Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes Giveaway Contest Winner

So many entries, and only one prize! Congratulations to Bara M, the winner of the Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes giveaway contest! Bara has been notified by e-mail. She was selected at random from the many entries received. Bara, please let us know how you like the eye cream in a Friday Forum!

Vichy's Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes ($39.50), a new product, is an anti-wrinkle treatment with new generation retinol and hyaluronic acid to fight all three types of wrinkles: "permanent" or expression wrinkles, reversible wrinkles caused by dehydration, and wrinkles that are "programmed" (by genetics) to appear. I wrote about the new Vichy line in December.

The Liftactiv Retinol HA products are targeted at women who are showing the first signs of aging, with wrinkles starting to appear around the eyes, forehead, or mouth area, as well as skin irregularities. That would be anyone over 20! Vichy promises that its Liftactiv Retinol HA line produces immediate, visible results, with smoothing and soft-focus effects. You can purchase this new eye cream at the Vichy Web site or upscale CVS stores. Vichy products are also available at Amazon, Canada Medicine Shop, and other online sources.

Thank you all for entering - and for reading Best Things in Beauty! Our next giveaway contest for a RareMinerals eye cream started this morning. And we have some incredible contests lined up for the next two weeks. Come back, please!

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes Giveaway Contest

Vichy's Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes ($39.50), a new product, is an anti-wrinkle treatment with new generation retinol and hyaluronic acid to fight all three types of wrinkles: "permanent" or expression wrinkles, reversible wrinkles caused by dehydration, and wrinkles that are "programmed" (by genetics) to appear. I wrote about the new Vichy line in December.

The Liftactiv Retinol HA products are targeted at women who are showing the first signs of aging, with wrinkles starting to appear around the eyes, forehead, or mouth area, as well as skin irregularities. That would be anyone over 20! Vichy promises that its Liftactiv Retinol HA line produces immediate, visible results, with smoothing and soft-focus effects.

Here's how Vichy describes the efficacy of Liftactiv Retinol HA for Eyes.

• New generation retinol + A₁ (adenosine) provides accelerated resurfacing effect while hyaluronic acid provides filling action
• With pro-retinol + A₂ for an eye brightening effect and hyaluronic acid for a wrinkle-filling action
• Patented double-gelled-phase formulation technique provides moisturizing and nourishing yet light and smooth texture
• Tested under dermatological and opthamological control
• Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact-lens wearers
• Fragrance-free, allergy-tested
• Formulated with soothing and fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water

The packaging is unique. The nozzle is sprung on a bearing, so if you press the tip against your hand, it auto-dispenses - a smart way to keep the product fresh at all times and protect it from air and light. That’s very important for a cream that contains active ingredients.

Want an opportunity to win one? Just e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and put Vichy in the subject line. It's that easy! If you want a second entry, just follow BTiBeauty on Twitter. All existing Twitter followers who e-mail will automatically receive a second entry. If you use a different name on Twitter, make sure to tell me in your e-mail.

The contest deadline will be Friday, February 26, at midnight. I'll select the winner using a random number generator. I'll even send this product anywhere in the world, so you can enter no matter where you live!

I'll be posting this contest at Free!Grechen, my fun giveaway site partner. Good Luck!

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Vichy LIFTACTIV CxP Giveaway Contest Winners

Congratulations to Diana and Tina B., the winners of the deluxe sample sets of LIFTACTIV CxP Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Care. Both of our winners have been notified by e-mail.

Anyone concerned with chronological aging, wrinkles, and loss of firmness should find the LIFTACTIV CxP products intriguing. You can learn more about them at Vichy's Web site.

Make sure to read about Vichy's latest products coming our way at this Best Things in Beauty link. One really nice thing about Vichy products is that you can purchase them at CVS's Healthy Skincare Stores; they are accessible and affordable!

Our thanks to DrugstoreBeautyPro for this generous giveaway. She's the best!

Our next giveaway started last night - a great Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Platinum Pink. Make sure to enter!

Logo courtesy of Vichy

Vichy LIFTACTIV CxP Sampler Giveaway Contest

DrugstoreBeautyPro generously donated two deluxe sample sets of LIFTACTIV CxP Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Care for a one-day Best Things in Beauty giveaway contest. Wasn't that nice? We will have two winners!

Vichy's LIFTACTIV CxP products continuously release a pure dose of vitamin C and peptides (short chains of amino acids that reverse the signs of aging). Vitamin C is a powerful stimulant of the skin's vital functions, promoting cell renewal. Peptides are crucial for effective functioning of the skin's vital components; they play a key role in the creation of collagen and elastin fibers.

Anyone concerned with chronological aging, wrinkles, and loss of firmness should find the LIFTACTIV CxP products intriguing. You can read about them at Vichy's Web site.

Each of these darling little sample sets has four products.

• Purete Thermale One Step Cleanser (1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Day (.1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Night (.1 oz)
• LIFTACTIV CxP Eyes (.1 oz)

Vichy says that 88% of users felt firmer skin within four days of use, and you get at least four days from these deluxe samples. Vichy's products are suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

LIFTACTIV CxP and other Vichy products are available at CVS Healthy Skincare Stores, so if you like what you try, you can head over to CVS for more!

To enter the contest, e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and tell me why you would like to try these Vichy products. The deadline for entries is today, December 7, at midnight. The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Good Luck! Our two winners will also receive some other CVS healthy skin packette samples to try (also courtesy of DrugstoreBeautyPro).

P.S. Just in case you are new to BTiB, DrugstoreBeautyPro is a daily reader, and she is so knowledgeable. Her comments on this blog have been informative, and I look forward to her contributions.

Photo courtesy of Vichy

New Vichy Product Alert - Coming Soon

Vichy is finally dipping its toes into the Retinol product pool. There are two new products in the LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA line: LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA Day Cream Total Anti-Wrinkle Daily Renovating Care - SPF 18 (the day cream shown here) and an eye cream.

Both LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA products will attack three types of wrinkles: "permanent" or expression wrinkles, reversible wrinkles caused by dehydration, and wrinkles that are "programmed" to appear.

The new products are targeted at women from 30 to 40 years old who are showing the first signs of aging, with wrinkles starting to appear around the eyes, forehead, or mouth area, as well as skin irregularities. Vichy UK advertises that LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA produces immediate, visible results.

The ingredients include Retinol-A (retinol boosted with adenosine) and hyaluronic acid. The Retinol is for wrinkling, and the hyaluronic acid will hydrate the skin. I will have to rely on a stand-in tester to find out how well the products work since my skin will not tolerate Retinol in any form.

The packaging is unique. It seems that the nozzle is sprung on a bearing, so if you press the tip against your hand, it auto-dispenses - a smart way to keep the product fresh at all times and protect it from air and light. That’s very important for a cream that contains active ingredients.

You can read about the new products at Vichy's UK Web site. We should expect to see the new Vichy LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA products in the US in January. CVS Healthy Skincare Stores will carry them.

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Best Drugstore Beauty: Vichy's Exfoliating Cream

Vichy makes a fabulous Exfoliating Cream ($16) for dry and sensitive skin. It's labeled for all skin types, but if you have dry and/or sensitive skin, it's a good one to try.

What's in a name? I bought this product about six months ago, and it was called Purifying Exfoliating Cream. Now it appears to have another name in the United States: Detoxifying Exfoliating Cream. I have compared the ingredient lists of the two, and they are the same. Buy whichever you find. Update 10/24: Detoxifying is the old name. The new name is Purifying! Kathy Shoreman at CVS cleared that up for me!

This is an extremely gentle physical exfoliator. It's loaded with good stuff for your skin, including Vitamin E, shea butter, soybean oil, and Vichy's Thermal Spa Water, which is rich with mineral salts and oligo elements. The little exfoliating beads are jojoba pearls, said to be perfectly round so that they won't produce what I call micro-tears in the skin. It's hypoallergenic, alcohol-free, soap-free, and colorant-free.

The minute you apply this cream, you'll notice its rich, creamy feel. I can't use many physical exfoliators because my skin is so sensitive, but this one has never irritated my skin - not a trace of redness after using it. I wet my face, lightly massage it in using circular movements for about a minute, and then thoroughly rinse it off. It leaves me with smooth, clear, and radiant skin.

The container is small (2.5 ounces), but a little of this luxurious cream exfoliator goes a long way. I think this product is a little treat, and I love the fact that I can get it at CVS.

You can find Vichy's Exfoliating Cream at CVS, Vichy's Web site, and other stores that carry Vichy products.

Photo courtesy of CVS

Best Drugstore Beauty: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm

Vichy's new Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm Rehydrating and Repairing Care ($32) is a powerful moisturizer. Packed with the healing signature Vichy Thermal Spa Water and minerals, this protective formula is paraben-, fragrance-, and colorant-free. This product is prefect for women (and men) with dry and/or dehydrated skin. I'm finding it an ideal "antidote" for our leap into dry fall weather.

You may have read about new Vichy introductions in an earlier Best Things in Beauty posting. The balm contains Omega 6 oils that are said to reach into tiny skin fissures and envelope the skin in a fine protective layer. The 15 trace elements and minerals in its ingredients include calcium and magnesium (protective), potassium (hydrating), silicium (regenerating), and iron (soothing).

I am using the Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm as a night moisturizer. It's creamy and rich. Trust me, a little goes a long way! I adore the pump container, which makes it so convenient to use, and I love the fact that it's fragrance-free. I can feel the protective barrier on my face when I awaken in the morning, so I know the balm is doing its work to keep my own moisture in and protect my skin from the drying air.

Vichy says the mineral balm can also be used as a mask to soothe very dehydrated skin. If you choose to use it as a mask, apply a generous layer on skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then tissue off the excess. You certainly wouldn't want to tissue it all off - it's a fabulous moisturizer.

You can purchase the Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm at the Vichy-USA Web site, where Vichy Skin Care Passport Members get free shipping with purchases over $50, free shipping with the purchase of certain products, and with the code TOTEBAG can get a turquoise tote with a purchase of $65.

You can also find Vichy products at the CVS Healthy Skincare stores (larger CVS stores), where you won't have to worry about shipping costs and you can get instant gratification. If you can find your way to the Ballston Mall in Arlington, Virginia, ask for Kathy Shoreman, the CVS Beauty Manager. She will give you samples of Vichy products to try at home.

This product deserves its Best Drugstore Beauty label.

Photo courtesy of Vichy USA

Vichy Calming Cleansing Solution for Face and Eyes

Ever want to clean up without using water? How about on those makeup-free Sundays, when you want to go to sleep feeling clean and fresh, but just can't face (no pun intended) the full face-wash routine? Vichy has the cleanser for you!

Calming Cleansing Solution ($14) is a soap-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, colorant-free, gentle, lightweight cleansing lotion that gently lifts makeup, excess oil, sunscreen, and anything else that shouldn't remain on your skin. It calms your skin, while leaving its natural moisture barrier in place. The solution contains a rose extract rich in phytophenol, known for its soothing properties. It also contains Vichy Thermal Spa Water, rich in mineral salts and oligo essentials with proven soothing properties that strengthen the skin's natural protective function. This is an excellent product for sensitive or irritated skin. You can use it as an eye makeup remover too! This cleanser is a good one for men and women. Just put it on a cotton pad and wipe gently.

I was introduced to it at my local CVS Healthy Skincare store. Ever since, it's been a bathroom staple.

Vichy became part of the L'Oreal group in 1955, and today it is L'Oreal's second largest skin care brand, currently is distributed in more than 70 countries and a leading dermo-cosmetics brand in European and Canadian pharmacies. In the last few years, Vichy has worked to bring the brand to the U.S. market by securing space within the in-store skin care boutiques at select CVS, Ulta, and Duane Reade locations.

Vichy has a U.S. Web site where you can get an express or full skin analysis. CVS Healthy Skincare stores also offer that service. I'll be reviewing another fabulous Vichy product soon: the new Aqualia Thermal Mineral Balm.

The Vichy Web site has free shipping and a sampling offer until October 9. Of course, you could just stop by your local CVS and learn more about this wonderful French company. CVS has samples too.

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Not So Boring Eye Makeup Removers

As much as I adore my little mama raccoon outside, I don't want to look like her. That makes eye makeup removers a necessity. Even the best facial cleansers won't always take off that stubborn mascara "run" under my eyes.

One product I use is a bit unusual, but it's very effective: OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Eyelid Cleanser ($13.95 for 30). These individually wrapped moistened pads are fabulous, not only for removing eye makeup, but also for exfoliating the tender skin around your eyes. They were recommended to me by my opthamologist a couple of years ago, and I have used them ever since. I buy mine at CVS. I highly recommend these pads.

I have an arsenal of other eye makeup remover products I like. I'll tell you about my most-often-used ones here and why I like them. I have a few criteria. They must be effective without rubbing, non-irritating, free of perfume, and appropriate for sensitive skin.

Let's start with the least expensive. Almay makes oil-free eye makeup remover pads that work really well and are not at all irritating to my sensitive skin. They are made with a botanical blend of aloe, cucumber, and green tea. If you go looking for them, make sure to get the Oil-Free Makeup Remover Pads. Even though they are advertised as hypo-allergenic, the moisturizing ones have oil that can seep into your eyes. These Almay pads are often on sale at drugstores. The drugstore.com price is $4.99, and there's a BOGO offer there at the moment.

Also available at some drugstores is the Vichy Purete Thermale Eye Make-up Remover Sensitive Eyes, a very nice product. I'm turning to it more and more. I buy this product at CVS - the list price is $14. It is made with Vichy's Thermal Spa Water, cornflower water, and pro-vitamin B5 (see Korres below).

Estee Lauder makes an oldie but goodie that must be a great seller to this day. I have used the Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($15.50) on and off for many years, and I still return to it. I love the fact that it is frequently available in deluxe sample size in gifts with purchase or as sample to select on the Estee Lauder Web site.

I have been using a Korres Jasmine Eye Makeup Remover ($21 and shown above) for about a year, and I really like it. Beyond the appeal of the Korres brand's natural products, it works, feels good, and makes me feel like I'm doing something good for the environment. It's fragrance-free, gentle, and contains pro-vitamin B5 to moisturize the skin. Here's what it doesn't have: synthetic fragrances, dyes, pretrochemicals, phthalates, genetically modified organisms, or triclosan. I read a review of the product on Sephora's Web site, and the writer said that Korres has discontinued this product. Sephora still lists it, but as out of stock. That's disappointing...I wonder what Korres will introduce as its replacement. Something to anticipate!

Give one of these a try if you are looking for a new eye makeup remover!

Photos courtesy of Sephora and OCuSOFT.

Vichy Set to Introduce New Products for Dry Skin

The French skin care line Vichy, owned by L'Oreal, will introduce four new products this month. Of particular interest to me are the products for dry skin.

Aqualia Mineral Balm will be the first purchase on my list. The thick cream contains a highly concentrated amount of Vichy’s signature thermal spa water, naturally enriched with 15 trace elements and mineral salts. This active product is designed for dehydrated skin and is free of parabens, fragrances, and preservatives. Even better, it will be available in a pump dispenser (love that!) and will retail for $35.

There will also be two new Liftactiv products, including an SPF 20 lotion and Liftactiv CxP Dry Skin Formula, a cream designed especially for chapped or leathery skin. Like the other products in the Liftactiv CxP line, these two products contain peptides and vitamin C to help fortify new fiber-producing cells. Both products will retail for $43. Don't fear when you read terms such as "chapped" and "leathery" - that's just marketing speak for dry or really dry.

Vichy is available at upscale drugstores, such as CVS Healthy Skincare Stores, and Vichy USA.

Photo courtesy of CVS.