Further Information & Suggestions
Where do you get your products?
The cosmeceuticals I list are sourced internationally from individuals and leading companies who provide some of the most advanced cosmeceuticals available today for use in salons and day spas. I simply repackage them into basic bottles in affordable quantities. Naturally, I repackage under the strictest hygienic conditions to ensure product integrity.
How are they different to retail products?
You don't always get what you pay for because cost doesn't equal efficacy. The new, "Super Cream" may contain scientifically proven actives, but not in the minimum concentrations required for them to actually work. Ceramides, Matrixyl, Hyaluronic Acid, Idebenone, Argireline etc. are very expensive, so most retail companies add as little as possible of these actives into their formulations; in many cases, even less than has been scientifically established to be the minimum concentration required for an actual result. For example, L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) must have a minimum concentration of 5% within any formulation to become an, "active". This means that a product containing 2% L-Ascorbic Acid effectively contains no L-Ascorbic Acid at all. Another example is promoting a ceramide based product and formulating with a cheaper pseudo-ceramide (Cetyl amide - Hexadecanamide).
Some actives must also be within a formulation of a certain pH to remain active. L-Ascorbic Acid cannot penetrate the epidermis unless it's within a highly acidic environment. Buffered to a neutral pH, this active become inactive or virtually inactive and of little or no benefit to the skin. Many skincare companies completely neutralise their L-Ascorbic Acid based skincare because acidic products have a tendency to sting or redden sensitive skin. This light stinging and flushing usually fades quite quickly, but if a certain percentage of customers believe they have experienced an allergic reaction to the products, it reduces their customer base and can potentially damage their reputations.
Putting certain actives togething in the one product is sometimes nothing more than a marketing ploy. DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) increases muscle tone to tighten facial skin whilst Argireline (Acetyl hexapeptide-3) relaxes muscle tone to reduce dynamic wrinkling on the areas to which it's applied. These two actives directly oppose one another's actions, so putting them together in the one formulation is absolutely pointless.
Products containing Argireline (Acetyl hexapeptide-3) should only be applied to areas of dynamic wrinkling. Do you want or need the skin around your jawline loosened?
Another popular marketing ploy is to put two known, and not necessarily good, actives together and call it something entirely different to create excitement about a, "new" active or to differentiate that product from the competition's. What is Boswelox TM? Apparently it's boswellia extract and manganese, the former a questionable topical anti-inflammatory commonly used for joint pain and the latter a well known oral supplement which is claimed to relieve the symptoms of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. If 74% of the women polled said they noticed a reduction in wrinkles after using this product for 6 weeks (that's about as close to scientific analysis as most of these companies get), I'd like if and how much they were paid to participate in that, "study".
I believe we've all also seen the before and after pictures with the model very obviously squinting in the, "before" to create as many wrinkles as possible and the appearance of a dramatic improvement in the, "after" picture by just relaxing her face, but one of the worst examples I've ever seen was during a segment on, "Today Tonight" and the promotion of an expensive Vitamin C based range by a well-known company. The results from using products from this range appeared amazing, however, it was only by reading the very small graphic at the bottom of the screen where consumers were informed that the models had also received Botox, Restylane and Microdermabrasion treatments during the trial phase.
I do genuinely loath the retail beauty industry for the aforementioned reasons and refuse to sell anything which isn't the best example of each product of it's kind, so all contain scientifically proven actives at least the minimum concentrations required for an actual result, and in most cases, several times that.
Which products are best for my skin?
All the cosmeceuticals I sell are anti-aging/anti-wrinkle and suitable for mature skin, however, as one may address a particular need a little better than another, my basic recommendations are as follows:
Dull, Tired, and/or Congested Skin
The L-AA (Pure C) Serum Concentrate and the Retinol-A Complex Regenerative Treatment
Dry and Coarse Skin, and Anti-Wrinkle
The Matrixyl & nasHA Serum and ULMW HA & NS-CERcream
Acne, Pimples, Comedonal Acne (Black/Whiteheads)
The Retinol-A Complex Regenerative Treatment
Dynamic Wrinkles/Lines (those lines and wrinkles resulting from facial expression and movement)
The Acetyl HexaPeptide Serum Relaxant
Puffiness Dark Circles (around immedate eye area) Dynamic & Static Wrinkles/Lines (around immediate eye area)
The Active-5 Peptide Eye Therapy
Smokers, Those Living in Areas of High Pollution, and Anti-Wrinkle
The Idebenone 1% Serum Forte
Which product do I apply first?
As a general rule, the order of application (for those who've purchased more than one cosmeceutical) is as follows:
1. Acetyl HexaPeptide Serum Relaxant (AM/PM)
2. Matrixyl & nasHA Serum (PM)
3. Idebenone 1% Serum Forte (PM)
4. L-AA (Pure C) Serum Concentrate (AM)
5. Retinol-A Complex Regenerative Treatment (PM)/ULMW HA & NS-CERcream (AM)
6. Active-5 Peptide Eye Therapy (PM) (can be used in conjunction with Acetyl HexaPeptide Serum Relaxant (if desired)
So, for example, those with both the Matrixyl & nasHA Serum and L-AA (Pure C) Serum Concentrate would apply the Matrixyl & nasHA Serum a couple of minutes prior to the L-AA (Pure C) Serum Concentrate if applying each twice daily. If applying only once daily each, the Matrixyl & nasHA Serum would be applied in the evening, and the L-AA (Pure C) Serum Concentrate in the morning. The Acetyl HexaPeptide Serum Relaxant should be applied twice daily for the first 30 days of use, then once daily (PM) after this period to maintain results.
