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.

I-Max Stem Cell Cream

July 2, 2016 · 6 Comments

I-Max Stem Cell Cream

Stem Cell is an ingredient often mentioned in the discussion of anti-aging skin care products. These Stem Cells kick-start and assist in collagen production, so they are especially useful when paired with a Vitamin C serum or a Retinol product.

Personally, I like to team this Stem Cell cream with my Vitamin C Serum and use it after a peel. The reason I like to use it with my Vitamin C serum is the kind of stem cells in this cream, which are from Gardenias, are geared towards collagen production AND the protection of existing collagen. This Gardenia based Stem Cell is almost exclusively found in very expensive creams. This works nicely with the Vitamin C production caused by my Vitamin C serum. I also like to use this cream the day after a peel to help my skin rebuild and to stay hydrated and protected.

APPEARANCE OF SKIN AFTER APPLICATION
It does smooth out surface wrinkles and dryness on contact and makes skin appear dewy. It feels good to slather on a whole scoopful and massage the skin, but actually, only a small amount is needed. Allow adequate time for dry down before applying sunscreen or makeup. There is an excellent protective barrier that is not too thick or greasy, but it is useful after a peel or sunburn to protect the skin.

It is an open mouth jar, so I like that it comes with a little spatula so that I can keep it contaminant–free. And the small amount on the spatula is all I need for my face, about the same amount for my throat.

SUPPORTING INGREDIENTS
In addition to the Gardenia Stem Cells, there are several supporting ingredients.

Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Jojoba and Sunflower Oils help to soothe and moisturize skin.

Retinol works with collagen production.

Propolis is a bee by-product, or “bee glue” that bees use to seal honeycombs. So a heads up if you are allergic to honey, this may not be the product for you. But Propolis is great in anti-aging skin care to heal and maintain skin.

CONCLUSION:
An emollient cream that soaks into the skin and provides a hydrating protective barrier suitable for teaming with serums and for post-peel use. The gardenia stem cells provide a unique triple collagen increasing approach that is especially difficult to find in an organic cream.

I-Max Stem Cell Cream

I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 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!

ASNaturals Vitamin C Serum 20% with Hyaluronic Acid

July 1, 2016 · 4 Comments

ASNaturals Vitamin C Serum 20% with Hyaluronic Acid

APPLICATION & USE
This ASNaturals Serum is a potent 20% Vitamin C paired with Hyaluronic Acid. It is suitable for daytime use under sunscreen and moisturizer. It dries down quickly and without a sticky residue, so the skin looks dewy and moist when it is used without makeup, and when given adequate dry down time or when the serum is used sparingly, it does not conflict with makeup or make too sticky of a base to wear foundation. It has a light feeling; it does not sting, and it has a very light scent that dissipates when dry.

INGREDIENTS
There are many vitamin C serums on the market, so when selecting a Vitamin C serum, I like to see what complimentary ingredients are used to enhance the power of the Vitamin C. The ASNaturals Serum has Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel. These ingredients all work in tandem with the Vitamin C to boost its’ anti-aging properties.

Hyaluronic Acid is a super-moisturizer, it holds massive amounts of water compared to its weight and makes skin looks dewy, soft and plump. The high moisture content in the skin plumps wrinkles, so they seem softer, smoother, and less deep. In addition to giving a youthful appearance, the Hyaluronic Acid helps active ingredients sink deeper into the skin, which means the Vitamin C can make collagen on a deeper skin level, reaching deep wrinkles, age spots, redness, and discoloration.

Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera both moisturize and heal skin. These ingredients give the skin a smooth and soft appearance while the Vitamin C goes to work on acne and dark brown spots and acne scars, healing and lightening the blemishes.

RESULTS:
Since this is a gentle Vitamin C Serum due to its’ supporting ingredients, I can use this on more delicate skin areas such as my throat, decolletage, and shoulder blades, as well as the delicate undereye area. My skin has a subtle glow, and my skin tone is becoming evener. I am especially happy with the improvement in the look of some sun damage on my collarbone and upper chest area.

CONCLUSION: This is a great price for a 20% Vitamin C serum. It is suitable for Sensitive and dry skin for treating acne, brown spots, sun damage, scarring, and wrinkles.

How to Use Lift Care Lift Wand Pro

June 27, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro

I’ve been on a beauty gadget binge lately. I was impressed by the other gadgets I have tried from Lift Care, so I am happy to have tried their flagship product, the Lift Wand Pro.

The Lift Wand Pro is a very powerful gadget. It is a high-frequency tool to clarify and refine the skin. After having used it a few times, I am thrilled with the results.

This tool treats a broad range of beauty woes, ranging from hair loss to acne to the signs of aging. The underlying mechanism of high-frequency skincare is a)bringing circulation to the skin, and b)killing bacteria. In addition to the seven high-frequency electrode attachments, the kit contains a 540-needle derma roller. I am a huge fan of derma rollers to increase collagen production. The one that comes with this kit is well made and precise. I use it twice a week, and I haven’t had any issues with pinpricks that led to bleeding. It gives my skin a lovely glow and smoothes out my skin.

There are seven electrode attachments to use with the device. Each has a gas inside it (I believe Argon) which emits a glow when the electric current reacts with it.

I found the hair comb electrode fascinating. It causes circulation to increase on your scalp (and therefore in your hair follicles) much the same way a peppermint shampoo would. There is also a tingle that goes along with this increase in circulation, also like peppermint shampoo has when it brings circulation to the scalp.

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro Comb

I had a recent weight loss, so I was eager to try out the body roller electrode to prevent sagging skin. This is more of a preventative step, but I was surprised (and thrilled) by how much tightening I have had on my upper arms. If you aren’t thrilled with how your arms look in short sleeves, this attachment makes the whole kit worth it!

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro Body Roller

The undereye (Spoon) attachment produces a peppy, wide awake look by tightening the undereye and bringing fluid-draining circulation to the area, great for late nights, early mornings, and allergy season!

The neck electrode is a powerful anti-aging tool and probably one of the most recognizable electrodes if you have gotten high-frequency facials in a spa. It improves circulation to the thin skin on the throat and tightens jowls. It makes a noticeable difference.

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro Neck Attachment

Next to the neck electrode, the most recognizable attachment would be the Face Electrode, commonly called a Mushroom Attachment in spas. By running this attachment over the face, skin is smoothed and left with a dewy, rosy glow to it.

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro Facial Electrode

The most impressive result for me came from the Acne Electrodes. One is for use behind the ears for sagging in the area and for acne, and the other is just for acne is areas like the nose. They are more powerful wands than the rest, with more concentrated energy than the rest of the electrodes. They work by killing bacteria and creates an environment that is unfavorable to acne. I had a few blemishes last week, two that were red and visible, a whitehead, and one that had not yet shown up on my skin, but I could feel forming under my skin. I followed the directions and lightly tapped the Acne Electrode on each of the blemishes a few times. They were each immediately tighter and drier. Over the next 24 hours, the two red, visible blemishes were slightly lighter in color and reduced by about 75%. They were flat by the next day, and one of them returned to normal flesh tone within 72 hours. The whitehead dried out and was gone in 48 hours. The blemish that hadn’t shown up on my skin came to the surface and dried up in less than 72 hours. I am thrilled with the results of these attachments! Results come faster than if I went to the dermatologist to get a blemish injected, and less expensive in the long run if your insurance doesn’t cover acne.

There are several warnings in the instructions of those who shouldn’t use the Lift Wand Pro due to medical conditions, so take a look at that before you use it. The gadget comes with a 1-year warranty, which is great!

The whole kit comes in a sturdy aluminum briefcase style box, which is fantastic for storage of these delicate items. I wish more beauty gadgets came with good storage like this, and it definitely adds value to a great kit.

Lift Care Lift Wand Pro Case

Find this great kit at Amazon.com.

I received this item at a discount for testing and unbiased 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!

Valentia Skin Care Even Glow Serum

June 20, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Valentia Skin Care Even Glow Serum

WHY USE TOPICAL VITAMIN C?

Vitamin C Serum is a must-have anti-aging skin care product because it enables the production of collagen, a vital building block of skin that gives skin its’ support. Without adequate collagen supplies, the skin begins to sag, wrinkle and look dull. The body produces less collagen as we age, so the more collagen one can produce the better. Vitamin C also fades discoloration caused by brown spots due to aging, acne, sun damage and scars. Valentia Skin Care Even Glow Serum is a great Vitamin C Serum for this purpose.

RESULTS: I had pretty good results with this Vitamin C; it contains a few ingredients that are not frequently paired with C serums such as Sea Buckthorn Oil, which is an oil with fatty C and E Vitamins that can revive skin cells with its’ over 200+ skin nutrients. These nutrients not only reduce the length and depth of wrinkles, but they can soften rough skin textures including acne. I have a forehead wrinkle near my hairline above my right eye, the depth and length of which appears much softer with nightly use of Vitamin C serum. It also has lightened the look of the lines between my nose and mouth and made some rough skin patches on my cheek and forehead softer and more pliable. I like the Sea Buckthorn Oil in this serum. It is not sticky and applies smoothly. I had no skin irritation.

SERUM TEXTURE AND APPEARANCE
This 20% Vitamin C Serum is unique in that it is more of a very lightweight creamy liquid than a watery liquid serum, so it applies smoothly and evenly. Unlike other Vitamin C serums, it is a primarily opaque, light shade of creamsicle orange due to the coloring of the Sea buckthorn oil.

APPLICATION
The serum has a light citrus scent that is pleasant and dissipates on the dry down. A small pump of product is enough to cover the face and throat, too much will be sticky. Allow time for the serum to dry before applying makeup or sunscreen. Skin is not sticky after it is dry and makeup applies smoothly as long as serum is not over-applied. There is a glow to the skin that is natural and dewy but not fake looking. This glow is semi light-deflecting.

OTHER ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
In addition to the 20% Vitamin C, this serum contains the following anti-aging skin care superheroes:

Organic rosehip oil gives a glow to the skin. It is a natural source of Vitamin E and is suitable for even the driest, most sensitive skin. It contains powerful antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene. These antioxidants remove toxins and improve skin texture. Visible results can be seen especially quickly on sun damaged skin.

Organic sea buckthorn oil can immediately reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines because it plumps up the skin. As previously mentioned, its’ contains many nutrients which 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.

Green tea extract reduces inflammation and is soothing, allowing active ingredients to do their job without excessive irritation to the skin.

Hyaluronic acid holds an exceptional amount of moisture to plump the skin and make it appear dewy and hydrated. Hyaluronic Acid is an excellent ingredient in a Vitamin C serum because it can draw the C deep into the skin. This results in the formation of collagen at a deeper level, which means less sagging and fewer wrinkles, as well as the fading of areas of deep dark discoloration due to sun damage, redness, and scarring.

Resistem is plant stem cells. Stem Cells are frequently used in anti-aging skin care products because they enable some stage of the collagen production process.

CONCLUSION: an efficient combination of natural ingredients that are rarely found in a Vitamin C serum, these ingredients are especially helpful for sensitive skin types who could use some gentle reparative ingredients.

Valentia Skin Care Even Glow Serum