Thursday, February 9, 2012

You're Gonna Dry, Dry Dry, Dry! - Advice Sisters

Winter weather can really mess up otherwise normal skin, making it dry, tight, itchy and worse, cracked.  Really dry skin can be so frustrating to hydrate, it almost makes you want to cry!  Maybe it’s just because really dry skin is so frustrating to hydrate and so unpleasant to deal with, it could almost make you want to cry, but as I was starting to write a review of Sebamed Day Defense Cream $22.95 1.69 oz. I couldn’t get the chorus of Johnny Cash’s song”Cry Cry Cry” (” You’re gonna cry, cry, cry and you’ll cry alone, When everyone’s forgotten and you’re left on your own. You’re gonna cry, cry, cry, cry” out of my head.

But even if dry skin doesn’t make you sad,  Sebamed’s  new Anti-Dry Line of products that are enriched with phytosterols and plant oils, may be happy news for your itchy, dry skin.  Phytosterols occur in plants  and there are more than 200 sterols and related compounds that have been identified. Although phytosterols have been used in foods and as nutraceuticals, the cosmetic industry now also uses them in anti-aging products where they improve skin metabolism and reduce inflammation.

Both the The Sebamed Anti-Dry Defense Cream I tried, and the Anti-Dry Night Intensive Cream (which I didn’t), use a high concentration of phytosterols to help relieve itching and inflammation. One particular phytosterol in the line, extracted from rapeseed, helps prevent dehydration, a must-have in Winter.  The Anti-Dry day Cream arrives in a simple green and white box with red and black accents that doesn’t look all that impressive. And, inside, there’s a plain white plastic jar with white cap, gussied up only by the  Sebamed logo in green red and black, and a tiny silver band around the top of the jar.  I have a personal bias against creams in jars, primarily because they are so open to contamination and more quickly degrade, and I don’t like to get my fingers messy. But the botanically enriched cream with key ingredients of Vitamin E and avocado oil, is light and creamy,  and it really silkens and hydrates, fast.  It is simple, pleasant, effective and unscented, good for the guys, too.  The Night Cream ($23.95 1.69 oz.) has jojoba oil and glycerin, and a 3% concentration of phytosterols that are supposed to stimulate the skin’s own renewal process overnight. Based on my experience with the day cream, it’s probably a safe bet to try, especially since it is under $24,99.   Sebamed wasn’t on my radar screen until I received a sample of the Anti-Dry Day Cream for review, but now, I’m curious about other products in the line. You can get SebaMed at various stores (including CVS as of January 2012) and on www.sebamed.com

 

Babor HSR De Luxe Ultimate Anti Aging Cream is the antithesis of Sebamed’s simple, plastic jar of 1/2 fl. oz. Like a pampered child arriving at a blingin’ sweet 16 bash in a hot car, this beautiful cream makes it’s entrance in a striking, slim,  gold metallic,  oxygen-free pump (love that)! The cream is silky and lightweight but extremely emollient.  Babor’s  HSR de Luxe line replaces their HSR Platinum range and their Anti-Aging cream this product also replaces Babor HSR Platinum Cell Reactivating Cream Rich (Night Cream).

What’s the point of this pricey cream?  As skin ages, its ability to regenerate itself diminishes. The complexion loses its radiance and then the unwanted wrinkles start to form. Babor’s HSR de luxe Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream is a high-tech, anti-aging cream which effectively combats  signs of skin aging with a mix of new, high-performance active ingredients:  HSR Telovitin, the HSR Lifting Integral Complex and Black Pearl Essences, which act as a beauty catalyst. While the following explanation may get a bit technical, when you are spending $150+ for a skin product, you want to know what you’re paying for.  HSR Telovitin delays skin aging by stabilizing the tips of the chromosomes, which are essential for cell division. It reduces wrinkles visibly and continuously, resulting in smoother-looking skin and firmer contours. Black Pearl Essences also as as a catalyst, helping to improve the absorption of the active ingredients. If you use this product,  existing signs of aging such as wrinkles, age spots or redness are supposedly reduced, giving your skin a more youthful and firm appearance.

According to the press literature, results are evident from the very first day of use.   I liked it a lot and my skin looked and felt nice. If you have fine lines and wrinkles, mature or damaged skin, or your skin is just extremely dry, this product will give you a renewed view of your complexion. Apply this product mornings and evenings, after cleansing on both your face and neck, and use it over Babor’s HSR de luxe Ultimate Anti-Aging Serum ( APPROX. $180 1.5 FL. OZ. for best results).  The two products together will cost, but if you can afford the splurge and your skin needs serious TLC, this terrific twosome could be priceless. Visit the Babor Web Site to order and learn more.

Another fallout from Winter is that dull, sallow and/or pale complexion many people get from not getting enough actual sun.  Sure, you can cook yourself in a tanning salon (absolutely not recommended) or turn yourself a dubious shade of bronze like Snookie,  but a better way to add some temporary glow is with a multi-tasking product, such as Sue Devitt’s Gel Bronzer SPF 40, Beau Doré $37.50.  It’s not a moisturizer, but it will work well even with dehydrated skin.  Inside an attractive, golden compact with large rectangular interior mirror, is a gel-based radiant bronzer with SPF 40 Protection. During the Winter months when skin can be pale, lackluster and dehydrated, this little bronzer can add warmth and color to the skin without being overly heavy.  And the hydrating formula covers easily, and has beauty benefits such as restorative Algae Extract that prevents collagen and elastin degradation and preserves elasticity. But it also has protecting benefits from antioxidants such as Babao Seed Extract, and moisturizing Sunflower Seed Oil. The bronzer is formulated with spherical powders that add luminosity but not an oily finish.  On my freckled and fair skin, it was still too deep for my taste, even though it might pass muster with the Jersey Shore crowd. I felt just too “toasted.” For anyone with medium skin tones, it will be perfect.  But I was able to blend it out for a more natural look.  If you can’t deal with natural, you can add more layers and feel “tan-ified” to the max.  The SPF 40 helps to protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays, but unless you apply this product evenly all over your face, you’ll still have to wear sun block, an SPF moisturizer and/or a foundation.   Check the Official Sue Devitt Web Site to learn more and www.suedevittbeauty.com get yours.

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