RéVive Skin Care - and a Delightful Day at Neiman Marcus

I had a re-introduction to RéVive skin care about a week ago. I planned my Saturday around the treat. It was an enjoyable encounter in every way. Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria invited me to meet and consult with John Wesley Gates, the company's regional sales manager and skin-care guru, and, if that weren't enough, have a complimentary facial.

I call the afternoon with RéVive a re-introduction for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is the company's well-known, dedicated following - one I've recognized for years. I have friends who say RéVive changed their lives - all because the products changed their skin so remarkably. One friend, Carol, started using RéVive many years ago. There are a couple of things you need to know about Carol to put this story in perspective. She's extremely smart, but she's also wisely frugal. She manages her money a lot better than I do! When Carol started using samples provided by RéVive, she noticed an instant improvement in her skin. She started buying and using select RéVive products, and she has never looked back.

More recently, my friend Kathy Shoreman, an aesthetician, went to work at Neiman Marcus. She started using RéVive - and raving about it. Kathy is a skin-care expert, so I took notice - for the second time. I could see the difference in her beautiful skin. I purchased a few products to try and became intensely curious about the whole line. I did a little research - available to everyone online - to find out more about the miracle potions that earn such loyalty.

Who is the genius behind RéVive? Skin care pioneer and noted plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Bays Brown established a research laboratory to conduct a $2 million study on wound healing. In his research, he discovered a bioengineered molecule called Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) that dramatically accelerated burn and wound healing in test subjects. The defining moment came when Dr. Brown discovered that the EGF molecule was the same molecule that regenerated aging skin. He was convinced that the only way women could get what they really wanted (the healthy skin of their youth) was at the molecular level with EGF. Dr. Brown was immediately inspired to set up a clinical laboratory within the research unit to validate his findings and to pioneer a face cream with this "youth molecule," EGF. Dr. Brown was the first doctor to apply the bioengineered version of EGF into skin care. He wanted to give women an alternative to the knife, today's overused face lift. He launched RéVive to the public in 1997.

Dr. Brown's first cosmeceutical product, the one that started the RéVive revolution and roped in my friend Carol, was RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream (shown above). This powerful perfecting cream, which contains EGF, gives all faces the legendary RéVive Glow - quickly. It's a remarkable moisturizer. In addition to his powerful EGF, Dr. Brown has started to incorporate peptides into his products, as they also gain a reputation as effective skin renewal ingredients.

Back to my afternoon at Neiman Marcus... I arrived to a consultation with John Gates, who was welcoming, charming, and impressively knowledgeable. He asked me what I thought about my skin's condition. I told him I was concerned about the "expression lines" around my eyes and my nasolabial folds (those so-called smile lines). After I had my knee replacement, I lost weight (and I was thin before the surgery!). When I lost weight, I lost volume in my face, exacerbating or magnifying to my eye any signs of age I had before the new knee was installed. After I told John what I thought, I turned the tables and asked him to tell me what he saw. He saw the nasolabial folds around my mouth and told me that RéVive had a miracle product for me, Intensité Volumizing Serum. John told me it has a loyal following - it's one of RéVive's cult products. I was ready to try it! First, though, I had to have my fabulous facial.

Nahid Ellini took me to a private room with soothing music, where I was treated to champagne (as if I needed an excuse to relax) before and during my facial. Give me champagne, and I'm putty. Nahid was an expert, telling me about the products she was using - at my prompting. I think she may have used half the line on me, but she knew I was curious about everything. When our time was up, I looked in a mirror and saw a younger, fresher, happier me.

I went back upstairs to chat with John again and work with Anna Befanis, the RéVive Product Specialist, to decide what I would purchase that day. I selected a couple of things. I had already purchased the new Moisturizing Renewal Eye Cream ($130), so I decided to try the Eye Renewal Cream ($110) too. Anna will tell you that you can use the Eye Renewal Cream over, under, and around the eyes, while you should limit the Moisturizing Renewal Eye Cream to your under-eye area. That's what I've been doing.

I also decided to try a few other products that day - all of which I will feature over the next few weeks. I like to use a skin-care product for at least three weeks before I write about it. While our skin cells take longer to completely refresh, I can usually tell if a product is working after three weeks. Stay tuned for many more RéVive features.

I left with samples of Intensité Volumizing Serum ($315) to use as a spot treatment on my nasolabial folds. I've used it morning and night for 10 days. I saw an improvement - my lines are not as deep and noticeable - in only one week! This product is a keeper. It's worth every cent of the $315.

How does it work? According to RéVive, it offers two major types of treatment.

• KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor): A potent molecule that improves the skin's appearance after loss of facial volume. Its dynamic activity allows for a "dialogue with the skin" that contributes to the appearance of increased volume after several weeks.
• Antioxidants: A powerful anti-radical defense system that shields against pollution and skin stressors. An added Brightening Complex helps even out skin tone.

Would I recommend Intensité Volumizing Serum? Absolutely! If you want to learn more about the ingredients in RéVive skin care, check out their cleverly titled page Meet the Molecules.

I came home with terrycloth RéVive slippers to continue my pampering, a gift with purchase, and a few extra goodies Anna wanted me to try. Meanwhile, I'm looking younger and younger.

If you want to try RéVive's products, the company is generous with samples. Samples sell the products. You can purchase RéVive skin care at the company's Web site, Neiman Marcus, and Saks. You can find all retail locations at this link. Do your homework. After all, RéVive's motto is Research, Renewal, and Results!

Photos courtesy of RéVive