PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINCEUTICALS NECK, CHEST AND HAND REPAIR

While I have been taking care of my skin on my face for as long as I can remember, I admit that one of those areas that I neglect is my neck and décolleté, which I've just treated with the left over face moisturiser on my hands topped up with a basic body lotion. This may have been sufficient years ago when I was younger, but sadly age is now starting to show, especially on my décolleté, but also on my hands, where the skin is starting to age with pigmentation getting worse and worse each year, needless increased after any sun exposure - so when the Neck, Chest and Hand Repair from SkinCeuticals landed on my doorstep, I was naturally very excited. 

This Neck, Chest and Hand Repair from SkinCeuticals is a targeted cream the addresses the skin quality and specific concerns of forgotten body areas frequently exposed to the sun, and it is formulate specifically to brighten and redensify and restore difficult to treat skin areas. 

 

The cream contains among others; 

• 1% Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid to stimulate desquamation for removal of surface excess pigmentation and inhibits melanin transfer to prevent excess hyperpigmentation
• 4% Sodium Tetrahydro-Jasmonate to promote desquamation for removal of excess surface pigmentation and activate fibroblasts to stimulate collagen and other proteins within layers of skin including DEJ to help redensify skin
• 3% Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract to stimulate collagen I synthesis and increases cellular renewal 

In other words, this cream contains concentrated brightening agents to help fade accumulated sun damage, age spots and excess hyper-pigmentation while inhibiting new melanin from building up. It also helps support collagen levels to plump the skin and alleviate creepiness, to make the skin look younger and healthier.

 

 

 

The Neck, Chest and Hand Repair has a lovely light gel consistency, that absorbs instantly into the skin making it feel so soft and without any greasiness or stickiness at all. It does clearly moisturise the skin, but personally I like to add a more intense moisturiser on top for added benefit. It comes in a pump bottle, which makes it very easy to use, and thanks to the gel consistency it spreads quickly and easily, so you don't need too much. It does have a slightly odd and spicy herbal scent, but is this is due to it being fragrance free, so this scent comes from the combination of plant extracts including jasmine extract, rose flower oil, cucumber fruit extract, sunflower seed oil, rosemary leaf oil, and turmeric extract, but as it is still quite subtle, I really don't mind, and much prefer this scent over an artificially added fragrance.

 

After having used the Neck, Chest and Repair for several weeks, I am happy to say that the skin on the worst affected area, my décolleté, without a doubt is looking more even in tone. Pigmentation has started to fade, in particular a larger cluster on my chest, but also some darker spots seem less noticeable. I am not sure if my skin is looking less 'creepy' and more plump - but the fact that my skin is looking brighter and more even toned, makes me very excited for the continued use of this repair treatment.

 

 

SkinCeuticals Neck, Chest & Hand Repair - RRP: $98 / 60ml

 

Available from Active Skin, Adore Beauty, RY, Skincare Store, and Advanced Coemeceuticals

 

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINCEUTICALS RESVERATROL B E

The last few years I have really started to notice a difference in my skin – and even more so in the past year, where a baby that’s keeping me up at night due to teething…. I read the other day, that new Mum’s lose a minimum of two hours of sleep for the first year of their baby…that’s equivalent of over 700 hours of missed sleep in a year..  Whoa, no wonder I often look a little tired and worse for wear and my skin is looking dull too!!  So when I was asked to trial a new serum from SkinCeuticals that promises to diminish the signs of accumulated skin damage and leave the skin strengthened and radiant, I happily accepted. Here are my thoughts on the *SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E;
 

 

What They Say:

This antioxidant night concentrate with a maximized concentration of 1% pure, stable resveratrol, synergistically enhanced with 0.5% baicalin and 1% alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) boosts skin’s own antioxidant defence system to promote its natural nightly repair for improved radiance, elasticity, and density.

RRP: $169 (30ml) – Available from Advanced Cosmeceuticals or from select stockists

What I Say:

I am sure that you have all heard of the health benefits from drinking red wine due to the Resveratrol, an antioxidant that is found in the skin of red grapes, and while it is nice to kick back after a long week with a nice glass of shiraz, the great news is now that resveratrol has also been proved an effective ingredient in anti-ageing skincare.

According to SkinCeuticals, with age and ongoing aggression, skin accumulates excessive free radical damage and loses its efficiency to effectively repair at night. This compounded effect leads to accelerated signs of damage such of loss of radiance, elasticity, and density.

The new SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E promises to neutralises age-accelerating internal free radicals, and promote the skin's natural repair to diminish the visible signs of accumulated damage, as well as strengthen its functionality to resist new damage.

I have now been using the SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E for over a month, and I am pleased to see that my skin is definitely feeling firmer and the general small lines have minimised, but where it is really noticeable is where I have frown line between my eyebrows (unfortunately inherited that one from my Mum, who’s got it too!), as that has significantly reduced in appearance.
 

My skin is also feeling incredibly soft and smooth, and I also think that the Resveratrol B E has helped even out my skin tone a little, as pigmentation and sun damage doesn’t quite look so bad, and my skin looks glowing and healthy.

The SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E comes in an easy to use pump bottle, and is best used in the evening after you’ve washed your face. As with all serums, you need to apply a moisturiser afterwards to seal in the goodness of the serum. However, compared to other serums I’ve been using, the Resveratrol B E is quite thick in consistency, and you can instantly feel how moisturising it is. And as I’ve just gone through a period with some nasty breakouts, I have to be honest and admit that I’ve been skipping the moisturiser afterwards as I’ve simply felt that they Resveratrol B E has been sufficient for my skin. And if I have used a moisturiser afterwards, it has only been the tiniest amount. And when I wake in the morning, my skin looks and feels nice, and far from greasy at all, and I’m glad to say too, that it has not made my skin breakout, which I sadly often does with intensive rich creams and serums.

The Resveratrol B E is incredibly concentrated, and while it says on the packaging to use 1-2 pumps, one small pump is more than sufficient to cover my face.
 

At $169 for a small 30ml bottle this stuff is far from cheap – actually, it is on the expensive side. However, after using if for over a month, I have not even used a third of the bottle so I can easily see it lasting 3-4 months. And as I have been really bothered with that frown line between my brows, and while I do not plan on getting anything done about it now or in the near future, if it gets dramatically worse in the future, I would not rule out getting something done about it, such as Botox, and in particularly if I feel it makes my face look tired and drained. So what’s $169… if this Resveratrol B E can help minimise these signs of ageing with such great results in just a month, then to me it is a bargain buy, and well worth it if it can delay, or possibly even completely rule out, more dramatic and far costlier measures.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

What do you think of SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E? Got any lines, wrinkles or frown lines that are bothering you? Would you consider Botox?

 

Product Review: SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector



Growing up in Denmark where the summers are short, and the sun rarely shines, meant that when the sun was finally out, so were we. All day long. And while I do remember wearing sunscreen, those were times when it was SPF2 and SPF4! A few lobster moments occurred! Fast forward a few decades, and my skin no doubt is now paying the price for those moments, in the way of sunspots and pigmentation, and add to that a recent pregnancy that in my case also meant an increase of pigmentation. And all in all, the skin on my face is more blotchy and pigmented than I am happy about. So when I was asked to trial the *SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, I happily accepted. Here are my thoughts;

 

What They Say:
"This powerful multi-layer treatment has been proven as effective as the leading medical standard in treating skin discolouration. Advanced Pigment Corrector is a highly effective, safe, full-facial approach to reducing stubborn discolouration and helping to prevent reoccurance. In addition to its efficacy on the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, Advanced Pigment Corrector also boosts skin tone evenness and radiance."

RRP: $129.00 (30ml) – Available from Advanced Cosmeceuticals, Select Stockists, RY and Active Skin
 
What I Say:
The SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, which has recently become available in Australia, was recently announced the winner of the 2013 Allure Best of Beauty Awards, Best of Beauty Breakthrough category, and it has been deemed by editors as the first-ever pigmentation product to repair damaged fibroblasts and prevent pigment from reoccurrence, and saying that the product achieves results on par with the strongest treatment currently available, 4% hydroquinone combined with prescription-strength retinol. Now doesn’t that sounds pretty amazing!


Formulated with an exclusive breakthrough cocktail, SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector features two high potency, clinically tested ingredients proven to work as efficiently as the leading pigment correcting ingredients to reduce skin discolourations, Ellagic Acid and Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid.

Skinceuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector introduces a multi-layered technology, working at all layers of skin to help correct unwanted pigmentation and precent reoccurrence.


The Skinceuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector claims to:

• Banish existing stubborn discolorations and block their reoccurrence
• Enhances skin’s resistance to new pigmentation 
• Improves skin’s luminosity for renewed radiance 

Multi-Layered Technology includes: 

• 0.5% Ellagic Acid – strong antioxidant that helps reduce melanin
• production and is as effective as 4% hydroquinone in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation
• 1% Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid – a non-toxic derivative of hydroquinone, shown to be as effective as 2% kojic acid to diminish the appearance of discolourations. Benefits include skin lightening and no cellular toxicity
• 0.3% Salicylic Acid: Exfoliates existing spots at the stratum corneum and enhances penetration 
• 5% Yeast Extract: Protects and stimulates fibroblasts to enhance skin’s resistance to new pigmentation

As well as dark spots , hyperpigmentation and uneven skintone, the Advanced Pigment Corrector also claims to help minimise the appearance of freckles and age spots, blemish-related discolorations, and hormonal changes.


It is recommended to use the Skinceuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector once or twice daily, apply a small amount to face after cleansing and other affected areas. For morning use, follow with a sunscreen and limit sun exposure.

In spite of being able to use the Advanced Pigment Corrector twice daily, I have to admit that due to the cost of this cream, I’ve only been using it at night all over my face under my night cream, and then using it as only on specific dark spots in the morning under usual day cream.


Redness and marks from past acne have faded, and pigmentation started to look noticeably lighter, and on particular dark spot on my forehead above my one eyebrow has clearly diminished it in both size and appearance. And this is pretty impressive on its own accord, as I’ve tried numerous other products which have failed to perform, but also the fact that it has done so in the height of summer, and although I do use a minimum of SPF30 when I am outside, there is still no denying that my face is exposed to more damaging UV rays during summer than in winter


Previously I needed to use a fair bit of concealer on top of my foundation to cover it up, but now a light foundation on its own can do the job.


Generally my skin looks brighter, more even and more radiant and glowing, and consequently I feel that I can get away with using less makeup.

The Advanced Pigment Corrector comes in a white frosted plastic tube with a pump, which I really like for both hygienic reasons and because it makes it easy to dispense just the amount of cream needed without any wastage.

 

The cream has the consistency of a light lotion, and absorbs quickly into the skin. It has a slight chemical scent, which luckily fades more or less as soon as it has absorbed into the skin.

Some products that are treating pigmentation are very harsh, yet the Advanced Pigment Corrector is very gentle on the skin, so gentle that it can be used twice daily, and without any stinging, burning, peeling or dryness and without turning my skin red and sensitive like other products have.


On the negative, this cream is rather expensive for just a 30ml tube, but it is seriously concentrated so you only need a little – and if you really want to make it last longer you can just use it as a spot treatment on specific pigmented areas.


What I like:

• It is effective, showing results very quickly
• Leaves my skin more even toned, pigmentation minimised, and with a healthier glow 
• It is very gentle and doesn’t sting, dry out or irritate the skin

What I Don’t Like:

• It is a little expensive

As we sadly all know, things do not happen overnight, so dark spots and pigmentation that have taken decades to develop, sadly don’t just disappear overnight, but already after just a few weeks of use of the Advanced Pigment Corrector, I started to noticing such a major difference that I am already excited about what continued use of the will do to my skin tone. And for that reason, although it might be a little pricey, but to me it is actually worth it, as for once, this is actually a product that lives up to its claims. 

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

  

Have you tried any of the products from Skin Ceuticals? Concerned with pigmentation? What do you use to minimise pigmentation and sun damage?