I get a lot of requests to review products that a.) deliver results, b.) work quickly, and c.) cost less than an arm and a leg.  That’s why I was really excited to try dermatologist-developed Azfasst ($19.99).  A company sent it to me a while ago, and after trying it, I was like, “Wow!”  The product makes your skin look smoother and clearer after just one use, without thinning the skin or drying it out. The secret to Azfasst is its inclusion of 6% lactic acid.  A popular alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), lactic acid can be... read more

Recently, my mother stopped over my place with Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment. “You have to try this!”  she gushed.  ”Everybody on TV is raving about it!” “But I’m already using argan oil,” I informed her.  ”I can’t use them both at the same time, or my hair will be like an oil slick!” Well, one woman’s plight is about to become others’ reason for enlightenment, at least when it comes to hair oil, because I just had to know:  What should I be using?  What is the... read more

Today’s post is from Alyssa Jacobs, a professional writer and webmaster.  Visit her site at AcneCentre.com. For many women, makeup is a huge part of their life.  Whether they only wear cover up or they wear it all, it has its obvious pros.  The cons, however, are not so obvious.  For some, wearing makeup has a direct correlation with facial blemishes.  Acne, for example, has become a major problem.  Since most makeup is applied to regions such as your forehead and cheeks, those are the areas that are most commonly taken over by... read more

When an eye cream claims to do five things in one single application, that raises eyebrows, even if it doesn’t necessarily, well, lift any eyebrows.  So imagine my surprise when I found First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream ($28.00, Sephora.com).  The cream claims to “smooth, firm, brighten, and nourish,” plus provide a “natural glow” to the skin.  But does it work? The Ingredients:  In Need of a Little First Aid Well, there’s good news and bad news.  The good news is that First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream... read more

For years, every morning, my mother would tell me to use baby powder instead of pricier pressed or loose cosmetic powders. “It absorbs the oil better,” my mother, a former beautician, would inform me before dusting the powder across my face. Around 1995, we heard a report that talc is bad for your skin, causing breakouts and clogging pores.  So we switched to regular ol’ powders.  Then, the other day, I was reviewing Estee Lauder Double Matte Oil-Free Pressed Powder – voted #1 on Total Beauty for oily skin –... read more

Once per week, we select one reader’s question as a post on Futurederm.com in our Friendly Friday segment.  This week, we hear from Oil Slick: Hi Nicki, How can I control my very oily skin? Specifically I am interested in procedures/products that my dermatologist can recommend because the beauty products on the shelves now don’t help much. Thanks a bunch, Oil Slick” Dear Oil Slick, There are a number of products out there for oily skin.  There are three primary categories you should look for in ingredients:... read more

Recently my good friend Skittle asked me to review men’s skin care.  It sounded like a lot of work, given that I’m not a man and all, but I decided to give it a try. Turns out that men’s skin is not that much different from women’s.  Granted, the differences are complicated, given that it simultaneously produces more oil (thanks to more sweat glands) and requires more hydration to achieve the same level of suppleness (due to its thicker surface), according to dermatologist Dr. Jaggi Rao.   However, many of the same... read more

Beauty consumers are suddenly turning to supplements at an alarming rate, and they are in excellent company:  over 75 percent of dermatologists and 66 percent of physicians admit to taking supplements, according to a 2011 survey published in United Press International.  Despite the fact the U.S. FDA has yet to approve the claims sponsored by most supplements, physicians claim they most often use them to support their own “health and wellness.” Right now, one of the best-selling supplements is Phyto Phytophanere (retail: $25.00... read more