Report Card - Antioxidant Serum

Well I have a new report card to hand out and I am sad to report that I find this product to be a hard to grade item.


Kate Somerville Total Vitamin Antioxidant Serum - $65 for 1 oz.
(Sephora and online at Sephora.com)

I was turned on to this product by a lovely Sephora associate. She took notice of my large shopping bag and my fair freckled skin and just knew that I was ripe for the picking.

Now all of you BGNDers know that I love the high end as well as the cheap - and while I was in the market for a new antioxidant serum to add to my morning routine- I was not just gonna plop down a cool $70 for 1 oz of product. (Even if it did come from the lovely Kate Somerville - a skin genius.)

So while I did not buy this product when first introduced to me many many months ago - I finagled a rather large sample. After using the sample everyday for about a month (I told you she gave me a good amount) - I was convinced this was worth an actual purchase so off I went to help that one gal's commission for the day.

So now here I am, a few months of use under my belt, the entire bottle completely dry and my thoughts on the matter - ehhh.

That's right - I give this product an "ehhh".

For those of you that don't know what that is - think of your lovely husband saying "Hey honey, aren't you excited to see my boss and his wife tonight? You guys are great friends!" To which you think...."ehhhh...she's okay but it is Saturday and I was hoping for a hot date."

Yup - this product is ehhh.

Now to be fair - the main reason I think this product is just blah is because I think it is not for my skin type (although it claims to be for normal to dry skin).
I think on the right face - this would be a good product. (Not great - just good.) For me - it really didn't do anything.

The Positives
- Chock full of the good antioxidants you need and want to fight those evil free radicals
- Nice opaque bottle so the lovely vitamin C inside doesn't lose its mojo
- Lovely smell (not so of all antioxidants) and texture
- Quickly absorbed and leaves nice finish on skin - no grease, no sheen, no weird pastiness

The Not so Positives
- Not a great product for those that have anything less than combo to oily skin
- For a product that touts major sun damage reversal - after 3 months of daily use - I saw nothing - and I am a majorly freckled woman!!
- Price

So now you may look at these positives and negatives and wonder what I am thinking? Well for me - the negatives definitely out way the positives. What good is a product if it doesn't work? Even if food is made with the best ingredients - sometimes it doesn't taste that great...Hello - Top Chef?!

So my grade is this...

If you are older, have dry skin or serious skin damage - skip this.
I give it a C+ for your skin care needs.

If you have oily skin or are just starting to see the signs of damage - try it but don't expect a miracle.
B/B+ at most.

Like I said - even if I had the right kind of skin for this product - I am not sure it would do what it promises...and at $65 a bottle - that is not worth it.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

P.S. One disclaimer - when I was using the sample it was summer - perhaps my skin was a bit more oily and reacting better to the product....so if you are set on this item- perhaps use this in summer and switch to something with more moisture for the winter...just a thought....

Perricone does it again!

So I don't know if any of you BGNDers out there have ever used Perricone MD products- but in a word- they are fantastic! Expensive but fantastic....

Well our good friend Dr. Perricone has a new item on the market (exclusively at Sephora) that I am dying to try....

No Foundation Foundation - $50 (Exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com)
I am so totally intrigued by this new product. It is designed and formulated to do exactly what the name says- make it appear that you have the smooth foundation perfect face you have always dreamed of, but that you have that look without foundation. It is chock full of anti-oxidants (of course), specifically Alpha Lipoic Acid - designed to smooth out those fine lines and wrinkles, make your skin glow, reduce the appearance of pores...the list goes on and on. Pretty much it claims to make your skin look 16 years old again! To top it all off, it comes with a non-chemical form of SPF 30. Now I am not sure what "non-chemical" means when it comes to sun-care....however, an SPF of 30 is an SPF of 30.

I would say this is the ideal product for anyone who wants to give their skin a healthy dose of anti-oxidants while also protecting and evening out skin tone. It is like the wonder woman of foundation. A multi-tasker's dream!

Definitely worth a pick-up on my next trip to Sephora.

Have a great Monday and keep looking fab,
BGND

Product of the week - March 12th, 2009

Well ladies and gents.....sorry to say that this week's POTW is not recession friendly...but man does it work...

Clarins Extra- Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum - $78 (Sephora stores, online at Sephora.com and us.clarins.com)
I bought this serum when I needed something new. I was unhappy with my current one and I felt 1) like splurging and 2) the need to update and experiment. This serum is AMAZING. I have noticed a significant change in all of my fine lines and have only been using it for about 3 weeks. It really is fantastic - chock full of all the good stuff you want in a potent little serum where a little bit goes a long way. If you are looking for a new line reducer and have the $80 to spare- get this!! It will change the way you look at your skin- seriously.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

P.S. If you do decide to get this- go to Sephora or Sephora.com and use your insider rewards card....since it is pricey- you are almost guaranteed a free gift!!

Trend alert!!!

Sometimes it is near impossible to keep up with all the new products on the market. I mean seriously! Things get so over saturated with the newest and greatest that it is hard to keep your head about you. How are you supposed to know what to buy? Is this a staying item or just the new soon to be disposable trend?

Well my answer to the overwhelming product craziness that I often feel is I look out for something that has a new twist on things. What new products offer something the others don't? And not only that- is that "new thing" something I think is worth my hard earned dough. Lately I have noticed a new trend that I think could be AMAZING if it actually works.

The last real big trend? Minerals of course! But as with everything in life, there is always something new on the horizon. The new trend du jour? Anti-oxidants mixed in with cosmetics. The concept isn't totally new but the level of sophistication the cosmetics companies have taken it to is. Lately two separate products have caught my eye in a great way - they have been saying "I am such a great product I am going to eliminate another one from your routine"...what?! A time and a money saver?! Sign me up!!

The first of these new potential standouts?

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl Complex - $42 (Sephora nationwide)

Now all you BGND readers know that I am a huge fan of the Smashbox primer. There really is nothing out there like it to smooth fine lines and prep your face for your make-up. It truly makes a world of difference. This new incarnation is even more exciting to me. Not only does it have all the same fab qualities as the original primer, it is now coming to bat with 2 huge additions.
1 - An SPF of 15! Hooray! Perfect for those folks who prefer a non-SPF sunscreen or are looking for a way to work that VERY needed SPF into their daily routine. 2 - It is chock full of antioxidants. So now not only is it working to smooth out those lines, it is working to prevent them and fix the ones you do have! Add the sunscreen element and this is a no-brainer! My current bottle of Smashbox primer is almost empty so you better believe this is what I will be buying as the replacement.


The second newbie to catch my eye?

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Make-up SPF 20 (Not available yet so I have no price point- but look for it at drugstores nationwide very soon)So even though I recently had to break up with my Neutrogena sunscreen - I still have faith in the folks over there. They generally do good work and this new foundation is pretty exciting. I don't wear foundation everyday (only for the special occasions) but this is a foundation I could see myself getting behind. Available in 12 great shades, an SPF of 20, lightweight and sheer - the list of attributes goes on and on. That alone might be enough to get me to try this but on top of all the other wonderful things- this foundation also has a fab blend of antioxidants. Yet another product to fix the minor skin flaws while smoothing them out. Love it!

So these are the two new products I am dying to try but you know that just like the minerals bandwagon soon everyone will be hopping on the antioxidant train! But honestly when you can eliminate a step from your routine -whether it be facial sunscreen or serum - that is a time saver (and money saver) worth investigating!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Serum Schmearum....

Well it is official. What is the one thing I get asked about most since I have started this blog?

Serum!

Is it necessary? Will it help fine lines? Wrinkles? Age spots?

The answers - yes, yes, yes and let me think...YES. Serum is your friend. If you are not already using a serum - you should be. It is the first thing that should go onto your freshly washed skin at night before your night cream. It will give your face all the fantastic miracle workers it needs and will help your night time cream work even better than it does alone.

A good serum is the first step in your anti-aging arsenal. It locks in moisture and deposits the anti-agers and smoothers that you need to actually make a difference. Most good serums will have some of the following..Retinol, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Peptides and moisturizers. However, like most facial products, serum are not one size fits all. I myself have tried many many serums and will bounce back and forth between a few different options. However, below is my current list of faves. These serums are either accepted industry wide as the best of the best or serums I have personally tried and enjoyed. (In no particular order...)

1) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Serum - $19.99 (drugstores and online nationwide)

Pro - Chock full of the ingredients that you are looking for and at a reasonable price. Con- I have found the scent of this serum odd- almost like maple syrup. Strange but true.

2) Clinique Repairwear Deep Wrinkle Concentrate - $55 (Clinique counters and clinique.com)

Pro - One of the best out there for deep wrinkles, prompts major collagen production. Con - could be too strong for some younger skin.

3) Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment - $155 (Online at beauty.com and elizabetharden.com, also at select department stores)

Pro - The gold standard. Created in conjunction with the company responsible for Botox. Con- expensive and perhaps too intense for some.

4) Kinerase Pro+Therapy Advanced Repair Serum - $132 (Sephora and various online retailers)

Pro - Great for those that need the help but have sensitive skin. Con- Expensive and hard to find.

5) Prescriptives Super Line Preventer Extreme - $48-$76 (Prescriptives.com and department stores nationwide)

Pro- Intensely moisturizing yet gentle. Con - Can be hard to find since it is so popular. One time went to 4 different Prescriptive counters before I found it...but then again- is that a con?

6) Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew Serum - $21.99 (Cvs.com and Target and CVS stores nationwide)

Pro- the miracle from across the pond. A best-seller in Britain for years. Con - Soothing but might be too light on the good stuff for those who need serious help. Also, a small amount for the $.

So there you have it readers. One note- many people can stand serum both morning and night but for some that may be too much and cause a bad reaction. If that is the case, apply once at night. Also, if you are someone with mature skin who needs more help - go with #2, #3 or #4. If you are someone new to serum or just looking for something to moisturize and give you vitamins - go with #1, #5 or #6.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Bed Time Blues

Dear BGND,

Whew! The election is finally over and I stayed up WAAY too late watching all the results coming in. Well, when I got up off the couch to wash my face and go to bed I once again lamented my late-night routine confusion! I never know exactly what I should be doing when it comes to my skin care before bed. What order should I apply things? Is serum really necessary? Do I use one eye cream in the morning and a different one at night? HELP! When I crawl into bed I want to drift off into blissful sleep, not toss and turn because I am not quite sure if I did things correctly!

Tired in Tennessee

Dear Tired in Tennessee,

Fear not my friend. Your night time routine should be something you look forward to, not something you cringe away from because you are lost and confused amongst row after row of product and cleanser. The best way to think of your night time routine is that you are getting (hopefully) a blissful 7-8 hours of uninterrupted time for your skin to breathe, recoup and absorb whatever you want it to. Think about the morning...you wash and prep your face and then bam! The minute you step outside the house you are faced with so many things trying to destroy all your hard work, from pesky weather and UVA/UVB rays to the nasty things that float around in our air that we don't even know about- and they all land on and in your pores! Well the lovely night holds no such barriers to skin success. What you put on your skin sinks in for hours and when you wake up you are infinitely better than when you hit the sack if you have done things correctly. So Tired in Tennessee, here is my step by step breakdown of what your nighttime skin care routine should be.

1) Remove Eye makeup

The skin around your eyes is the most delicate on the face and the easiest to wrinkle/show signs of age, so it is all the more important to take good care of it. The first step to that is to use a proper eye makeup remover that will gently cleanse the eye area and get you ready for your facial cleanser. Do not rely on your facial cleanser to clean the eye area. Nine times out of ten, your facial cleanser is NOT appropriate for your eye skin and you will do damage trying to wrestle eye makeup off with the wrong product (or even worse, you will go to bed with residual eye makeup on and that will do nothing but clog and damage your pores and delicate eye area).

2)Cleanse

This is of course very personal to your skin type. The one thing that is true for all is that you should use your "serious" cleanser at night. This is the time to use the heavy duty cleanser that is right for you, whether that be something to fight acne or to even skin tone. Either way, those good ingredients will continue to work all night long. Many people in fact do not need more than a gently cream cleanse in the am, so this is their one and only true deep clean.

3) Serum/Concentrate

This is the most skipped step and in BGND's humble opinion, one of the most vital. Serum is your one true chance to get all the active ingredients you want directly onto fresh skin when they will work their best and for their longest. There are many, many serums out there so you have plenty of chance to find exactly the anti-agers you want and what will work best for your skin. But whatever you do, go out and find a serum you like and stick with it. It will help with fine wrinkles, it will seal moisture in and it WILL make a difference in the health and glow of your skin.

4) Eye cream

Just like serum, there are many many eye creams out there and there is one that will work for you. It should go on after serum and before your moisturizer.

5) Night Cream

Don't think that the lotion you use during the day is the one you should use at night. Like I have said many times during this post...nighttime is your chance to get the heavy lifting done. Pick your serious arsenal and make it work for you. This includes an anti-aging, moisturizing night cream that will work for you while you rest.

Well Tired in Tennessee, hopefully this breakdown helps you.

Remove Eye makeup

Cleanse

Apply Serum (include neck and upper chest area)

Eye Cream

Night Cream (include neck and upper chest area)

5 steps and you are done!

No more restless nights for you and rock that new skin!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND