Skin Archives * Page 3 of 62 * Style Chicks

Legit Dupe Alert for Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

June 27, 2018 · 4 Comments

It is hard to beat Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. It performs well, soaking into the skin and making it soft and smooth without leaving a greasy finish. Moms use it, Grandmas use it, college ladies use it, some guys use it, everybody uses it, and with good reason. I buy a Clinique DDML 4.2 ounce bottle several times a year during every good Clinique Bonus (GWP) event. It is a classic go-to kind of product that works regardless of skin type or age.

But… that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t give a good dupe a try. As long as quality is not sacrificed, who doesn’t like more bang for their beauty buck?

And a good Clinique DDML dupe comes from an unexpected place: Sally Beauty. Sally Beauty dupes several popular products including our beloved DDML. It’s called Distinctively Unique Moisturizing Lotion (Compare to Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion) and its’ made by Generic Value Products. For brevity, we will refer to it as Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive in this post.

Here are a few thoughts on Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive:

Perks

Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive looks and smells like Clinique DDML to me. It is a slightly lighter yellow hue. By smells the same, I mean no scent. A big plus for those of us with sensitive skin.

It has a similar but with a somewhat lighter consistency. It soaks into my skin well without being sticky or greasy. Like the original, it does not make my skin breakout and is completely non-irritating.

My skin stays hydrated for the day with either brand.

It sells for $9.99 for a four-ounce pump bottle compared to Clinique DDML 4.2 ounce bottle for $27. It goes on sale for Buy two get one free frequently.

Caveats

I tend to need more of the Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive – two pumps worth instead just one Clinique DDML to coat my face and throat, so “Distinctive” is not a true 1/3 of the price of DDML, but still a deal.

Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive comes in one form: lotion. Whereas Clinique Dramatically Different comes in lotion, a cream for dry skin, a gel for oily skin, and a hydrating jelly form to lock moisture in and keeps pollution out.

My real gripe with Sally Beauty GVP “Distinctive” is the packaging. The pump mechanism works intermittently so I must remove the top and squeeze contents out of the bottle. I would prefer a working pump or make it a cap style package.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Sally Beauty GVP “Distinctive” is an excellent dupe of a well-loved product which is a great find. There is not a compromise to quality, although I do need to use a bit more of it than I would of the Clinique DDML. I use both Clinique DDML and Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive within my beauty routine.

If you buy Clinique DDML during bonus campaigns, then Sally Beauty GVP Distinctive lotion can hold you over between bonus GWP events.

Sally Beauty also has two-day shipping which may be faster than getting to a Clinique counter.

The Sally Beauty version is an especially good deal when Sallys runs their BOGO or buy two get one free offers. Getting three bottles basically for the price of one Clinique DDML means I can keep a “Distinctive” bottle in my gym bag, one at home, and one in my travel bag.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Find Distinctively Unique Moisturizing Lotion by Generic Value Products at Sally Beauty

Find Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Lotion at your favorite Clinique counter. It is also at Clinique.com, Sephora, Ulta, and many of your favorite online beauty boutiques.

More Youthful Skin in a Week: Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask

June 24, 2018 · 4 Comments

Need to look good ASAP for a wedding, graduation, party, date, job interview, formal photograph, reunion or other last-minute events? When I want to look better quickly, I’m tempted to apply way too many different skin care products, which of course, causes irritation. So if you have sensitive skin like me, what can you do in a weeks’ time to make skin look healthy, glowing, and younger? Deeply hydrating facial skin can immediately take years off your look, as well as makes you appear well rested, healthy and happy. The Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask deeply moisturizes to repair and energize skin making it appear softer, smoother and with fewer wrinkles. With daily use, it boasts younger skin in seven days. Style Chicks put it to the test to find out for ourselves and saw softer, smoother, deeply hydrated skin.

Ispring Intensive SkinCare Mask comes in a generous sized tube for easy use

ISPRING INTENSIVE CARE MASK OVERVIEW

This FDA approved mask pairs deeply hydrating moisturizers with powerful anti-aging ingredients which soften skin, fade discoloration, build collagen, fight acne, smooth wrinkles and improve skin tone and firmness.

WHY DEEP HYDRATION IS NEEDED FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN

We all moisturize, but many factors rob our skin of moisture during the day, potentially leaving skin dehydrated. These factors include our makeup, forced air from indoor heat or air conditioning, pollution, extreme cold, heat or windy weather, even those long hot steamy showers that feel so good on our bodies rob our skin of precious moisture. Dehydration makes skin looks its’ worst, with pores appearing larger, wrinkles appearing deeper, and skin appearing less plump and more sallow.

But when skin is well hydrated, those same wrinkles seem less severe, skin is plumper and vibrant, and often hydrated skin has less dead skin cells, making it appear smoother and younger.

When this hydration is paired with active anti-aging ingredients it makes for longer-term skin rejuvenation. This is where Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask works its’ magic.

HOW ISPRING INTENSIVE SKINCARE MASK INGREDIENTS WORK TO IMPROVE SKIN

Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask pairs active anti-aging superstar ingredients such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E with deep moisturizers, the moisture helps buffer the Vitamin C and E so that skin is not irritated by these powerful but sometimes irritating ingredients. This combination results in two important things: moisture adhesion, meaning moisturize binds into the skin longer, and skin repair.

Vitamin C is the all-star superhero of anti-aging, Vitamin C accomplishes so many things to make skin look better including building collagen, fading dark spots and scars, fighting acne, lessening wrinkles, creating a natural glow, and encouraging skin cell turnover. But many people find that topical Vitamin C is too irritating to the skin, leaving it feeling itchy, dry and red. But by using Vitamin C within a facial mask, you get all the benefits without the drying and itching often associated with topical Vitamin C use.

Vitamin C builds collagen to restore skin, making it look younger, fresher, clearer and with less sagging

Vitamin E fights free radicals, which rapidly age skin before its’ time. Free radicals include environmental pollutants that we all are exposed to, especially in cities. Free radicals make wrinkles worse and prevent scars from healing. Vitamin E protects the skin against the type of cell mutation that results in photodamage (sun exposure) and pollution. It also calms and hydrates sensitive skin. Vitamin E works best when paired with Vitamin C, which is also in this mask. But Vitamin E alone is a very heavy oil, so the best way to apply it is paired with Vitamin C, let it soak in, then wash it off, just like how you use this Ispring mask.
Beeswax is a remarkable moisturizer that also heals. It treats sensitive skin conditions including Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Eczema. It clears up acne, as well as heals dry and cracked skin. Beeswax even reduces stretch marks, in part because it helps build collagen, especially within atopic scars. It has an amazing ability to extendedly lock in moisture. It is also rich in Vitamin A, which the basis for the anti-aging ability of Retinol products. Vitamin A softens and rehydrates the skin while aiding in the cellular reconstruction of the skin, which means fewer wrinkles. age spots and over time, less sagging.

All natural beeswax heals damaged skin, refines texture, builds collagen and deeply hydrates for beautiful skin

RESULTS: PUTTING ISPRING TO THE TEST

I tried Ispring each evening for a week to see what would happen.

See the box for directions and usage tips

I applied the mask and left it on for fifteen minutes, relaxed, then washed it off. My skin did not feel tight or at all irritated during use, it was comfortable and did not sting like some products with Vitamin C can tend to do.

The smell and feel are pleasant, and the product feels lightweight and emollient on the skin without being greasy. It was relaxing and felt good on the skin. The texture is lightweight and not stiff. It is something like Aloe Vera but creamy and without a sticky feel, even as it dries. It applies very smoothly to the skin without tugging or pulling. It dries down without cracking or flaking,

The texture is lightweight and creamy without being stiff or sticky

TIP: If you have especially sensitive skin or skin conditions, apply for only ten minutes until your skin becomes accustomed to the mask.

Creamy texture does not crack or flake off while drying down

After using the mask, my skin felt instantly softer and smoother. I had a very light exfoliation of dead skin as I washed, but it did not leave behind any redness, flaking skin or irritation. It had a beautiful glow. I particular like that feature since there is no way of faking that natural youthful glow of healthy skin. Of note, it stayed soft overnight even though I had the air conditioner on all evening, which tends to dry out my skin.

The next day despite being in a dry, forced air office that tends to make my skin feel dry and itchy, my sensitive skin felt far less irritated than it typically does. I suspect the environmental conditions of forced air and pollution in the city make my skin particularly dull sometimes, but my skin still had a nice glow during the week of use.

I used it again each night, and the cumulative moisturization benefits are impressive. It really does a great deal to reduce the appearance of eleven lines on the forehead, and fine expression lines around the mouth. While I can be sensitive to some of the ingredients contained in this mask, the moisturizing emollient factor of the mask makes it tolerable and easy to use.

I am particularly impressed with the improvement in fine expression lines and eleven lines between the brows after using the mask

I did not experience the type of irritation that occurs with typical Vitamin C or Vitamin A (Retinol) use.

My acne looked better during this week of use, even though I did not use any acne specific products.

I like to use it on my throat, decolletage, and hands for a moisturizing treat.

I also like to use it on my often neglected hands, throat and decolletage for a relaxing spa-like repair treat

LONG-TERM RESULTS

Use daily for seven days, then 2-3 times a week to maintain results and experience the full benefits of Vitamin C skin regeneration. Over time, with regular use, this method of Vitamin C application reduces acne and fades old acne scars. It helps remove dead skin cells and refines the appearance of the skin by reducing the look of enlarged pores and softening wrinkles. It builds elasticity.

CONCLUSION

Dry, damaged, dehydrated skin can look too old for its’ years. Deep moisturization plus Vitamin C is one of the best ways to improve the appearance of the skin, especially when paired with a topical Vitamin A delivery. If your skin is too sensitive for traditional topical Vitamin C and Vitamin A (Retinol) creams, The Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask is ideal for you to get the benefits of these treating ingredients without the dryness and irritation they can cause. Combined with the deep hydration, healing, anti-oxidant and moisture-binding ingredients like Vitamin E and Beeswax, Ispring can make skin softer, smoother, and more radiant within days, and provide long-term anti-aging benefits with regular use. A great way to do a beauty makeover in less than a week!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CHH2Q61

Style Chicks received The Ispring Intensive Skincare Mask in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours

Preventing Acne Scars with Our Good Friends At Loma Lux

June 21, 2018 · 4 Comments

Can You Really Get Rid of Acne Scars? It’s bad enough having pimples all over your face – but once they are gone – it can leave to scarring. What can you do about all those pock marks & craters? Find out in this video:

Find Loma Lux Acne Pill at https://www.lomalux.com/shop/order-lomalux-acnepill/

Style Chicks received compensation for this post.

Fast Absorbing Deep Hydration: Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream

May 2, 2018 · 7 Comments

Weather changes can be brutal on aging skin, leaving it dry and irritated while causing a dull and older appearance. Its’ time to go into hydration overdrive mode. Want a rich cream that turns back time and still absorbs quickly? Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream contains cruelty-free, natural, hydrating and treating ingredients yet it goes on light and silky, absorbing into the skin with no residue, resulting in just a dewy glow while treating skin to anti-aging goodness.

Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream contains all natural, cruelty-free ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Apricot and Jojoba Oils

AN IDEAL CREAM FOR THOSE WITH ADULT ACNE AND WRINKLES

If you suffer from wrinkles and adult acne, finding a good moisturizer is difficult. If you seek a cruelty-free one with natural ingredients, it becomes even more difficult. Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream is a cruelty-free cream that is highly moisturizing and soothing while not promoting acne breakouts. It is a delicate balance to find a moisturizer that treats anti-aging and soothes skin without further clogging pores or promoting more acne. The ingredients not only do not cause acne but help heal it.

FEATURE OVERVIEW

No detectable scent
Suitable for use under makeup or as a nighttime serum or treatment mask
Absorbs quickly without feeling greasy
Only a small amount is needed
Does not sting or irritate the skin
Anti-aging treatment ingredients
Does not cause acne breakouts
Can also be used around the eye area and decolletage

INGREDIENTS

HYALURONIC ACID
StyleChicks regulars know we are huge proponents of Hyaluronic Acid for its’ amazing ability to hydrate until the skin is plump, as well as its’ ability to assist other active ingredients. Hyaluronic Acid has the capability of pulling moisture into the skin, and active ingredients along with it. Any treating ingredient penetrates deeper when paired with Hyaluronic Acid.

APRICOT OIL
Apricot Oil is outstanding for the skin. In traditional oriental medicine, apricot oil has been used to treat both acne and dry, flaking skin. It is nourishing, soothing and hydrating yet is so lightweight that it absorbs quickly without a greasy residue or film.

It is high in unsaturated fats and Vitamin K, which can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and discoloration. Vitamin E and A moisturizes and nourishes dry and mature skin and improve skin elasticity.

Apricot Oil is deeply nourishing, soothing, and absorbs quickly

JOJOBA OIL
Jojoba is very similar to parts of our skin in chemical structure. A soothing carrier oil that nourishes skin, softens scars and makes them more pliable, and helps skin retain existing moisture as well as preserving skin elasticity. It does not cause acne or clog pores even though it works very similar to sebum keeps skin soft. Made of 98% monounsaturated fats so it can penetrate deeply, Jojoba absorbs well and does some of its’ best work when paired with other active ingredients.

SQUALENE
Squalene an emollient and anti-oxidant that is a lipid-based moisturizer. It is seen in many high-end brands (read: pricey) skin products, especially those targeted for use around the eyes and lip area. This is with good reason, as Squalene is highly effective in treating fine expression lines around the lips and eyes like crow’s feet.

It is a natural part of sebum, which, like Jojoba, is a building block of your skin looking young and well moisturized. We tend to think of sebum as a bad thing, but that is only when it is trapped in pores or under dead, dry skin cells, where it can become a component of acne. Squalene is actually especially good for acne prone and oily skin.

Effective ingredients that are gentle enough for twice a day use on face, eye area, throat, and decolletage.

MY EXPERIENCE: PUTTING BE AN OSTRICH AQUA BOMB Moisturizing Anti-Aging Cream TO THE TEST

INITIAL IMPRESSION: Dries down quickly, leaves skin feeling soft, not greasy. Fine lines and not so fine lines (read eleven lines and smile lines) look softer and more supple after application. Skin looks healthy.

There is no detectable scent, which I prefer, especially around my eyes.

Only a pump or two is needed for the entire face and eye area.

Just a pump or two is needed for eyes and face

APPLICATION
It does not pill over serums or under sunscreen. It dries down well so it’s suitable for use under makeup. My undereye concealer goes on smoother with this cream as a base than many primers intended for the purpose of being used as a base.

Surface dry and flaky skin tends to slough off during application, I particularly like using this after exfoliating.

Creamy and silky without being oily or greasy

MY RESULTS WITH REGULAR USE
We tested the cream for several weeks to see long-term benefits. This includes how the skin looks after regular use when I have no product or makeup on my freshly washed face before any cream is applied.

Fine lines do look softer and less deep. My face is less dry, more supple, and there are far less redness and irritation from my topical treatments. A few acne scar marks look softer. There are no dry, flaky patches. My skin has a subtle glow.

Using the Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream on acne keeps skin free from flakes that may inhibit the absorption of topical acne treatments. It is also easier to conceal a blemish when it is less flaky, red and irritated.

Maybe there’s an optical deflector property of the dewy moist look of the skin or the smoothing of the fine lines, but my dark circles seem not as dark as usual since using this cream. There is actual basis for this: Apricot Oil contains Vitamin K, known to reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Apricot Oil contains Vitamin K which can lighten dark circles

Aqua Bomb has Apricot Oil which contains Vitamin K to lighten dark circles

But sometimes it is hard to see the exact differences in your skin. Our tester had computerized skin analysis done to see exactly (and scientifically) just how and where Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream made a difference on her skin. The most impressive results were on forehead fine lines:

Before:

Prior to using Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream, she had a decent amount of expression lines. The lighter green are fine lines, the dark green are “just about to turn into wrinkles” lines.

After:

After using Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream for about six weeks, most of the lines are gone – just one little one remaining!

AN IDEAL MOISTURIZER TO BUFFER AGGRESSIVE RETINOL AND TREATING SERUMS

The first line of defense against aging is serums such as Vitamin C or Retinol both of which should be daily. But each of these can cause excess dryness, flaking, redness and itchy skin. They cause so much skin distress that many people abandon using them altogether. If you’ve had a problem with skin becoming too irritated from Vitamin C or Retinol, a moisturizer upgrade is required to buffer the effects, retaining all of the serum goodness while fending off dryness.

Serums and Retinol treat both acne and fine lines such as these but often leave skin dry and irritated. Buffer serums with Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream to avoid dry skin and enhance anti-aging topicals

Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream is the ideal moisturizer to layer over treating topical serums such as my daily Vitamin C or Retinols. I like that the Hyaluronic Acid helps enhance the penetrating ability of my Vitamin C serum so that collagen formation can occur at a deeper skin level, while Jojoba and Apricot quell and soothe the irritation and redness that can occur with some topicals, including Vitamin C and Retinol.

Contains natural, cruelty-free ingredients ideal for twice a day use

CONCLUSION

Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream is a cruelty-free, natural ingredient, non-irritating, highly hydrating and nourishing cream to soothe and treat the dry skin on the face, eyes, neck, and décolletage. An effective blend of proven ingredients works as a day or night cream and can be used with topicals and under sunscreen and makeup. It absorbs quickly into skin while offering both immediate and long-term benefits.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Find Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream at Amazon.com or at beanostrich.com

Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Anti-Aging Cream

Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream

Style Chicks received Be An Ostrich Aqua Bomb Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.