Monthly Archives: September 2011

Product Review: Curel Natural Healing Moisturizing Lotion with Aloe, Green Tea, and Cucumber Extracts

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Ah, yes, the “natural” product craze continues.  Curel jumps on the Green S.O.S. Boat (and does a fantastic job, I might add) with its Natural Healing Moisturizing Lotion with Aloe, Green Tea, and Cucumber Extracts ($7.97, Amazon.com).  Filled with effective ingredients, and priced very reasonably, it’s a must-have for soothing and moisturizing your skin!  There’s not much not to love about this product.  Aloe vera has been a popular folk remedy since the 1930’s, during which time the ingredient was used... read more

Spotlight On: Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

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Although fish and flaxseed have always been considered healthy, there seems to be more talk than ever about the benefits of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.  And for good reason: more and more research seems to indicate that these fatty acids are good not only for your skin, but also for your brain, circulation, heart, and overall well-being. Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha linoleic acid and eicopentaenoic acids, according to The Prescription for Nutritional Healing.  The text also states that sources of omega-3′s include deep... read more

Spotlight On: Royal Jelly

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One of the newest ingredients to hit the mainstream market is royal jelly.  A honeybee secretion produced by young worker bees, royal jelly has recently gained popularity due to claims that the ingredient is very hydrating and may demonstrate some antioxidant activity.  According to the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the active extract in royal jelly, royalisin, may further demonstrate some antibacterial activity, and the journal International Immunopharmacology reports that royal jelly may inhibit atopic dermatitis-like lesions, at least... read more

Introducing The Best Sunscreen Yet: Tinosorb!

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For all of you out there who love a good sunscreen as much as I do, there is new hope:  Tinosorb (bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine).  Unlike some other sunscreens, Tinosorb is highly photostable, retaining its levels of UV protection even after exposure to UV rays.  Yet, the best part of Tinosorb is that it is the most effective UV protection available for both UVA and UVB rays, according to a 2007 study published in the European journal Pharmazie.  Tinosorb’s secret?  It is not just a physical sunscreen that prevents... read more

Product Review: PRIORI Radical Defense

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Occasionally, a product comes along with a concept I adore.  One such product is Priori Radical Defense ($120.00 retail, $110.00 on SkinCareRx.com).  Named one of the 30 greatest beauty products of our time by the British Telegraph, Priori Radical Defense combines a potent dual chemical/physical broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 with antioxidant powerhouse idebenone in a side-by-side pump dispenser.  Pretty clever, if I do say so myself. Idebenone is an incredible antioxidant that is technically a stable analog of the antioxidant coenzyme... read more

Do Tall Women Need More Sunscreen?

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Although shorter women can’t be runway supermodels, they may have one advantage: women who stand below 5 foot 6 inches tall are 30 percent less likely to develop skin melanoma than their taller counterparts, according to research from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, reported in the August 2008 issue of Self.  There are several reasons why taller women may be more susceptible to skin cancer.  The first is that height may be linked with the production of higher levels of hormones that increase skin... read more

Product Review: Exederm Ultra Sensitive Skin Care

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Recently, I was surprised to find a line that gives whole new meaning to the word “cosmeceutical”: Exederm Ultra Sensitive Skin Care. Exederm is a line formulated for sensitive skin that contains no colors, parabens, lanolin, fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfate or formaldehyde. But what really surprised me about Exederm products was relatively high non-prescription concentration of hydrocortisone in the Flare Control Cream – 1%. Hydrocortisone is a synthetic form of the stress hormone, cortisol, that used to be known as... read more

Product Review: NARS Balancing Foaming Cleanser and Hydrating Moisture Cream

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I apologize for not posting for a few days.  I got promoted at work and got a puppy, so I have been very busy!  With that said, I was ecstatic to recently try NARS Balancing Foaming Cleanser and Hydrating Moisture Cream.  Designed to be both luxurious and effective, the duo claims to be packed with Active Phytoseed Complex and antioxidants to reivtalize the skin.  NARS Balancing Foaming Cleanser contains mostly water, stearic acid, PEG-8, myristic acid, and glycerin.  Stearic acid (octadecanoic acid for you organic chemistry lovers) is... read more