Freeze 24/7 Skin Glace Daily Detoxifying Cleanser and Mask

If your skin is anything like mine, as soon as the temperatures begin to drop, my face becomes much drier and I am using more hydrating products than ever before in the year on my face.  This is the time of the year that I tend to go through skincare products the fastest and am almost always trying something new to see if I can find a new gem to add to my permanent skincare collection.  Usually I spend most of my money on serums and moisturizers but I decided to try something different and add a new cleanser to my skincare regime.  I had seen the Freeze 24/7 Skin Glace several years ago at Nordstrom and was interested in it from the moment that the counter sales associate tried a bit of it on my skin.  Somehow the product feels as though it is cleaning out every single one of my pores and cooling my skin at the exact same time...this is not the normal style of product that I go after so even though I was very interested in it, I skipped over it for the moment.

I have remained interested in it for the past few years so I just decided to take the plunge and add it to my Nordstrom cart and see how it works on my face.  Foaming face cleansers are usually not my top choice this time of the year but I reasoned with myself that if it really seemed drying I would then just put it aside until next spring and then use it again.  As of right now, I have used the product three times without any dryness or irritation problems so I think it is safe for me to keep using it throughout the rest of the fall and then into the winter. 

Why did this product capture my attention and then hold it for the next few years?  The answer is that is just so different than anyting else on the market especially when I first looked at it in the beginning of 2009.  It comes out as a bright teal gel and then quickly foams up when it is applied to the face.  I have never used a product like this before and deicided that it was time for me to try something completely different several weeks ago.  Using this product now has me craving all different types of skincare products and is breaking me away from my creamy cleansers a bit...

The product is available from Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and several other department stores, along with the Freeze 24/7 website.  The best product description is from the Freeze 24/7 website so this is where I pulled all of my information from.  "Want gorgeous skin fast? Why not multi-task?
Use our daily self-foaming cleanser to dissolve impurities, sweep away imperfections and get smooth, supple skin on contact. Use as a daily mask to take average skin from 'so-so' to stunning in two minutes flat.  Contains a proprietary complex of Bio-transformed Rice Bran and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein for deep cleansing, maximum skin purification, detoxification and hydration.  Effectively unclogs pores, removes excess oil and impurities.  Leaves skin visibly soft, supple, and healthy.  Replenishes skin’s natural moisture balance.  Calms red, irritated skin.  Dissolves make-up and other impurities.  Can be used as an effective shaving cream for men and women." 

This product contains the patented Freeze 24/7 anti-aging technology, a GABA-based ingredient set that produces both instant results and long term benefits.  I have used many Freeze 24/7 products over the years and have never been unhappy with anything from this company.  I don't need the serum yet from this company, however I have seen great results from the cleansers and moisturizers.  I can see an immediate different in my skin after use of this cleanser and am also beginning to see the rest of the soothing benefits from the product. 

This product can be used as a daily cleanser or a mask.  The Freeze 24/7 website provides instructions on how to use it either way.  I really appreciate that this company takes the time to provide full instructions and make sure that the user really gets the full benefits from the products.  To use as a daily mask: "Smooth a generous amount of product evenly over damp face and throat, avoiding the eye area. A rich foam mask will immediately form on skin. Leave on for 1-2 minutes allowing product to draw out impurities and hydrate skin. Rinse well with water by massaging in a circular motion OR simply wipe away with a dry cloth, tissue or towel."  To use as a daily cleanser: "Lather and massage evenly onto damp face and neck. Rinse well with water by massaging in a circular motion OR simply wipe away with a dry cloth, tissue or towel."

I use this product slightly differently than the brand suggests, I use it once or twice a week as a mask to help deep clean and brighten.  I don't really think that I need to use this product every single day, I would only recommend it for daily use if you have oily skin and/or acne issues.  I don't need that much deep cleansing action every single day.  I get the most benefits from the soothing and redness-reducing properties from this product.  After use as a mask, my skin looks instantly brighter and ask several uses, the redness in my cheeks is lessened and now is much easier to conceal with a light layer of foundation or tinted moisturizer. 

The foaming action is the most unique aspect of this product, I am sure that the same results could be achieved with another type of mask or cleanser however the texture of the gel and then the feel of the fomaing action is what will make this product one that I continue to purchase.  As soon as the product hits the skin, it starts to foam up and you will swear that yoiu can feel it cleaning out your pores.  After about two minutes, the foaming action has finished and I rinsed the mask off.  The mask cools my skin and I want to try it when I get very stressed out from school and my skin will get bright red and heat up, I can't wait to see the results when I use it then. 

I love this mask and wish that I wouldn't have waited so long to try it.  I will keep using it once a week in the cold weather months but I bet that I could go up to twice a week during the warm weather.  This will never be a daily cleansing product for me but this will be a product that I continue to order from Nordstrom and that will hold a very special place in my skincare collection!

photo courtesy of Freeze 24/7

Freeze 24/7 Ice Cream Double Scoop Face Moisturizer

Over the past few weeks, I talked about the Freeze 24/7 line of skincare and the technology behind their revolutionary anti-aging formulations. The product that we focused on that day was the serum, the hero product of the line. The serum is designed to to be a repair product and not a preventative product so today I have decided that I am going to write about a preventative product that I have had great results with from Freeze 24/7. Ice Cream Double Scoop is the moisturizer that is offered with this line and can be used by both skin that is in need of wrinkle reduction and skin that isn't at that stage in the aging process yet.

Freeze 24/7 provides the following product description on their website. "A smoothing, moisturizing complex that provides intense hydration while nourishing, firming, and toning skin - provides immediate and long term benefits. This high-tech, super-charged skincare cocktail takes the moisturizing experience to the next level. Luxurious and exceptionally hydrating, Ice Cream Double Scoop is a powerful moisturizing complex of ingredients that hydrate the skin while providing serious anti-aging benefits".

" A powerful moisturizing complex that hydrates, nourishes, firms, and tones the skin. Works with all Freeze 24/7 products to enchance their performance, while also functioning as a powerful, luxurious stand-alone intensive moisturizing treatment. Diminishes expression line formations while shielding skin from oxidative stress and UVA/UVB rays. Skin looks supple, vibrant, and healthy - noticeably radiant and smooth. Reduces the appearance of facial expression lines and other common signs of aging. Fights free radical damage and oxidative stress with L-Carnosine & Green Tea Extract. Not tested on aminals and contains no aminal by-products. Dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, non-sensitizing, allergy tested, clinically tested, non-irritating".

I used this product both morning and night on dry skin. The texture is very close to that of marshmellow fluff, it doesn't say it in the description but this is a product targeted for dry to very dry skin. When I reviewed the ingredients, I found that one of the ingredients is shea butter, confirming my thoughts on the skin this is targeted to treat normal to dry skin. This was a great choice for my skin in the winter but as soon as the weather begins to get warm, this will be way too heavy. The cream sank into skin very quickly and left no residue behind. This cream contains the same Age-Reversal technology that the serum contains however it contains a much reduced amount of that ingredient.

Within the first week of use, I noticed a bit of extra redness in my cheek area however it quickly went away after that time. I didn't have any problems with it after that initial reaction period. This moisturizer made my skin much softer and is a great choice for normal to dry skin in cooler weather. With the texture of this product, I really feel that Freeze 24/7 should release a lighter version of this hydrator since this one is just not targeted for those with oily or even semi-oily skin. This is lovely moisturizer in the dry winter temperatures but it will be unusable in the warm months. As I stated above, Freeze 24/7 needs to make a lighter version of this moisturizer and then they will be able to capture more customers.

photo courtesy of Freeze 24/7

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

Freeze 24/7 Ice Crystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish

Freeze 24/7 Ice Crystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish is my current facial scrub. This product is the closest to a professional microdermabrasion that I have ever felt. I originally received this product ages ago as a thank you from Freeze 24/7 for selling for much of their product when I was at Bath and Body Works. I chose this product from their line becuase this is heavy duty scrub that I was promised would help even out some of the acne scarring on my forehead. I have had mild acne scars since the summer after my freshman year in high school and the marks aren't bad enough that I feel it necessary to go to a doctor or to get on a prescription. But I still notice them and when the offer was made for me to pick any product from Freeze 24/7 for free, I jumped on one that would help to fade them away.

Freeze 24/7 is skincare line that specializes in products that provide both instant gratification and long term effects. This product is not quite as much an instant gratification product as it is long term product since I didn't begin to see changes in my skin texture until using it for well after two months.

The product is described as follows, "Our rejeuvenating polish instantly resurfaces and retextures your skin all in a matter of minutes. Works to eliminate blotchy, discolored skin to reveal a natural, radiant glow - right at your fingertips. See (and feel) the difference in minutes." On the website, Freeze 24/7 provides the clinical testing results (the tests were performed over a 28 day period however this is all the information that is given". According to Freeze 24/7, the following statistics were observed. 55% saw a reduction in age spots, 35% saw a reduction in scar intensity, 41% saw a reduction in surface roughness, and 37% saw a reduction in sebum content.

The website also lists more features and benefits of the product. They are as follows...

- Retextures skin to reveal a smooth and even appearance with uniformly calibrated diamond-shaped crystals that provide precise and even skin resurfacing.

- Illuminates and rejuvenates dull, dry, lifeless skin, restoring a healthy glow

- Improves circulation and the production of elastin and collagen with Active Massage Beads encapsulated in Jojoba, which helps repair skin damage due to aging, sun exposure, and environmental aggressors.

- Decongests acne-prone skin and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots, blemishes, hyper-pigmentation, and enlarged pores.

- Resurfaces and smoothes hands to help reduce age and sun spots.

- Non abrasive and void of irritation.

- Allows for rapid and effective absorption of Freeze 24/7 Age-Less Skincare products and/or your daily skincare regime.

The company recommends that this product be used daily for all skin types except senstive. Sensitive skin should only use this product 2 to 3 times per week. I found that that is much too frequent for my skin and I use it once a week only. The texture is said to be non abrasive but I found that it was much more abrasive than any other facial scrub that I have ever used. I don't mind the texture but I cannot use it frequently enough to see full results in only 28 days. And I must hydrate my skin after using this product to calm down redness from the scrubbing action.

This product was originally packaged in a jar (which is the version that was given to me) but now has been updated to a much more convenient (and less wasteful) squeeze tube.

This product is much more abrasive than the company claims however the other claims made by the company are much more accurate to its performance. My acne scars are much lessened and less noticeable. I would recommend it to anyone with this type of scarring but I would caution them to only use it once or twice a week in order to avoid irritation.

photo courtesy of Freeze 24/7

Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser

Freeze 24/7 is a company that is most known for it's anti-aging skin creams and the instant gratification that they are able to provide. Their skin creams are among the best selling products at Bendels and Saks and have attracted a near ravenous cult-like following. However, this company didn't really have many porducts designed to prevent signs of aging, their technology was targeted to products that only have treat the current signs of aging. But, given the time, this company has managed to release a cleanser that is the first of its kind, just as their skin creams were several years ago. This product is called Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15 and happens to be a favorite of mine. I first tried this product out two summers ago and haven't looked back since.

This product is the first-ever face wash to contain an added SPF and has been recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective form of sun protection. One major reason that this product is effective is that it is very easy to use in the morning and is not an extra step that could be forgotten or passed over when hurrying. And we all know that the easier a product is to use, the more likely that it is will be used consistently and correctly.

Freeze 24/7 describes the product as follows, "A world's first in preventative anti-aging skincare. By simply washing your face, Ice Shield provides protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays, one of the leading causes of skin aging. This super-charged SPF cleanser protects, hydrates, and clarifies your complexion while infusing skin with essential anti-oxidants. Easy to apply, rinses off like an ordinary cleanser, and doesn't leave a greasy residue like a traditional sunscreen. What better way to feel protected from everyday incidental sun exposure. Skin is clean, refreshed, and always protected...all day, every day, winter, spring, summer, and fall".

A couple key ingredients...

Aquea SPF Technology - shields away impurities and hamrful effects of UVA/UVB rays.

Avobenzone - a key sunscreen active ingredient and recognized by the FDA as an effective UVA filter.

White Willow Extract - natural source of salicylic acid for gentle skin clarification.

White Tea Extract - natural source of anti-oxidant for added UV protection.

Coconut Extract - natural source of emollient for superior skin hydration.

Panthenol - nourishes and smoothes the skin.

Silk Amino Acids - conditions the skin.

Tocopheryl Acetate - helps to fight against free radicals.

This product is very creamy and still manages to rinse cleanly. It has a light, unoffensive fragrance that is uni-sex and shouldn't bother even those who are most affected by fragrances.

The key to this product is that the SPF stays on the skin based on charged ions that attract the SPF ingredients but do not attract the rest of the ingredients in the cleanser. This is a fantastic idea and a great product however as stated by the company, this product is meant for incidental sun exposure. Like walking to the subway. Or sitting in an office with a window in it. It is not recommended for prolonged time spent in the sun (like at a beach for the whole day). If that is the scenerio, than a much higher SPF is recommended.

photo courtesy of Freeze 24/7