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Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection

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Our skin changes with age and environmental exposures. Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection contains three skin products that contain natural, effective anti-aging ingredients. They work together to address a variety of problems impacting adult skin, including blue light damage.
Morganna Trio

Morganna Trio

Find yet another new wrinkle? Notice discoloration or skin sagging?  It is tempting to go into mad scientist product overload mode, using multiple products that promise to counteract wrinkles, laxity, discoloration, and sun damage. This zealous product cocktail approach irritates mature and sensitive skin.  It also isn’t particularly effective. The Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection reverses aged skin and combats future skin damage.

Pea Peptides fights skin damage caused by blue light

Pea Peptides fights skin damage caused by blue light

One of the serums in this efficient trio even fights the damage caused by blue light.

Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection

Meet the Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection serums:

  • Water Drops Serum
  • Lemon Drops Serum
  • Illuminate Pea Peptides Serum

Morganna’s Water Drops contains sea grapes to build collagen while promoting hydration

Each serum in the Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Non-GMO
  • Paraben-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • COSMOS Eco-Certified
  • Made in the USA

Let’s look at each serum in this trio:

Morganna's Water Drops Serum

Morganna’s Water Drops Serum

WATER DROPS SERUM

Water Drops Serums is ideal for dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin

  • Texture/Consistency: lightweight
  • Scent: none
  • How to Use It:  Before moisturizer but after cleansing, apply 2-4 drops of serum morning and night.
Water Drops is a lightweight serum that absorbs quickly and dries down smooth. 

Water Drops is a lightweight serum that absorbs quickly and dries down smooth.

Water Drops Serum Experience

The drydown is quick and it is not sticky or tacky. My moisturizer doesn’t pill on top of Water Drops.

Water Drops rehydrates skin with a combination of natural ingredients

Water drops Serum ingredients

Water drops Serum ingredients

 

Morganna’s Alchemy
Water Drops Serum Ingredient Highlights

Sea Grapes algae promote collagen

Sea Grapes are a variety of green algae that promotes collagen production

Acetyl Hexapeptide-37

Acetyl hexapeptide-37 is a synthetic peptide. It is a combination of amino acids alanine, proline, serine, and glycine.

Acetyl hexapeptide-37 balances the water in the skin’s surface layers to alleviate dehydrated skin.

Caulpera Lentilifera promotes collagen

Caulpera Lentilifera

Caulpera Lentilifera (Green Algae) Extract is an edible seaweed known as sea grapes or green caviar. It is high in minerals with reported anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.

Caulpera Lentilifera contains fucoidan. Fucoidan promotes fibroblast cell production. Fibroblast cells produce collagen and promote wound healing.  Fucoidan also renews and brightens the skin while reducing wrinkle depth and skin spot intensity. [1]

It contains Alginic acids to strengthen the lipid barrier, retain hydration and elasticity.

Sea Grapes are also rich in amino acids for glowing, supple skin.

Astaxanthin from Lithothamnion Calcareum

Red Algae contains Astaxanthin

Lithothamnion Calcareum is Red Algae. Red Algae is a natural source of Astaxanthin.  It enhances the skin’s barrier function, replenishes moisture, and increases its moisture-retention capabilities.

Astaxanthin helps to avoid the harmful effects of external factors on the skin. It protects collagen and elastin skin cells against oxidation or decay. [2, 3] It is moisturizing and has UV blocking properties. Astaxanthin counteracts UV damage and improves elasticity via improved skin function. It promotes collagen production. [4] Astaxanthin suppresses hyperpigmentation and photoaging. Clinical studies show Astaxanthin reduces wrinkle formation. [5]

Hydrolyzed Elastin

Elastin is a skin protein. Elastin is paired collagen in the dermis skin layer and gives structural support to the skin. It is the stretchy structural proteins that allow the skin to snap back into place. Elastin is vulnerable to sun damage. Elastin is as important as collagen for the appearance of younger skin, but fewer products address the loss of skin elastin.

Unlike collagen, topically applied elastin (hydrolyzed) is readily absorbed by the skin and can promote new elastin synthesis. [6]

Glycerin

Glycerin is a natural vegetable-derived humectant. Glycerin helps the skin to retain moisture. Glycerin fills in gaps in dryer skin which makes skin look better and keeps the outer layer of the skin intact.

Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is an organic acid that exfoliates and brightens skin. It is gentler than glycolic acid. Lactic acid holds moisture while increasing firmness and skin thickness.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate is a non-synthesized form of Hyaluronic Acid. It is a humectant that offers stronger moisture retention properties than regular HA. It is found naturally and ample supply in young skin, but depletes with age.

Sodium Hyaluronate has a lower molecular size than other Hyaluronic Acids. It absorbs deeper into the skin and brings other actives along with it.

Butylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol is organic alcohol, one of the “good alcohols”.  It is a conditioning agent that softens skin, a humectant that coats the cell surface.

Caprylyl Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol is a skin-conditioning agent.

Lemon Drops Serum

Lemon Drops Serum

Lemon Drops Serum

  • Ideal for: skin brightening, collagen production
  • Texture/Consistency: lightweight
  • Scent: No detectible scent
  • How to Use It: Use 2-4 drops of serum morning and night on clean skin. Apply sunscreen or moisturizer after.

Morganna’s Lemon Drops

Lemon Drops Serum

Morganna’s Lemon Drops

Experience:

We expected the lemon to sting but it doesn’t. Not even on sensitive skin areas.

It is a lightweight serum with a smooth dry down. There is no tackiness or sticky residue.  It gives skin has a nice glow and doesn’t pill under sunscreen.

It is a Vitamin C, so remember to wear sunscreen!

Lemon Drops has a lightweight texture

 

Lemon Drops is a lightweight serum

Lemon Drops is a lightweight serum that does not sting or irritate skin.

 

Lemon Drops builds collagen

Lemon Drops builds collagen and provides moisture

Morganna’s Alchemy
Lemon Drops Serum Ingredient Highlights

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Lemon/Limon peel contains concentrated vitamin C to build collagen, fade age spots and rejuvenate photodamage. Vitamin C reduces excess oil production, shrinks pores, and exfoliates dead surface skin. These reduce the formation of adult acne while treating skin aging.

Lemon Peel Oil is also a natural exfoliator and skin purifier. [7] It alleviates skin inflammation [8] and reduces certain infection-causing bacterias. [9]

Direct, undiluted application of lemon peel oil can be excessively drying to the skin, but it works well within a balanced formulation.

 

Cichorium Intybus

Cichorium Intybus is Chicory Root Extract.

Chicory Root Extract firms wrinkles, restores elasticity and fights signs of photo-aging.

 

Crosspolymer Hyaluronic Acid

A modified form of hyaluronic acid attached to a polymer structure that keeps it within the skin’s uppermost layers longer. [10] This creates an enhanced hydration effect. Not animal-derived.

 

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate is a non-synthesized form of Hyaluronic Acid.  Skin-plumping Sodium Hyaluronate has a lower molecular size than other Hyaluronic Acids. It absorbs deeper into the skin and brings other actives along with it.

 

Penthelyne Glycol

Penthelyne Glycol binds water to the skin.

 

Illuminate Pea Peptides

Illuminate Pea Peptides Serum

Probably our personal favorite of the trio is the Illuminate Pea Peptides Serum. It reduces discoloration and contains fractionated melanin to prevent damage from harmful blue light (i.e. computer screens, phones and tablets).  All those Zoom conferences expose skin to aging blue light.  While we have little choice in using these devices at this juncture, blue light can do a real number on your skin. But Illuminate Pea Peptides Serum combats blue light damage with natural, effective ingredients that are gentle to the skin.

Illuminate Pea Peptides is lightweight with no residue on dry down

  • Ideal for: hyperpigmentation
  • Texture/Consistency: lightweight with no sticky residue
  • Scent: None
  • How to Use It: Apply 2-4 drops morning and evening on clean skin.

Experience:

The dry down is quick and there is no tacky finish.

 

Morganna’s Alchemy
Illuminate Pea Peptides Serum Ingredient Highlights

Pea Peptides

Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract

The garden pea. Pea extract can calm irritated skin. Rich in ellagic and gallic acids, beta-sitosterol, and quercetin it has antioxidant benefits.

It protects collagen and elastin which makes it an ideal anti-aging treatment to promote elasticity and improve skin firming.

 

Bakuchiol

L-Proline Bakuchiol (Psoralea Corylifolia) Extract is commonly called Bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is derived from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant.

Bakuchiol is a natural retinol alternative. It is plant-based, non-irritating, and clinically proven statistically as effective as retinol. Bakuchiol improves photoaging, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation equally as well as retinol, but Bakuchiol is better tolerated. [11]

It stimulates collagen within the skin, as well as significant improvement in wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness without the retinol associated side effects. [12]

Bakuchiol inhibits melanin production on age spots and acne scars [13]. Bakuchiol helps with acne.[14]

 

Zamea Propanediol comes from corn

Zamea Propanediol

Zamea Propanediol is a humectant with the ability to penetrate the skin for a smooth hydrated finish.  A corn-based natural alternative to petroleum based glycols, it reduces water loss in the skin.

 

Kosher Vegetable Glycerin

A natural, pure glycerin that serves to attract and retain moisture and oxygen in the skin.

 

Rice Amino Acids

Rice amino acids are a mixture of amino acids derived from the complete hydrolysis of rice protein.

Without protein, our skin becomes unprotected and rough. Our skin needs to make protein to stay healthy and hydrated. Rice amino acids can provide this protein. It provides a protective skin barrier.

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein is an effective anti-irritant that leaves dry skin smooth. It has an anti-inflammatory effect while providing  skin hydration.

 

Baobab Fruit

Baobab Fruit

Baobab Seed Extract

Baobob is a tropical, fruit-bearing, indigenous tree. Baobab Seed Extract or Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata is considered a superfruit. Rich in Vitamins A, C, D, and E, it feeds the skin. Baobob is higher in Vitamin C than oranges to offer C serum benefits without the irritation.  Baobob also contains moisture-retaining properties to reduce transepidermal water loss.

Rich in Omega-3s such as palmitic, oleic, linolenic, and linoleic acids. These mighty Omegas moisturize and refine skin. They also build elastin, repair the skin barrier, and reduce inflammation.  These properties make Baobab helpful for treating dry skin, even that affected by eczema.  [15]  Studies show the linoleic acid makes Baobob an effective acne treatment [16] while concurrently addressing signs of aging.

 

Soybean ingredient on StyleChicks.com

Soybeans

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Soy protein is emollient and anti-oxidant. Soybeans are rich in Vitamin E which softens and reduces inflammation.

 

Honey

Honey is a natural humectant and antioxidant. This bee product excels at clearing acne, healing scars, and promoting an even skin tone. It promotes wound healing while gently exfoliating dead skin cells.

Raw honey is a versatile natural skincare ingredient

Honey is a versatile natural skincare ingredient

 

Glyceryl Caprylate

Glyceryl Caprylate is a 100% plant derivative of glycerin and caprylic acid. It has emollient and moisturizing properties. It is a  co-emulsifier that helps water and oil based ingredients to work together.

 

Penthelyne Glycol

Penthelyne Glycol binds water to the skin

Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection is an excellent price point considering the ingredients packed into this set. I’ve paid more for just a blue light treating serum alone. All three serums are scent-free, non-irritating, and effective.

where to buy it

Find Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection at https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/morgannas-illuminate-serum-drops-pea-peptides-and-melanin

 

Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection

Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection

lightweight serumQUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?

Have any comments or questions about Morganna’s Alchemy Serum Trio Collection?

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references

  1. Fitton JH, Dell’Acqua G, Gardiner V-A, Karpiniec SS, Stringer DN, Davis E. Topical Benefits of Two Fucoidan-Rich Extracts from Marine Macroalgae. Cosmetics. 2015; 2(2):66-81.
  2. Davinelli S, Nielsen ME, Scapagnini G. Astaxanthin in Skin Health, Repair, and Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients. 2018 Apr 22;10(4):522. doi: 10.3390/nu10040522. PMID: 29690549; PMCID: PMC5946307.
  3. Nishida, Y. and E. Yamashita. “Quenching Activities of Common Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Antioxidants against Singlet Oxygen Using Chemiluminescence Detection System.” (2007).
  4. Camera E., Mastrofrancesco A., Fabbri C., Daubrawa F., Picardo M., Sies H., Stahl W. Astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and beta-carotene differently affect UVA-induced oxidative damage and expression of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes. Exp. Dermatol. 2009;18:222–231. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00790.x.
  5. Tominaga K., Hongo N., Karato M., Yamashita E. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on human subjects. Acta Biochim. Pol. 2012;59:43–47.
  6. Ganceviciene, Ruta et al. “Skin anti-aging strategies.” Dermato-endocrinologyvol. 4,3 (2012): 308-19. doi:10.4161/derm.22804
  7. Man, Adrian et al. “Antimicrobial Activity of Six Essential Oils Against a Group of Human Pathogens: A Comparative Study.” Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 8,1 15. 28 Jan. 2019, doi:10.3390/pathogens8010015
  8. Anil Kumar Maurya, et al, “The essential oil from Citrus limetta Risso peels alleviates skin inflammation: In-vitro and in-vivo study”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 212, 2018, Pages 86-94
  9. Hou, He-Shuai et al. “Extraction of essential oil from Citrus reticulate Blanco peel and its antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes).” Heliyon vol. 5,12 e02947. 2 Dec. 2019, doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02947
  10. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, October 2012, pages 20-23
  11. Dhaliwal, S.; Rybak, I.; Ellis, S.R.; Notay, M.; Trivedi, M.; Burney, W.; Vaughn, A.R.; Nguyen, M.; Reiter, P. (February 2019). “Prospective, randomized, double‐blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing”. British Journal of Dermatology. 180 (2): 289–296. doi:10.1111/bjd.16918. ISSN 0007-0963. PMID 29947134.
  12. Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014 Jun;36(3):221-30. doi: 10.1111/ics.12117. Epub 2014 Mar 6. PMID: 24471735.
  13. Ohno O, Watabe T, Nakamura K, Kawagoshi M, Uotsu N, Chiba T, Yamada M, Yamaguchi K, Yamada K, Miyamoto K, Uemura D. Inhibitory effects of bakuchiol, bavachin, and isobavachalcone isolated from Piper longum on melanin production in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(7):1504-6. doi: 10.1271/bbb.100221. Epub 2010 Jul 7. PMID: 20622433.
  14. Chaudhuri, Ratan & Marchio, Francois. (2011). Bakuchiol in the management of acne-affected Skin. Cosmet. Toilet.. 126. 502-510.
  15. Pérez-Sánchez A. Nutraceuticals for Skin Care: A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Studies. Nutrients. 2018; 10(4):403.
  16. Komane, Baatile M., et al. Beauty in Baobab: a pilot study of the safety and efficacy of Adansonia digitata seed oil, Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, Volume 27, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 1-8, ISSN 0102-695X,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2016.07.001

ABOUT THIS POST

The Style Chicks team personally tests and thoroughly evaluates each product before it is featured. We received compensation for our time and effort to form an opinion about this product.

Style Chicks independently researches product ingredients to understand how every featured product works. We show our research in the References section of each article.

Our opinions are 100% our own.

Multi-Tasking Uses of Retinol Series: Retinol for Stretch Marks, Acne, Wrinkles, and Discoloration

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If you were stranded on a desert island with only one skincare treatment product, what would it be? If your answer is Retinol, you made an excellent choice: Retinol treats so many skin care problems that it is a true-multitasker. Retinol treats a host of skin care issues regardless of your age. This week in a two-part series we cover five primary Retinol skin care uses that are game-changers for your skin. Today we cover how to use Retinol for stretch marks, wrinkles, and discoloration.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer tackles a host of skin care problems including Acne, Stretch Marks, Wrinkles, Discoloration, and Dark Circles. It contains all-natural retinol-buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E as well as 20% Vitamin C.

RETINOL FOR STRETCH MARKS

As mentioned in our recent article “Skin Care for Busy Moms“, Stretch marks are often associated with pregnancy but also happen during weight loss or gain and even if a teen grows quickly, small stretch marks can appear. Stretch marks can also occur as a side effect of steroid use, and some medical conditions, such as diabetes cause stretch marks due to inflammation and thinning of the skin.

Regardless of their source, Retinol is amazing at tackling stretchmarks whether they are currently forming, new or several years old.

 

HOW IT WORKS
Retinol encourages the formation of collagen, which helps the skin to heal, and it redistributes excess or abnormal pigmentation, meaning skin takes on a more even tone. Few products can address a stretch mark once they appear lighter than the rest of the surrounding skin like Retinol can.

Attacking stretch marks while they are still dark (sometimes red or even purple) is the best plan of attack, combining Retinol directly all over the skin, focusing in on the line-like marks, with a moisturizer like Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter and preferably a skin nourisher like Aloe Vera. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer for stretch marks for several reasons. It combines 2.5% pure retinol with 20% Vitamin C (also important for collagen formation) plus skin nourishers including Aloe Vera and Shea Butter that keep skin supple and pliable to help pre-empt stretch marks before they form.

We also like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because Retinol Stretchmark treatments are surprisingly expensive, often costing more than similar treatments intended for the face. A quick Google search gave results in the $60-$90 range for Retinol products intended for stretchmarks, whereas Lordsbury Retinol+C costs a fraction of that, contains natural and superior ingredients and comes in a huge 2.8-ounce bottle. For treating stretch marks, it is tough to beat this combination at this price point. Another good feature of Lordsbury is that it contains Shea Butter, a traditional stretch mark remedy that heals and softens skin, but it is not sticky or greasy when used within the Lordsbury formulation, which dries down clean and can be worn under clothing to treat stretch marks.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Reports of Dermatological studies indicate women with severe cases of post-pregnancy stretch marks obtained meaningful results within six months, many seeing results sooner. While this may feel like a long time, even if it takes the full six months, if you start now, your stretch marks will be fixed by beach weather next summer!

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer comes in a huge 2.8 ounce size bottle for far less than the price of many Stretch Mark creams that contain only a fraction of the active ingredients contained in Lordsbury

RETINOL FOR WRINKLES

Wrinkles are caused by repetitive facial movements and skin sagging. Delicate skin areas wrinkle first because they have less support when sagging starts to occur. The best defense is 1) to keep the formation of the skin as strong as possible to bear the weight of said sagging, and 2) to mitigate the appearance of existing wrinkles by smoothing their surface and lightening them.

Collagen is the scaffolding of the skin, if there is not enough collagen, it is like pulling bricks out of a wall, eventually, it starts to sag under the weight. Skin loses collagen as we age, and we don’t replace it fast enough to avoid sagging. Fortunately, Retinol promotes the collagen production process regardless of our age, and in tandem with topical Vitamin C, can reduce the sagging surrounding the wrinkle, alleviating the weight of unsupported skin. This over time reduces the wrinkle.

WRINKLE DISCOLORATION: Wrinkled skin also tends to gain discoloration, especially in the receded valley of the wrinkle, effectively creating a shadow. With consistent retinol use, discoloration fades, and the valley of the wrinkle visually appears less dark and thereby less deep.

SMOOTHER WRINKLE SURFACE: Retinol also improves the appearance of the wrinkle by refining the texture of the skin, making existing wrinkles look smoother. If your wrinkles look better after a peel or exfoliation, then Retinol is likely to make your wrinkles appear finer and less noticeable.

DISCOLORATION & UNEVEN SKIN TONE

Whether from acne marks, scarring, or sun damage most of us experience some form of discoloration on our faces. As mentioned before, Retinol breaks up excess pigmentation and disperses it to make the skin tone appear even. But some discoloration is in the deeper layers of the skin, making many topical lightening products incapable of effecting meaningful change. If your discoloration is from sunbathing from years ago, or from very old, darkened acne marks that won’t fade, then they are likely discoloration found deeper in the skin and require a combination of Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid to affect results.

Hyaluronic Acid has the unique capability to absorb moisture to plump the skin, it also is a smaller enough molecule that it can slip into deeper skin layers. This means any active ingredient paired with Hyaluronic Acid can slip into these deep skin layers like it has a guest VIP pass, meaning Retinol paired with Hyaluronic Acid can tackle even very deep, old scars and sun-damaged layers of skin. You can purchase Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol separately and apply them both at the same time, or you can use a Retinol that already contains Hyaluronic, such as Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Retinol to accelerate cell regeneration to fade old discoloration, and Vitamin C to prevent future discoloration, and Hyaluronic Acid to aid in deep absorption. It also contains several natural moisturizers to soothe and nourish skin for a more youthful look.

CONCLUSION

Lordsbury Retinol+ C Cream Moisturizer contains natural organic ingredients to soothe and nourish skin while treating common stubborn skin problems such as stretch marks, discoloration, and wrinkles. In our next article, find out how Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer can also be a powerhouse beauty secret for also treating acne and dark circles. Stay tuned!

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=lordsbury-20&linkId=80ce0c85b497e19a5480f6b096cc3147

 

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Avoiding Hyperpigmentation: How to Fight the Insidious Threat Making You Look Much Older and You Don’t Even Know Why

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If asked to name a primary sign of aging, what would you say? Gray hair? Crow’s feet? Wrinkles? Actually, those aren’t even the worst one. The most insidious form of aging sneaks up on you: DISCOLORATION.  Learn how to stop age spots and discoloration with a quality Vitamin C and Retinol combo such as is contained in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. Lordsbury has 20% Vitamin C Serum paired with 2.5% Retinol, a prescription level dose, plus a host of skin nourishing moisturizers to keep skin dewy while sending discoloration and brown spots packing.

Discoloration due to aging occurs in three primary forms: red spots due to broken capillaries below the surface of the skin, the brownish areas of discoloration due to sun damage, and brown spots on hands and face. If you examine aging faces, you’ll start noticing how the vitality of skin is robbed not by the appearance of a few wrinkles here or there, but by the areas of discoloration and uneven skin tone.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer does double duty when fighting discoloration: the combination of ingredients fades existing discoloration and prevents the skin from forming new brown spots

HOW DO I KNOW IT IS DISCOLORATION THAT IS AGEING MY FACE?

Discoloration may be very obvious, or it may be diffuse and subtle, giving a general rough, lackluster look to the skin. But if you are in your forties or older, it’s likely happening. When a makeup artist wants to age a young face, discoloration accomplishes that: darkened under eyes, brown spots on the top of the cheekbone, and redness around the nose, drawing shadows in wrinkled areas.

In an interesting video, a female face is digitally aged from a child to an older woman. If you watch the video, you’ll notice the real change comes after the three-minute mark, when the brown discoloration increases, even accenting the existing sagging and wrinkles. The skin is more uneven, the face looks harder, less feminine due to the harshness the discoloration gives the face. Note the areas of the face such as the lower cheeks, where subtle darker patches and a veil of darkened small dots appear, making her once smooth skin appear pixelated and dill. One cheek (her right), the brown spots appear where highlighter should be placed, giving the face a sagging look on one side.

Digitally aged face shown young before discoloration, the skin is brighter and even (screenshots from video seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj0Qa2WCRTU)

 

Digitally altered face shown at the onset of skin discoloration. See how much harsher and tired the skin looks? Areas of darkness show as age spots, and as patches, such as seen on her lower cheek and above the jawline make the face appear receded in these areas. Darkened spots are almost a thin veil of dots, causing an uneven, dull look to the skin.  Darkness in wrinkles emphasizes sagging.  Redness can also be seen on the nose and under the nostrils.

Why does discoloration, redness, and brown spots happen as we age, and what can be done about it?

WHY IT HAPPENS

Redness can occur because your skin has become more sensitive over time or from using overly harsh skin care products in an attempt to youthify skin. Over 35, granular scrubs can tear skin easily, causing more harm than good. The acne treatments that worked as a teenager should be off limits to older skin, they are too drying. Also, broken capillaries happen in part due to the depletion of collagen as we age that results in weakened tissue structures. Capillaries bleed and the skin just can’t flush out these fluids like they used to. The leaked blood appears as red or eventually brown spots, as blood is absorbed into the delicate surrounding skin tissues.

Brown spots of discoloration can occur for several reasons, including due to hormonal shifts or medications, but they are primarily due to collective sun damage. The dark spots aren’t adorable like freckles, they make the face seem uneven and even haggard as if contour has been applied where it ought not to be. If you start to notice older faces, you will notice what makes them appear so old is less to do with some wrinkles or crow’s feet and more to do with this discoloration that occurs all the areas the sunlight hits – such as the top of the cheekbone, jawline, the nose, forehead and around the eyes. Many of the places you might apply a highlighter to look younger, you may have natural darkening like a muddy contour, making the face seem more drawn, droopy and less sculpted.

HOW TO FIX DISCOLORATION

Some people leap to doing IPL treatment series, chemical peels, and lasers, these can indeed effectively lessen the appearance of discoloration and brown spots. The problem is they also tend to lighten the entire face at the same time, meaning you lose your natural skin tone in the process. Topical lightening products, unless applied exceptionally sparingly, also overly-lighten the entire face. Even when “spot” applied, they do not necessarily deliver a result that matches your natural skin tone, it is like trading an overly dark spot for a mismatched too light one. So while these remedies can affect some results, they effectively only bleach the skin and they do not counteract future discoloration.

A BETTER REMEDY

A better remedy is a Retinol and Vitamin C combination topical treatment. A 2016 study in the peer-reviewed Journal for Drugs in Dermatology showed that 20% Vitamin C paired with a low dose prescription level Retinol greatly aid in reducing mild to moderate hyperpigmentation and photodamaged skin due to sun damage. [An Open Label Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerance of a Retinol and Vitamin C Facial Regimen in Women With Mild-to-Moderate Hyperpigmentation and Photodamaged Facial Skin, J Drugs Dermatol. 2016 Apr;15(4):476-82.]

We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer because it contains all the ingredients you need to prevent and reverse discoloration in one product including 20% Vitamin C and 2.5% Retinol (a prescription level dose). Retinol and Vitamin C are both powerful ingredients, so Lordsbury also contains soothing nourishing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Jojoba, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and other moisturizers to properly buffer the Retinol/Vitamin C combo for twice a day use that leaves skin soft, youthful and looking dewy.

WHAT VITAMIN C AND RETINOL CAN DO FOR DISCOLORATION

Vitamin C accomplishes two things; pre-empt discoloration due to collagen breakdown by providing accelerating the bodies’ own collagen production, and by fading the existing sun damage and scars that dark the skin by breaking up the over pigmentation. This gives a far more natural result that matches your own skin tone, not a bleached out version of you.

Vitamin C fights free radicals that contribute to the aged appearance of sun damaged skin, meaning regular topical Vitamin C use results in less photodamage going forward. How is that possible? An article in the Journal of Indian Dermatology explains the science behind how Vitamin C even reduces future hyperpigmentation:

“Vitamin C interacts with copper ions at the tyrosinase-active site and inhibits action of the enzyme tyrosinase, thereby decreasing the melanin formation. Vitamin C also acts on the perifollicular pigment.” (Vitamin C in dermatology, by Telang. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013 Apr-Jun; 4(2): 143–146. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.110593)

Retinol fades discoloration and creates new and fresher skin that diminish and eventually replace the dark spots, making skin look young again. It also increases cell turnover to banish fine lines and wrinkles. When the skin inside a deep wrinkle has discoloration it looks deeper than it is. When retinol fades the discoloration within deep wrinkles, the “shadow” effect is gone and they appear more shallow than before.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Retinol to accelerate cell regeneration to fade old discoloration, and Vitamin C to prevent future discoloration. It also contains several natural moisturizers to soothe and nourish skin for a more youthful look.

 

CHOOSING A RETINOL TO FIGHT DISCOLORATION

Looking for a non-prescription Retinol with all the lighting discoloration benefits and none of the irritation? Try Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer, a twice a day 2.5% retinol with 20% Vitamin C and loads of natural moisturizers to keep skin soft and dewy. Find Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/.

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Skincare: Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream

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Despite the religious use of high-factored, Full Spectrum SPF year round, I was recently a bit shocked to see a smattering of sun spots along my collarbone in addition to the ones on the top of my cheekbones. This was not due to a summer of frolicking on the beach for me – these spots are a result of walking into the office from the parking lot, heading out to the mailbox type exposure, all while wearing SPF. While Hydroquinone is effective, it is dangerous, and it can go too far in the other direction and cause hypopigmentation. So, I was thrilled to find Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream for my sun spots.

Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream

Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream

One of the things I like about Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream is that it will only lighten your skin as far as your basic skin tone, and no further. It gets rid of the discoloration and leaves healthy, even-toned skin underneath. Best of all, it does it with natural, safe ingredients.

And what a list of ingredients it is. I knew Mediderm to be a fantastic skincare line, but I was thrilled when I saw just how many great ingredients were packed into this potent cream. They are an excellent balance of ingredients that sack sun spots and other ingredients that calm and soothe the skin, so there is no irritation. Some notable ingredients are Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Vitamin C, and Licorice Extract to get rid of discoloration, Tamanu Oil, Ubiquinone, and Alpha Lipoic Acid to regenerate the skin, and green tea, Jojoba Oil, Yarrow Leaf Extract, Vitamin E, and Botanical Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and soothe the skin. There are several more natural and effective ingredients on the list, but these were the ones that truly excited me. Typically it involves several creams to get that kind of combination!

The cream, while thick, absorbs well and can easily be worn under SPF and makeup. It gives skin a dewy glow without being greasy and keeps my makeup from dry in the cold air conditioning of my office. So it is easy to use it twice a day as recommended. After cleansing and exfoliating at night, it soothes my skin and gets to work on the sun spots, but it also is doing an excellent job in tackling those little lines and gives my skin an overall luminous glow. Even if you don’t have sun damage, it is hard to find a cream with so many incredible ingredients packed into one jar.

I am thrilled to have found Mediderm A+ Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Whitening Fade Cream. My spots are fading, and my skin looks great!

Find it at Amazon.

 

 

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

I Max Age Spot Reducer & Preventer

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I Max Age Spot Reducer & Preventer

I Max Age Spot Reducer & Preventer

SUMMARY: I-Max spot reducer takes longer to fade a brown spot or acne scar because it is addressing hyperpigmentation and using stem cells & peptides to assist in the generation of new regular pigment skin cells. This cream is not just bleaching the spot, like some spot correctors. Bleaching works but can give uneven results, particularly on any skin tone is that not fair. The I-Max Spot Reducer does work, but it takes about 2-3 months. This process can be accelerated however when the spot reducer is combined with other treating creams and serums, such as Vitamin C or a whitening cream. I explain my application tricks for getting faster results below.

ABOUT BROWN SPOTS & FADE CREAMS
Brown spots are associated with aging, and often start in one’s forties, but they can also appear in a younger person due to too much sun exposure, pregnancy, or acne scarring.

Some fade creams are overly harsh on the skin, and some do not work at all. I have tried a few spot correctors from a well-known department store cosmetic department with limited results. The problem with age spots, I have noticed, is they are not quite on the surface of the skin, but often slightly deeper. If you do not respond well to dark spot remedies, considering pairing a spot corrector with another product. This I-Max Spot Reducer is excellent for combining with a serum or peel product to penetrate past the surface layer of the skin and reach the layer of skin that holds the discoloration.

HOW IT WORKS
This cream is a different process than just “bleaching” the skin, which is how many fade creams work. A bleaching of the skin will lighten the skin but will not give you even skin; you will likely get overly whitened, pigment-less spots instead. While these areas are easier to conceal, they are still not ideal and may even appear more like a scar depending on your skin tone.

This cream works differently than a lightening cream or a fading cream because it first exfoliates the skin lightly to reach a deeper layer of skin. Then it suppresses “UV-induced melanogenesis” – the continued darkening of already dark spots due to sun exposure. Despite being darker, these spots are extra sensitive and can get even darker. Then the cream uses several natural lightening ingredients to fade the spots and break up the discoloration. The Peptides and Stem cells assist the skin to go into repair mode and generate new skin cells that are not hyperpigmented, meaning normal skin-colored skin replaces your spots. This process takes longer than bleaching, but can happen in about two months.

APPLICATION
The I-Max Spot Corrector has sort of a burnt rubbery smell which dissipates quickly and then it doesn’t have a detectable scent. It absorbs well and leaves no detectable oily or greasy mark. Suitable for daytime use. I dab it on after my Vitamin C serum and let it dry.

HOW I GOT FASTER RESULTS
What works best for me is applying Vitamin C to my entire face, which also works to lighten dark spots, and pairing that with the i-Max topical spot treatment just on the spots. I have three brown spots, one is an age spot, two seem to be from sun damage. I also have two or three areas of an acne scar that has faded to a plum-brown color. These are not raised or bumpy scars, just flat with demarcation discoloration.

I also like to use the spot corrector with some Hyaluronic Acid so that the spot corrector ingredients penetrates deeper into the skin.

The spot corrector can be combined with AHA and TCA peels, as outlined in the instructions. But personally, I prefer to do use this cream with my serums and creams because it is less harsh on the skin, but if you want faster results, this is a good option.

CONCLUSION: Gentle, effect method of actually removing dark spots and replacing the hyperpigmented skin with your own skin color, not a bleached out version of your skin.

Find it at MaxLife

I Max Age Spot Reducer & Preventer

I Max Age Spot Reducer & Preventer

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