Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog

Knock.  Knock.  Avon calling.  Avon always amazes us with their reserach and technology and budget-friendly price point, but when we read the headlines smathered on the internet that this is a new antiaging breakthrough, we sat up and took notice.   The premise behind Avon's Anew Reversalist  Cream and Serum is theoretically hopeful  -- we can always hope --  and again, at a good price point. 

What is the alleged science behing Activinol, the hottest new antiaging beauty product?

A team of Avon scientists studied how the skin heals itself in order to develop an anti-aging breakthrough. When you get a cut, it triggers the production of a key repair molecule, Activin. Since wrinkles are actually a result of micro-injuries to the skin, Avon scientists spent several years of ground breaking research in the study of Activin and its role in wrinkle repair. Avon scientists adiscovered how to activate this key repair molecule with a Activinol. Avon's patent is pending on Activinol.

What we liked:

• The product comes from a well-respected company - Avon.
• The product is readily available to be purchased online or through a local representative.
• The scent is non-offensive.
• The consistency is light but luxurious.
• Avon Reversalist Serum is made up of glycolic acid, pomegranate and Vitamin E, which are good antiaging ingredients. 
• Cost of product: Not bad!:  ANEW Reversalist Night Renewal Cream- $32 (1.7 oz) and ANEW Reversalist Renewal Serum $44 (1 oz)

What we would like to know more about:

• The science behind the product. Only limited information is provided at the company's website and from the reps.
• Impartial clinical trials.
• Customer testimonials that we can verify.

Disclaimer:  We were provided the product by the company.  For more information, please click here.

Avon's latest antiaging breakthrough, ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion, is infused with Gold Polypeptide Complex and Pro-Sirtuin TX, which allegedly work together to improve moisture and strengthen the skin, while fighting against deep wrinkles.

Anew is the world’s leading mass market anti-aging skin care brand offering breakthrough products infused with innovative technology at affordable prices.

Avon revolutionized skin care in 1992, when it was the first company to launch an anti-aging product containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids, which was Anew Perfecting Complex for Face.

The Anew brand boasts an assortment of skin care products that fight all stages of the aging process, whether our customer is preventing the early signs of aging in her 20s, or restoring the youthful texture of her complexion in her 50s. Anew is also well-known for pioneering products that serve as at-home alternatives to professional cosmetic treatments.

In clinical and consumer testing, ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion demonstrated the following results:

       • Immediately, skin’s moisture levels surge by more than 400%
       • In just three days, the look of deep wrinkles begins to soften
       • After ten days, skin looks supported and more resilient
       • In two weeks, skin looks up to five years younger
       • Over time, density is restored to skin by up to 25% and skin is more cushioned and younger looking

In Mother Blogger's trial of ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion, she did discover that her skin seemed to retain more moisture, which is one of the biggest concerns for her dry menopausal skin.  Lack of estrogen also increases her sensitivity of the skin, hyper-pigmentation, and fluctuations in blood flow, so she always wears sunscreen. (Discover her faves here.) 

After applying the luxurious gel-like product before bed, Mother Blogger's skin immediately felt more hydrated and continued to feel that way upon waking in the morning.  The scent light but faintly floral, which dissipated very quickly.

Avon's new antiaging moisturizer launched in July 2009  for $36 and can be purchased exclusively through Avon Representatives. To locate an e-Representative, visit www.avon.com.

Ding-Dong, Avon Calling.

As an aside, Mother Blogger's mom was an Avon Lady for a couple of years, so Avon has always had a soft spot in MB's heart.  In the early 1960s, MB would sneak in her mum's cache of Avon samples and play with the tiny one-inch white plastic lipstick containers and even smaller samples of liquid foundation her mum purchased from Avon to share with her clients, but MB turned out to be her BEST client!.  The day her mom retired her career as an Avon Lady was the best day of Mother Blogger's life:  She was gifted the entire Avon sample case.  The fond memories still brings tears of joy to Mother Blogger's eyes and fans the fire of her beauty product addiction.

Avon's new ANEW antiaging Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion $36  www.avon.com.

From expensive AmorePacific to budget-friendly Olay to Madonna's rumored fave, discover the best antiaging serums

Finding the perfect balance of moisture and effectiveness in an antiaging treatment isn't easy, but with the help of TotalBeauty.com product reviews, you can pinpoint the right skin care serum for your budget and skin type.

The Working Girl is a fan of Mario Badescu. While Mother Blogger slathers on every single serum on the list, she favors Chanel Age Delay Rejuvenation Serum which contains good antioxidants and gives her dry skin a soft glow.  But remember, nothings trumps sunscreen.

See serums

The Working Girl divulges a secret while singing the praises of Murad Post-Acne Lightening Treatment

The skincare giants have turned me on to their Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel.  I get the occasional breakouts and I'm a picker. 

I pick scabs. 

I pick zits. 

TMI.

Call it OCD, call it boredom, but I have never let my acne heal correctly.  From this obsessive picking, I have small scars, which are not noticeable when camouflaged with makeup. However, I know they're there. 

Murad Post-Acne Lightening Treatment is cooling, clear, and effective.  It transformed my small scarred blemishes into mere nothingness.  The main ingredient, Hydroquinone, has been proven to help fade acne. AHA clarifies and tones the skin.  Licorice and allatonin reduce irritation and inflammation of the skin. 

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!  Antiaging Bonus points!  Murad Post-Acne Lightening Treatment not only reduces acne scars but gets rid of unwanted age spots and freckles created by the sun's damaging rays.

Brains on Beauty:  Any woman can start loving their skin again for only $60, compared to laser treatments that will run you up to $1000.

To lighten your mood, check out the current headlines on Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog.

In 1958, long before Mother Blogger was born --  okay, just kidding -- Mrs. Estee Lauder created the creme de la creme of creams -- Re-Nutriv.  In 2009, Estee Lauder introduced the NEW Re-Nutriv Intensive Lifting Lotion, which is a luxe, lightweight version of the cream.  But does Re-Nutriv really lift your skin?

Honey, Mother Blogger would need more than a lotion to lift the sagging skin on her experienced face.  But, it is a good lightweight silky moisturizer with antiaging ingredients that were absorbed quickly into the skin.  Precious botanical extracts, including Lady's Thistle Extract, coupled with Dill Fruit Extract from India, purport to help support the skin's natural levels of collagen and elastin to give skin support, spring, and flexibility.  Rare and precious extracts such as Tahitian Vanilla and Poria Cocos purport to help ward off the visible signs of aging, as key proteins rebuild and rejuvenate skin.

With humid and hot weather on the horizon, Estee Lauder's Re-Nutriv Intensive Lifting Lotion is highly preferable to a heavier lotion or a cream.  As the day progressed, Mother Blogger's skin continued to feel well hydrated without feeling greasy. 

If you are accustomed to paying department store prices, the suggested retail price of $160 probably won't put a dent in your wallet, but for recessionistas, this is your mother's lotion. 

Note:  We know that Mother Blogger said she wasn't going to use the word "recessionista" anymore, but apparently she's a liar.  LOL.

Smooches, Dahling. 

Health and Wellness Wednesday:  Skin Cancer Prevention

We haven't always been ardent about using sunscreen, but after having a few questionable spots removed, we have gotten smarter and discovered mineral sunscreens that we love.

Mother Blogger: My old-time fave is Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 (Sephora $30). It is truly brains on ageless beauty. It's the best thing I've added to my handbag, beach bag, and car since 1970 when fresh and wholesome CoverGirl Cybill Shepherd touted CoverGirl's Sugar Nut lipstick.  Of course I bought into the look, which included blonde hair, a white shirt, and a dark tan highlighted by CoverGirl Sugar Nut lipstick.  Egads, were we idiots!  Now every time I get in the car, I swish this transparent  mineral powder on my face (over makeup) and my pitifully spotted hands to provide protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.  (Okay, my pretties!  Please learn from Mother Blogger's mistakes and use sunscreen when you are young and save yourself from sun damage and wrinkles)  My favorite sunscreen to wear under makeup is La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer and Sunscreen SPF 15.

The Working Girl:  Sorry, Mom, but I'm still in the learning phase.  BUT I just tested Innovative Skincare Powder Sunscreen SPF 20 in Sun Medium, which is a tinted version of the SPF 20 Sunscreen Powder ($40).  I have to admit, I was surprised how this product gave my face a healthy "tan" glow. The tinted coloration blended easily with my natural skin tone and would be excellent for all skin types and ethnicities.  I have now added this to my fabulous White House Black Market White Woven Satchel ($88). (Gotta plug my wares when I have an opp. LOL.)

Both products contain Micronized Titanium Dioxide and Microfine Transparent Zinc Oxide, which are the two finest “physical” UV blockers. Both powders are applied easily through a retractable brush, without creating a pale look often associated with most forms of Titanium Dioxide.

Safe for all ages and skin types, these odorless sunscreens can be applied and reapplied quickly and easily over makeup or alone.

Also excellent for post-procedures like light skin peels and microdermabrasion. 

Related Articles:

• Raise Your Beach Fashion IQ
• Ageless Beauty on Brains:  4 Sunscreens to have in your Beach Bag
• Clothes with UPF
• 12 Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
• How To Camouflage Brown Spots
• How To Get Rid Age Spots
• Lip Shtick for Sun Protection

For current articles on Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog click here. 

If you have followed Mother Blogger's trek through the murky waters of antiging skin care products, you know that her No. 1 recommendation is Retin-A, but she has been and is a fan of NEOCUTIS, too -- for more reasons than just fighting wrinkles!  For years, cosmetic companies only focused on superficial flaws and preyed on people’s insecurities, but NEOCUTIS is trying to change that. 
 
For every NEOCUTIS product sold at dermatologists' offices or online during the month of May, $1 will be donated to The Sturge-Weber Foundation, which exists to improve the quality of life for individuals with port wine birthmark and related conditions through worldwide education, support, and research leading ultimately to a cure. It is the goal of NEOCUTIS that their partnership with The Sturge-Weber Foundation will inspire other cosmecutical brands to partner with charities.
 
Mother Blogger  on NEOCUTIS  Bio-Restorative Skin Cream with PSP

NEOCUTIS can be purchased online at various retailers such as www.DermStore.com; www.SkinElite.com, and www.LovelySkin.com as well as dermatologist offices nationwide. To find a physician, please visit www.neocutis.com. 

We all know that when we are running in the sun we are supposed to be wearing sunscreen with an SPF factor, but fighting the rays just got easier with workout clothes with UPF!

What Is UPF?
An Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) seal means the fabric blocks UVA and UVB rays. To earn a UPF label, clothing must undergo tests for both initial UV protection (determined in part by the tightness of the weave, the weight, the type of fiber, the color, and the amount of skin covered) and protection after two years of use. Most high-tech performance wear is specially treated with chemical UV absorbers, which partially block UVA and UVB rays. In addition, some fabric are treated with a chemical sunblock.

From Lands' End, this short sleeve shirt ($29) has a UPF 50+. 

So before you take that run in the sun, slather on the sunscreen and sport apparel that fights both UVA and UVB rays.

Follow my blog posts next week as I start a month-long NutriSystem Challenge. 

Jamie Temple, ACE, ACSM Personal Trainer/Fitness Specialist

Many companies now carry apparel with an UPF factor: 

• Landsend.com
• columbia.com
• merrell.com
• asics.com
• wallaroohats.com
• coolibar.com
• solumbra.com

Related Articles:

• Raise Your Beach Fashion IQ
• Enter to Win A Beach Bag of Banana Boat Products
• Ageless Beauty on Brains:  4 Sunscreens To Have In Your Beachbag
• Is Pale the New Tan?

Source:  Fitness

Health and Wellness Wednesday's Giveaway is brains on beauty!  One lucky reader will win a Beach Bag 'O Beauty filled with Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen products. 

We know that some of our readers don't think they need to apply sunscreen, but consider this:  If skin cancer doesn't scare the bejesus out of you, maybe vanity will:  Exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces.  One woman at age 40 who has protected her skin from the sun actually has the skin of a 30-year-old! 

Banana Boat products have been tested in the sun, not just the lab -- and tested on us!  The products are also an excellent option for outdoor sports enthusiasts who need to grip their equipment.  Tennis players will love that your racquet stays in your hand and not on the other side of the court.   We tested golf clubs, tennis racquet's, iPods and we maintained a velcro-like grip on our equipment.

Although we give Banana Boat products the Antiaging Award, the products contain avobenzone for complete broad-spectrum protection, but may not be appropriate for sensitive skin. Experts say that physical blockers -- titanium dioxide and zinc oxide -- are gentler and better suited to sensitive skin.

What's in the Bag O' Beauty?

• Banana Boat beach bag
• Banana Boat water bottle
• Two New Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen Sticks SPF UVB 50
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Suncreen Lip Blam SPF UVB 50
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF UVB 30
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Faces Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF UVB 30
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Suncreen SPF UVB 85
• Two Banana Boat Sport Performance Continous Spray Sunscreens SPF UVB 50

Answer the question below.  The answer does not affect the outcome.  Giveaway expires on midnight EST on May 14, 2009.  You may enter only one email address for this giveaway. One winner will be picked randomly by Contest Machine and will be notified by email.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email.  If there is no response, Contest Machine will randomly pick another winner. 

The winner will receive the Banana Boat beach bag filled with the products listed above.  United States and Canadian residents only. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules. This promotion is void where prohibited by law. Fulfillment provided by sponsor. 

Giveaway closed.  Congrats, Molly.

Sources: Web MD

OLAY Professional Pro-X Anti-Aging Starter Protocol:  Reviewed by Mother Blogger

As a longtime fan of budget-friendly Olay Regenerist, I was delighted to see a professional anti-agingskincare line added to Olay's long list of skincare products. 

Olay Professional is at the forefront of science and anti-aging technology.  Leading dermatologists and Olay skin scientists have partnered to establish the Olay Professional Alliance for Skincare Innovation.  Through this partnership, Pro-X was created to bring you prescribed protocols to protect, treat, and transform your skin's appearance in a three-step regimen.

The Anti-Aging Starter Protocol kit contains the following products: 

Olay Pro-X Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30:  Helps shield your skin from UVA/UVB exposure while hydrating to fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Olay Pro-X Eye Restorative Complex:  Designed for the delicate eye area and helps to restore the area to its optimum appearance by improving the look of dark circles, puffiness, and crow's feet with hydration. Additionally, Olay suggests massaging the cream under your eyes to reduce excess under-eye fluids.

Olay Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream:  Designed to smoothe uneven textures with moisture, combating the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Directions: 

• Protect skin in the morning with Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30. 
• Treat skin morning and night by applying Eye Restoration Complex to corners, lid, and sub-orbital eye area, massaging thoroughly until absorbed. 
• Treat skin at night with Wrinkle Smoothing Cream.

Results:

After a month of using the three-step regimen, I didn't notice a dramatic difference, but to refresh your memory, I slather on Retin-A every night.  As a result, my skin is very dry.  What was notable was that all three products in this skincare line were very moisturizing. 

Because Retin-A exfoliates as well, I also didn't notice much of a difference with regard to the removal of dead skin cells.

I am always delighted to see sun protection in any product, and with Olay Pro-X Age Repair Lotion containing an SPF of 30, it provides some sunscreen, although I would hope that all daytime moisturizers will amp up their SPFs in the future.

At an average retail price of $61.50, women who purchase mid- to premium-range skincare products from department stores might find the Olay Professional Anti-aging skincare line a great alternative.

Click here for a $25 rebate form. 

Related articles:

• Breakthrough Products for 2009
• Anti-Aging Articles
• Beauty Product Reviews

They said her body was too old, that she didn't have the strength or energy, but Dara Torres proved her doubters wrong at the toughest competition in the world.  She should be the poster girl for anti-aging, but instead 42-year-old Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is the cover girl of the April 2009 issue of More magazine. 

And we all know that Barbie Millicent Roberts turned 50 this year  -- the Barbie doll, that is.  Enter the Barbie Turns 50 Giveaway for a chance to win one of three prizes of a Time capsule doll, Barbie by Cake Beauty Jettsetter package, Barbie by Foxy Originals jewellery and key chain, Barbie by Town Shoes, David Dion t-shirt.  You can enter daily.  Expires April 22nd.  

Related Articles:

• Heidi Klum April 2009 Ladies' Home Journal
• Beyonce on April 2009 Vogue Magazine
• April 2009 Vanity Fair
• Gisele Bundchen April 2009 Harper's Bazzar
• Reese Witherspoon on April 2009 ELLE Magazine
• Mandy Moore April 2009 Marie Claire
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus on April 2009 Shape Magazine
• Katie Holmes on April 2009 Glamour
• Jessica Szohr April 2009 Glamour
• Sandra Bullock March 2009 InStyle Magazine

Did you know that the average woman will have lost 40 percent of her skin's collagen by the time she's 60 years old? Well before menopausal age, women need to start their wrinkle-prevention therapy according to Dr. Henry Hess, in his new book The Perfect Menopause: 7 Steps to the Best Time of Your Life.

Menopause is a source of fear for the average woman: Her sex drive comes to a screeching halt, she puts on 10 pounds, and suddenly, her face looks decades older, but Dr. Hess offers 7 steps to wrinkle-proof your face.

Whether you are 16 or 60, discover new ways to keep wrinkles at bay:

The Lazy Woman's Guide To Midlife Reinvention is brought to you by our entertaining and witty blogger Karen Hamilton.  Karen offers five tips to to make your midlife reinvention go a little more unwrinkled -- I mean smoothly.

Laugh and celebrate midlife with Karen.

Beauty product review of Alima Pure Holiday Collection:  Alima Pure is the perfect mineral makeup for the "green" fashionista on your holiday shopping list. The Holiday Collection is presented in two acts designed to create classic, festive looks.  It's a modern take on vintage Hollywood glamour.

All we can say is "Encore!  Encore!"

Why are we so taken with Alima Pure? Learn why.