.:: CybeleSays ::.

Soothing Serums

I never met a serum I didn’t like though there has been a debate about vitamin C, claiming that the ingredient can’t stabilize from the time it is manufactured to when it reaches your hands. What have you heard? Either way, companies are still singing its praises as an anti-aging ingredient. Here are four we are singing about.

(From L to R):

• SYMREN c-15 ($75/19oz @ symren.com) – anti-oxidant treatment that contains 15% vitamin C and neutralizes free radicals.
• JURLiQUE Biodynamic Beauty Serum ($75/1oz @ jurlique.com) – contains concentrated blend of biodynamic herbs and flowers to improve overall appearance.
• ADORAGE Gel C ($150/.5oz @ adoragemd.com) – stable form of vitamin C that claims to stimulate collagen production.
• RAW SKiNCARE Ambiaty Concentrated Serum ($79/1oz @ rawbeauty.com) – main ingredient, Ambiaty, is proven to help combat free radicals.

Meet M Lab. It Just Might Change Your Life

Here’s one making its US debut – Milbar Laboratories or M LAB. Hailing from the UK, this cosmeceutical line touts 45% to 70% clinically active ingredients in all of their anti-aging products. What does that mean? Well, the average luxury product line has anywhere from 10% to 20% active ingredients. Active ingredients are also called “performance” ingredients and these are the ones that do the work in a product (think worker-bees) to conquer whatever your concern is – increase firmness, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve texture, etc. Do the math and it almost sounds too good to be true. It reads quality but are the products really better than the ones you are probably using? I’ve been on the regime of the following for the past three weeks:

Anti-Aging Cleanser ($60/6oz)

Anti-Aging Toner ($60/6oz)

Anti-Aging Eye Cream ($170/.5oz)

Anti-Aging Treatment Cream ($260/2.4oz)

One thing I know for sure is the overall texture of my skin is fantastic. I didn’t know it was looking so sullen until now! As far as wrinkles, I thankfully don’t have many noticable ones but those I do have around my eyes definitely seemed smoothed out. So if you need a boost for your overall appearance, I can recommend these ones. On M Lab's website, they tell you what % of active ingredients each contain and I felt somewhat more educated about this cosmeceutical line after reading their material.

There are a few other face products in the line, a body cream and even a Travel Collection ($130/6-piece), which is a great way to try all the products without the huge $ commitment. I think we’ll be hearing more about this line in the coming months. All @ mlabonline.com

*Gasp* Ugh, Need Clinique... Moisture...Surge

I have a friend who is a bike messenger and he gets sick a lot during the summertime. It’s all that going in and out of air-conditioned buildings that wreaks havoc on his body. And that got me thinking, what can those extreme temperature changes being doing to his or anyone’s skin? CLINIQUE just put out ‘Moisture Surge’ Extended Thirst Relief ($34/1.7oz, $46.50/2.5oz @ nordstrom.com) and I could be wrong but isn't is the 3^rd installment of Moisture Surge? We have nothing against an improvement on an existing product, in fact, we likey. This latest formula contains hydration boosters and a new botanical blend that's able to lock in moisture. So get on that plane,to another coast, bask on the beach and then pop into the beachside restaurant to pick up a smoothie and don’t worry about your skin suffering in the meantime.

AMALA Shines In A Sea Of Confusion

Natural, organic, pure …what product doesn’t scream one of these on their label these days? Where does it stop? I recently tried a body scrub that smelled so good - the packaging was great and the company philosophy was about using natural aromatherapy ingredients and fine spices like “ground cinnamon” and “crushed cloves.” I was starting to write the scrub up when I looked at all the ingredients. Argh! White petroleum, Mineral Oil! How can a company’s mission be to “provide 100% safe, all natural elements” blah, blah, blah and then put those really bad ones inside? Don’t get me wrong, I have used products containing those ingredients and have no real issue with them. What I have a problem with is stating something and turning around and delivering another. So needless-to-say, my dander was up when I got to this AMALA skincare line. Let’s investigate, shall we?

The name is pronounced AMA-la, like Pamela without the P. They come to us from Germany and take their name from the Sanskrit word for “most pure.” Their products are certified organic by Ecocert (like our Natural Product Association but to the 10^th power. Ecocert doesn’t mess around). Phew, I’m calming down now. Amala believes in using whole plant ingredients and the products are 100% free of synthetics, chemical preservatives (expiration date stamped on the bottom of each box) and their line is the first to be formulated with exclusive organic emulsifiers. There’s really so much more to this line then what I have here so if you curious, you can read it on their site.

Onto the products – they come in three categories: Purify, Hydrate and Rejuvenate, depending on your skin’s needs. For the face, there’s Cleansers, Toners, Moisturizers, Mattifiers, Eye Treatments, and Yogurt Masks in each collection to name a few. Right now, the Purifying line is the only one available to purchase on their site with the other two rolling out September 1^st. They even have products for the body, one of which was my favorite out of the few I tried. The Detoxify Body Butter ($27/1.7oz) was really nice feeling but I wasn’t too wild about the earthy-crunchy scent. I was able to overlook it, as it didn’t linger. My skin didn’t feel greasy at all, just soft and hydrated, which must be due to the fig and olive oil. I even gave it the ultimate test by shoving my arm in front of the SO to touch. He also approved. 

As with any “natural” line, especially this proven one, spot testing is recommended – just because it’s natural or plant-based doesn’t mean it’s gentle. All @ amalabeauty.com

Setting Nighttime Faces A-Buzz

CLARiNS has some brand new technology on their hands for those of us over 30 and many are swearing by what’s inside this cylinder. Younger Longer Balm ($98/1.7oz @ sephora.com) is a patented formula that was in the works for five years. It's not new news that hydration is key in preventing the signs of aging and the combined ingredients in this one claim to stimulate all the skin's youthful network.

PRESCRiPTiVES Good In Bed ($64/1.7oz @ prescriptives.com) works on increasing the skin’s radiance with grapefruit extract and a low level DHA (common ingredient found in sunless tanners) enhances the skins own color. This is not a sunless tanner, though, just a sublte radiance-er. That’s right. You glow, girl.

Here Comes The Sun. Here Comes The Sunscreen.

Since May is National Sun Cancer and Melanoma Awareness month, instead of investing in another pair of shoes, why don’t you put that money towards a quality sunscreen? Here are four that not only protect but help fight the visible signs of aging.

• AB SKiNCARE AB Sun ($45/4oz @ abskincarestore.com)

• S SOLUTiONS Solar Solution SPF 15 ($45/2oz @ s-solutionssouthbeach.com)

• KiNERASE Daily Defense Lotion SPF 30 ($135/2.8oz @ sephora.com)

• SOMME INSTiTUTE Double Defense ($48/3.8oz @ sommeinstitute.com)

Cream Yer Face, Cream Yer Body

 

ZiA NATURAL SKINCARE Nourishing Crème ($36.95/1oz @ uncommonscents.com)

• Contains eight cellular renewal ingredients
• Certified organic
• Priced right

BiOELEMENTS Vitalization Rich Intensity Body Crème ($49.50/8oz @ dermstore.com)

• Frosting-like texture
• Contains pure botanical oils
• Nose pleasing scent

Getting To The Shea Of Things - Part III

Here are some more products that max out the Shea Butter.

1. LA COMPAGNiE DE PROVENCE Hand Crème ($14/3.4oz @ lcdpmarseille.com)
2. SWEET GRASS FARM Shea Butter Lotion in Fresh White Lilac ($8.95/16.9oz @ sweetgrassonline.com)
3. MD SKiNCARE Powerful Sun Protection SPF 25 Lip Balm ($18/.25oz @ sephora.com)
4. L’OCCiTANE Shea Cotton Ultra Comforting Cream ($38/1oz @ beauty.com)
5. IN KRiSTiNE’S SHOWER Shea Butter Bathbombs ($2/1-2oz to $17.99/12-2oz-pack @ inkristinesshower.com) in scent picks Malibu Baby, Sunny Days and Girly Girl.
6. NATTY GiRL Body Sugar Scrub in Yuzu Peach ($26/13oz @ nattyproducts.com)

A Brit Organic

Here’s a new line you probably haven’t heard of yet but with organic everything making headlines everywhere, this is one you should pay attention to. SOPHYTO is a Vegan line that comes to us from the UK and contains 95% certifiable organic ingredients. And it is the first professional line to receive the UK Soil Association certification, which has to do with using authentic organic formulas.

Unlike other skincare lines, these products are all water-based instead of oil-based, which definitely sounds better to me. Since preserving the formulas can be an issue when it comes to organic products, they have created to their own system that stabilizes it for up to three years. That’s pretty amazing.

They claim that each product is able to self adjust and handle a lot of different skin types and problems so you don’t need this one for that issue or that one for another. To me, that’s part of the confusion when looking at any line. The average person, me included, doesn’t really understand all that mumbo-jumbo.

Here’s what I tried and my thoughts:

Ultra Mild Silken Cleanser ($25/4.22oz) - this won’t strip the skin and it really removes makeup easily. Made for all skin types, even oily, and the cucumber and aloe smell is really pleasant.

Tone & Balance Super Bioactive ($25/8.45oz) – think toner. It’s also great for using after any kind of procedure like chemical peels or Microdermabrasion.
Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturiser ($38/1.35oz) – contains key fatty acids that are mucho skin beneficial: omega-3, omega-6, omega-9 and more. My skin really drank this cream in quickly. Read up more on this line @ sophytoorganics.com as there is a lot more to this line than when is written here. And why they put each products pH right on the box is pretty fascinating. 

Restore Your Face, Restore Your Life

This JAiME EARL Restorative Serum ($52/1oz @ jaimeearl.com) came out last fall so I’m a little late getting to it. She’s been in on the organic end of things for quite some time and this one doesn’t disappoint. All of her products are infused with green tea and DMAE. DMAE is a nutrient that claims to extend the life of the skin cells. Also in this Serum is MSM, which supplies sulfur to the body allowing it to heal itself. So combined with the DMAE, the cells are able to self-heal and thus stay alive longer and give up the good fight against acne, eczema etc. I think that’s what the “restorative” part of this serum is about.

I know we’re not much into ingredients as they are just a bunch of fancy whoo-buh-joob words for people like me to not understand but I must say that every ingredient listed in this product is totally understandable! And this list is the order in which they appear on the bottle:

• Organic Aloe Vera
• Kosher Vegetable Glycerin
• Organic Rooibos Tea
• DMAE (see above)
• Organic Jojoba
• Xanthan Gum (to thin the formula out)
• Vitamin E
• MSM (see above)
• Organic Black Willowbark Extract
• Meadowfoam seed oil
• Rosemary and Neem Oil

As with any product, especially organic ones, more natural means it could be harsher on your skin. Make sure to do a patch test on your face before applying it all over.