfied with “The Bext” Juvexin Treament and would definitely try it again. Depending on your location and the salon, the cost of this hair taming treatment is generally between $200 and $400.
THE DOCTOR IS IN – ZO SKIN HEALTH
Internationally acclaimed Dr. Zein Obagi, Beverly Hills dermatologist and founder of ZO® Skin Health, prides himself on taking a radical approach to skincare. He believes that skincare should focus on making skin healthy, rather than just treating the various conditions that compromise our complexions, such as pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, he classifies these conditions diseases of the skin, in addition to the more obvious problems like rosacea and acne.
“My approach is much more broad spectrum than just focusing on the disease alone,” Dr. Obagi told a room full of beauty editors and bloggers gathered at The London NYC to learn about the ZO® Skin Health brand. “You must address the cellular function of the skin to make it healthy.”
A trailblazer in dermatology, Dr. Obagi first talked about healthy skin back in 1983. He continues to refine and develop the concept, defining healthy skin as smooth, firm, tight, having even color, free of disease, hydrated and strong.
If skin is healthy, it can defend itself against disease as well as repair itself. But as we age, our skin cells begin to function less well and aging creeps in. At this point, people start using creams that Dr. Obagi believes may not be tolerated well. Instead, “we must address skin by stabilizing it,” he said “The first thing we have to do is normalize your skin. If your skin is oily, we treat the sebum. If you skin is dry, we restore pH.”
Enter ZO® Skin Health, the 15 product collection created by Dr. Obagi to get our skin in line and up to par. The lineup includes products for oily skin and others for dry skin. He believes that moisturizers have become an addiction in our society and does not include them in the lineup. Instead he features hydrators that repair the skin moisture barrier.
Both oily and dry regimens start with cleansing, using either the Offects® Exfoliating Cleanser ($45) or Offects® Hydrating Cleanser ($45). The next step is exfoliation via Offects® Exfoliating Polish ($75).
The third step is the brand’s hero product Ossential® Daily Power Defense ($175), which contains time-released retinol, antioxidants and specialized DNA repairing enzymes to minimize UV oxidative damage and uneven pigmentation, while restoring skin function and elasticity.
“ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense is the best cream you can put on your face – it is most effective for all skin types,” said Dr. Obagi.
The final step in his preferred basic regimen is a generous application of the award-winning Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 ($65).
Additions are included in the regimen depending on your skin’s specific needs. For example, Offects® TE-Pads Acne Pore Treatment ($45) , which contains salicylic acid, is recommended for prevention and treatment of breakouts. The line’s power booster is Ossential® Radical Night Repair Plus ($195), which contains 1% retinol concentration, the highest strength available. Formulated to stimulate new cell activity and collagen formation in aged and UV damaged skin, Radical Night Repair can also be used as a peel if applied regularly morning and night. However, Dr. Obagi warns that your skin’s tolerance to this product must be developed over time, so you can expect a little redness until your skin gets acclimated to it.
Far too many women believe that they have sensitive or dry skin. Dr. Obagi views these complaints as symptoms of weakened skin that will abate once the skin is stabilized and healthy.
“Many people don’t understand that their skin feels dry because they are using products that their skin cannot tolerate well,” he said. “Skin needs special steps to take care of it – an individually tailored approach to get results.”
Customizable and focused, ZO® Skin Health offers a new way to fight signs of aging by stabilizing the skin and addressing the cellular structure at a different level. “My approach with ZO Skin Health is to treat every skin type – from very fair to skin of color – safely and effectively,” Dr. Obagi said.
Available at selected Nordstrom locations throughout the US, ZO® Skin Health products also can be purchased at www.zoskinhealth.com.
.jpg)
.jpg)
