Defining Skincare

Skincare Products

Skincare includes products for the skin. This includes cleansers, exfoliants, moisturizers, acne treatments, anti-aging treatments, serums for specific skin concerns, as well as sunscreen. Find Skincare product recommendations for specific skin concerns and skincare products using organic ingredients.

Skin care includes ways to care for the skin, including facial skin, throat, decolletage, and body skin. Visit the Skin Care guide section of StyleChicks for more skin care how-to information.

Skincare: Aurora Cure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Professional Strength

September 23, 2016 · Leave a Comment

SUMMARY of Aurora Cure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum: It only takes a few drops to make my skin look like I have a secret Instagram filter for real life. It quickly plumps skin so that all the fine wrinkles and not-so-fine-lines fill in, as if you used a filler, but it looks natural. It deflects the appearance of imperfections so that your skin looks like you, but smoother, softer, dewy, and firm. Very little Aurora Cure serum does the entire face without being sticky.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Professional Strength

HYALURONIC ACID
If you are a regular reader here at StyleChicks, you have heard us tout the wonder of Hyaluronic Acid. It is hands-down my favorite supporting ingredient in many skincare products. So we were pretty excited when we found such a high quality, 100% professional grade Hyaluronic Acid from Aurora Cure. More about that in a bit, because if you are not familiar with Hyaluronic Acid, it is time to become acquainted with this beauty powerhouse and what it can do for your skin.

WHAT MAKE HYALURONIC ACID SO SPECIAL
First, Hyaluronic is a moisture magnet. It holds one-thousand times its’ weight in water, which is so much moisture that when applied to the skin, wrinkles and fine lines just plump up like a temporary filler and skin imperfections seem to disappear within minutes. Unlike a filler, skin retains its’ natural expression; it is just soft, supple, dewy and so plump with moisture that the face (or neck or decolletage) appears lifted. If you have chronically lined, wrinkled lips like me, a dab of Hyaluronic smooths them right out, plumping lips more naturally or evenly than a plumping lip gloss.

Second, this same moisture drawing capability helps other active ingredients get deeper into the skin than they could absorb on their own. Vitamin C for example, cannot reach too far beyond the surface skin layers alone. But Hyaluronic Acid is like having VIP access. It can get into deep crevices and layers of skin and takes treating ingredients such as Vitamin C, B, MSM, Horsetail, Gotu Kola, Stem Cells, and more to the layers that can affect real skin transformation: deep dermal layers where skin scaffolding structure exists, where deep wrinkles or scars are formed, and where much more collagen is needed to uphold skin and supporting tissue. Whatever skin treatment product you use, whether serums or Retinol, Hyaluronic can deliver those treating ingredients deeper into the skin.

Hyaluronic also has many skin benefits on its’ own. Our body makes less natural Hyaluronic Acid as we age, but the topical replacement of this acid is very effective. But there is some variety in cost and quality amongst Hyaluronic Acids, so finding the best cost-effective Hyaluronic Acid means you can afford to use it daily and derive the most benefit.

ABOUT AURORA CURE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH 100% PURE HYALURONIC ACID SERUM

As the title says, it is 100% Hyaluronic Acid, which is unusual for a Hyaluronic Acid serum. Many Hyaluronic Acid serums and creams are not pure Hyaluronic, rather, they contain some Hyaluronic Acid and are primarily various fillers ranging from helpful (Aloe Vera) to not so helpful (potentially irritating chemicals). Pure Hyaluronic Acid avoids unnecessary chemicals or fillers, meaning less irritation and more powerful product. A small amount goes a long way; this is a longer-term investment bottle.

Of note, the other two listed ingredients are a preservative (Phenoxyethanol) and Ethylhexylglycerin – a glycerin (preservative/skin conditioner) to give the serum base to the acid form.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Professional Strength

USE & APPLICATION

It just takes a few drops of Aurora Cure Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum to smooth the face and a few more drops for the neck. I apply a drop at a time, starting on my forehead, then my jaw line, then I pat it on my cheekbones, browbone, the nose, and all around the undereye area. I use a few more drops on my throat. I follow up with my moisturizer afterward. Most days, I put my Vitamin C Serum on before my Hyaluronic Acid in the morning.

Alternatively, a few drops of Hyaluronic Acid can be added directly into your moisturizer before application; this helps distribute it evenly. I like that this Hyaluronic is not sticky so that I can leave the house without looking greasy.

Since Hyaluronic Acid immediately starts attracting moisture to the skin upon application, it is important to add a moisturizer over the Hyaluronic Acid. This is especially important if you are in a very arid climate or a high-pollution area because Hyaluronic will draw moisture from the ambient air if needed. I don’t need as much moisturizer since my skin is already plump and smooth, but I do use enough to coat the face, and the Hyaluronic quickly absorbs it into the skin.

TIP: If you use Hyaluronic Acid and your skin seems dryer for it, you aren’t giving your skin enough moisturizer for the Hyaluronic to pull into the skin. If you over moisturize, which is hard to do, allow a few extra minutes and blot down the excess.

RESULTS

While I love Hyaluronic Acid, the additives in several brands leaves me either sticky, too greasy to wear makeup over it, or a bit irritated from the excess chemicals. The Aurora Cure Hyaluronic Acid did not cause an irritation when I pair it with Vitamin C or retinol. The Aurora Cure left no residue and was not irritating, even around the delicate eye area. Being able to use it around the eye would be reason enough for me to buy this brand in the future.

My horizontal forehead crinkles disappear and my eleven lines appear much softer, they are still there, but not noticeable. Pores fill in and appear non-existent, very similar to an airbrushed look without seeming fake like a filler or cakey like a thick foundation.

I love the Aurora Care Hyaluronic on the undereye bags and crows feet as it gives such as soft, dewy look to the skin without irritating the eyes. The eye area looks so much younger, and the top of the cheekbone gains a nice natural highlight and plumpness. There is a “lifting” around the eye area due to the plump result of the Hyaluronic in this area is very youthifying.

The overall surface of the skin on the neck, chest, lips has such a smooth surface. Aurora Cure Hyaluronic makes your skin look like it does after your done filtering it for Instagram.

As for the ability for Hyaluronic Acid to enhance other active ingredient products such as Vitamin C serum or Retinol, I use the Hyaluronic with my evening Retinol and my morning Vitamin C Serum. The ability to enhance the Vitamin C production at a deep layer makes the most of my skin care routine.

TIP: For a good Vitamin C Serum recommendation, read our review of Aurora Cure Professional Grade Vitamin C serum. It is a serum chock full of anti-aging ingredients that make the most of the collagen production. I like to use these two Aurora Cure products together since they work great in tandem, and neither of them are sticky or leave a residue, so I can apply my makeup over them without getting greasy or flaky.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Professional Strength

CONCLUSION: High-quality, concentrated, pure Hyaluronic Acid with no excess fillers or chemicals to irritate the skin, Aurora Pure Ultimate 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum provides a dewy, smooth alternative to naturally filling wrinkles and pores to provide an airbrush yet natural finish. It also enhances your existing skin care program to aid Vitamin C and Retinol to sink deep into the skin without dryness or redness. An excellent product!

Find this amazing serum at Aurora Cure.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wz3vctc9Ko[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Skincare: ESARORA Ice Roller

September 23, 2016 · 1 Comment

We’ve all heard that ice is good for your skin. Supermodels dunk their faces in ice cold water first thing in the morning to shrink pores. A standard pimple-reduction technique is to pop two ibuprofen and ice down a pimple, and it will disappear. Ice your eyes and undereye bags will vanish.

Yeah, none of those ever worked for me.

Nonetheless, I thought I would give the ESARORA Ice Roller a try, and I’m thrilled that I did. The results are impressive.

ESARORA Ice Roller

First, prep is easy. Take the roller and put it in the freezer. That’s it. It will be ready in 15 minutes, but it doesn’t hurt to keep it in the freezer when not in use, so it is always ready.

Second, using it is easy. For beauty purposes, I like to run it over my face in the morning when I’m making my coffee. It takes less than a minute to slowly roll over my entire face, eye area, and throat, and it instantly depuffs my face and especially my undereye bags. It shrinks pores and gives skin a wide awake look.

The most impressive result is on acne. I woke up Tuesday to a profoundly painful pimple on my otherwise clear skin. I figured I would try the Ice Roller on it since it was so inflamed. Beyond the pimple itself, the inflammation was nearly the size of a dime. I knew that even if I put my go-to cream on the blemish that it would have a hard time penetrating the inflammation. I rolled the Ice Roller over it for about two minutes, and not only was the peripheral redness gone, but the pimple itself shrank and was far less red. I was able to apply medicine and then easily cover it with concealer when I did my makeup. That was a quick rescue and worth the very reasonable price just for that use!

I’m not quite sure what the difference is between this device and a standard ice cube or cold pack, but I have some theories. First, the pressure of the roller is very mild. I have tried many devices that attempt to take care of puffiness by micro-vibrations, but a few of those (including a high-end one) leaves my skin irritated due to the level of pressure. Conversely, the Ice Roller is the lightest of pressure, just enough to make sure the cold penetrates the skin. Second, the metal roller isn’t meant to stay in one spot too long, so the body doesn’t adversely react like if you put an ice cube on a spot and just held it there.

I’m thrilled to have a great item like this to quickly depuff in the morning!

Find this great gadget here.

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Skincare: Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum

September 23, 2016 · Leave a Comment

SUMMARY: Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Serum is a Professional Grade 20% Vitamin C, paired with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Horsetail, Gotu Kola, as well as Organic Aloe Vera and Jojoba. This ingredient cocktail makes for an anti-aging, acne fighting, wrinkle sacking, dark circle reducing powerhouse. There are lots of Vitamin C Serums, but this combination of ingredients provides a terrific combination for better skin fast. Oh, and it absorbs completely without being sticky or leaving a film on the skin.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum

WHO SHOULD USE A VITAMIN C SERUM?
In short, practically anybody. Vitamin C Serum addresses the source of the primary beauty-based skin complaints: increases collagen production, acne control, fading discoloration, and loss of luminance. Collagen production decreases sagging and wrinkles and restores a dewy glow to the skin. It also addresses deep skin layer scarring and age spots. Daily use of Vitamin C Serum can result in much younger, softer, even-tone skin within weeks.

CAN PEOPLE WITH SENSITIVE SKIN USE A PROFESSIONAL GRADE VITAMIN C SERUM?
Some with very sensitive skin find Vitamin C Serum too drying or too irritating. If you have sensitive skin, you might shy away from a Professional Strength product. Those with sensitive skin can still use Vitamin C Serums as long as they select a serum that includes balancing ingredients such as those found in Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Serum.

WHAT SETS AURORA CURE ULTIMATE VITAMIN C SERUM APART FROM OTHER SERUMS FOR USE BY BOTH SENSITIVE AND TYPICAL SKIN

Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Serum is a full Professional Strength 20% Vitamin C potency, but it also contains several supporting ingredients to enable sensitive and regular skin types to tolerate the treatment.

Aurora Cure Ultimate Vitamin C Serum has several supporting ingredients that soothe skin and allow it to tolerate the serum including Organic Aloe Vera and Organic Jojoba. Both Aloe Vera and Jojoba enhance the ability to tolerate the drying effects of Vitamin C without impairing the absorption of it within the skin. Witch Hazel is a topical anti-inflammatory, reducing any irritation and redness associated with Vitamin C Serum use. These ingredients help sensitive and non-sensitive skins make the most of an anti-aging Vitamin C serum routine.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum

IMPROVING SKIN: WHAT AND HOW AURORA CURE ULTIMATE VITAMIN C SERUM’S PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH INGREDIENTS ACCOMPLISH MAKING BETTER SKIN

I swear by Vitamin C Serum use, but it is the active ingredients paired with it that make all the difference when it comes to treating problems like aging, discoloration, sagging, wrinkles and dark circles.

20% Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a building block to build collagen, the cement that holds together the build blocks of the skin. Less collagen means weaker skin, loss of tone and radiance, wrinkles and sagging. More collagen means the prevention and partial reversal of these problems.

Other active ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid, Gotu Kola, Vitamin E, and Horsetail.

HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic Acid is my favorite ingredient to pair with Vitamin C. First; it holds TONS of moisture. It just sucks moisture into your skin, plumping skin to temporarily but immediately fill out small wrinkles and crinkles, and smoothing sagging skin to dewy and plump skin. The second thing Hyaluronic Acid does is pull the active ingredients deeper into the skin, meaning Vitamin C reaches deeper layers of the skin with Hyaluronic Acid than it ever could without it, it is like a ticket to the VIP lounge of dermal layers. Vitamin C reaching deeper layers means increased collagen production within supportive skin layers and treatment deeper wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, old scars, and even dark circles can improve due to the powerful Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid duo. Aurora Cure Vitamin C contains a whopping 11% Hyaluronic Acid, which is very generous for the price of the bottle.

GOTU KOLA
Gotu Kola is new to anti-aging skin care but has long been used for wound healing because of its’ ability to promote collagen production. Gotu Kola in a Vitamin C Serum is great as it calls the body to action to make collagen, and the Vitamin C provides the building blocks for collagen production. What a team!

VITAMIN E
Vitamin E paired with Vitamin C it gives skin softness and pliability. Much of the rougher texture of some skin patches improves.

HORSETAIL
Horsetail makes for more flexible skin, especially in connective skin layers and tissue. Wrinkles and sagging are not just the results of skin surface aging, but laxity in supportive structure ligaments, muscles and connective layers that hold up facial skin. Horsetail adds strength to these connective layers to keep the skin structure as pliable yet taut as possible. Horsetail is also benefited by the inclusion of the Hyaluronic Acid to reach deeper skin layers. As a side benefit, Horsetail also lightens discoloration, particularly the dark shadow area of wrinkles.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum

APPLICATION
There is no unpleasant scent, and the serum is not sticky, it dries down well. It is more of a thick watery liquid than a gel or serum texture, so there is no residue or stickiness. I apply my moisturizer and my eye cream directly over the serum after about 5 minutes.

Use daily for best results. Many people pair a Vitamin C serum during the day with a Retinol at night, but twice a day use of a Vitamin C Serum will fade discoloration and acne scarring faster.

Aurora Cure Ultimate 20% Vitamin C Serum

TIP: It is imperative to moisturize when using Vitamin C Serum. Aurora Care Ultimate Vitamin C Serum works synergistically with their Hyaluronic Acid Serum. And bonus, skin looks and feels fantastic when this duo is used together! So plump, dewy, smooth and youthful looking!

RESULTS
These ingredients together hit all the bases when seeking a high-quality Vitamin C Serum: ingredients to soothe and nourish, increase tolerance to strong ingredients, ingredients that cause immediate improvement, some that support collagen production and skin structure, and some that fade existing scars and brown spots. But the real question is – how long do you use a Vitamin C to see results?

With daily use, acne control happens quickly; you’ll see improvement within the week. The fading of scarring and age spots is generally within a few weeks, and collagen production shows within about four – six weeks time when sagging and wrinkles significantly diminish. The Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba and Aloe and Vitamin E give a softer look to skin immediately upon application.

CONCLUSION: I am very pleased to have tried this Serum, it has a powerhouse of ingredients that are not often seen in tandem but together they provide an excellent Vitamin C Serum that applies quickly, dries down completely, and skin looks dewy and plump while it is worn. Highly recommended!

Find this amazing serum at Aurora Cure.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtF1_r5ecPc[/embedyt]

Skincare: Phytopia Clinical Collection Stretch Marks Remover

September 22, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Stretch marks are easy to get but tough to get rid of. Stretch marks are notoriously acquired during pregnancy and weight gain, but they can also occur during weight loss, rapid muscle mass growth through exercise and even rapid growth spurts can lead to stretch marks. The best way to deal with stretch marks is to pre-emptively treating the skin while the stretching is occurring and, secondly, to nourish the skin that has already been stretched to repair as much as possible and improve the appearance of existing stretch marks, notably the discoloration.

Part of why so many stretch mark treatments fail is they simply can’t un-stretch skin that has already been over-stretched. Like an elastic banding that has lost its resilience, there is not much that can be done to tighten the skin into its’ former state. There can, however, be improvements in the condition of the texture, the discoloration of the skin, and surface improvements to how taut the excess skin lies over the surface of other skin layers. Many traditional home remedies do have some truth in them as to what will improve some of these features, but to see real improvement, a cocktail of ingredients is needed to target the multiple issues at work.

Phytopia Clinical Collection Stretch Marks Remover

WHY PHYTOPIA STRETCH MARK REMOVER CAN WORK WHEN OTHERS MAY HAVE FAILED YOU

When it comes to stretch marks, the two main issues are discoloration and texture. Phytopia contains several ingredients to protect from stretching and to treat already stretched, discolored skin.

Cocoa Butter is a traditional remedy for stretch marks to keep skin as pliable as possible when it is subject to stretching. Olive Oil also keeps the skin flexible, while providing nourishment. Evening Primrose is another skin treatment ingredient, typically geared toward aging skin, it contains helpful fatty acids and reduces inflammation. It serves as a topical inflammation reducer to help alieve some of the pressure on the skin that is being stretched. These collectively provide the pre-emptive component of stretch mark prevention. But to treat existing stretch marks especially the bright pink/purple discoloration, more is needed.

Discoloration can be addressed with Vitamin C agents and supporting ingredients. Rosa Canina Whole, better known as Organic Rose Hips, is a highly concentrated form of Vitamin C. When applied topically, Vitamin C builds more collagen, the supporting structure of the skin. More collagen means less initial skin breakdown, and more reparative work to already damaged skin. Vitamin C fixes discoloration by fading existing damage and replacing those cells with new cells over time. The second form of Vitamin C in this oil is Citrus Aurantifolia Leaf Oil. This oil is used for general skin tone and fighting the formation of cellulite. To me, lightening the discoloration of a stretch mark is a significant component of why I would use a stretch mark treatment oil, and these ingredients are very effective in lightening stretch marks and general scarring when I have used them on my upper legs and arms. No matter how old your stretch marks are, this discoloration can be improved, which makes this stretch mark oil’s combination of ingredients a powerful tool again stretch marks.

Phytopia Clinical Collection Stretch Marks Remover

RESULTS
I don’t have any current deep discoloration of the pink/purple stretch marks that occurs with a new stretch mark, but I do have that sort of silvery darker surface skin look to skin that is no longer matching the skin tone, and being able to take care of silver-colored stretch marks is impressive. The Oil has improved the surface of this skin, and lightening the discoloration, creating a smoother look. The stretch mark surface has fewer criss-cross patterned lines within the stretch mark itself, making the skin appear more normal. The conditioning elements are highly emollient.

USE
A few drops will do it, spread between your palms and rub on the affected skin areas twice a day. The oil is not greasy; it absorbs within a few minutes. Not much is needed, if you are too greasy after use, you have used too much oil.

PACKAGING
A lovely gift for a Mom-to-be or new Mom, this comes in a gift box with an inner gift card with instructions, and a quality patterned drawstring re-usable bag to hold the oil.

CONCLUSION: A powerful combination of ingredients to combat future stretch marks and deal with existing one, no matter how old a stretch mark is, there is room for nourishing and improving the skin to remove discoloration and improve the surface appearance of the damage. Nothing works overnight when it comes to damaged skin, but this works well. A lovely gift for a Mom-to-be or a new Mom.

Find it at Amazon.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQs_RnGWew[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Skincare: Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum

August 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum

Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum comes in an attractive bottle with angled tip dropper.

WHY USE VITAMIN C SERUM?
Vitamin C Serums are an important part of any skincare program. Vitamin C addresses many common beauty complaints including adult acne, scarring, wrinkles discoloration, age spots, and dull skin. Vitamin C can address all of these issues by increasing the production of more collagen and the cellular level of the skin. More collagen equals a more even skin tone, fewer breakouts, fewer wrinkles and less sagging of skin.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT DIVAS NEVER AGE VITAMIN C SERUM?
For a Vitamin C to be truly useful, it is helpful if Vitamin C is paired with other active ingredients to best support collagen production. Divas Never Age has Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, and Hyaluronic Acid, amongst other Vitamin C supporters. Vitamin B3 is becoming popular in anti-aging as it helps reduce redness and inflammation, including around acne and sensitive areas such as undereye skin. Less inflammation means less sagging and puffiness. The serum also contains Hyaluronic Acid, a go-to ingredient that makes skin look instantly dewy, plump and soft. It does this because it holds so much moisture, it just sucks hydration into your skin, acting as a temporary filler. Enlarged pores practically swell closed and appear smaller, wrinkles plump, and skin looks younger. Hyaluronic Acid also helps the Vitamin C sink deeper into the skin to reach deep skin layers including supportive layers of skin that tend to need support to prevent sagging and wrinkles.

In addition to great supporting ingredients, Divas Never Age Vitamin C serum goes on smoothly and is not sticky or drying to the skin like some serums can be. Skin will look better when wearing it, which is a very attractive quality in an anti-aging serum.

APPLICATION
It is not sticky or drying to the skin, rather it is plumping and leaves skin dewy and smooth to the touch. It dries down quickly, and makeup can be applied smoothly on top. Skin looks younger while you wear it because it has light-reflecting properties and the Hyaluronic smooths and plumps, acting as a filler for wrinkles and pores.

RESULTS: I love that my skin looks good while I wear it: soft, supple, dewy and fresh. It addresses dull skin immediately, even the next day my skin has a lovely glow. There is no sticky white residue after application. Uneven skin tone areas look better in a few weeks, and my acne improved in about a week. Darker age spots and wrinkles take more time; it is often two months of consistent use to see results with collagen-producing Vitamin C serums, but I am very pleased with the results so far, and the instant glow the serum gives my skin.

CONCLUSION: A powerful anti-aging treatment. If you have sensitive skin, this is a great Vitamin C serum as it is non-irritating but still quite effective in combating wrinkles, adult acne, uneven skin tone and dullness. Upon application, there is a youthful, dewy glow to the skin.

Find Divas Never Age Vitamin C SerumÂ at Amazon.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ti9ouIGlGY[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

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