Tag: Aging

How To Determine Your Skin Type

How To Determine Your Skin Type.  Today we are not discussing a product, but offering a tutorial.  I hope you find this helpful.

Here you will find how to identify what type of skin you have.  If you don’t have a magnifying mirror, I suggest you invest in one and really examine your skin. If, after you review these characteristics you still don’t know what type of skin you have, a brief visit to an esthetician or dermatologist can make that determination.  (Or, you can message me and I’ll try to help you.)

Knowing what type of skin you have is important. You can’t buy the right type of product if you don’t know your skin type. Every day I interview clients and most of them tell me they have “normal” skin when in fact, their skin is combination or some other type. Instead of normal, I prefer the term “consistent”.

Begin by washing your face with a normal facial cleansing bar and then do not apply any type of products to your face.  After one hour, read the below descriptions to determine which one best describes your skin.

Consistent (Commonly Referred to as Normal) Everyone’s skin is “normal” to them because they live in it every day. That doesn’t help to describe a type of skin. Therefore, I’ve decided to use the term “consistent” instead of normal.

  • Skin feels comfortable, rarely dry, tight or oily.
  • Skin is the same all over the face without some areas drier or oilier than others.
  • Skin has a soft, even texture without flakiness from dryness or shine from oiliness.
  • Breakouts are rare.
  • Pores are visible but not black or enlarged.
  • Makeup will stay on for several hours without the need for touch ups.

Combination (I have found this type to be the most common.)

  • Some areas (usually nose but possibly also forehead or chin) are oily and shiny.
  • Other areas (usually cheeks) feel dry, rough or tight. Dry areas may or may not have flaky spots.
  • May experience occasional breakouts, usually in isolated areas.
  • Pores may be enlarged in the oily areas and may contain black heads or white heads. Pores in the dry areas are smaller and may be visible but not black or enlarged.
  • Makeup will stay on well on the dry areas but may need to be touched up every couple of hours on the oily areas, especially the nose.

Dry (Becomes more common as we age)

  • Skin can feel tight, chapped or rough, especially after cleansing with surfactant products such as soap.
  • May experience dullness, patchiness, itchiness or flakiness.
  • Almost never breaks out.
  • Pores are small and nearly invisible. Pores rarely have black heads or white heads.
  • Makeup will stay on for many hours until it is washed away.

Oily (Very common in teenagers)

  • The skin usually feels supple and never feels tight or dry unless a drying product has been applied.
  • Skin looks oily and shiny all over, especially as the day goes on.
  • Breakouts are a regular part of life.
  • Pores tend to be very visible, especially around the nose, and there may be black heads, white heads or both.
  • Makeup tends to melt away after a couple of hours and needs frequent touch ups.

Sensitive (Can occur at any age and in conjunction with other types)

  • Skin becomes easily irritated or inflamed, especially by fragrances, allergens or climate.
  • Skin gets red, itchy, or stings when trying most new skincare products.
  • May have a diagnosis of Rosacea, eczema or dermatitis.
  • May experience breakouts from any number of irritants.
  • May burn easily and requires sunscreen with a high SPF.
  • Makeup may irritate your skin.
  • Makeup will stay on for several hours without the need for touch ups.
  • Sensitive skin can also be Consistent, Combination, Dry, or Oily! (Yes, you may have any type of skin and also experience allergies or sensitivity issues.)

Your skin can change as you age.  For women this is especially true as you experience menopause or even peri-menopause. Hormones can cause major shifts in many areas of your body, including your basic chemistry.

If after reading this you still can’t figure out your skin type, you can message me and after answering a few simple questions, I’ll be able to tell you.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

Product:  Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild.  Will this cleanser leave your skin soft or stripped?  What about the dupe – does it work?

Overall Rating =  2+ stars2.75 Stars – Just Okay to Good

Cost: $17.00 for 6.7 oz. ($2.54 per fluid ounce)  Price Category:  Mid-range

Sold By:  Clinique; Dillard’s; Sephora; Major Department Stores.  Equate version sold by Wal-mart.

Container:  Clinique Liquid Soap Mild  – Plastic bottle with plastic pump; pump does twist off. Equate MILD Facial Soap – Plastic bottle with plastic pump; pump does twist off.

Description:  Clinique Liquid Facial Soap comes in three formulas: (1) Extra Mild; (2) Mild; and (3) Oily Skin Formula.  As with all products from the Clinique line, this cleanser is fragrance free.

The company states, “The first step in Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care System. All the benefits of Clinique’s dermatologist-developed Facial Soap in a liquid formula. Cleanses without stripping protective lipids. Preps skin for the exfoliating action of Clarifying Lotion. Convenient pump dispenses just the right amount.”

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild is a cleanser designed to be used with water.  This is a lathering cleanser. It is intended to be used night and day, prior to the application of any other product.

Wal-mart also makes a version of the Clinique product called Equate MILD Facial Soap.  Today, not only are we going to review the Clinique product, but we are also going to compare it to the Equate version.  The results may surprise you.

Morning Review:  Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild is clear and it has a very faint scent that is almost nonexistent.  I don’t know how to describe the scent other than a light chemical scent similar to wet paint.  The barely detectable scent does not bother me or make my nose run.  The liquid is about the same thickness as dish detergent.  One pump is more than enough to wash my face and I would say a full pump is way too much.  I wet my face and applied the soap and it immediately began to lather.  It felt nice and gentle on my skin.  It left my face feeling very clean.  It did not make my skin feel itchy or irritated at all.  I only used this on one side of my face for comparison.

My morning review for the Equate MILD Facial Soap on the other side of my face is surprising.  It smells, looks, and feels the same as the Clinique cleanser.  It cleans very well without irritation.

Unfortunately for both products, my skin felt dry after using these cleansers which was disappointing.

Morning Rating = 3 stars4 Stars for how well they clean, 2 Stars for drying my skin = 3 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin felt very dry and in need of some serious moisture.  Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild removes all traces of face makeup and my makeup wipes are clean after using this soap.  You will need to use a separate eye makeup remover with this cleanser.  This would be a good cleanser to use with a sonic cleansing brush.

My evening review for the Equate MILD Facial Soap on the other side of my face is once again exactly the same.  I would have to say that the Equate cleanser performs as well as the Clinique cleanser.

Please Note:  If you have Rosacea, please check with your dermatologist before using the Clinique or Equate cleansers.  It should be fine if your skin is consistent to oily, but you can make your situation worse by experimenting with new products on your own.

Overall Review:  Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild is an excellent cleanser in terms of cleansing ability but I cannot give it a high recommendation because any product that is drying to the skin is not beneficial no matter what your skin type is.

A review of the ingredients shows that Sodium Chloride is the third ingredient in both the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild and the Equate MILD Facial Soap.  Sodium Chloride is, quite simply, table salt and salt is not a good thing to put on your face.  If you have dry skin this is going to dry it out even further.  If you have oily skin this soap is going to clean well and your skin will feel good at first, but then your body will produce extra oil to compensate for the fact that you have removed your own natural oils.  I give the Clinique company the highest of marks and ratings for their lack of fragrance and typically their products are very gentle, but for me this product just falls a little short.

This cleanser is suitable for women and men provided it does not have a drying effect on your skin.  Everyone reacts differently to products and perhaps this one will work well for you.  It may perform well for you if you have oily skin.  It is not a product I would buy again unless I had no other fragrance-free options.  If you have severe fragrance allergies, you should not have any negative reaction to this product whatsoever.  My male tester who also has dry skin said this cleanser left his skin feeling very dried out and he needed to put lotion on afterwards.

Regarding comparing the two products, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild and Equate MILD Facial Soap, they are so similar that it is difficult to differentiate between them.  If you read the ingredients lists below you will see just how similar.  Equate simply changed the order of some of the ingredients and added a different form of Vitamin E so that they could not be charged with completely copying a proprietary formula.  If you have normal to oily skin and like the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild you can save money with the Equate MILD Facial Soap and they are so similar I doubt you will notice any difference.

I have not tried the other two versions of this cleanser from Clinique so I cannot comment on the differences.  A review of the ingredients from the Mild to the Extra Mild formulas shows that they are completely different.  The Extra Mild formula is an oil-based, non-lathering lotion type of cleanser so that product would not be comparable to the Mild formula at all.  I would not recommend the Oily skin version of this liquid soap.  The Oily version contains menthol which some people are sensitive to and other drying ingredients that should be avoided.

Equate only makes the Mild version of the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap.  They do not have a copy for the Extra Mild or the Oily Skin formulas.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild is suitable for the following skin types:  (Not for dry to very dry skin)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Sensitive;
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination (Only if Combination is Consistent plus Oily).

Please see the Help page to accurately determine your skin type.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 3 stars3 Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.75 Stars – Just Okay to Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

Equate MILD Facial Soap

Equate MILD Facial Soap

Ingredients (Clinique Liquid Soap Mild): Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sucrose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Tocopheryl Ethyl Succinate Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Sulfate, Edta, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol.

Ingredients (Equate MILD Facial Soap): Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium-Cocoyl Glutamate, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sucrose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Sulfate, Edta, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

Product:  First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser.  Is this the facial wash your skin needs to stay clean and healthy?

Overall Rating =  3+ stars3.67 Stars – Very Good to Excellent

Cost: $20.00 for 5 oz. ($4.00 per ounce)  Price Category:  Mid-range

Sold By:  FirstAidBeauty; QVC; Sephora; Ulta

Container:  Plastic tube with flip-top cap; cap does screw off

Description:  First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser is a fragrance-free cream facial wash that you mix with water and then rinse off.  This cleanser is intended to be used night and day, prior to the application of any other product.

I am always on a quest for a gentle cleanser that will work effectively and not wreak havoc with my extremely sensitive skin.  If you don’t do anything but keep your skin clean without stripping it, keep it exfoliated, and wear sunscreen every day, you’ll probably age beautifully and have nice skin.  It sounds simple enough but finding products to accomplish that can prove difficult.

I am new to this brand but I will be trying many of their products to see how well they really perform.  The entire line is fragrance free.  I have read the ingredients labels of every single product and there is not a hint of fragrance anywhere.  Whoo hoo!

The company claims: “FAB Face Cleanser gently cleanses the skin, removes surface oils, make up, dirt and grime. Its whipped texture transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. It is infused with a powerful botanical antioxidant blend that works hard to scavenger free radicals.”  There are additional claims on their website.

Morning Review:  The First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser is a bright white, thick cream.  This does not contain any exfoliating ingredients.  It has a pretty pearlescent quality and a dollop about the size of a blueberry is enough to clean your entire face.  I wet my face first and then massaged the cleanser onto my face.  It does not lather or produce bubbles but it does have a very slight foaming property.  It has almost no scent and just smells clean.  There is a very slight inoffensive chemical component to the scent.  The scent does not make my nose run, eyes water, or produce any negative side effects whatsoever.  The thick cleanser feels gentle and soothing to my skin.  It rinsed off completely and did not leave any oily residue.  My skin did not feel tight or stripped.  My first impression was, “Wow, very nice!”  Let’s see how my skin actually reacts to this after several hours.

Morning Rating =  4 stars4 Stars

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin does not feel tight or oily.  I did not experience any irritation or redness, but something is making my face break out (see note below).  The FAB cleanser effectively removes makeup and my wipes did not find any traces of makeup when using this with just my hands. The cleanser did not make my face feel anything other than clean.  Imagine that!  This would be a very good cleanser to use with a cleansing brush.

Note:  After several hours my skin began to break out and I ended up with six blemishes on my face.  I suspect the blemishes may have been due to a product I used the previous day.  I am going to give my skin a few days to completely clear and then I will re-test this cleanser and revise my review.

Overall Review: First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser seems to be an excellent facial wash for all skin types, especially those with fragrance allergies and/or other sensitivities.  This is suitable for both women and men.  I think men could also shave with this product and I will report back on that aspect.

This is a preliminary review.  I will re-test this product once my skin clears and also get a report from other testers.

This cleanser is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive;
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = ? Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.67 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

Ingredients:  Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol,Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Allantoin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Palm Kernel/Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid.

Formulated Without:  Artificial fragrance, Dyes, Parabens.

Please Note:  There has been some controversy regarding whether Feverfew Extract is good or bad for your skin.  The Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract that First Aid Beauty uses is free of the potentially sensitizing component Parthenolide (technically known as Sesquiterpene Lactone).  Feverfew itself, when Parthenolide-free, has a calming effect on the skin.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Smooths, Restores, Corrects

Product:  Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Smooths, Restores, Corrects.  Does this serum really produce dramatic results?

Overall Rating = 3+ stars 3.5 Stars – Very Good

Cost: $49.50 for 1 oz. ($49.50 per fluid ounce)  Price Category:  Expensive

Sold By:  Clinique; Dillard’s; Macys; Sephora; Major Department Stores

Container:  Glass bottle with glass or plastic dropper

Description:  Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus serum is a fragrance-free serum intended to address fine lines and wrinkles.  This serum is designed to be used immediately following cleansing, night and day, prior to the application of any other product.

I have been familiar with this brand for decades.  Once upon a time, they were the only company with an entire fragrance-free line that was readily available at retail.

The company claims: “Delivers 63% of the visible wrinkle improvement of a dermatological laser procedure at 12 weeks. Not a laser, of course. But impressive results. New ingredients deliver twice the smoothing as before, remarkably refining skin’s texture.”  These are some pretty lofty claims, right?  I don’t necessarily agree with these statements, but I always take marketing claims with a grain of salt.

Please note, nothing that comes out of a bottle or jar is going to give you results that can in any way compare to the dramatic changes your skin will see if you undergo laser treatments from a physician.  Lasers can penetrate the epidermis down into deeper layers and will stimulate collagen production greater than any serum.  Lasers can tighten and tone skin.  Lasers can eliminate skin issues that no topical product can achieve.

 As we age, our skin gets thinner, collagen production slows, and skin regeneration and sloughing decreases.  Thinner skin also becomes less flexible which leads to the formation of lines and wrinkles.  Light skinned individuals typically first show aging as lines around their eyes and dark skinned individuals typically experience discoloration as they age followed by lines and wrinkles.  Because serums are so light and thin, they are readily absorbed into the skin to deliver anti-aging antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients.

Morning Review:  This Clinique fragrance-free serum is clear and has almost no scent other than those from the botanical ingredients.  The consistency is light and the texture is silky.  Due to the high concentration of silicone derivatives, it glides on smoothly onto my skin.  This serum feels very gentle and I don’t experience any irritation.  Due to the lightness, it is quickly absorbed.  Although not specifically designed for it, this serum can be applied to your décolletage.  My makeup goes on top of this product beautifully without any stickiness or tackiness.  As this product does not contain any sunscreen, please apply sunscreen before your makeup or use a makeup with a high SPF.

Morning Rating =  4 stars4 Stars

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin does not feel tight.  This serum helps my makeup to wear well, my face stays soft and smooth, and I do not experience any sensitivity or irritation issues.  This serum helps to improve the tone and texture of my skin.  I have not seen any evidence of elimination or improvement of fine lines or wrinkles.

Overall Review:  Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus serum is an excellent serum for all skin types, especially those with fragrance allergies and/or other sensitivities. This is suitable for both women and men.

Please note:  This serum contains ingredients that are air and light sensitive.  Do not store this near a sunny window sill and keep the container tightly sealed when not in use.  This product comes in larger sizes, but the ingredients begin to lose effectiveness once exposed to air and light.  Unless you are going to use the contents within 90 days, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to buy the large bottle just because it costs less.  If you still have a lot of product left after 90 days you’ll essentially just have a nice light weight primer without any anti-aging benefits.  If you like to use a lot of serum twice a day and also apply it to your décolletage, then the larger bottle may be a good choice for you.

This serum is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive;
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Smooths, Restores, Corrects Serum

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysilicone-11, Sigesbeckia Orientalis (St. Paul’s Wort) Extract, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Plankton Extract, Whey Protein, Sea Whip Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Caffeine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Sodium Hyaluronate, Micrococcus Lysate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ergothioneine, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Carbomer, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol.

Formulated Without:  Artificial fragrance, Dyes, Parabens.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

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Product:  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer.  This used to be known as Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel.  (Photos of both products are shown below.)  This is a two-step fragrance-free exfoliating product.

Overall Rating: = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.

Cost: $48.50 for 4 oz. total (2 products, 2 oz. each) ($12.13 per ounce) Price Category: Mid-range

Sold By:  Serious Skin Care; HSN; Kohl’s (limited products)

Container:  Two tubes with screw-off caps

Description:  I first became familiar with this line of products while channel surfing in the middle of the night.  Jennifer Flavin-Stallone and Cecilia Lewis were on HSN and I stopped to listen as they touted the benefits of this line.  I ordered a kit with many different products, most I didn’t care for due to fragrances, but this one was interesting.

Here is the description from the Serious Skin Care website:

“Doesn’t your skin deserve a very special beauty treatment? “C” a wonderful difference in the way your skin looks and feels with C-Extreme Results from Serious Skincare. This at-home skin resurfacing kit is a 2-part beauty treatment that helps rapidly exfoliate your skin while delivering Vitamin C.”

“What It Does: Helps skin feel incredibly soft and silky. Helps improve the appearance of mature, over-40 skin.”

The funny thing about this line of products is that when I first tried them about a decade ago the packaging looked like someone was making this stuff in their garage.  The jars and bottles were the generic plastic kind you would buy if you were making your own cosmetics and the paper labels looked like they were printed with a home computer.  Since I don’t like fancy containers anyway, this was both amusing and appealing to me.  Also, their website is a no-fuss site without a lot of information.  Recently, they have gone to fancier, more expensive packaging and they are giving you less product as a result.  Such is progress, right?

Warning:  Please do not use this product, or any physically abrasive product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Morning Review:  This is not intended to be a daily cleanser.  This is an exfoliating product designed to be used 2-3 times per week after cleansing.  Highly sensitive skin may want to begin with once per week.  Both products are fragrance free and the scent occurs from the ingredients. Step 1 has a light generic chemical scent and step 2 has a light citrus scent.  Neither scent is offensive to me nor makes my nose run.

This product reminds me of chemistry class.  Remember when you poured vinegar or a soft drink (acids) onto a pile of baking soda (an alkali) and watched it bubble?  Such is the effect of this two-step chemical activation product.  Step 1 is gritty feeling from the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) which is the second ingredient.  You squeeze out the off-white paste from the tube and put that all over your face.  It takes about a teaspoon of product.  You then squirt out the clear lactic acid liquid from step 2 and rub it on top of step 1.  Squirt it into the palm of your hand or it will go all over the place.  Also, you’ll need about a teaspoon of the liquid.  (For some reason I always run out of the paste before the liquid even though I try to use equal amounts.)  This product used to come with step 1 in a jar and step 2 in a squirt bottle.  That packaging made a lot more sense than this current configuration.  It is difficult to get all of the paste out of the tube and the liquid runs out too fast.

As you might expect, when these two compounds combine, they bubble up on your face and this chemical reaction exfoliates your skin.  Some people report a gentle warming sensation, others do not.  I do feel the warming sensation when I use these two products together.  The current formula is not as dramatic as when I first used the product years ago.  After gently massaging the products, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.  As with any exfoliating product, avoid the eye area.  My skin feels baby soft after using this combo and my makeup goes on flawlessly.

Morning Rating = 4 Stars for the Product, 3 Stars for the Packaging = 3.5 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions.  I have used this many times without any negative side effects.

Overall Review:  I prefer chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants, and this product is unusual as it is both a chemical and physical exfoliant.  Using this product 1-2 times per week should be fine for most people.  I would say that every other day would be too frequent.  Sensitive skin should begin with once per week.  This is not a good product to use in conjunction with a cleansing brush.  The combination would prove too severe.  As with any physical exfoliant, the key is to be gentle, and don’t rub vigorously, or you will irritate your skin.

Those of you who follow me know that I am a huge fan of exfoliating and discuss the topic frequently.  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer is a very good exfoliant at a mid-range price.  It definitely removes dead skin and leaves my face feeling smoother.  The scent is not offensive.  The products do not dry out my skin and my sensitive skin tolerates it well.

This product is appropriate for use by men as well as women.

This exfoliant is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Sensitive (but not Rosacea);
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Evening Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Average from Other Testers =4 stars 4 Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer Current Packaging

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel Former Packaging

Ingredients (Step 1) C-Resurface: PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Dimethicone, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl, Butylparaben, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

Ingredients (Step 2) C-Potion: Water, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Beta Carotene, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing Cloths

Product:  Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing Cloths.  This product used to be known as Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths.  Today’s product is a lathering cleansing cloth that you use with water like a washcloth.

Overall Rating: 2+ stars2.5 Stars = Okay to Good

Cost: $9.89 for 30 cloths ($.33 each)  Price Category:  Inexpensive

Sold By:  Wal-mart; Walgreen’s

Container:  Either paper box (new formula) or plastic box (old formula)

Description:  These are a two-sided (textured/smooth) cleansing cloth intended to be used once and then disposed.  You add water, they lather, you scrub, you toss.  These are intended to be used as a daily facial cleanser both morning and night.  This product is not fragrance free and does contain fragrance (parfum).  The textured side is a physical exfoliant.

The company states, “Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering cloths gently cleanse, exfoliate and revive skin in one simple step. At the same time, they infuse moisturization to soften skin and enhance brightness.”  Olay further claims this product “Fights 7 Signs of Aging: 1. Cleans deep; 2. Instantly refines the appearance of pores; 3. Gently exfoliates; 4. Instantly reduces the appearance of fine lines; 5. Enhances brightness; 6. Softens skin; 7. Replenishes moisture.

Cosmetic companies are notorious for slightly altering ingredients, changing packaging and changing names of essentially the same products so they can market something new.  Since most people always want the newest, most innovative products, this keeps consumers motivated to buy.  This product has been around for many years under different names and formulations.  The new cloths are thinner and smaller than the previous cleansing cloths.

Warning:  Please do not use the textured side of these cloths, or any physically abrasive scrubbing product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Morning Review:  When I first opened the container I could smell the perfume-type fragrance.  One of my testers described the scent as “baby powder”.  It doesn’t smell like baby powder to me.  It is a floral type of scent.  These are a thick two-layer cleansing cloth.  One side is solid and smooth and the other side has holes and is textured.  I cut one into fourths and separated the layers to show you.  (See photos below)  As soon as you get this cloth wet and begin rubbing in on your face it begins to lather like soap.  One cloth is large enough to almost wash your entire body.  I was able to wash just my face with one quarter of a cloth.  I began with the textured side on my nose.  The textured side was too rough for my sensitive skin and I only used the smooth side on my face.  I used the textured side for elbows, knees, feet, etc.  Please rub gently, not vigorously, with any exfoliating product.  Please do not rub this on your eyes.  This is not a product for removing eye makeup.  You could wash your face with this after you have removed your eye makeup.  My face did feel very clean after using this and my skin felt soft.  The fragrance was too strong for me though.

Morning Rating: = 2 stars2 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions other than my runny nose due to the fragrance.  The skin on my nose became oily after using the cleansing cloth.  I think this was due to the textured side being too harsh and the lathering ingredients being too drying for my skin which caused my oily area to compensate by producing more oil.  My skin does not react favorably to any product with lathering agents.

Overall Review:  Olay Total Effects Deep Pore (Age Defying) Lathering Cleansing Cloths are a good cleansing cloth if you like a product that lathers and you don’t have any fragrance allergies.  It definitely scrubbed my pores clean and left my skin feeling smoother.  However, the textured side was too harsh for my sensitive skin and I did not tolerate the fragrance well.  I would stay away from this one if you have sensitive skin or Rosacea.

The cloths do contain some nice vitamins, but they are not going to be on your face long enough to prove beneficial and the lathering agents are going to wash them away.

Most men would not like the floral perfume in this product.  My male tester sniffed it and did not even want to try it.

These cloths are suitable for the following skin types: (Not for sensitive or those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • Women who like fragrance;
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 2 stars2 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.5 Stars – Okay to Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing ClothsOlay Cloth Section Both Sides

Olay Cloth Section Textured SideOlay Cloth Section Smooth Side

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths 1

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths Old Name and Photo 1

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths 2

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths Old Name and Photo 2

Current Formula Ingredients:  Water, Niacinamide*, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Panthenol**, Tocopheryl Acetate***, Ascorbic Acid+, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance. *Vitamin B3, **Pro-VitaminB5, ***Vitamin E, +Vitamin C.

Old Formula Ingredients: PEG 100, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, C10 30 Cholesterol/Lanesterol Esters, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Polyethylene, PEG 14M, Tribehenin, Fragrance, Polyquaternium 10, Synthetic Beeswax, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, L Menthol.

Old Formula Ingredients: Petrolatum, PEG-100, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocoamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-14M, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Fragrance, Polyquarternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Disodium-EDTA, Methylparaben, Sodium Magnesium/Diisobutylene Copolymer, Silica, BHT, Sodium Laurate.

Old Formula Ingredients: Petrolatum, Peg-100, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Peg-14M, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance/Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol*, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Salicylic Acid***, Sodium Ma/Diisobutylene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate**, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract. *Provitamin/Provitamine B5, **Vitamin/Vitamine E , ***Beta Hydroxy/Be?Ta-Hydroxy.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

 

Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream

Product:  Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream.  Today’s product is another Lancôme product that fell short of my expectations.

Overall Rating: 1+ stars  1.13 Stars = Terrible

Cost: $89.00 for 1.7 oz. ($52.35 per ounce)  Price Category:  Expensive

Sold By:  Lancôme; Sephora; Dillard’s; Major Department Stores

Container:  Plastic jar with screw off lid;  (This is my least favorite type of container.  Each time you unscrew the lid and remove it you are exposing the contents to air, bacteria, lessening the effectiveness of the ingredients, and unless you sterilize your fingers each time before you touch the contents, even more bacteria.  If you are going to use products from jars, please remove the contents with a tiny spatula, not your fingers.  If you can’t find the spatulas in stores, message me and I’ll tell you where to buy them for cheap.)

Description:   For those of you that love Lancôme, I hope you don’t feel like I am bashing this company.  I am a huge fan of L’Oreal and when we get into makeup reviews, you will see just how big of a fan I am.  Since L’Oreal is the parent company of Lancôme, you would think I would like this line, too.  The problem is that Lancôme began as a perfume company, so it is no wonder that all of their products are so filled with fragrance, the main ingredient I am allergic to.

Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream is another heavily perfumed Lancôme product with some pretty impressive claims.  The website states, “This staple formula, featuring the Refill-3X complex, helps reduce the number, depth and size of wrinkles for visibly renewed smoothness.”  The first benefit listed is “Visible anti-wrinkle results*” and then the asterisk states, “*results may vary, wrinkles may not appear eliminated”.  It is interesting that the text in the asterisk is a different font.  Maybe it was listed as an afterthought or perhaps to comply with the FDA’s warning letter to Lancôme about false claims.

Please Note:  This formula was changed a couple of years ago and the sunscreen was removed.  If you purchase this product from Sephora, the product shown on their website does not exist any longer.  Sephora has not updated their website and they are still showing this product with an SPF of 15.  The current formula does not contain any SPF ingredients. Dillard’s has updated their product photo, but not their description.  Dillard’s is still showing SPF also.  I have posted photos of containers showing both the old and new formulas.

Morning Review:  When I first unscrewed the jar I was overwhelmed with the amount of strong fragrance in this product.  I immediately went to the ingredients to review where fragrance occurred in the list as ingredients are listed in order of content in the product.  I expected fragrance to be high up in the order.  It was listed as the last ingredient.  This tells me that the amount of anti-aging ingredients in this product is very small.  The cream is ivory in color and has a silky texture.  It feels good on your face if you don’t mind smelling like a bottle of musky perfume.

The cream feels smooth and made my skin feel soft.  The second ingredient, dimethicone, is a silicone derivative that makes for a nice primer so makeup goes on well on top of this.  The downside is that my eyes and nose were watering from the scent and after a few minutes I developed a serious headache from the fragrance.

Warning:  this product does not contain any sunscreen.  Sunscreen was removed from this formula a couple of years ago.  You must apply a separate sunscreen if you are going to use this as a day moisturizer.  Also, due to the heavy perfume, I would not advise getting this in or near your eyes.  You should use a separate eye cream with this product.

Morning Rating: 1 star1 Star

Evening Review:  To be honest, I tried several times to keep this on all day to see how my skin would react, but the heavy fragrance had such awful side effects for me that the longest I could stand it before washing it off was two hours.  The scent was physically making me ill.  One of my testers refused to apply it due to the scent.  One of my testers washed it off after a few minutes.  One of my testers who likes perfumes said it was even too strong for her but she liked the feel of the cream.  I have to agree that is does feel nice, but I couldn’t leave it on long enough to find out if there are any other benefits.

Overall Review:  Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream has a nice silky texture and it feels lovely.  The silicone and glycerin will make your skin feel soft and give you the perception that this is doing something good for your skin.  In reality, any good moisturizing cream will do the same thing at a fraction of the cost.  This cream offers nothing in the way of cutting-edge anti-aging properties or ingredients.

Most men would not like the scent of this product.

This cream is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for those with fragrance allergies)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • Women who like heavy perfumes;
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive (not if you are sensitive to fragrances);
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Evening Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Average from Other Testers = 1+ stars1.5 Stars;

Value Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.13 Stars – Terrible.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream-2

Lancôme Current Formula Without SPF

Lancôme High Résolution Refill-3x Triple Action Renewal Anti-Wrinkle Cream-1

Lancôme Old Formula With SPF No Longer Available

Ingredients:  WATER, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, MINERAL OIL, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE / AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID, CETYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, METHYLSILANOL/SILICATE CROSSPOLYMER, OCTYLDODECANOL, TOCOPHEROL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, MEDICAGO SATIVA EXTRACT / ALFALFA EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED RICE PROTEIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, ACETYL TRIFLUOROMETHYLPHENYL VALYLGLYCINE, ADENOSINE, PEG-8 ISOSTEARATE, ETHYLPARABEN, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, POLY C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE, NYLON-66, TALC, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, DIMETHICONOL, LIMONENE, XANTHAN GUM, MANGANESE GLUCONATE, LINALOOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, CHOLESTEROL, CAPRYLOYL SALICYLIC ACID, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, SORBITAN PALMITATE, GERANIOL, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, DISODIUM EDTA, METHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, CITRONELLOL, COUMARIN, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

2 Comments

Product:  Today we are reviewing Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser.  Please share your experiences with this product.

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.75 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay

Cost: $6.99 for 5oz. ($1.40 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Inexpensive

Sold By:  Aveeno and retailers everywhere; This product has been discontinued, perhaps due to a controversial ingredient.  There are still retailers with this on their shelves until the last of it is gone.

Container:  Plastic pump bottle with locking pump; Pump screws off

Description:  The Aveeno brand is readily available at retailers everywhere.  I have been using the Aveeno brand for decades and like some of their products.  This is not one of them.  I’m providing this review to shed some light on this cleanser, particularly one of its key ingredients, which I do not recommend or support.

Aveeno states on their website, “Our products feature exclusive ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients, carefully selected from nature and uniquely formulated to deliver effective skin and hair care benefits. These ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients undergo rigorous scientific testing to prove their safety and efficacy, so it’s no wonder our products are recommended by leading professionals.”

The company states this product, “visibly reduces the signs of aging” “with natural shiitake complex”, “Helps speed up the skin’s natural renewing process”.  There are other lofty claims as well.

Morning Review:  First off, I bought this cleanser by mistake.  I was traveling and needed something so I quickly ran into a drug store and picked up this cleanser.  I did not realize it was not fragrance free as the ingredients were hidden under a back label.  As soon as I pushed the pump for the first time, I sneezed and my nose began running like a faucet.  The amount of fragrance in this cleanser is so excessive it is overwhelming.  This has a very strong floral scent, so much so that you feel as if you’re being smothered by flowers while it is on your face.  I could not rinse this enough to get rid of the scent.  I also found this cleanser to be drying to my skin.

As far as the cleansing components, this is a typical cleanser with water, glycerin to make it feel silky, sodium laureth sulfate (surfactant), etc.  It is the fourth ingredient, polyethylene, that I take issue with.  This cleanser has microplastic beads in it to exfoliate your skin.  While the plastic in itself is not harmful to you, it is very damaging to the marine ecosystem and environment.  In December of 2013 the Marine Pollution Bulletin discussed the impact of these plastics.  During this research, “two national brands of facial cleansers containing polyethylene microbeads were sieved and analyzed using the SEM/EDS system to evaluate their texture and composition” and the damaging effects were discussed.

There are natural substances we can use to exfoliate our faces that don’t pollute our waterways and kill marine life in the process.  Regarding benefits from shiitake, the mushroom complex is the very last ingredient.  There is so little in this product I suspect it is just included for marketing purposes.  The concentration is not high enough to produce any visible change in your skin.  Considering the small amount of time a cleanser is on your skin, even at a higher concentration there would be little benefit.

Morning Rating=   1 star1 Star

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin felt dry, tight and itchy.   This cleanser effectively removes most makeup.   My makeup wipes only found small traces of makeup using just my hands.  (Apparently, the beads do work.)  You cannot get this product near your eyes so you will need to use a separate cleanser to remove eye makeup.  This is not a good cleanser to use with a cleansing brush.  The brush, in combination with the microplastic beads, may prove to be too harsh.

Overall Review:  Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser is not a good cleanser for anyone, especially those with fragrance allergies and/or other sensitivities. Men definitely would not like this scent.  If you really like stinky products and don’t care about the environment, you may love this.

This cleanser is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for Dry or Sensitive skin)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • Women who like heavy perfumes;
  • Oily;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Evening Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Average from Other Testers = 1 star1 Star;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.75 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

Ingredients:  Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polyethylene, Lauryl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tetrasodium Edta, Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Stem Extract, May Also Contain: Sodium Hydroxide.

Formulated Without:  Oil, Soap.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum 813 RE9 Advanced

2 Comments

Product:  Today we are reviewing another serum, Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum 813 RE9 Advanced.  Is this one going to work wonders for you?

Overall Rating = 3 stars3 Stars – Good

Cost:  $62.00 for 1 Fluid Ounce  Price Category:  Expensive

Sold By:  Arbonne Website or Arbonne Independent Consultants

Container:  Plastic pump bottle with outer plastic cap.  The pump does screw off.

Description:   Arbonne was formed in Switzerland in 1975 and began selling products in the USA in 1980.  The company’s headquarters are now in Irvine, CA.  Many of you may not be familiar with this brand as it is a direct-marketing brand.  You can only purchase the products directly from the website or independent consultants, similar to Amway, Avon or Mary Kay.  I was introduced to this brand about 10 years ago from a consultant who wanted my professional opinion of the line.

The company claims to be environmentally conscious and their vegan products are primarily botanically based without toxic chemicals.  Their website is pretty impressive.

Regarding Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum, the company states, “It’s called “intensive” because it’s concentrated. The collagen-supporting ingredients are clinically proven to hold in moisture and help visibly firm and lift, while lessening the appearance of fine lines.”

I used almost a full bottle of this prior to posting this review to see if there are any long-term benefits.

Morning Review:  As with any serum, they should be applied after cleansing and toning and prior to any other products such as sunscreen, moisturizer or makeup.  Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum is slightly thicker than some serums I have used.  It is primarily clear with a slight milkiness.  It feels silky to the touch due to the high concentration of silicone derivatives.  The scent is difficult to describe but it definitely has a plant-type scent.  This is a fragrance-free product so the scent is naturally occurring due to the ingredients.  It did not make my nose run or my eyes burn, but I did sneeze the first time I sniffed it.  After application my skin has a more velvety texture and it feels slightly smoother.  Would I say my skin looks any different?  Not really, but it does feel nice.  The serum absorbs quickly.  My makeup goes on nice and smooth on top of this serum.

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin does not feel tight.  I did not experience any sensitivity or irritation issues from this product.  I have sensitive combination skin.  The oily parts did not get oilier.  The serum does seem to keep the dry parts of my skin hydrated rather well.  When I rinsed it off, my face felt silky.  After repeated use, I had the same results each time.  I did not notice any major changes whatsoever, positive or negative.

I did not notice any change in pore size, dark spots, sagginess, fine lines or wrinkles.  It did not make any of those issues worse or better.  Also, this serum did nothing to firm or lift my skin.  While it was on, my skin felt slightly tighter, but the effects were temporary and as soon as I washed it off, my skin felt the same as it always does.

Overall Review:  Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum 813 RE9 Advanced is a good botanically-based serum for all skin types, especially those with fragrance allergies.   This is suitable for both women and men and my male tester said it made his skin feel “moister”.  It is a good product with enough beneficial ingredients to warrant adding it to your regime.  It provides moisture and an improvement in texture without irritation.  It did not work miracles, but then what does?  I have yet to discover a fountain of youth in a jar.

Suitability:  This serum is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive;
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 3 stars3 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3 stars3 Stars – Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Arbonne Intensive Renewal Serum 813 RE9 Advanced

Ingredients:  Aqua/Water/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Polysorbate 40, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Lavandula Stoechas Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Thioctic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Polyamino Sugar Condensate, Urea, Panthenol, Lecithin, Salicylic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Pca, Stearamine, Silica, Tetrasodium Edta, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

Formulated Without:  animal products or by-products, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, benzene, bisphenol-a, carbon black, formaldehyde-donating preservatives, hydroquinone, mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium laureth sulfates (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), synthetic dyes, talc, triclosan, triethanolamine (TEA), and so much more…

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Lancôme –Advanced- Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Product:  Today we are reviewing Lancôme -Advanced- Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate.  Does this so-called “youth” serum really do all that it claims?

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.75 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay

Cost: $20.00 for .27 oz. ($74.01 per fluid ounce) Price Category:  Expensive

Sold By:  Lancôme; Sephora; Dillard’s

Container:  Plastic bottle with screw-off plastic dropper

Description:   This is a controversial product.  It has a lot of loyal followers.  So why is it controversial?  In 2012 Lancôme was all over the news for being cited by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for making false claims with many of its beauty products that were so outrageous that they fell under the guise of drugs pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  As a result, Lancôme was forced to completely change its marketing strategies, website information, and magazine ads.  Don’t believe me?  Here is the FDA’s letter to Lancôme dated September 7, 2012.  The company was also cited for false advertising by using overly-airbrushed spokesmodels that presented unrealistic images.

Lancôme -Advanced- Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate is a very light weight serum.  This is an oil-free product.  It has a slight viscosity to it due to the third ingredient, glycerin.  It is thicker than water but not as thick as a lotion.  (Imagine a few drops of lotion in water.)  It is mostly clear but with a slight opacity to it.  This is not a fragrance-free product.  One tester described the scent as perfumed antiseptic.  To me it smells like hair spray.

The company claims this serum acts on 10 key signs of youth including: 1. skin texture; 2. resiliency; 3. elasticity; 4. firmness; 5. sagginess; 6. fine lines; 7. wrinkles; 8. radiance; 9. clarity; and 10. skin tone.

Morning Review:  Before posting this review I used a full bottle of this product on one side of my face only.  (Yes, I’m willing to sacrifice my own skin to save yours.)  The first time I put this on my face I immediately sneezed.  Then, my nose started running; after that my face began itching.  (I’m obviously allergic to the fragrance and citronellol in this serum.)  The fourth ingredient is denatured alcohol which is very drying to the skin.  The remaining ingredients are included in much lesser concentrations than the alcohol.  Due to the alcohol this serum is very quickly absorbed into your skin.  It does not leave any oily feel but it does feel silky and soft.  My makeup goes on nicely on top of the product, but not much different than the side without the serum.

Morning Rating = 2 stars2 Stars

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin felt irritated after itching all day and blowing my nose due to the fragrance allergy.   Sadly, after using an entire bottle, I don’t look any younger or different.  To me, the side I used the serum on looks just the same as the side I did not.  To one friend, the side I applied the serum to appeared worse.  His perception was that my face with the serum looked bumpy and irritated.  I was happy when the bottle was empty so that I would not have to smell it any longer.  I had to take a lot of allergy pills and buy lots of tissues for my runny nose during this experiment.  I did not experience any actual break outs.

Overall Review:  I do not know why anyone would rave about, much less even like this serum.  Yes, it makes your skin feel softer and silkier, but so do many other substances at one tenth the cost.  Plain glycerin costs $.65 per ounce.  The positive antioxidant ingredients, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), and Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C) can be found in other serums in higher concentrations without irritating alcohol or fragrance for considerably less money.

Lancôme –Advanced- Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry (the alcohol may be too drying for you);
  • Sensitive (not if you have fragrance allergies);
  • Oily;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 2 stars2 Stars;

Value Rating = 1 star1 Stars;

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.75 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Ingredients:  Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Faex Extract/Yeast Extract/Extrait De Levure, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Octyldodecanol, Citronellol, Fragrance.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.