Skincare Archives - Style Chicks

The Answers to Your Questions About The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil

April 20, 2018 · 13 Comments

Here at Style Chicks, we were so excited when we heard that The Ordinary was going to be making a Sea Buckthorn Oil. And now it’s here! We ordered it the second it was available on the website! But we’ve gotten a lot of questions from our faithful readers about what Sea Buckthorn Oil is, what it does, and why our entire office is giddy about The Ordinary’s new offering. Last year we published an article about Sea Buckthorn Oil, so we decided to pull some highlights from that article so you’ll know why it is so amazing for skin, and our thoughts on The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil.

WHY SEA BUCKTHORN OIL IS AWESOME

The “hostess with the mostest” of the Style Chicks Favorite Skincare Ingredients series, Sea Buckthorn Oil has over 200 nutrients to work wonders on delicate eye skin, wrinkles & stretch marks.

WHAT SEA BUCKTHORN DOES

Sea Buckthorn Oil is an ingredient worthy of your skincare routine. With over 200 nutrients to nourish the skin, it heals skin damage including scars, burns, and abrasions. It soothes eczema and treats acne. But my favorite thing about Sea Buckthorn Oil is it treats aging skin and sun damaged skin as if it is an injury or wound, and Sea Buckthorn Oil thinks it must remedy the situation immediately. I feel ya, Sea Buckthorn. So it “calls the troops” together, making repairing cells “rescue” the aging skin by working overtime building as much collagen as possible.

That makes Sea Buckthorn a great ingredient in a vitamin C serum, as C provides the building blocks for collagen while Sea Buckthorn tells the skin to make collagen. Go team!

Sea Buckthorn Oil reduces wrinkles, fine lines and acne (c) Can Stock Photo / Goruppa

WHAT EXACTLY IS SEA BUCKTHORN?

A.K.A. the “wonder oil,” Seaberry or Hippophae Rhamnoides, Sea Buckthorn oil is extracted from small orange berries.

Sea Buckthorn Oil is like a who’s who of nutrients including vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E, K, and P; carotenoids; flavonoids; amino acids; phenols; folic acid; organic acids; 20 mineral elements, and essential fatty acids. It uniquely contains all four omegas: omega-3, omega-6, omega-7, and omega-9.

This cocktail of repairing nutrients is what makes Sea Buckthorn Oil so useful for general skin care and the repair of eczema, wounds, scars, stretch marks, and aging skin concerns including wrinkles and fine lines. It works wonders on the undereye area.

OTHER SEA BUCKTHORN FEATURES AND FACTS:

Sea Buckthorn is very gentle and ideal for the undereye area and plump wrinkles and lines upon application.
Organic Sea Buckthorn oil can immediately reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines because it plumps up the skin.
A bit about these 200 nutrients, they have a variety of skin care applications, These nutrients have a variety of skin care applications including soothing the redness of sun damage, nourishing skin, providing C and E, and serving as a super-anti-oxidant.
Sea Buckthorn can make clear serums (like Vitamin C) appear opaque or cloudy.
Sea Buckthorn also gently but effectively treats acne and fades acne scars, including stubborn adult acne

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THE ORDINARY 100% ORGANIC VIRGIN SEA-BUCKTHORN FRUIT OIL

Sea Buckthorn is an excellent addition, I added two drops to my standard nighttime beauty mega mix. It is gentle yet effective, powerful but non-irritating. I like how pimples shrink but they are not left dry, red, or flaky. Skin is smooth, even and soft.

On application, it does not sting or make my skin feel tight.

After the first use, active acne blemishes reduce a bit, skin feels toned and soft. The blackheads practically leaped off my face they start purging so fast, especially around my nose.

I experienced no redness, dryness or irritation after use, even around the sensitive under-eye area.

PRODUCT QUALITY

We love products that contain Sea Buckthorn but didn’t realize how little Sea Buckthorn bang for our buck we got in some other Sea Buckthorn products we’ve tried until we saw what The Ordinary’s Sea Buckthorn looks like in its’ true concentrated form.

Many products containing Sea Buckthorn are cream to a dark peach color product. The Ordinary Sea Buckthorn, however, is a deeply saturated red-orange color that even when just a few drops are used in a clear or light color moisturizer turns it bright Oompa Loompa Orange.

Fortunately, this product for use when you will NOT be seen by the masses, use it at night. And it washes off clean without any scrubbing, so no fear of daytime orange residue.

CONCLUSION

So that’s the skinny on The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil. Definitely one worth adding to your personal beauty arsenal, because it really does all the things.

We are excited to see how The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil improves our skin care game in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for future Sea Buckthorn updates to get our thoughts on the results of regular use of this exciting addition to The Ordinary product line.

Find The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil here.

The Decadent Multi-Tasker: Wild Beaute Coconut Tangerine Melt

April 10, 2018 · 9 Comments

We live in a day and age that a 13-step skincare process is not uncommon. But what if you could skip the other 12 products and just used one decadent product for multiple beauty needs?

Well now you can, with the incredibly luxurious Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt. Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt is made of only two ingredients: Organic Cold-pressed Coconut Oil, and Organic Cold pressed Tangerine Essential Oil. The two ingredients work in tandem to provide the skin with intense hydration. And the scent is absolutely amazing: I’ve been wearing it as my fragrance lately instead of perfume!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

TIP: To add a little bit more decadence, use a small silver spoon to measure out the amount you want to use. I use a beautiful vintage spoon, and it looks gorgeous next to the jar on my vanity table!

FACE

You probably don’t need me to extol the virtues of Coconut Oil, but it’s worth spending a bit of time on since this is an especially high-grade, well crafted Coconut Oil. Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil maintains more of the beneficial aspects and is a truer form of the oil. In traditionally pressed Coconut Oil, a lot of what makes Coconut Oil helpful is “cooked off” since heat is used. So when looking for Coconut Oil, always look for a Cold-Pressed one like Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt.

Tangerine Oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which makes it ideal for skincare, especially as a gentle treatment for acne. It also helps to heal skin – great for dabbing on acne scars!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

Everyday: I love using a thin layer of Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt under my sunscreen on days I know I’ll be in dry conditions, like forced heat in an office. My skin doesn’t get oily but remains dewy all day. It is also a fantastic lip primer. I haven’t had completely smooth lips since I was four, but Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt makes my lips smooth and ready for lipstick!

Intense Moisture Mask: As a soothing Sunday Night treat, I take a generous amount of Coconut Tangerine Melt, melt it slightly between my fingers, and smooth it over my face. Then I place a hot washcloth over my face, put on some relaxing music, and rest for twenty minutes. It smells amazing, and when my twenty minutes is up, I gently massage my skin to allow every last drop of moisture to absorb. My skin is so smooth and glowing, and it stays incredibly soft! Putting on makeup on Monday morning is so much easier since I have soft, plump skin to work with. And I don’t limit it to just Sundays, I use it as a moisture mask anytime my skin needs a shot of extra moisturizer!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

HAIR

Ah, using Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt on hair. Your hair will thank you for this. Once a week, I like to melt some and use it as a hot oil treatment, and then wrap my hair in a hot towel. I leave it in for about an hour and then rinse it out. The result? My hair is amazingly shiny and soooooo soft! I also do mid-week treatments on my ends to keep them healthy.

It is also fantastic for second-day hair. I take a small amount and emulsify it between my hands, and then scrunch it into my hair and massage my scalp with it. My hair looks bouncy, shiny, and smells fantastic. It works the same if you want straight hair, just use a light hand.

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

BODY

Want the most decadent shave you’ve ever gotten? Use Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt as a shave cream. Apply it to your legs before you get in the shower, and let it set in the steam for a few minutes before you shave. Not only will you get the smoothest shave of your life, but your shower will smell amazing!

I also love using it as a post-shower moisturizer. It gives my arms a healthy glow and makes them so soft. I especially love it on elbows, knuckles, and the bane of my beauty existence, my cuticles. It moisturizes my cuticles and keeps hangnails from forming.

MAKEUP

Makeup is fun. Taking off makeup at the end of a long day is not fun. But using Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt to take off your makeup at the end of the day is a luxurious experience that you will look forward to. No more falling asleep in your makeup!

Just take a bit, rub it between your fingers, and spread it over your face. It will gently remove your makeup, even waterproof mascara. Gently wipe your face with a soft towel, and your face will be clean and moisturized at the same time!

A little makeup hack I love: if your skin is looking a little dull during the day, pat a tiny bit of Coconut Tangerine Melt onto your cheekbones, brow bone, or anywhere else that could use a little glow. Instant highlighter!

Something else we love about Wild Beauté products: they are made by a small company of four women. This means they know exactly what constitutes a great beauty product, because they are making the products that they need and use themselves! I love women-owned companies who just want to help other women! And as the icing on the cake, Wild Beauté supports Wildlife conservation and protection and works with global organizations to protect animals worldwide. And they are cruelty-free!

Find Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt at http://wildbeaute.com/product/coconut-tangerine-melt/ for $40.

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

Style Chicks received Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt 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.

At Home Skincare: DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator

March 30, 2018 · 5 Comments

We’ve all seen RF Skin Rejuvenation procedures offered at the dermatologist. But wouldn’t you like to have the amazing skin smoothing and tightening effects of a Radio Frequency skin treatment at home? That’s why we love the DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator.

DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator device

WHAT IS RF SKIN REJUVENATION?
Radio Frequency Skin Rejuvenation is a technique where Radio Frequency Energy to heat the tissue underneath the top layers of skin. This makes the skin activate the process that produces collagen and elastin. This, in turn, lifts and tightens skin. It is considered as a non-invasive alternative to a Face Lift, Eye Lift, Brow Lift, or Throat Lift.

Handheld DEESS device is easy to use

WHY WE LIKE THE DEESS HOME RF SKIN REJUVENATOR
The device fits easily in the hand, and the controls are very easy to use. The instruction manual covers any questions you may have about use.

Fully Illustrated Instruction Manual

USAGE TIPS
It is important to use a quality conduction gel with this product, which you can purchase from Amazon. The conduction gel allows the probes on the device to form a “bond” to your skin and let the Radio Frequency waves pass directly to your skin without losing energy. It also lets the device move smoothly across your skin.

Comes with device, power, outlet, guide, and drawstring storage bag

HOW TO USE
Once you have applied the conduction gel, select the mode you want to use. Always go from the middle of your face outward and upward. It is warm, but it wasn’t at all uncomfortable or painful. It’s an easy addition to your daily skincare routine!

Easy to use power and mode buttons with a settings screen

RESULTS
I am pleased with the results I’ve had so far with the DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator. My skin seems tighter, especially around my jawline. The skin on my cheeks also appears more lifted and youthful. It is much less expensive than a single medi-spa treatment and I love that I can do it at home!

Find the DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator at Find the DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator at https://amzn.to/2H6B2KA and get 10% off with code WKZTA5JM through April 30th, 2018.

Style Chicks received the DEESS Home RF Skin Rejuvenator in exchange for our unbiased review. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Home Light Therapy: the FDA Cleared Professional reVive dpl IIa for Wrinkles and Acne Reduction

March 6, 2018 · 23 Comments

As part of our Style Chicks 2018 Hair and Skin Care Series, we’re exploring the advantages of home light therapy for improving skin. LED light therapy builds collagen, reduces wrinkles, improves acne, fades discoloration and scars. A high-quality light therapy device is a worthwhile investment. We recently tried the reVive dpl® IIa – Professional Wrinkle Reduction and Acne Treatment Light Therapy, which is an FDA-cleared, OTC Class II medical device that’s a lightweight panel big enough to cover the entire face at once. It uses powerful LED diodes that emit safe light therapy that tackles acne and wrinkles while building collagen.

WHAT LIGHT THERAPY DOES FOR SKIN

Backed by numerous clinical studies, blue and red light therapy are both effective, pain-free, chemical-free, non-invasive way to improve the skin’s texture, tone, and firmness.

WHAT THE REVIVE dpl® IIa PANEL DOES

This device is for acne treatment and wrinkles. Today we focus primarily on the anti-wrinkle/anti-aging aspect of this device.

It reduces wrinkles by promoting collagen production. More collagen means stronger, more elastic skin with less sagging.

The device also improves skin tone, texture and reduces hyperpigmentation, which promotes the appearance of healthy, glowing, and youthful skin.

The reVive dpl® IIa is the only full-face professional light therapy devices with FDA clearance for in-home use.

THE REVIVE DPL® IIa SET INCLUDES:

Device
AC/DC power supply
Instruction manual
Goggles
One year warranty

HOW DOES THE REVIVE DPL® IIa RATE?

As beauty bloggers, we’ve tried many at-home light therapy products. The reVive DPL® IIa is in a class by itself. This light is powerful and consistently even, and feels much more like an in-office caliber treatment than other commercially available light therapy devices we’ve tried.

GOGGLES

The goggles say optional, but in my opinion, they are mandatory. The reason is that even with the goggles AND my eyes closed, I can still see the brightness of the light, just like a professional in-office IPL or light therapy treatment.

But I do like using these goggles, though, as they’re designed to fit just over the actual eye, exposing the maximum amount of orbital skin area for treatment. This allows dark circles, sagging upper lids and browbones, and the general orbital skin to get treatment, including crow’s feet.

The goggles are adjustable to be secure but comfortable.

FULL-FACE TREATMENT AT ONCE

This book-sized device covers your entire face (and much of throat) at once, making for faster and evener treatment.

DEEPLY SATURATED COLORED LIGHT

This device produces a powerful light! The whole wall behind you will be illuminated with color like a neon sign. Once you see that, other at-home light therapy devices pale in comparison. It’s not that other devices can’t deliver results, but if I’m going to spend the time and money do light therapy at home, I want a powerfully effective device.

The reVive dpl IIa bathes you in colored light

MULTIPLE LIGHT THERAPY MODES

Choose the red or blue light setting, or use both at once.

RED LIGHT WRINKLE SETTING

RED LIGHT jump-starts tissue rejuvenation by increasing blood flow and collagen stimulation. Red light therapy significantly improves skin complexion, tone, and texture. It also reduces roughness, wrinkles, and fine lines. In clinical studies, Ultrasonographic tests show red light therapy increases collagen.

BLUE LIGHT ACNE SETTING

BLUE LIGHT is used to treat acne because it eliminates bacteria, reduces inflammation and redness, stabilizes oil glands, fades old and new scars and discoloration. This is especially helpful for adult acne, as the harsh drying methods we may have used as a teen are too rough on adult skin, especially wrinkling skin.

COMBO MODE: BOTH RED AND BLUE AT ONCE SETTING

Treat wrinkles and acne simultaneously with both red and blue light. This mode uses all of the colored light diodes for a super powerful light therapy treatment. The combo of works very effectively for wrinkles and maximizes light therapy based collagen production while fading discoloration and redness.

Interested in the expanded details on how these specific colors of light therapy work from a clinical view? Read our upcoming post covering all the need to know science behind home light therapy.

Using the device for a dual red and blue light therapy treatment. The diodes are powerful enough to cover my face, neck, palms, and the wall behind me in intense colored light

EASE OF USE

It’s comfortable on the skin, there is no burning or any discomfort at all, it’s quite relaxing. The device opens like a book, and it’s easy to hold the device for treatment right on the face. It’s lightweight like a Kindle tablet and can be propped up if needed.

It beeps at every minute interval until the treatment is over and it shuts itself off.

TIP: Before a light therapy session, apply an SPF-free serum or moisturizer for maximum benefit.

This device is a collagen-building lifesaver for those with sensitive skin who cannot tolerate Vitamin C serums or Retinol because it works without any irritation, redness or dryness.

The device is lightweight like a Kindle tablet and opens like a book for a double paneled treatment display

RESULTS

The reduction of wrinkles, fine lines, and crows feet are the hallmark of this light therapy device. My eleven lines appeared less deep and long even after a few uses. I find both eleven and smile lines look much smoother the day after I use the reVive DPL® IIa and my skin appears brighter.

I’m particularly happy with the ability to treat the eye area including crows feet, my undereye area gets a nice treatment of wrinkle reduction and lightening discoloration. The long-term ability to build collagen along the upper eyelid and browbone turns back time in a way that a topical eye cream alone cannot.

When I use the device at night before bed, my skin also has a lovely glow to it in the morning, I look more vibrant and awake, my skin tone seems more rosy and even.

Since using the device, I tend to use less foundation and concealer so the glow of my skin can shine through.

CONCLUSION

An outstanding addition to your at-home anti-aging arsenal, the reVive dpl® IIa – Professional Wrinkle Reduction and Acne Treatment Light Therapy provides powerful, professional quality results in an easy-to-use device that takes just minutes to use. This highly worthwhile investment treats face, throat, decolletage, and hands whenever you want.

This FDA-cleared, OTC Class II medical device is lightweight and covers the entire face at once for fast, even treatment. The three light mode settings deliver precious collagen building therapeutic light, which over the course of a few months, makes a meaningful difference in the strength, firmness, texture, and appearance of skin.

Treating adult acne and wrinkles at the same time is tricky business. Up next is all the details on using reVive dpl® IIa – Professional Wrinkle Reduction and Acne Treatment Light Therapy for acne treatment.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the reVive dpl® IIa – Professional Wrinkle Reduction and Acne Treatment Light Therapy at https://revivelighttherapy.com/product/dpl-iia-wrinkle-reduction-acne-treatment/

Style Chicks received the reVive dpl® IIa – Professional Wrinkle Reduction and Acne Treatment Light Therapy Panel for review purposes. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Sponsored Post: Beauty Wellness with the Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” Video Series

February 22, 2018 · 33 Comments

Here at Style Chicks, we love the concept of Beauty Wellness: the things you do for your wellbeing that have an added beauty benefit, whether it is better posture, better sleep, or simply doing something that puts a glowing smile on your face. There is also no denying that we are huge skincare enthusiasts here, and we know you are too. The folks at Eucerin have combined Skincare and Beauty Wellness into a fantastic video series called “Prepare to Repair!

The Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” video series has simple, effective tips from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman to help repair skin’s moisture and from Fitness Instructor Kirsten Trued to help repair muscles. These tips will help optimize your total wellness efforts! In this series, Kirsten teaches a series of exercises that use a small ball for gentle firm pressure, emulating a known therapeutic sports massage technique.

HANDS AND FOREARMS

Our hands endure plenty of wear and tear during the day, ranging from using computer technology gear to washing dishes. The repetitive motion can be grueling to the tendons and muscles of the hand, which makes regular, gentle stretches so beneficial.

Fitness Instructor Kirsten Trued recommends two effective stretches to ease achiness and repair both hands and forearms, while moisturizing skin.

ECZEMA CAUSES

Winter wreaks skin havoc, causing dryness and redness, including Eczema flare-ups. To help pre-empt a flare-up, Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Creme contains colloidal oatmeal that soothes while Ceramide-3 acts a barrier to lock in moisture. I especially like to use this in dry environments such as those with indoor forced air heat, like my office building.

POST WORKOUT ECZEMA RELIEF

Sweating during a workout can provoke eczema breakouts, which means regular workouts can begin a vicious cycle. Eucerin Eczema Relief Flare-Up Treatment Creme is intended for use during an active flare-up. It contains Licochalcone A, a licorice extract which is clinically proven to significantly improve the skin’s appearance during flare-up phases.

The rich-feeling creme is fragrance-, steroid- and dye-free.

BACK AND CHEST

Keeping the muscles in your back, chest, and neck strong and toned is vital for proper posture. Good posture makes you look slimmer and taller, and feel younger and healthier. Have you noticed how people round their shoulders and extendedly bend their necks forward while using their phone, tablets, and laptops? These simple exercises not only will help undo some of the stress we put our neck each day but impart a smoother, more elegant neckline and collarbone.

I’ve been remiss over the years about upper body skin care. While I carefully slather my face and throat with skincare topicals and sunscreen, I’ve been haphazard with my shoulders, decolletage, and upper arms. But these areas all belie age with sun damage, dryness, lack of firmness and wrinkles.

What can be done to compensate for upper body skin neglect? Two Eucerin products that help reverse time are Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion and Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion.

AHA TO PROMOTE FIRMNESS, COLLAGEN, AND SMOOTHER SKIN

Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion contains one of my go-to favorite ingredients: Alpha Hydroxy Acid, also known as AHA. AHA, a natural acid found in foods, is a superstar of the skincare realm. AHA’s are often used in anti-aging products and treatments due to their ability to gently but effectively remove dead skin layers without the unsightly peeling or redness that manual exfoliation can cause.

For those with sensitive skin, AHAs can be drying, but Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion and Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion contain several buffering ingredients that keep skin hydrated enough to stay soft and supple while benefiting from AHA. What a great duo these two make to treat, protect and hydrate!

As a side note, I find the AHA in Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion quite helpful with Keratosis Pilaris (KP), better known as those “chicken bumps” that appear on upper arms. For optimal skin health, KP treatment requires both exfoliation and hydration which makes Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion and Eucerin Advanced Repair perfect for the job. And I like that they are fragrance-free and absorb quickly without leaving residue on skin or clothes, which is highly preferable to any medicated KP treatment. Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion keeps you hydrated for 48 hours.

QUADS AND HAMSTRINGS

Are your legs sore at the end of the day? Whether from wearing high heels or chasing toddlers the leg muscles often need attention. These exercises work the entire quad and hamstring inch by inch and add in a stretching component for a deep muscle massage. Doing these exercises daily makes legs far more comfortable, even after a busy day on your feet.

And because even skin that is not exposed to the elements can still become very dry, this Eucerin series pairs Eucerin Original Healing Lotion uses simple, safe ingredients to help repair skin. It is paired with the Eucerin Skin Calming Creme for a total beauty wellness leg care plan. The Eucerin Skin Calming Creme is formulated with natural oatmeal to calm skin and keep it moisturized.

CONCLUSION

The Eucerin “Prepare to Repair” video series makes the most of easy to implement, reparative stretching exercise techniques paired with effective skin products targeted to specific skincare needs. The Eucerin Repair line provides dry, itchy, rough skin with long-lasting hydration, using safe, effective ingredients that are non-irritating. Skin instantly looks and feels so much better. Eucerin replaces the dull, dry look of winter skin with a hydrated and smooth glow that quickly dries down to a non-greasy finish. Warmer weather is just around the corner, and it’s time to get skin ready to be seen. You put time and effort into your beach body workouts, don’t forget your skin!

Style Chicks wrote this article and received compensation for our time and effort. However, the opinions expressed are 100% ours.