Freeze 24/7 and GABA Technology

I am always on the lookout for cutting edge skincare and Freeze 24/7 has created a technology that is all their own and one of a kind. When first reading about this product, I flashed back to my Neuroscience class in order to really understand the active ingredients on this skincare and how it functions to reduce the appearance of signs of aging. This company calls their science "Age-Less Technology" and includes it in all the products that they have produced so far. I went to the Freeze 24/7 website to read some more background on this technology and I wanted to share it with everyone since it is a different approach to anti-aging and one that I have tried out and believe in.

"Freeze 24/7 products contain our patent pending Age-Less Technology; one of the most advanced technologies in the skincare market today. This innovative technology is comprised of a complex of unique ingredients which includes GABA. Used alone, GABA will produce no effect in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, used within our unique complex of ingredients, GABA helps to produce a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

"The Claim: Our signature Anti-Wrinkle Cream sounds too good to be true. That's why we commissioned an independent laboratory to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate and measure it's effectiveness. What did they find? 100% of the participants (everybody!) saw a 50-90% reduction of the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles within 10 minutes of application."

"Age-Less Technology: Instant Gratification. Freeze 24/7 products incorporate patent-pending Age-Less Technology, which includes the ingredient, GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid). GABA is produced in the body as a natural muscle relaxant, just as melatonin is produced as the body's natural sleep inducing agent. When used in conjunction with other key ingredients found within our proprietary complex, GABA works to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the facial area quickly, safely, and effectively with no side effects - just results. Freeze 24/7 products are safe and produce no side effects. Freeze 24/7 products do not require a prescription, and are comprised of cosmetically approved ingredients."

GABA is a major part of the neuroscience curriculum and I can speak for the effectiveness of this product based soley on that. GABA inhibits muscle function and contraction, exactly as Botox injections do. This cream relaxes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but inhibiting the muscle movement for up to 24 hours. This allows the fine lines and wrinkles to almost melt away. This complex is used in all the Freeze 24/7 products however it is found in the highest concentration in the hero product of this line, the Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment.

"Hope might not exist in a jar, but miracles do. This dream cream is for real and delivers a powerful punch against wrinkles. Watch them melt away within in minutes. 50-90% in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles within minutes of application. Freeze 24/7 Age-Less Technology works to diminish the appearance of forehead creases, droopy brows, crow's feet, furrows, laugh lines, feathered lips, and more. Reduces the appearance of ance scars, stretch marks, rosacea, and enlarged pores."

I was able to try this product out at the counter at Saks, the serum is the only item from the collection that I don't currently own or have owned in the past. This product is for treatment of signs of aging so this isn't a product that I currently need at the moment. However, I was shown that the best way to try this product out and show it to everyone is to put some on your knuckle and watch as the wrinkles uncrease. This is an area of deep wrinkling on your skin so when I saw how it worked on there, I became a believer. I am so impressed with the way this Age-Less Technology works on skin that I am a convert to this company and I recommend everyone go the Saks counter and check this line out.

photo courtesy of Freeze 24/7

Murad Essential C Night Moisture

Now that it will be winter in two weeks, I have had to up my skincare routine and try to find products that contain both powerful anti-oxidant protection and still are very hydrating since my skin is getting so dry that I think it might crack off my face if I ignore it for a day. With the craziness of the holidays in full swing right now, I wasn't able to get to Sephora right when I needed to so I had to rely on going through my bins of products and hope that something would jump out at me. And thankfully, it did.

I found a tube of Murad Essential C Night Moisture in one of bins. This product was given to me by a Murad rep at least a few months ago when I was at Bath and Body Works and she was helping me pick skincare out and having a discussion on the anti-oxidant protection that is available in all Murad skincare products. This product is more geared for older skin as it both protects from visible signs of aging and helps to correct the ones that are already present. This product is the night moisturizer in the best-selling Essential C line of products from Murad. This whole line is based on Vitamin C and the benefits that it provides to the skin. I have used many other Murad products with great results so I was very happy when I found this forgotten gem in my collection.

Murad states that this product "Encourages healthy cell renewal to reveal younger looking skin overnight". It has two primary benefits. The first is that it reduces morning creases and the second is that it neutralizes toxins and fights free radicals. I have two more benefits to it in addition. The first is that it hydrates my skin very well and the second is that it hydrates without a greasy feel and I have yet to break out from this product. Also the smell reminds me of a citrus fruit but it is light and while it might bother certain people, I feel that it adds to the allure of the product. I do use this product both morning and night even though it is without an SPF and therefore should only be used as a night cream. I have found that during the colder months, I need a separate moisturizer and then a layer of sunscreen to help protect my skin, so overall it works for me to use this night product during the day. And as an added bonus, since the product is not greasy, I can easily wear it during the day.

Overall, I am very happy that the Murad rep gave me this product and I would recommend it to anyone with dry to normal skin for use day or night. This product makes me want others from this same collection, especially the matching cleanser.

photo courtesy of Murad

Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminee

The last month or so I have been test driving this facial moisturizer. Caudalie has never let me down before so I was excited to find this product and start using it. This product is moisturizer designed as an anti-oxidant skin protectant for normal to combination skin types and it is part of the Energizing line of products. I love the easy to use squeeze tube that this product comes in. It is the perfect tube since the product is easy to get out but it isn't that hard to control the amount of the product that the container dispenses.

Here is the product description from the company, "This moisturizing cream is remarkably effective at preventing sagging of the skin, providing it with energy, smoothness, and a matte finish that lasts throughout the day. Wrinkles are visibly smoothed and your skin is radiant." This prpduct is recommended for women with normal to dry skin in search of a lifting effect.

I many not need the lifting effect yet but on all other counts, this is great product. I love the matte finish that it gives my skin. With all the rain and humidity that this are has been experiencing the past few weeks, I really need a product that deliver on the promises of a matte finish. After using this producgt, my skin is much softer and my cheek area is much less tighter than usual. I haven't broken out from this product. I am am very happy with this product so far and I think that it is a great choice for my skin in the warmer months.

This product is available in a cream form (which is the one that I am using) and a lighter fluid form. I think the fluid form would not be enough to hydrate my dry areas but someone with oiler skin than mine would greatly appreciate the lighter texture of the fluid product.

I still have yet to get a major miss from Caudalie and I feel that I have used at least 75% of their product line so far.

photo courtesy of Caudalie

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

Going off of the wonderful luck that I have had with the 100% Pure body products, I am deciding to expand my horizons into their skincare line. I looked on their website and I found some cleansers that look very enticing and a bunch of other products that I certainly mind having but I decided to zero in on one product, the Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. My B. Kamins Therapeutic Eye Cream is amazing for dark circles but doesn’t really wow me in the puffiness area. The other day, I looked in the mirror when I woke up and almost died when I saw my face. This was the morning after a stress related crying fit but that doesn’t change the fact that I looked terrible. Quite frankly, looking like I felt terrible made me feel 100% worse so I decided to start searching for a new anti puffiness eye product.

I have heard rave reviews for this product and just off of the top of my head, I can think of two people that I know that really love it. I already know that caffeine speeds up the cells of the body so whatever it can help to slim down and improve the appearance of cellulite. Based on this assumption, I would assume that it would work to reduce the appearance of the puffiness in the same manner. Here is the description of the product from 100% Pure, “Anti-inflammatory, caffeine rich green tea and coffee de-puffs and reduces swelling while increasing circulation to alleviate and brighten dark circles. Concentrated with potent anti-aging vitamins, antioxidants, and nourishing blackcurrant oil. Truly, 100% Pure.”

Reduces swelling, puffiness, and increase circulation all while being an organic product that is actually good for my skin?! This is coming home with me the next time that I am able to get to a mall that carries this line. And I think that I will be looking into more face care products from this line too.

photo courtesy of 100% Pure

"Youth Movement" August 2008 Allure

The August issue of Allure contains an article in it entitled “Youth Movement”. The general gist of this article is that signs of aging can occur a lot sooner than what doctors and the beauty industry have always thought. The focus of this article is to tell women how to ward off and how to help to treat these signs without having to resort to the plastic surgeon.

The article starts by talking about photoaging and how 80% of the signs of aging are caused by UV exposure. I loved reading this because I am obsessed with covering myself in SPF 30 every single day and many people think I am crazy for it. It is really nice to be proved right for once.

The part of this article that I found to be the most interesting was the part about lines that form around the mouth. These lines seem to impossible to prevent since they occur when talking, drinking through straws, and the area is hard to consistently keep covered with SPF. The part that really made me think was about drinking through straws. I was at restaurant last night with a friend and I was served a drink with a straw in it and I realized how hard this would be to get around. However, one thing I can control is consistently exfoliating this area and applying moisturizer to it.

The second part of this article that really caught my interest is the section on dull skin. This talks about how when the early 30s are reached, skin will begin to lose its radiance and cell turnover is slowed and the skin then begins to appear dull, dry, and patchy. I never realized that by using a mechanical scrub on my face, I might actually not be helping it as much as I thought I was. The article states that people rarely ever can exfoliate their face evenly with a scrub of this type. The article recommends the use of an AHA peal to evenly exfoliate all areas of the face. I have only used AHAs once in my life and I only used that product once a week. I am intrigued about the Juice Beauty product that this article recommends for sensitive skin.

I feel like this article could scare some people into running right to plastic surgeon to prevent signs of aging. However, this article gives a very simple option on how to help prevent the signs of aging…wear an SPF 30 every single day!