April Aromatics Face Serum and Natural Fragrances

Last year, Tanja Bochnig, natural perfumer and artisan - founder of April Aromatics - sent me a sample of her Face Serum, a little treasure. With ingredients of infused organic calendula oil, organic rosa mosqueta seed oil, organic avocado oil, organic jojoba oil, castor oil, rose otto essential oil, organic lavender oil, sandalwood oil and other natural essences, the Face Serum has a botanical fragrance that made me sure I was doing good things for my face. I took the photo above shortly after it arrived. Now, it's an empty spray bottle, a reminder of beautiful things past.

The serum reminds me of pricey brands that are loaded with natural botanical extracts, like Sisley. It is a medium-weight serum (you know you've applied it) that absorbs rapidly and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and healthy. I love it and want more.

Last week, I asked Tanja if it is available. Her response was that the Face Serum was one of the first products in her collection, created years ago. She continues to make it for herself and friends, but has devoted almost all her time to perfumery. She also moved to Europe, where every cosmetic product has to be meticulously registered and lab-proven. So she put her cosmetic line on hold. Nevertheless, the Face Serum is available, but you won't find it on her April Aromatics Web site. She said that if anyone wants to purchase it, just send her a message, either through her Web site or on Facebook. In the near future, she plans to bring out an organic cosmetics collection. It's already in the works, and I'm excited to see it. You could be one of the first to experience it! If you love botanical products, you will love Tanja's Face Serum. Just contact her to acquire it.

Want to give one of her fragrances a try? I can recommend many of them. In 2012, I selected Unter den Linden as one of the best fragrance introductions of the year. It left me in a trance then, and it still does. Lindenblossom CO₂ extract from Bulgaria and linden blossom absolute extract from France mixed with magnolia blossoms and a citrus note create this delicate fragrance with a beautiful, light, powdery, sweetly floral scent of honey. It smells like linden trees in full bloom.

I stopped writing "fragrances of the year" features because I just can't afford to purchase enough of them to select the definitive "best." If I had continued, I am confident April Aromatics' fragrances would have been among them.

Jasmina Eau de Parfum ($225) is another favorite of mine. It's absolutely seductive (no exaggeration), an aphrodisiac par excellence. The jasmine flowers for this scent are obtained from the southern part of India and are distilled through a variety of processes. The flower‘s calming, soothing qualities help to relax the body, lift the spirit, and quiet the nerves. Jasmina brings a heightened spiritual awareness and encourages sleep and dreaming. It is a very sensual scent and a truly pitch-perfect soliflore. The notes are jasmine, ylang-ylang, and grapefruit. If you like your jasmine with a touch of citrus, you'll love it.

We used to have to order April Aromatics fragrances from Europe. Now, though, Luckyscent offers them, making them readily available to us in the United States. April Aromatics has a large number of April Aromatics fragrances available. I'll bet there's at least one for each of you.

Photo at top by Best Things in Beauty; other photo courtesy of April Aromatics

Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum+

Not long ago, I decided to try one of the new spot lightening serums on my sun spots. Why not? I have a few sun damage spots on my face near my hair line, and I hate them. I did my homework and had pretty much decided to buy the Shiseido product (I had even looked for it at Sephora, but it was out of stock) when the wonderful folks from Shiseido asked me if I'd like to try it. I know they make extraordinary makeup and skin care, but I never realized their mind-reading skills were equally impressive.

White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum+ ($125 or $170) is a super-brightening serum created to diminish stubborn dark spots in 10 days and prevent future pigmentation from appearing. Formulated with smoothing and re-texturizing ingredients to enhance clarity and radiance for flawless, perfectly even-toned skin.

• Developed with advanced Shiseido Multi-Action Brightening System+, targeting all types of hyper-pigmentation and their causes: dark spots, age spots, acne scars. and uneven skin tones.
• Contains ME Complex (Yomogi Extract and Angelica Root Extract) to accelerate cell turnover and diminish and eliminate melanin pigment.

It's interesting that they call "sun spots" "age spots." I much prefer the term "sun spot." The sun caused them, but yes, they appear with age. I could have aged flawlessly had I not baked in the sun as a youngster, teenager, and young adult - long before we knew that the sun would cause premature aging. If you don't believe the damage the sun can do, take a look at the photo of the truck driver who was recently featured on the news. Straight from the New England Journal of Medicine, he's a living, breathing advertisement for sunscreen.

Fortunately, I don't look that bad, but my little spots bother me. I can cover them up pretty well with foundation or concealer, but I would prefer for them to disappear. Shiseido to the rescue!

I have not been religious about using my serum day and night, but I've used it for two weeks and I'm beginning to see a slight difference. I'm actually surprised by that because it usually takes a full 30-day skin turnover cycle to see any effect from spot lighteners. Anyone who expects a lightener to work faster than that is too optimistic. I've seen women return them in 10 days because "they didn't work." If I were a product specialist, I'd have a meltdown after hearing that.

At this point, my spots are not gone - by any measure - but I swear they are slightly less prominent. I'm a skeptic, so I'm definitely going to keep using White Lucent and report back to you in another couple of weeks. At this point, I have to wonder if the change is wishful thinking projected onto my face. I'm very pleased, though.

The serum is lightweight and essentially undetectable after application. I use it only on my spots. I suppose you could use it all over your face if you have widespread damage or wish to brighten your complexion. I think I'm OK on that front, so I'm saving the magic potion for my spots. There is no fragrance to distract me. Basically, I can't tell I applied it. I use all my other skin care and makeup over it. It's fast and easy.

If you have spots you'd like to diminish - or lose - you might want to give Shiseido's White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum+ a try. Give it a chance to work. You can find it online at Shiseido or at any Shiseido counter (unless there's a run on it). In my area, there are counters/displays at Sephora, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom. Maybe Macy's too - I can't remember because I don't go there often.

Photo courtesy of Shiseido

Giorgio Armani Beauty Regenessence [3.R] Youth Regenerator Giveaway Contest

Giorgio Armani Beauty's Regenessence Youth Regenerator ($140) is a powerful concentrated serum with the trademark [3.R] technology. The serum provides a super-strength dose of the active ingredients for accelerated skin regeneration.

• Linseed extract regulates extra-cellular communication.
• Vitamin CP aids with collagen regeneration.
• ProXylan remodels the skin matrix.

This serum provides 24-hour hydration and is designed to be worn day and night - by itself or layered underneath the Regenessence [3.R] Multi-corrective Rejuvenating Cream. It's your first step toward Armani's signature luminous skin. The [3.R] "complex" is the first advanced regenerative skincare. Inspired by advanced regenerative medical research pioneered by Dr. Peter Lorenz, Regenessence 3.R technology targets the three levels of the skin with three powerful ingredients.

The results? Based on a self-assessment by 50 women immediately, after six days of use, and after one month of use...

In one hour, wrinkles were reduced by 71%. In six days, skin had been rebalanced, and radiant improved by 88%. In one month, participants felt they had lost six years of aging.

We are going to do an "unscheduled," quick giveaway. I have one Regenessence [3.R} Youth Regenerator to give away. How can you enter to win this contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, February 25, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Murad Complete Reform with Glyco Firming Complex

The highly rated Murad Complete Reform with Glyco Firming Complex ($67) is an anti-aging serum that will reverse the visible signs of aging to reveal young, fresh skin. A patented, multi-benefit treatment transforms the skin, increasing firmness by 61% after just one application. It also improves skin texture to reveal softer, smoother skin.

Glyco Firming Complex restores tone while helping to protect elastin to preserve a youthful resilience to the skin on the face and neck. The wonder-ingredient, glycolic acid, exfoliates dry, dead cells for smoother, softer, healthier-looking skin. Beta-carotene, a carotenoid and retinol precursor, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without irritation. The serum also contains retinyl palmitate. In short, it's packed with anti-aging ingredients.

Murad generously sent me this wonderful serum, but I asked my friend Berry to test it because it has retinyl palmitate in it (many of you know I have a difficult relationship with retinol). She's a bit younger than me, but shares the same concerns: aging skin and fine lines. She's also concerned about firmness, so I thought she might enjoy testing Complete Reform. I was right! Here's what Berry had to say after six weeks of use.

I love this serum. It makes my skin feel firm, strong, and protected. I think it also reduced the redness in my face.

The pale gold serum is light and easily absorbed, but leaves a moist feel without the shiny look I get from some moisturizers. It does not conflict with other products, moisturizers, or makeup; there's no product build-up that makes foundation roll off my face. [ed: That delighted me since many products with exfoliators among their ingredients do make the layers above "ball up."]

On application, it has a clean, light scent that disappears as the serum absorbs. So, it's a nice treat for a few minutes. A little dab goes a long way, making the cost a good value. Not only that, the plastic pump bottle is easy to use and carry along when we take off for a weekend.

I see Berry pretty often. I saw her at breakfast recently, and her skin has never looked better. She responds well to retinyl palmitate, and now we know she also responds well to glycolic acid. There's no reason for Berry to worry about adding years.

Murad makes highly acclaimed and effective skin care. Dr. Murad holds many patents, has written best-selling books on skin care, and has unlocked the cellular water principle. A board-certified dermatologist, pharmacist, and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) at UCLA, Dr. Murad is widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost authorities on skin health. A true visionary, Dr. Murad has changed the fields of skin care and dermatology. His pioneering efforts include creation of the first line of doctor branded skin care, the development of the first aesthetic AHA formulations, the first medical spa and the first Inclusive Health Center. He continues to create cutting-edge formulations for topical skin care, including countless discoveries that have translated ethnobotanical resources into important advances in health and wellness.

If you would like to try any of the Murad products, the company is having a Friends & Family event now. Use the code SAVE20 at Murad.com, and you will reduce your cost and get free shipping. Can't beat that! Remember, if your skin doesn't look good, your makeup won't either.

Photo courtesy of Murad

RéVive Defensif Renewal Serum

Here's a secret I'm going to spill. I promise I'll share my skin-care treasures as soon as I've determined they work (not like the favorite eye makeup remover I kept a secret for almost a year). RéVive's Defensif Renewal Serum ($195) works, and I love it!

It became available in April of this year, and I purchased one at Neiman Marcus at the recommendation of Kathy Shoreman and Anna Befanis, the RéVive Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. Both were impressed almost immediately after they started using it. When two skin-care mavens tell me something's great, it usually is.

Defensif Renewal Serum is a lightweight, protective serum that shields the skin against environmental aggressors and free-radical damage, while helping improve skin tone and texture. A scientifically advanced Bio-Renewal Protein promotes skin cell renewal to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and unveil the even-toned, healthy complexion hiding underneath the surface of our skin. This small bioengineered protein has been shown to effectively increase cell renewal.

Two potent antioxidants deliver powerful protection against the visible signs of premature aging. Resveratrol is harnessed from the skins of grapes. A new generation of this potent antioxidant is more capable of fighting dangerous and harmful free radicals than earlier incarnations. This resveratrol was processed through a natural fermentation process to make the already-small molecule even smaller, allowing it to penetrate the skin to fight free radicals.

Superoxide dismutase is one of the most powerful antioxidants for protecting the skin against free-radical damage. It's now encapsulated in an advanced liposomal delivery system to enhance absorption. Defensif Renewal Serum also has a high concentration of glycolic acid, which keeps the dead surface skin cells sloughing off for a smooth, fresh complexion.

The directions say to use it in the morning and follow with your moisturizer. Contrarain that I am, I use it in the evening, when my skin is resting and refreshing. Most of the time, but not always, I follow it with a treatment moisturizer. I can see how it's perfect, though, for protecting the skin during the day, particularly in "unfavorable" conditions (heat, sun, humidity, and smog in the summer in my area).

Dr. Gregory Brown, RéVive founder and noted former surgeon stated, "Living on our planet begets aging...pollutants, diminishing protective ozone layer, UV rays...all of these factors contribute to the formation of free radicals. These free radicals wreak havoc on the skin's collagen and elastin, drastically promoting aging. The new Defensif Renewal Serum arrests those free radicals in their tracks." When Dr. Brown speaks, I listen!

I has stopped using this serum for a few days to test another serum last week. Suddenly, out of nowhere (but probably related to stress), I saw one of those "underground" inflammatory processes starting - the kind the develops into a blemish. I was appalled. I realized that my Zeno Hot Spot was packed away in a box and decided to go back to Defensif Renewal Serum to free my chin of any dead skin cells that might have trapped something irritating that needed to "depart" for the inflammation to clear. It took only two days, and the inevitable blemish was gone - stopped in its tracks by Defensif Renewal System! That just doesn't happen. I was impressed.

Even before this "event," I was impressed with the way my skin was looking. I use many great products, and it's hard to move the bar. I think RéVive's Defensif Renewal Serum did that. It was worth every penny of its price, and I need so little to cover my face and neck, I think I'll be using this serum for a long time. I like that legendary soft, supple, and dewy RéVive glow. If I could wish for anything - anything different - I'd love to have a little window to show me how much I've used. I don't want to run out of this fabulous serum.

You can purchase RéVive Defensif Renewal Serum and other RéVive products at RéVive's Web site, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys.

Photo courtesy of RéVive

Chantecaille Biodynamic Lifting Serum

Chantecaille's Biodynamic Lifting Serum ($210) has arrived! I have been waiting for this new addition to the Biodynamic Lifting line since Alex Chantecaille described this new serum to me early last December. She gave me an advance "snapshot" of the Biodynamic Lifting Neck Cream, which I now love, and the Biodynamic Lifting Serum. Alex told me about the ingredients of the neck cream and how the serum would share its technology, but with greater concentrations. I bought the neck cream, which I use regularly, and now I have the new serum.

It's too early for me to tell you about the serum's effectiveness. I don't look 10 years younger since Tuesday. I can tell you about the ingredients I'm sure the neck cream and serum share.

• Raspberry stem cells for anti-inflammatory properties and DNA repair, using special technology to make sure all the extract is absorbed into the skin.
• Marsh samphire, a succulent salt-tolerant herbaceous plant that grows in salt marshes and on beaches - the plant grows in a harsh environment and provides its unique self-protective capabilities to the skin
• A hexapeptide for anti-aging properties, one that encourages deep muscle relaxation for a lineless look

Here is what Chantecaille says about the new serum and how it works. The ingredient list reads like a who's who of the plant world. The serum is 88% botanical! It's also paraben-free.

Aging is about the degeneration of collagen. Chantecaille’s Biodynamic Lifting Serum is the newest, most potent collagen builder and collagen protector. Collagen is essential. It lifts, builds density, and smoothes wrinkles. Raspberry stem cells are a fierce collagen protector. They are extremely rich in potent antioxidants and GADD 45, the gene of longevity that repairs DNA damage.

There is a long list of additional active ingredients. Using Chantecaille's information, I'll summarize them for you.

A new BioNymph Tripeptide is the first peptide from a living plant to stimulate collagen renewal. This tripeptide is said to activate DNA repair and reduce DNA fragmentation by 57%. Clinical tests have shown a 25% reduction in crow's feet after 30 days of use (on humans).

A new "Age-Controlling Compex," liposomes of carnosine and lemon balm prevent glycation (remember, sugar is bad for skin cells) and enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of the BioNymph Peptide. Clinical tests showed a significant improvement in firmness and smoothness after four weeks of use.

Intense hydration - immediate and long term - come from hyaluronic acid, marsh samphire extract, and imperata cylindrica extract. Hyaluronic acid helps create a moisture reserve in the skin (nature's sponge) and tighten cellular cohesion, reducing moisture loss from the skin's barrier. Clinical tests showed that 91% of test subjects exhibited more hydrated skin, and 66% experienced a reduction/smoothing of fine lines.

Imperata cylindrica extract leads to intense and long-lasting skin hydration - by 60% immediately, 50% after six hours, and 20% after 24 hours. Marsh samphire extract reduces epidermal water loss by 25%. In vivo tests have shown that moisture levels increased by a factor of six.

As if that weren't enough, the serum restores brightness and skin clarity with panax ginseng extract, which removes toxins and puffiness through better oxygenation. White tea extract is also in the mix. The antioxidant clarifies skin. The EGCG compounds found in high concentrations in white tea stimulate the skin to retain moisture and protect against inflammation.

Chantecaille believes this innovative lifting serum is a major wrinkle fighter - and they are normally right in their conservative claims. The company says the rare, powerful, and patented active ingredients in the serum - which harnesses nature and technology - deliver visible results, minimizing the appearance of lines and maximizing skin tightness and density. The serum will boost the effectiveness of the other products in the Biodynamic Lifting line, which is excellent for all skin types, but particularly great for us dry types.

I have applied Biodynamic Lifting Serum morning and night since it arrived. It has a fabulous, light rosewater scent and lightweight feel on the skin. It absorbs quickly and evenly. The container is small at an ounce (give or take a fraction), and I fear I will use too much of this lovely serum too fast. My skin slurps the first product I apply after cleansing. I always have that problem with expensive serums. Not sure how I'm going to feed all my recent habits.

The serum is dispensed through a medicine bottle-like dropper. Just squeeze the bulb at the top to draw the serum into the "syringe." I squirt it into my palm and apply it to my face from there. Chantecaille advises to use it morning and night, which I have been doing.

I will definitely come back to the serum in a month and let you know how it performed. For now, I'm excited to be one of Chantecaille's early adapters. I love the combination of botanical and technology-driven ingredients, and I believe I'll adore this serum as much as I adore the rest of the Biodynamic Lifting products.

I bought mine online at Chantecaille's Web site. As of early yesterday, it had not yet arrived at Neiman Marcus, but was expected soon.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Astre Skin Care Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum

I get frequent inquiries from companies I don't know. If their products look intriguing, I follow up and agree to test a product. Now and then, I get a product that knocks my socks off. Astre Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum ($99) got my attention with the first application, and it continues to dazzle me - and it's not simply because it has 24K gold in it. This serum is seriously effective.

Astre Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum is a scientifically advanced skin-care product. It is formulated to firm the skin and offer immediate hydration, penetrating to the basal layer of the skin to significantly reduce wrinkles and put collagen production into overdrive. It's Astre's premier product.

Astre Skin Care makes natural products and uses no hydroquinone (a skin lightener that can be irritating), parabens, or sulfates. They do no animal testing. They do use fabulous state-of-the-art ingredients, known to be effective. The organic aloe vera base of the serum is combined with hyaluronic acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, and L-Arginine to create the perfect platform for skin regeneration, which occurs in a three- to four-week cycle. The natural anti-inflammatory properties of 24K gold top off the mix.

Gold is considered a miracle element for skin these days. Not only does it improve collagen growth, it has superior anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce the breakdown of elastin and prevent the skin from sagging. Topical gold has been shown to slow melanin secretions, which can cause skin discoloration. Gold also has the unique ability to pull toxins from the skin. Gold creates luminous, radiant, healthy looking skin.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our skin. Unfortunately,it decreases as we age. This decrease ultimately causes loss of hydration, resulting in wrinkling and loss of elasticity. Hyaluronic acid offers a superb environment for new cell growth and increases collagen. Hyaluronic acid is such a powerful humectant that it can absorb over 1,000 times its weight in water, unmatched in nature. I've mentioned this ingredient many times in my features. In fact, I wrote a whole post on it, which you can see at this link. In my opinion, hyaluronic acid has to be in a great moisturizer today.

I feel the same way about peptides. Acetyl Hexapeptide-3- a powerful, revolutionary pain-free alternative to injections and surgical procedures. AH-3 is a non-toxic amino acid peptide that was developed specifically to reduce existing wrinkles and the development of new wrinkles. Recent clinical studies have shown that AH-3 reduces the depth of wrinkles up to 30% after only 30 days of use. This is a fantastic copper peptide and a key ingredient in Astre Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum.

Another quality ingredient in this serum is L-Arginine, an anti-wrinkle hexapeptide. Known to decrease wrinkle depth, Arginine is present in my favorite treatment products. Want to know more about the scientific data to explain the effectiveness of this serum? Read the information at this link.

Why do I like this serum so much? The first time I used it, I saw and felt its firming properties. It tightened my skin, making me look very smooth - almost poreless - and visibly minimized the appearance of fine lines. The firming wasn't that awful, so-tight-you-can't-move-your-face firming, but I could feel it. I always apply a moisturizer over my serum, and once I did, I couldn't really feel the firming - I could only see it. I have been using this serum day and night for almost three weeks, and my skin looks incredibly good.

What blew me away was a compliment from a friend who is an aesthetician. I had readied my skin for night, applied Astre Skin Matrix Serum on my face and neck, and followed it with a moisturizer I'll tell you about this week. She took one look at me (and she knows me well) and said, "Your skin looks fabulous." No one ever really mentions my skin - other than nicely telling me I don't look my age - so I was impressed. She saw what I have seen since I started using this wonder-product.

When I am introduced to a product this great, I keep it in my rotation. Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum is definitely going to stay. I really love it - everything about it, including the very reasonable price for a serum that's packed with effective and expensive ingredients. If you want to try it, the company offers a money-back guarantee. If you purchase it and aren't satisfied for any reason, just return the bottle for a full refund. The company says, "If you do not see a newfound healthy glow, more radiant fuller skin, fewer wrinkles, [and] less discoloration by the time you finish your 1-oz bottle, we will refund your purchase." How can you beat that?

You can; it gets better. As a promotion for Best Things in Beauty readers, the company has generously offered you a $10 discount, making your purchase total $89 with free shipping. If you order and click on "Add to Cart" on this page, enter code Bestthings. You will receive that discount. I think it's being programmed this evening and should work in a few hours. Please let me know what you think. I'm thrilled.

Photo courtesy of Astre Skin Care

ORIGINS Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum

ORIGINS blazed the trail for mainstream natural and organic cosmetic and skin-care products. Dr. Andrew Weil, an authority on holistic health, has collaborated with ORIGINS to create a collection of state-of-the-art treatments to help optimize our skin's defenses and address myriad concerns. The proprietary blends used in the products feature Dr. Weil's potent blend of health-promoting plants and herbs, including the mushrooms that are used in the new Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum (available in three sizes from $66 to $110). I wanted to discover why those who use Dr. Weil's ORIGINS products swear by them, and along came a serum for me to test. Happy me!

There is an excellent two-minute video by Dr. Weil at this link. Pop over to watch it. In the video, he explains why imperceptible inflammation is the silent cause of skin aging, resulting in redness, dryness, loss of elasticity, and eventually wrinkling. He explains the ingredients in the new advanced serum, such as sea buckthorn, a spiny shrub that's a powerful antioxidant; Chaga (used as a heath tonic) and Pleurotus mushrooms; spike moss (with biflavonoids that inhibit UV damage and increase the activity of growth proteins in human fibroblasts); ginger; holy basil; and mangifera extract (protects against heat stress) - some pretty exotic plants.

Women who participated in the clinical study of Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum were from North America and Japan. Some noticed immediate changes in their skin; others noticed changes with continued use. The vast majority saw improvements in suppleness and resilience. This serum is said to be fabulous for women who suffer from rosacea or who have sensitive or dry skin, and the reviews on the ORIGINS Web site from women with stubborn rosacea are impressive.

I haven't been troubled with rosacea for years, but I definitely have sensitive and dry skin. I was delighted to try Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum. I have been wearing it every day for a couple of weeks. Even though the directions say to apply it at night too, I have been testing other products at night.

The lightweight serum has a slight and pleasant "earthy" smell on application - a scent that disappears within seconds. I try to keep my skin in good condition, so I start testing any new product with a baseline that's hard to improve (without lasers or other expensive treatments). I look for a couple of qualities in a serum, and Mega-Mushroom has them all.

1. Do no harm. I don't want my skin to regress, and I don't want to have unpleasant side effects, such as redness. My orthopedic surgeon and I share a belief: "No pain, no gain is bunk." Check!
   
2. I want the serum to feel good and form a protective, moist base for my moisturizer. It's especially nice if it forms a barrier on my skin - one that I know is there, but isn't heavy or sticky. Mega-Mushroom serum does this so well, I sometimes forget to moisturize before I get ready to apply foundation. Then, I have to add my moisturizer and give it a few minutes to absorb before I add makeup.
   
3. Along with moisturizing qualities, I like my serums to simultaneously firm my skin, tighten my pores, and make my face appear smooth - a bonus. Check!
   

Mega-Mushroom passed my tests and did so extremely well. I am enjoying using it! I plan to purchase some of Dr. Weil's other products, including Dr. Andrew Weil for ORIGINS Conditioning Lip Balm with Turmeric. Since I'm a lip conditioner addict, I will try it!

I must confess that I've passed by the ORIGINS display at Macy's for years, thinking that the products were targeted toward a younger age demographic. Now that I know better, I'll be stopping now and then to see what's new!

As my readers know, I appreciate companies that give back to our society and environment. Dr. Andrew Weil donates all of his after-tax profits from royalties from sales of Dr. Andrew Weil for ORIGINS products to the Weil Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting integrative medicine through training, education, and research. For more information, visit the Foundation's Web site.

You should give ORIGINS Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum a try. Add it to your skin-care routine. I think you'll be glad you did. It performs as well as serums that are many times more expensive. If your skin tends to be red, you are in for a treat.

You can find the Mega-Mushroom advanced serum, along with other Mega-Mushroom products, at the ORIGINS Web site, free-standing ORIGINS stores, and Macy's. There's a store locator at this link.

Sisley Paris Sisleÿa Global Firming Serum

Sisley has introduced a new skin-care product. I first learned about it from Gail Sezer, Sisley pro at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Gail had received a few samples of Sisley's Sisleÿa Global Firming Serum (and gave me one) and was headed for New York for training on the new product. I was excited.

Sisley had raised the bar for skin care when they introduced Supremÿa at Night ($750). Despite the price, I have added Supremÿa at Night to my regular rotation of treatments. Anything that is a sure-fire solution for reducing parentheses (if you have them, you know what I mean) and expression lines is worth any price. If I have to go without food, I'll do it to keep wrinkles at bay. That's what happens to baby boomers, whether we like it or not! I'm not ready to have surgery or get injections. I'm holding out and using the best "potions" I can find. I would love for my skin to look like Gail's!

What Gail told me about Sisleÿa Global Firming Serum was intriguing. First, there's a reason experts tell us to sleep on our backs, not our sides. Sleeping on your face leads to wrinkling. However temporary, it's not pretty to go to work with a big pillow crease across your face. As we age, our skin loses the resilience it had when we were young. Even if you don't or haven't developed "flabby" skin, you may have seen a loss of your skin's ability to bounce back. Now, there may be a solution that will firm my skin and allow me to sleep comfortably - on my side - without buying silk pillowcases!

Sisley says that with age, our skin undergoes loss of firmness in varying degrees according to facial areas. The oval of the face and chin slacken; the neck thickens, especially on round faces; the cheeks hollow, especially on thin or square faces; and the skin gets thinner and slackens.

Sisley has studied the mechanisms that alter the skin's structure and designed a powerful combination of targeted botanical and other active ingredients to help the face recover the contours and resiliency of younger skin. Sisleÿa Global Firming Serum is said to act on all signs of loss of firmness, making the skin firmer and redesigning your face to be as balanced as it used to be.

How does it do this? Dill extract and rye extract work on firmness. Dill extract, new to Sisley's product line-up, stimulates the synthesis of the LOXL enzyme, activating elastin functions within the dermis (at least in an in vitro test). Rye extract is organically farmed and stimulates the synthesis of mechanoreceptors (effective shock absorbers) to improve mechanical resistance against gravity. The combination of tiger nut and padina pavonica extracts is promised to make your cheeks appear fuller and restore volume. These ingredients should make your skin bounce back after a "hard night's sleep."

There are many ingredients in the new serum to smoothe your skin. Organically farmed oat extract forms an effective supple and natural-feeling mesh on the skin's surface for a lifting, tensing, and smoothing effect. Four additional ingredients are included in the formula to stimulate the synthesis of collagen and GAGs and improve fiber protection.

• Peptidic soy extract to stimulate collagen
• Alkekengi calyx extract - also to help with collagen and protect against free radicals
• Willow leaf extract to fortify the elasticity of the skin
• Einkorn wheat extract for anti-glycation

I'm a firm believer in anti-glycation products. I regularly use MEG 21's fabulous products designed to fight the adverse effects of sugars in the skin. MEG 21 provided me with living proof that glycation takes its toll and that we need to include anti-glycation ingredients in our skin-care routines. I have been using MEG 21 Advanced Formula after Supremÿa at Night.

Sisley says its new serum redensifies skin and improves its tone, elasticity, and firmness. After eight weeks of use, your skin should be markedly improved. I'm willing to try that because I have found that Sisley products live up to their promises.

The serum has a fluid texture and absorbs quickly, leaving no oily film. Gail says to use it before Supremÿa at Night, which surprised me. I thought Supremÿa at Night was always supposed to go on first. You should use the new serum morning and night, smoothing it into your skin with upward strokes - even massaging it in with the back of your fingers in a closed fist. It's made for all skin types, including the most sensitive.

With a price that I understand is just south of $500, I need more samples and hope I can get them. Sisley is usually very generous with samples, which I really appreciate. They want you to see that their products work before you make an investment. That's how they hooked me so easily on the $750 Supremÿa at Night. At first I couldn't believe the price. It didn't take long for me to become a believer. It works.

Gail will have the new Sisleÿa Global Firming Serum this week. If you want to learn more about it, give her a call at (240) 497-5269. If you are local to the DC area, stop by to see her at Saks in Chevy Chase. If you're not local, but have a Sisley counter near you, you should visit and learn more about this new wonder-product.

Photo taken by me in the store from a storyboard

Avon ANEW Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum

Goodbye, sun spots! I have to admit I thought several spots near my hairline were with me for life. I didn't have the "will" or the money to have them removed by laser, so I had learned to live with them and cover them with makeup.

Along came Avon, asking if I would like to try their new ANEW Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum ($54). Given what I read online, I was game. Sun spots can make you look older just as easily as wrinkles!

Only at Avon! Our first topical serum with injectable-grade skin brightener for an at-home option to a dermatologist's laser! Instantly makes your skin look brighter and more even toned. Eighty percent of women saw the look of dark spots dramatically diminish. Over time, 100% of women showed more illuminated skin with a visible reduction in fine wrinkles.

Dual formula – Anti-Dark Spot Helix, formulated with injectable-grade L-Aspartic Acid to help inhibit pigment production causing dark spots, and a Brightening Gel formulated to help remove dull skin cells that can add years to look of skin. Use it every evening after cleansing and before moisturizing.

In a clinical test, ANEW Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum demonstrated the following dramatic results.

• After one week, 78% of women showed improvement in clarity.
• After two weeks, 72% of women showed improvement in skin tone.
• After four weeks, women showed up to 100% improvement in the look of blotchiness and mottled pigmentation.
• After eight weeks, 100% of women showed more illuminated skin with a visible reduction in fine wrinkles.

It has been three weeks, and I am amazed. I already see a difference! The most annoying of the spots has faded significantly. The darker ones (almost like dark freckles) on the other side of my face are lighter. My complexion is clear and even, although it wasn't blotchy before.

The serum is clear and applies easily. The directions say to use it at night and suggest that you may notice some tingling on first use. I wouldn't call what I felt "tingling" - it was more subtle than that. By the third night of use, I noticed no unusual sensations. I wait a few minutes for it to dry before I apply my night moisturizer over it.

The active ingredients include glycolic acid (near the top of the list), a great exfoliator that I know my skin tolerates. I wasn't sure about some of the other ingredients, but my skin had absolutely no adverse effects - only good ones - which is great for someone with sensitive skin.

I can't speak to the claim of having "injectable-grade" ingredients. Only a scientist could. What I can tell you is that after only three weeks of use, my sun spots are fading. I'm very impressed. I plan to keep using this amazing serum. Compared to other treatment options, the $54 price is a bargain.

Head over to Avon's Web site to check it out. Right now, Avon is offering a free ANEW Clinical Eye Lift with every purchase of ANEW Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum. You should sign up for Avon's e-mails to get free shipping and discount offers that arrive often enough to keep me ordering. You can purchase directly online or from your local Avon representative. You can locate one at this link.

Photo courtesy of Avon

Perricone MD Neuropeptide Deep Wrinkle Serum

Dr. Perricone's Neuropeptide Deep Wrinkle Serum ($180) is for people who don't want deep wrinkles - not just those who might have them! It's a fast-acting treatment - called the five-minute miracle - that effectively minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkles, addresses loss of elasticity, and creates a more youthful appearance. I've been using it for almost a month, and I like it.

This age-fighting complex transforms the skin's texture with the help of four distinct peptides. I've decided that you have to have peptides in your daily skin-care cocktail. The peptides were the primary reason I had to try this one.

This lightweight serum instantly smoothes lines and wrinkles, helps improve the appearance of sagging skin with an immediate tightening effect, and enhances the complexion's overall health. Phospholipids contribute hydrating and repairing benefits.

Perricone's research shows some excellent independent testing results.

• 90% of subjects reported that, with sustained use, they continued to see improvements in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
• 90% noticed an improvement in their skin's texture/smoothness.
• 90% reported that their skin appeared more radiant.
• 87% reported that their skin appeared healthier and renewed.
• 77% reported an improvement in the appearance of lines and wrinkles within five minutes of application.
• 73% reported that, after using the product, the overall quality of their skin improved.

What impresses me is that this serum is just slightly thicker than water - and it's effective. I have been using it under my moisturizer, and I have been pleased with the tone and elasticity of my skin. I'll continue to use it and update you after more time has passed. As with all of the patented Perricone technology, Deep Wrinkle Neuropeptide Serum delivers long-lasting anti-aging benefits, cumulative with continued use.

What's in it?

• Neuropeptides to instantly relax lines and wrinkles and keep working to do that over time
  
• DMAE to firm, tone, contour, and lift the appearance of skin
• Phospholipids to help repair and hydrate the skin

It also has glycolic acid in it. What's not in it? Synthetic waxes, fillers, fragrances, and dyes. It also has no parabens in the ingredients. It is fragranced - beautifully. It smells like roses - just for a minute, like someone passed through the room with a bouquet.

The serum is available at Sephora, Dr. Perricone's Web site, Nordstrom (where I bought mine), and Perricone counters.

This weekend, DC-area beauties can attend a special Perricone MD event at Sephora at Tysons Corner Center. Four skin-care gurus from Perricone, including Rene Marshall, will be at Sephora all day Saturday, May 8 (10:30 to 7:00), offering wonderful free gifts with purchase, mini-facials, and consultations. There will also be a raffle for a basket of Perricone products worth $400. Worth stopping by to find the right Perricone products for your skin - or your mom's if you find yourself without a Mother's Day present the day before!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Giorgio Armani Beauty Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir

Even the photo has a magical connotation! I see a serum that exists high above the rest, almost other-worldly, emanating light. Giorgio Armani Beauty's newest member of the Crema Nera family of skin-care products is Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir ($150). It is designed to correct the texture of our skin; make it smooth, firm, and radiant; and repair age and ultraviolet-induced imperfections. The elixir is in pre-sale at Saks Fifth Avenue Armani counters. Knowing it would be an instant "must-have," the Saks decided to take advance orders. I've paid for mine, and I expect to have it in my hands and on my face the first week in May. Saks will receive it almost a month before other retailers.

What will the magical elixir do? Based on tests, Armani Beauty says that after six weeks of use, 98% of women will see smoother skin, 83% will see dark spots corrected, 90% will find their skin more radiant, and 93% will report firmer skin. It feels firming. The little dab I was able to try had a few seconds of a firming feel and left my skin smooth.

How does it work?

• Armani's OMC³ restructures the skin matrix and prevents slacking, one of the horrors of aging. It also promises a three-fold increase in collagen production.
• Extrema (Armani's antioxidant blend) helps detoxify (by 80%) and protects the skin's DNA from ultraviolet-induced oxidation. The company says that Extrema is 200% more effective than vitamin E, a widely used antioxidant.
• Crystal Complex is comprised of vitamins C and G and palmaria palmata (a red algae that binds water and doubles as an antioxidant). It inhibits and regulates melanin production, helping to "retrain" damaged skin cells to reproduce as healthy cells.

Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir should be used as your night serum - all over the face and neck - before moisturizer. Our skin regenerates at night, so the serum will be most effective if applied then. I can't wait to get my hands on my very own elixir!

If you want to be one of the first to try the newest member of the Crema Nera family, you can pre-order it from your Saks Armani representative - or from the members of the Armani Beauty Team at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland by calling (240) 497-5206. You can also ring through the switchboard by calling (301) 657-9000. They will take good care of you.

Photo courtesy of Armani Beauty

Consumer Reports on Anti-Aging Serums

There is an excellent article in the May issue of ShopSmart magazine by Consumer Reports. Part of it is available online to non-subscribers, and subscribers can read the detailed ratings. You can find the magazine at well-stocked newsstands and book stores (even saw it at Safeway tonight). I was fascinated by the test results and had to share a summary with you - with permission, of course.

Consumer Reports had a mission: to find out how well many anti-aging products actually work. Their testers examined anti-wrinkle serums for aging skin, dyes for gray hair, and baldness treatments for those without much hair to dye. I'm going to tell you about the anti-aging serum tests.

"Nothing betrays a woman's age more than wrinkles, according to the 12,699 online subscribers who responded to a Consumer Reports survey about aging. For the many Americans determined to vanquish wrinkles, the market overflows with anti-aging lotions, potions, skin-care regimens, and even body washes that manufacturers claim work magic on your dermal layers—in weeks!"

Consumer Reports purchased nine face serums, anti-aging products that are more fluid than creams and usually absorb quickly. The products they tested range from $20 to $65 and are available at drugstores, department stores, and specialty retail sites like Sephora. Most claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Do they really do that? Not very well - or at all - according to Consumer Reports. Hours in the testing labs revealed that the anti-wrinkle serums they tested fell far short of their claims. While some test subjects saw minor improvements, others saw no improvement at all. There's a lot of hype out there.

The test participants used the products for six weeks, longer than the duration the manufacturers said would yield noticeable results. "Trained sensory panelists" analyzed the before and after photographs and scored each one on the length and depth of any visible facial wrinkles. The ratings were surprisingly bad (but were similar to previous tests on face creams).

The two serums that were rated as slightly more effective than the others were DermaSilk 5 Minute Face Lift ($40 per ounce) and Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle ($20 per oz). "Slightly more effective" than the others is hardly a stirring recommendation! You can see a DermaSilk "improvement" in the photograph above.

How did Consumer Reports define "slightly more effective"? Some participants (out of 79 in total) experienced a minor improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, the same products that produced very minor improvements for some participants did absolutely nothing for others. Yikes!

Consumer Reports says that the dermatologists they consulted weren't surprised. The FDA, which oversees cosmetic safety and labeling, doesn't require manufacturers to test their products for efficacy. So, there are at least nine serums - a representative sample of well-known skin-care brands - that don't do much. Also disappointing, the natural product tested, Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum, which was among the priciest products tested in terms of cost per ounce, didn't cut it at all.

You can read a summary of the test at this Consumer Reports link.

There's nothing like a real test to know where to spend your hard-earned money. Unfortunately, these test results told me a lot about what not to buy. The over-the-counter products tested so poorly, we don't know from the Consumer Reports' results what non-prescription products we should buy. So, I'll stick to the products I'm using. I think they work - for me. I'll keep testing too. Like many, I want that miracle product!

Photo at top courtesy of ShopSmart, a Consumer Reports magazine. You can subscribe at this link. I subscribe to ShopSmart magazine, and I have an online subscription to Consumer Reports. Love them both!

The Regenerating Serum from La Mer

I waited to tell you about La Mer's new powerhouse, The Regenerating Serum ($250). I wanted to use it long enough to speak intelligently about it, although I was tempted to rush notice of its availability into print. As a loyal La Mer customer, I was waiting for its introduction. La Mer spent over four years developing it, and I knew that it was developed using a combination of tried-and-true La Mer ingredients and new technology.

The Regenerating Serum is called a "soothing elixer," which conjures up magical powers. Most of La Mer's products are magical, and this one lives up to its subtitle.

Here is an edited version of La Mer's description of The Regenerating Serum.

Borne from La Mer’s heritage of healing, this transformational serum dramatically diminishes the look of lines and wrinkles and infuses skin with youthfulness.

A powerful anti-aging trio, a high concentrate of The Miracle Broth, The Marine Peptide Ferment, and The Regenerating Ferment, infused with marine plant stem cells and colloidal gold (a hot ingredient in skin care), helps skin trigger this natural production of “youth proteins,” collagen, and elastin. It's even got the antioxidant lime tea in it. Together, the ingredients work to help radically diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles, as well as pores, revealing a vibrant, smoother, and firmer complexion.

In a day, skin looks rejuvenated, glowing with youthful radiance. Over time, skin appears "seemingly ageless."

Why have I become a fan of the new serum?

We have to start with my love for La Mer's Crème de la Mer, The Eye Concentrate, and The Concentrate - all of which are part of my regular skin-care routine. I also love my La Mer masks. La Mer products are good for my skin, and I don't think I'll ever give them up. Do I use other products? Sure! I mix up a cocktail morning and night, layering on various state-of-the-art skin care products, all carefully selected for their ingredients. For much-needed moisture and healing? La Mer!

I always wear a serum, applied first after cleansing morning and night. My skin slurps the first product I apply, so serums are instantly absorbed. They "pave the way" for my next products, always including a moisturizer with anti-aging ingredients.

Toward the end of winter, when I was testing some new serums, I started to notice that my skin didn't seem to have the elasticity it had in the fall. I returned to daily treatments with The Concentrate, and within days, my skin had more bounce. I'm supposed to be telling you about the new serum, but I wanted you to know my baseline - the luxury La Mer product against which I evaluated The Regenerating Serum. I substituted The Regenerating Serum for The Concentrate. Did I dry up again? Nope!

The Regenerating Serum is not as thick as The Concentrate. Not many serums are. The Concentrate is designed for fragile, post-trauma skin on the face and body. The Concentrate complements the skin's own natural healing process. It works to reduce the appearance of scarring resulting from surgery or burns and to soothe the irritation and redness caused by chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatments, and life. I use it all the time; my skin loves it. There I go again, talking about The Concentrate!

The Regenerating Serum is a lightweight "milky" lotion. It's a lot like the Armani Beauty Crema Nerum Obsidian Mineral Restoring Serum (which I love) in weight, texture, and absorption. Apply The Regenerating Serum, and it will be your second skin within seconds.

It "primes" my skin for the next step perfectly. The next step for me can be Crème de la Mer or one of the other fabulous moisturizers I have been rotating. Recent favorites include MEG 21 Advanced Formula and Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Cream.

Does it work, adding value for the money? Yes! I have been using it for about a month, and while I can't isolate its effects from the treatments that share space on my face, I'm hydrated, smooth, and as radiant as it gets. It did diminish fine lines. Did it make all of them totally disappear? No. Anyone who expects that from a serum is delusional (which might be kind of fun for a day or two, but not longer).

The Regenerating Serum will take The Concentrate's place on my face over the summer months when a lightweight serum is de rigueur. I'll rotate it with Armani's Crema Nera serum for my daytime "first layer." Yes, I know you are supposed to use it twice a day, but I have a different night cocktail. If you don't have another serum, definitely use it morning and night.

I am very pleased with The Regenerating Serum! The supreme test? I would rather buy it than more jewelry. Now that's saying something!

You can purchase The Regenerating Serum at the La Mer Web site, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and select Nordstrom locations. La Mer is offering free shipping and samples.

Photo courtesy of La Mer