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Deets on YSL Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer

April 2, 2019 · Leave a Comment

It’s finally here!

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty debuted a Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer. It boasts Touche Eclat consistency with high pigment coverage.

ORIGINAL TOUCHE ECLAT IS NOT A CONCEALER

It is the beauty product every makeup artist loves. YSL Touche Eclat brightens up a dark under-eye. It hides imperfections and highlights the brow bone and lip line area. A dot blended under the nostrils lifts the face. But it doesn’t do everything.

As makeup artist Wayne Goss points out, YSL Touche Eclat is not a true concealer. This is especially so for under eye circles. It brightens but doesn’t hide well. Read Style Chicks best use eclat article here for making the most out of this iconic highlighter.

When YSL announced a TE concealer, we obsessively checked YSLbeaute.com daily to see if it arrived yet. We gave it a test run in all kinds of lighting situations.

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH Touche Eclat HIGH COVER

It‘s like your tried-and-true YSL Touche Eclat, but with concealing properties.

It promises extra pigment and buildable coverage, and it will not get cakey. YSL TE High Cover contains delicate eye skin-loving treating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and caffeine.

We love Hyaluronic and caffeine in an eye product. But what if these ingredients alter the beloved TE consistency?

We found the consistency to be smooth and silky. It is not the best coverage for red spots or acne, I do like it on the eye area. My circles are dark, it does not conceal as well as some concealers, but it is not detectable on my skin, which I love. The wear is not especially long-wearing, but the brightening effect seems to remain. It dries down enough so that mascara doesn’t run but it doesn’t highlight flakey or dry skin. The color runs similar to my current YSL shade, but darker. Both products in the photos below are in the shade Ivory, but the High Cover seems darker out of the tube and in application.

Ivory shade in YSL High Cover Concealer (top) and YSL TE classic

YSL High Cover Concealer (top) and YSL TE classic, both in the shade Ivory

OTHER YSL TE HIGH COVER FEATURES AND FACTS

Available in 16 shades, vanilla to ebony. Some shades are familiar, some new.

At YSL, you can get it monogrammed, but that takes an extra few days, and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. But the next one we get, we are monogramming it with the date so we know when its’ time to reorder.

WHERE TO BUY IT

For now, find YSL Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer at Yves Saint Laurent Beauty for $35

iRestore Hair Growth System Month 5 Update

March 18, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Welcome to our update of the iRestore Hair Growth System for Month 5!

New to our series? Here is a quick sum-up of the iRestore Hair Growth System:

ABOUT THE IRESTORE HAIR GROWTH SYSTEM AND HOW IT HELPS GROW HAIR

If you’re just joining us on this series, you may be wondering what iRestore does for hair. The iRestore ID-500 Laser Dome is an FDA-Cleared device that is a dome-shaped helmet which is worn for 25 minutes, every other day, for a pain-free laser treatment. The iRestore unit is lightweight and has a generous length cord for ease of movement during use. It is silent, so it can be used while watching TV or while on the computer.

What makes iRestore special? On the inside of the helmet are twenty-one Class 3R lasers and thirty LED diodes that produce a red light in a specific nanometer range. This range has been clinically demonstrated to stimulate hair follicles, thereby enhancing regrowth.

How does iRestore work? Laser light can give dormant hair follicles a “kick-start” by increasing blood flow to the follicles. This brings the right nutrients and supports to bring hair follicles back to life, once again producing hair. Second, the laser can extend the growth phase of hair to restore a healthy hair production cycle once again. As a side bonus, currently producing follicles and the scalp also benefit from increased nutrients and blood flow.

iRestore ID-500 Laser Dome with an auto shut-off timer

The inside of the iRestore Helmet dome headband

The Style Chicks team has three of our own using the iRestore system for six months to test it for ourselves.

LEE

I have continued to experience some new growth with the use of iRestore Hair Growth System. The new hair I reported last time has grown to over an inch. The hairs appear to be the same thickness as other healthy hairs on my head, which are thick and coarse. I now vary the part each time I use iRestore ID-500 Laser Dome but it is too soon to expect a response to this new approach. Since I need to color my hair at this time it is easier to identify the new hairs, which are white, my natural color, and it is obvious that I’m getting results!

Lee after 5 Months

COURTNEY

The system still continues to be so easy to use! Just 25 minutes a few times a week while I’m doing other tasks. I love using the serum as part of my scalp massage each day. I have had some new hair loss at the front of my hairline, but perhaps that is just shedding (which I am told is normal) at this point on a different spot of my scalp. Here is some background on the hair growth cycle and shedding:

- - - It is normal to experience shedding even 5 months in as everyone is at a different phase in the hair cycle
    - Since the hair growth cycle is different for everyone, different stages of the cycle may last longer/shorter from person to person
    - Learn more about the hair growth cycle here.

While I have no new hairs in the spots that I have hair loss, I noticed something interesting: I have a few grey hairs popping up here and there. They are always short and wiry in their growth cycle. The other day I noticed that I was able to tuck the greys behind my ear, and that they were fairly silky. My guess is that these hairs are benefiting from the iRestore Hair Growth System. Even if these hairs weren’t affected by hair loss, the iRestore Hair Growth System has had a beneficial effect on the length of the growth cycle as well as the texture of the hair. Nice!

Courtney after 5 Months

LYN

I love knowing that the iRestore Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo is keeping DHT off my scalp! The shampoo continues to keep my hair in good condition. I try to alternate off shampoos, but I can consistently use iRestore Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo without my hair getting dull.

As Courtney mentioned, using the iRestore Laser Device is really easy and fits into my schedule.

But my favorite part is the iRestore Anti-Hair Loss Serum: applying this serum to my scalp is a luxurious experience and I feel that it is making my hair stronger as it grows out.

I haven’t noticed any new hair growth, but it does feel stronger.

Lyn after 5 Months

That’s it for Month Five! Stayed tuned for our Month 6 Update!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Interested in trying the iRestore Hair Growth System yourself? Find it at https://www.irestorelaser.com

___________________________________________
Style Chicks received the iRestore Hair Growth System for review purposes. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Guest Post: Organic, All-Natural, Non-Toxic, Chem-Free. What’s the Difference?

February 12, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: We are pleased to bring you an informative article by guest blogger Diane Elizabeth of Skin Care Ox!

Green is the new black when it comes to the beauty industry. Green beauty is a popular movement, as many switch to products that are safe, clean, and all-natural.

There are incredible brands who create clean products to exacting standards. But there are also plenty of imposters who claim they do but don’t. So how can you tell them apart? The first step is to unpack the industry’s key buzzwords. This way you understand what they mean and when you can trust them.

Breaking down the buzzwords

Organic, natural, non-toxic, GMO-free. These are some of the most popular buzzwords when it comes to clean beauty. Surprisingly, none of these terms are strictly regulated by the FDA or USDA for cosmetic industry use.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular buzzwords:

Organic

Organic means produced without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage, ionizing radiation, antibiotics, or growth hormones (1).

To ensure that a product is “organic,” look for a seal from a third-party organic certifying organization, such as the USDA Certified Organic program. If you don’t see the USDA seal, then there is no guarantee that the product meets organic quality standards.

Even if a product is USDA Certified Organic, that doesn’t mean that it contains 100% organic ingredients. In fact, a product can contain as little as 70% organic ingredients and still have the USDA seal. Even with the fancy USDA seal, you’ll still want to read the ingredient labels of organic cosmetics and beauty products.

Here are a few ways to evaluate if products are organic and high quality:

How many ingredients are listed as “certified organic”? Which organization certified them?
Research all listed non-organic ingredients online—are they safe and clean?
Look for a seal from a third-party certifying organization

Natural

The term “natural” is frequently used in the beauty industry. Yet, there are no official regulatory standards to define it. That means that any cosmetic product can claim to be “natural” while still containing synthetic ingredients. The simplest definition for “natural products” are those not containing any synthetic ingredients or additives.

Here are a few tips to identify them:

Natural ingredients tend to be easy to read and recognize. If you don’t know one, google it to confirm.
Natural ingredients should be at the top of the list on the label, any unnatural ones should be at the end.
Look for a seal from a third-party certifying organization

Non-Toxic

Non-toxic means “a substance that is not expected to cause symptoms or be dangerous” to humans or the environment (2). A non-toxic product should not have any ingredients linked to toxic responses in humans. Toxic responses include death, organ failure, reproductive and hormonal disruption, and cancer.

Chem-Free

The term “chemical-free” or “chem-free” is incredibly misleading. Not only is it completely unregulated, but it is also deceptive. All ingredients in a product are technically chemicals, including water! Steer clear of all beauty products marketing themselves as chemical-free.

About our Guest Blogger

Diane Elizabeth is a beauty expert and founder of Skin Care Ox: a skin care blog focusing on publishing accurate, beautiful, and informative skin care research and content. Diane’s skin care advice has been featured in many top publications such as HuffPost, Glamour, Reader’s Digest, and Yahoo!

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the writer, not of Style Chicks.

SUPERIOR CLEANSING: UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

December 7, 2018 · 4 Comments

Are you washing your face wrong? Improper cleansing prevents serums, lotions, and topicals from absorbing well. It can also introduce bacteria and irritate skin. Many people invest in a facial brush device. There are many facial brush devices available at different price points. How do you pick the right one? Learn how to determine the best facial brush for you, and why we use the UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush.

UTILYZE™ Brush head close up

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SELECTING A FACIAL BRUSH DEVICE

Why can’t I just use a washcloth or exfoliating scrub?
Does scientific research back sonic brush efficacy?
What’s the difference between a spinning head brush and a sonic brush?
What cleansing method works best for problem skin?
Which brush has the best features for my skin care needs?

These important questions are addressed below. But first, some features we like about the UTILYZE™ Sonic Facial Cleansing brush:

UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 ADVANCED SONIC FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSH OVERVIEW

This brush has a powerful patented Sonic oscillation of 300 movements per second. It removes impurities without pulling or stretching skin. Ideal for sensitive problematic skin, oscillating bristles exfoliate without redness or irritation. It primes the skin for best absorption of serums and creams.

UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush with massaging and cleansing head options on USB charging dock station

UTILYZE™ DESIGN FEATURES

The Utilyze 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush has more features than competing brushes.

ERGONOMIC DESIGN
ANGLED HEAD: The unique 10-degree angle fits facial curves.
The 10-degree angled head fits into the curves of the face
QUICK CHARGING BY USB
CUSTOMIZED SKINCARE SETTING PROVIDES MORE OPTIONS THAN ANY OTHER SONIC BRUSH:
- THREE SPEEDS for the gentlest to robust cleansing power.
- TWO TIMED CLEANSING PROGRAMS provided customized cleansing.
TWO INCLUDED HEADS
- CLEANSING HEAD soft, gentle bristles provide effective cleansing to all skin types
- MASSAGE HEAD: relaxes face muscles and increase blood flow.
DOCKING STATION: Holds brush upright and allows the brush to dry between uses
MAGNETIC STAND holds the massage head next to the docking station to keep it at the ready.
WATER RESISTANT: Use it in the shower
BRUSH CAP with air holes to help to dry the head after use
WARRANTY: an unprecedented offer in the industry, a very generous 3-year warranty.

Well-packed contents of the Utilyze Brush set

BUT WHY DO I NEED A SONIC SKINCARE BRUSH?

Washcloths and exfoliating scrubs can cause micro-tears in the skin. This is especially so with skin over thirty. This can lead to infection and scaring. Manual exfoliation can also stretch the skin, damaging the collagen.

THE SCIENCE OF SONIC

Does science back sonic cleansing brushes? How does a sonic brush help acne? The Journal of Dermatology explains why sonic cleansing is a superior clean:

“A sonic skin care brush was developed to enhance and provide consistent skin cleansing while preventing the skin from becoming compromised. Utilizing a technology previously used to cleanse the oral cavity, the sonic skin care brush is optimized to work with the skin’s own elasticity providing rapid oscillatory flexing of the infundibular opening. By oscillating at sonic speed the net result is the inelastic comedones become loosened and detached from the infundibular wall and are then cleared from the acroinfundibulum.” [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17173597/ (2006 Jun;5(2):181-3.)]

What does that mean? Sonic brushes use the skin’s elasticity to loosen comedones. Comedones include blackheads, whiteheads, and non-inflamed blemishes. Comedones generally don’t respond well to topical medications alone. A sonic brush loosens comedones without damaging surrounding skin.

Closeup of the UTILYZE™ Sonic Brush head. Sonic cleansing provides and gentler, more effective clean

ROTATING/SPINNING BRUSH HEADS VERSUS SONIC BRUSH HEADS

There’s spinning head face brushes under $40, some from respected brand names. Won’t those work as well as a sonic brush?

Well, no. The mechanism and results are different.

On a spinning brush, the bristles are stationary while the head rotates. It spins over and over the skin surface, like a car buffer or polisher. Buffing makes skin feel softer. The spinning can pull off looser dead skin flakes. It can “sweep” into a blackhead surface to begin to dislodge it. But buffing is best for hard surfaces, not live skin. Buffing irritates live skin because it keeps dragging and pulling the skin. Spinning brushes can’t access pores to cleanse them.

On a sonic brush, the bristles oscillate at a precise ‘sonic’ speed. The speed of oscillation instead of rotation makes a difference in the cleansing. Sonic speed is fast enough to make a sound and vibration, like the bass on quality sound speakers. The speed creates tiny, rapid movements. These movements vibrate the bristles. The bristles prod skin pores to shake out and dislodge impurities. They also pull dislodged debris away. It’s like shaking debris off a silk blouse instead of rubbing it out.

“Sonic” speed allows for very gentle contact with the skin but still exfoliates. There is no scrubbing with a sonic brush. There is no pulling, dragging or stretching the skin and delicate collagen fibers.

The faster the sonic speed, the gentler it is to the skin. The fastest sonic brushes, like UTILYZE™, don’t cause redness or irritation because they clean with minimal skin contact.

The slimline, ergonomic, multi-feature UTILYZE™ Sonic Brush

SONIC BRUSHES AND PROBLEM SKIN

Most of us have some form of problem skin or at least aging skin. Problem skin requires extra care in cleansing.
Problem skin includes issues such as:

acne
rosacea
KP (Chicken Bumps)
pseudofolliculitis barbae (chronic razor burn or bumps)
seborrheic dermatitis
delicate, thin or aged skin
photo-damaged skin
other skin conditions requiring special cleaning

Cleansing problem skin is where a sonic brush shines. Sonic brush bristles can cleanse uneven and irregular skin surfaces. These include:

congested pores
acne
scales, and patches
bumps
facial scars

A BRUSH FOR PROBLEM SKIN

UTILYZE™ is an excellent choice for those with skin problems.

Those with problematic skin conditions often wear mineral makeup and heavy-duty concealers. These need scrubbing to remove, further irritating problematic and sensitive skin. Utilyze not only removes heavy duty makeup with any cleanser but does so gently enough to not cause a flare up.

The UTILYZE™ brush even removes seborrheic dermatitis scales on eyebrows with no irritation. That’s impressive!

UTILYZE™ Easy to use menu settings offer 3 speeds and two timed programs

UTILYZE™ BRUSH HEAD OPTIONS

There are brush head types to address specific skin problems. These include:

Acne prone brush head: A gentler brush to remove dead skin flakes, oil, and bacteria without irritating existing blemishes.
Sensitive Brush Head: A thinner and softer head that provides a gentle cleansing experience without irritation
Deep Pore Cleansing Head: A special combination of thin and thick bristles to remove blackheads and deep clean the pores.
Skin Exfoliation Brush Head: A unique brush head with multiple bristle layers to remove crusty, dull and dead skin.

Utilyze brush heads designed for customized skin care needs

UTILYZE™ has multiple brush heads designed for customized skin care needs

MY SONIC BRUSH EXPERIENCE

I’ve tried pretty much all the brand names that come to mind when you hear the words “sonic facial brush”.

I love how soft my skin feels after using a sonic brush. But some do irritate my skin or leave it a bit dry, dehydrated and tight feeling. The bristles are a bit rough on a few brands. I also dislike how long they take to charge. And the sonic brushes, even the minis, are pretty pricey.

I’ve also dropped and broken a few sonic brushes. The fatter model brush handles don’t fit in my hand very well, especially in the shower.

The Utilyze Brush sits in docking station with magnetic holder for the massage head

My UTILYZE™ Brush sits in the docking station with magnetic holder for the massage head

MY UTILYZE™ EXPERIENCE

My skin’s smooth and glowing after use, without redness, scratchy patches or irritation. My serums apply and absorb quickly after use.

The 10-degree angled head gets hard to reach areas like the blackheads on the sides of my nose, my chin and my throat. I love how even stubborn blackheads purge without damaging my sensitive skin. UTILYZE™ is helpful for my whiteheads that won’t budge. My skin seems far less congested and my pores appear smaller.

I find the massage head useful for helping my topical creams and serums absorb into the skin.

I also prefer the slim design of UTILYZE™. It’s lightweight, thinner and longer than other sonic brushes. It fits into my hand and is easy to hold onto, even in the shower.

UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush comes with many features

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush at https://www.amazon.com/UTILYZE-Advanced-Cleansing-Massage-Settings/dp/B07DDH61BN. Style Chicks readers get an extra 20% off with code 20STYLECHICK.

UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush makes a great gift

Like you, the team here at Style Chicks needs time to evaluate and form an opinion of any of the products we talk about. In the case of UTILYZE™ 2-in-1 Advanced Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush, we received compensation for our time and effort to test, research and form the opinion above. Our review and pictures are because we think the product is great and want to share it with you!

Customized Performance Skincare: The Good Chemist

November 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment

What’s your biggest skin concern? Aging? Discoloration? Adult acne? Sensitive skin? In a sea of beauty products, how can you know what product works best for your SPECIFIC skincare concerns? The folks at The Good Chemist are here to help with customized skincare regimens. These Power Pairing regimens each contain two or three custom products designed to perform on your chief beauty issue.

The Good Chemist Trio

ABOUT THE GOOD CHEMIST

Founded by a skin care obsessed female chemist, The Good Chemist only uses independently tested, clinically proven ingredients in all their formulations.
The idea behind The Good Chemist is keeping skin care simple and focused: instead of using multiple products that can unduly irritate the skin, use just a few well-designed products to perform exceptionally.

The Good Chemist Clarity Serum and Radiance Repair Serum Duo treats adult acne while not drying out wrinkles

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE FOR SPECIAL PRODUCTS

The Good Chemist combines synergistic, clinically proven ingredients to build the ideal ingredient cocktail for your skin to get impressive results fast. Some examples:

Two non-irritating forms of Vitamin C that don’t irritate skin as most topical Vitamin Cs do.
Anti-aging powerhouses of Retinol, combined with multiple collagen producing, skin rejuvenating Peptides, and beautifying Matrixyl-3000.
Discoloration eradicating, scar-fading superstars like Oligopeptide 68.
Skin enhancing antioxidants including acai, goji, noni, and mangosteen.
Skin nourishing, vitamin-packed seaweed, Coenzyme Q10, and Aloe Vera.
Moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid, cucumber, Jojoba, and Vitamin E.

Also important is what these Cruelty-Free The Good Chemist regimens do NOT contain: No added dyes or fragrances, parabens, phthalates, triclosan, -cones, or petrolatum.

OUR EXPERIENCE

We had a chance to try two of The Good Chemist Regimens targeted at our specific skin concerns: anti-aging and adult acne.

THE GOOD CHEMIST ANTI-AGING TRIO

The Good Chemist Anti-Aging Trio addresses signs of aging for face and eyes. We especially love Youth Boost for an instant softer, dewier, younger-looking skin.

YOUTH BOOST

If we had to pick just one product from The Good Chemist lineup, this would be it.

We love the effect of applying the Youth Boost because the hyaluronic acid instantly erases the appearance of wrinkles and crinkles on the skin, and makes pores practically invisible. I feel like Youth Boost instantly knocks a decade off the appearance of my eye area, face and throat, even in unforgiving lighting situations.

It is not greasy or sticky and does not irritate the skin. Most importantly, it layers well with other products. I use Youth Boost layered with my moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, foundation and powder, and experience no pilling of products as can occur with some serums. I especially like how it softens the eye area without giving a fake expressionless look to the skin. It has long-acting anti-aging benefits from the peptides and antioxidants. It includes one of my favorite peptides, Matrixyl-3000, which jumpstarts collagen production, tricking the body into “repair mode”.

TIP: You are gonna want to slather this on, but it really only takes one pump worth to do the trick.

RENEW BALM

Renew Balm is a 1% Retinol intended for use around the delicate eye area. It is applied nightly. While 1% is a relatively lower dose of Retinol compared to a Retin-a or Renova prescriptions, this dosage is highly suitable for the thinner eye area skin in order to keep it from becoming red and irritated. Even the highly emollient Renova can be too much retinol for the eye area and must be used with caution.

To boost its’ efficacy, it is combined with Matrixyl-3000 to smooth and plump, and Shea butter and jojoba to soothe the skin. This combination provides the best firming and smoothing combo without being overly aggressive on the eye area.

RADIANCE REPAIR SERUM

Does Vitamin C Serum leave your skin irritated and itchy? You aren’t alone. Radiance Repair Serum has two forms of Vitamin C, both are non-L-Ascorbic based, with is the irritating type of Vitamin C. These two vitamins C’s gentler to the skin but still highly effective in fading discoloration, largely due to the inclusion of Oligopeptide 68, which regulates the production of melanin.

Radiance Repair also is far more tolerable for those of us with sensitive skin because it contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera.

Do you have adult acne? Stay tuned for our upcoming post on The Good Chemist Let’s Be Clear Duo, a targeted treatment for both adult acne and anti-aging.

The Good Chemist Clarifying Duo addresses the hard to tackle adult acne

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find a tailored skincare program just for you at TheGoodChemist.com

The Good Chemist Anti-Aging Trio and Let’s Be Clear and Regimens were submitted to StyleChicks for consideration purposes. All opinions and experiences are 100% our own.