Skin Care News

Obagi Clear – Product Review

Posted on July 7, 2009 with 25 Comments

If you’re looking for a skincare product that not only moisturizes your skin but can also clear excessive skin freckling and sun spots, then you can do a lot worse than use Obagi Nu-Derm Clear.

Whether you want to use it as a standalone cleanser or alongside a whole plethora of other — particularly soaps and

Obagi Clear

moisturizers — this product proves to be quite the effective cleanser either way. The bottom line is that as a regular maintenance skin rejuvenator, Obagi Clear is more than enough to suit your needs for whitening and lightening skin on the hands as well as clearing and fading age spots, dark spots and liver spots that naturally come with aging.

In just three weeks of regular application, you should be able to attain dramatic results. Granted, the efficacy of a product’s skin rejuvenation prowess tends to come in a case-to-case basis, but there has been quite a lot of positive customer feedback in regards to it’s dermatological ability.

Moreover, it’s gentle on your skin, so you won’t have to worry about developing side effects like skin sensitivity and rashes whenever you use this cleanser.

(Purchase at SkinEnergizer.com by following this link >> Obagi Clear)

It’s reportedly even more successful in removing blemishes and acne than many other creams, concealers, retinol-based products, and topical agents. It’s not exactly a miracle worker, but at the very least Obagi Clear does work well enough when it comes to clearing dermal imperfections. The only real question here is how severe must a skin condition be before it can be rendered ineffective.

At any rate, did you know that the product can also be used to help deal with hyperpigmentation breakouts severe enough to need microdermabrations? Yes, it can. In the same way it helps freckles slowly “fade” away, an everyday regimen (alongside products like Retin-A) should do the same to hyperpigmentation problems.

Of course, realistically speaking, for a condition as extreme as hyperpigmentation, it’ll take quite a bit of time before Obagi Clear can work its magic. Nevertheless, the results tend to speak for themselves. In just one week, you’ll notice that the small age spots on your skin have disappeared, while the bigger, more visible ones tend to gradually fade over time.

No wonder even facialists and dermatologists recommend this product to their patients! By a few more weeks, months, or so (depending on the severity of your condition), your hyperpigmentation problem (or any other related, non-surgical skin condition) should dissipate altogether. Furthermore, it’s a lot less expensive and skin damaging than going through a microdermabrasion procedure.

All-in-all, Obagi Clear is a must-buy skin product that only has its long and frequent treatment periods as its only drawbacks. It gets 9.1 out of 10 stars.

Using Phytotonine® for Rosacea or Spider Veins

Posted on May 28, 2009 with 2 Comments

StriMedix-K Spider Vein Treatment

The most common non-surgical treatment for bruises, spider veins and rosacea are creams that contain Vitamin K. Generally they are pretty highly concentrated and are formulated with other actives such as Aloe, Gigawhite, Vitamin E or Panthenol.

While combined you get many properties and benefits for vein restoration (better said healed), the objective is to help improve circulation via enhanced valve function, improve wall structure to reduce leaking and permeability of capillaries, and aid in nutrition delivery.

This helps fade clear and heal bruises, spider veins, and rosacea; and helping reduce possibility of recurring symptoms.

Recently, an ingredient developed by Croda™/Sederma™ – Phytotonine® – has been used successfully to supplement Vitamin’s K & E and other formulations.

Phytotonine – Veinotonic effect derived from the synergistic effect of three plant extracts, Arnica, Cypress and Soloman Seal. By toning the capillary walls and reducing capillary permeability, product normalizes circulation to help eliminate fluids and toxins while enhancing the blood supply of nutrients and oxygen to the cells. Recommended for the treatment of dark circles, puffy eye, heavy legs and rosacea. Croda/Sederma

As a manufacturer, this opens up a number of opportunites and solutions regarding products for poor venous health and leaking. As mentioned in the quote above, this can cover severe or deep tissue bruising to darkened circles under the eyes and spider or thread veins.

The greatest benefit in the world of skin care, is that it gives us (consumers and manufacturers) an additional “leg on the stool” for solutions and treatments. Phytotonine, with its properties of minimizing or reducing fluid build-up, make it an excellent additive for treating puffiness (and associated darkened circles) under the eyes as well as helping or accelerating healing of bruises.

I believe, however, the greatest gain can come from its’ use in spider veins cream. Why?

1. Treatment options are relagated to sclerotherapy or lasers. Both are effective, though I consider both limited in treatment area; with lasers, in particular having the side effect of needing some post-treatment healing. Though considered moderate relative to other cosmetic surgery, cost is high – I believe (~$250-500/visit).
2. Spider veins are prominent, afflict a large population (men and women) and can have a profound affect on a person’s appearance (whether on the legs, nose, face, et al).
3. Many Vitamin K creams and solutions have been proven effective, but it’s nice to have another “bullet in the gun” for improving the breadth and level of efficacy.

Rosacea and spider veins share similar causes and any formula or ingredient that improves a large surface area while addressing the root causes is welcomed. Increasing capillary health, helping strengthen or repair broken capillary walls or increasing circulation can have a wide-reaching positive effect on the treatment of numerous dermatological ailments.

Remedies for a Bad Sunburn

Posted on May 25, 2009 with 9 Comments

I just got back from 3 days at the beach, and as usual and am looking for remedies for a bad sunburn on my nose.

Finding relief for the burning and peeling go back to when I was a kid growing up in Orlando. My Dad, who was a dentist, always had an Aloe plant in the backyard and sent us scrambling to peel open the leaves and wipe the gooey insides on our face.

It felt soothing and seemed to make everything OK until it started to dry – making our skin tight and dried-out. Aloe and lidoocaine have since become popular ingredients helping soothe and cool sunburns all over the planet in OTC products. And, while the healing effects have become widely known, we have found there are options to heal and treat you can consider, especially of the burn is severe (which mine is borderline!)

I have written several times about emu oil. It is a ver popular remedy in Australia and somewhat in New Zealand. It is one of the few oils used in skin care products that is considered a “carrier” oil – meaning it is capable and has properties to penetrate to the subcutameous layer of the skin. While this may not seem too important, many creams and lotions do not have a carrier oil – primarily because of expense (it’s not cheap). The benefits, as they say, out way the costs. The ability to penetrate deep greatly improves it’s – and other ingredients its formulated with – efficacy or effectiveness. Especially when considering sun burn remedies, getting to the lower layers of tissue is paramount.

With that said, emu oil, does several other things. First it is widely used to treat burns in general. It is a natural anti-bacterial, helping wounds to remain sterilized and fighting off infection, a primary concern to fight infection. It is a natural moisturizer, antiseptic and promotes healthy skin cell and collagen renewal. This helps prevent scars and improves elasticity and pliability of tissue.

If combined with vitamin e and menthol, as with my favorite remedy for bad sunburn, Dermal Em, you you get the soothing and cooling relief with the benefit of the healing power and regenerative qualities needed to avoid tightening, itchy or excessive peeling.

While there is plenty of discussion as to the difference between “bad” and “severe”, the fundamental premise of treatment is the same:

• Drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration and to maintain body fluids
• Provide no open wounds, keep the affected area moisturized, clean and sterilized, if possible
• To relieve pain, itchy and soreness, products based with with emu oil, lidocaine or menthol (peppermint, spearmint) can help with the “heat”.

The best remedies for a bad sunburn I have found combine emu oil, vitamin e and menthol. The skin gets some relief with a light cooling sensation to burned tissue (I like the smell also), and the vitamin e and emu oil do a great job helping heal the burn.

Dermory ST Breast Enhancement Cream

Posted on May 21, 2009 with 12 Comments

Coincidentally, we had on our agenda to do a review of Dermory ST – a breast enhancement cream that was introduced last year…and, well, one of our staff was watching The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on FOX and saw the product feateured earlier in the week.

It was discussed along with other enhancement and enlargement products – inserts and a breats pump developed to stretch the skin. It was featured as an investigation segment showing women optins for enlargement and augmentation without resorting to implants or cosmetic or plastic surgery. Dermory ST – as reviewed on the program – was formulated to firm sagging and drooping breasts resulting from childbirth, nursing, weight loss or from natural aging.

If you’re unfamiliar with Dermory ST, it is the first (I believe) to use Bio-Bustyl, a polypeptide developed by Croda specifically for enhancing the bust. Their clinical studies show a substantial improvement in firmness, cell respiration and reduction in skin fatigue. Bio-Bustyl is also shown to improve collagen synthesis and development and sparks natural hormonal activity to assist “plumping” and firming breast tissue – getting a “perky” and enlargement benefit.

Additionally, it uses several ingredients common to anti-aging skin care – Matrixyl, Hyaluronic Acid and Ale Vera. One of the more unique charateristics besides Bio-Bustyl is Dermory uses Emu Oil as a “carrier oil”.

While many may be indifferent to using carrier oils, a barrier to effectiveness of natural breast enhancement creams has been their ability to 1) provide adequate efficacy and 2) penetrate the dermal structure deep-enough to do any good. Emu Oil is transdermal and a natural moisturizer…in affect, carries the active ingredients into the subcutaneous layers increasing firmness.

To summarize feedback from customers and staff, Dermory ST is the only breast enhancement cream using Bio Bustyl, Emu Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Matrixyl and Aloe. Results are often seen in 7-10 days, but some of the ingredients – Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe – show benefits almost immediately. It firms and tighten the breast skin removing and smoothing wrinkles, dryness or roughness and is designed to reduce sagging (point down?!) caused and often experienced after pregnancy or losing weight. It’s ingredients work well for chest wrinkles also.

Efficacy of Argireline® in Wrinkle Creams

Posted on April 20, 2009 with No Comments

In the past several years Argireline® has become a key ingredient in wrinkle creams – providing non-surgical & treatment alternatives to products such as Botulinum Toxin A (BOTOX) or similar agents and peptides.

Manufactured by CenterChem, Inc, Argireline® has been shown effective at reducing wrinkle depth up to 17% within 15 days using a maximum 10% dosage. It attenuates muscle contraction, relaxing the muscle and smoothing expression lines, while helping prevent formation of lines and wrinkles.

The Argireline® information PDF further explains its use in 3-10% dosages for skin products targeting removal of wrinkles around the eyes and forehead caused by natural aging and repeated facial movements and expression. It offers superior efficacy as an anti-wrinkle compound.

The inhibition of glutamate release at mM concentrations is a clear indicator of the potent anti-expression wrinkle activity of this hexapeptide. CenterChem

Argireline can be found in anti-wrinkle creams and serums in product lines such as Principal Secret, Anti Wrinkle 55, and in Freeze 24/7.