The at-home beauty device market grew 22% last year. With good reason, at-home laser, microcurrent and LED devices are no longer the things of dodgy infomercials. They have been downsized from the doctor’s office and are genuinely effective, safe and achieve results – especially in the firming up of sagging skin department – that topical potions and lotions cannot. At-home devices are the big breakthrough in anti-aging beauty and have become can’t live withouts as far as I am concerned. For the first time ever, here are my Five Best at home devices.

Get 20% off my Five Best devices. Use coupon code DEVICE20; offer ends on 8/18. Shop now.

Baby Quasar PLUS ($399 in the shop). I have a soft spot for the Baby Q. It was the first device I ever invested in. I had become a convert to LED as an anti-aging therapy at my esthetician’s office and after doing plenty of research concluded that Baby Quasar was the best out there. That was back in 2008, and it since became victim to cheaper competitors. Recently, though, it beefed up the power by 25% and obtained FDA approval. The new device not only has more LED oomph, it is easier to use and just as sturdy. Baby Q has red and infra-red light, the modes best for wrinkles, fine lines and plumping. If you want a straightforward LED that has stood the test of time and will likely continue to, this is it. See my video on Baby Quasar PLUS.

Ultra Clear Facial Cleansing System ($86 in the shop). If it wasn’t already clear that I am addicted to devices, then consider that I started to make my own with the Ultra range that now includes the Sculpt, Plus (see below) and the Clear. Cleansing brushes are a must-have as far as I am concerned; they keep the skin clear of dirt and dead cells, helping to close pores and give the skin a healthy glow. Ultra Clear by Truth In Aging is a facial cleansing system that is uniquely powerful and very gentle. Because it has 1800 micro vibrations per second it is extremely effective whilst being kind to sensitive and/or mature skin. See my video on Ultra Clear and read Emily’s Ultra Clear review and Pam’s review.

PaloVia Skin Renewing Laser ($499 in the shop). The PaloVia uses fractional laser resurfacing technology – narrowly spaced micro-beams of laser energy to prompt new collagen growth. It is FDA approved for use around the eyes to reduce fine lines and wrinkles (although it can be used on other areas of the face as well). It is no mean feat to scale down a huge professional machine to the size of a stapler. It is safe enough to be idiot proof and, while this particular treatment is not for me, those of us who are made of sterner stuff report fantastic results. Read the review on PaloVia by Dennis who proclaimed it: "My desert island product"; "highly recommended to anyone with eye wrinkles." And read Gail’s review on PaloVia.

Ultra Renew Plus ($149 in the shop). Combining ultrasonic with three (red, blue, green) LED lights, and ionic makes this customized proprietary machine efficient and effective – something I am proud to put Truth In Aging’s name on. Ultrasonic is the best thing I have found so far for counteracting sagging skin. As the ultrasound waves pass from the treatment head into the skin, they cause the vibration of the surrounding tissues, particularly those that contain collagen. The LED lights help with wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and acne, whilst the ionic modes help firm and cleanse. For more information on Ultra Renew Plus, read on. And see my video on Ultra Renew Plus.

PMD Personal Microderm ($179 in the shop). I’d left microdermabrasion to the skilled hands of my esthetician until the PMD came along. Easy to use, safe and effective it has become a weekly addition to my beauty regimen. PMD uses aluminum oxide crystals on a flat, sandy disc, similar to a professional diamond-tipped head. There are two disc sizes, one for face and a slightly bigger one for body (although they are both rather small), and color-coded: sensitive (blue) and medium (green). I’ve noticed cumulative effects on wrinkles. Read my PMD review and Nisha’s PMD review.

To Dare to Try the CLARO IPL Acne Clearing Device, leave a comment on this post. And to join our Dare to Try Progam click on the text below.

Reviewed by Kathy

I recently had the pleasure of testing Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner ($24). I tried Arabian Nights, which appears as a dark, deep shade of red. Applying it need not be scary, though, since these lip balms are actually tints. One swipe of the product over the lips gives a very natural color to my lips, and this can be deepened with additional applications. It feels light on my lips without feeling sticky. What truly amazed me was that I applied the product at 7 a.m. and could still feel the soft, silky texture on my lips at 11 a.m., well after eating breakfast and drinking from a straw all morning.

This product is full of good organic ingredients (85% organic, to be exact), including jojoba oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E. Antioxidants from pomegranate help protect the lips against daily exposure to free radicals. The product smells nice with soft notes of jasmine and orange blossom. It feels good knowing you are putting nothing harmful on your lips. The packaging is a standard lipstick tube made with recycled aluminum.

I can’t help but feel good overall about this lip conditioner. There is nothing nasty, and it is longer-lasting than tons of other lipsticks and tints I have in my cosmetics bag. Two thumbs up for Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner!

Ingredients: (85% ORGANIC): Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Organic Sesamum Indicum (Seasame) Seed Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Extract, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dixoide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140

Reviewed by Alexa

I was quite pleased to be asked to review the Arcona Mandarin Brightening Peel ($78 in the shop). My son and I have been happily using several Arcona products. However, my reason for jumping at the chance to add this to my skin care regimen is that my skin definitely needs more brightening. I have been using a combination of products and devices which have been incrementally improving my complexion. However, I started to feel that the brightening of my areas of sun damage, although improving, was stalled. I was hoping adding the Arcona peel would be the nudge my skin needed to continue to brighten.

In the morning, I usually cleanse my face with Arcona Triad Pads followed by E’shee Multi-Tensor Extreme Face Lift Serum. To protect my skin from future damage I religiously apply sunscreen. I recently switched to Prana Natural Defense SPF 25 Moisturizer. For my eyes, I rotate Your Best Face Correct (eye cream) and AQ Skin Solutions Eye Serum.

Most evenings, I use my Clarisonic with Juice Beauty Exfoliating Cleanser. Occasionally I use the cleanser alone. Other nights I put my Ultra Renew PLUS with Ultra Renew Gel Serum to use. When finished, I remove the excess gel with 100% Pure Jasmine Green Tea Tonique. I then apply Your Best Face Control (face serum). For both AM and PM, I always use Your Best Face Define (lip cream) on my lips.

I went to the Arcona website to get more information on the Mandarin Brightening Peel. They assert their offering is a, “power-packed, spot-removing, line and wrinkle-reducing, smoothing and brightening, once-a-week treatment…backed by serious science.” More specifically they say it will do the following: “exfoliate for visible clarity and smoothness; reduce dark spots, uneven pigmentation and acne scaring; brighten and soften lines and wrinkles; protect against aging effects of environmental damage.” It hit all my complexion challenges. So I set out to see if the claims are brag or fact. The peel is to be used once a week either AM or PM. I do so in the evening. I do feel a bit of tingling at first. My skin is not sensitive so I cannot speak to that.

I decided to try it for six weeks before submitting a review. The results were not dramatic. Turning the clock back on 59-year-old skin takes some time. What matters to me is that there are results. When I look in my magnifying mirror I do perceive additional brightening. This was confirmed last week when my son randomly complimented me on how well my complexion looks.

As you probably surmised from its name, the user-friendly ingredients list is mostly made up of the zest of citrus fruits. I will continue to use the Arcona Mandarin Brightening Peel until it is gone, which should take some time even though it is a 2fl oz. tube. Before I get to the end of the tube I will purchase another. Bottom line, I am happy to add another Arcona product to my regimen.

Directions: “Use once a week in AM or PM: Apply evenly to clean face and throat, avoiding eye area. You may feel a slight tingling sensation. Leave on skin four to six minutes. Rinse with warm water, pat skin dry and apply hydrator.”

Ingredients: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange Zest) Fruit, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Lactic Acid (L), Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine (Sepiwhite), Glycolic Acid, Gluconic Acid (D), Nonapeptide-1, Citrus Sinensis var. Sanguina (Blood Orange) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Nobilis (Red Mandarin Orange) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Lipids, Trifolium Pratense (Red Clover) Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Santalum Austrocaledonicum (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Lycopene, Acaia Gum, Alcohol Denat., Benzyl Alcohol, Dextran

*Denotes Organically Sourced

At the start of the year I had some predictions for what was to come in 2013. In this video, I revisit my forecasts, which include everything from smart packaging to safer preservatives.

Get 20% off my beauty predictions. Use coupon code PREDICT20; offer ends on 8/19. Shop now.

Skin firming

I have found breakthrough products that address sagging skin. These formulas, such as in La Vie Celeste Eclairage Restorative Serum, contain ChroNoline, an active ingredient that treats skin on a structural level to restore firmness and elasticity. 

Hyperpigmentation

I’ve also discovered alternatives to the traditional, one-dimensional lightening formulas. New skin brighteners (for example, BRAD Biophotonic Ultra White Intensive Lightening and E'shee Clinical Esthetic Serum Intensive Brightening) use a combination of ingredients that work together to eliminate dark spots and sun damage.

Smart packaging

Additionally, product packaging goes beyond aesthetics. Designs, as you’ll see in Retrospect Flash Firm Eye Gel and BRAD Biophotonic Essential Elixir Multi-Peptide, also aid in the preservation and effective use of the product.

Cell signaling

Stem cell technology is here to stay and keeps improving. Products, such as AQ Skin Solutions Active Serum and ReLuma Skin Illuminating Serum, use innovative growth factors that signal cells to treat wrinkles.

Safer preservatives

Natural preservatives continue to emerge as safer alternatives to harsh chemical preservatives. For example, the shelf life of the Sevani Rose Hyaluronic Age Defying Tonique is extended courtesy of radish root ferment.

At-home devices

Anti-aging and skincare devices once found only at the dermatologist and esthetician’s office are now being manufactured on a smaller scale for home use. One example is Truth In Aging’s own Ultra Renew PLUS Ultrasonic LED.

Reviewed by Ann

I've never been a beauty tool junkie, but I was so pleased with the results from my Ultra Renew that I was excited at the chance to try the Ultra Renew Sculpt ($129 in the shop). I'm in my 40s and although I have a consistent exercise habit, that hasn't saved me from developing a few jiggles and some cellulite. Furthermore, all the running and exercise has left me with scars and spider veins. I was curious to see just how many of these things could be improved with the Ultra Renew Sculpt.

I love how many features you get with this device, and the way you can combine them. I used ultrasound and infrared settings together three times a week and found that it had a modest firming effect on my upper arms and upper thighs. The device also has an EMS (electro massage stimulator) setting, which takes a little practice to get used to. Placement of the pads is critical and I would recommend anyone making extensive use of this feature to consult a good anatomy chart. It was hard to say whether the side where I used the EMS improved more than the side where I did only ultrasound and infrared, but I've been treated with EMS by professionals and suspect that any lack of improvement was due to my own learning curve rather than the feature itself.

I had hoped to see some improvement on my scars and broken capillaries, but the results were inconclusive. Although I got some temporary tightening of a raised scar on my knee when I used the ultrasound, the effect didn't last more than a few hours. I'm not sure if I needed more treatments, or if it was the location of the scar, with all that bending and flexing, that made it hard to see a long-term improvement. I saw no change to the visibility of my broken capillaries when I used the infrared three times per week.

A nice off-market bonus of the Ultra Renew Sculpt is that it soothes tight and sore muscles. For me, it was particularly effective on chronic tendonitis in my right hamstring. Anything that can get me back to the running trail or dance studio is a beauty product in my book! I don't recommend, however, that anyone self-treat an injury without consulting a medical professional.

My only frustration with the Ultra Renew Sculpt is the control placement. I'm not sure if there is a good solution for this problem, but there are so many buttons in the handle that it's easy to accidentally turn the device off or re-set a feature while using it. I often ended up grasping it by the head so as not to turn it off mid-way through a treatment, and this made it awkward to use at times.  

Overall, I recommend the Ultra Renew Sculpt for its great price and many useful features. A working knowledge is helpful, and as with the Ultra Renew, best results come from consistent use.

Moroccan Natural Rhassoul Clay ($14.50) was a novel experience for me, not having had a mud bath, or being from Morocco where women used it for skin and hair care for over a thousand years. Moroccan Natural's website recites a list of benefits from this wonder product of the Atlas Mountains including reduction in dryness, flakiness, dead skin layers and surface oil. The product is also said to improve skin clarity, elasticity, firmness and skin texture.  

The powder version comes in individual 50g packs that you mix in a non-metallic container with enough water to make a thick paste. You can add a few drops of oil as a special treat and more importantly, to keep it from turning to cement. It turns into a grey-green goo that has no odor (unless you add an aromatic oil).

Once I got over the weirdness of using "dirt" as soap, I was pleased to note that it does clean without stripping skin or hair. The clay is so fine that there is no grittiness. My hair is soft without conditioning, though I did have to use anti-frizz/glossing product to tame it. My only complaint is that the oilier parts of my face and scalp still felt and looked slick after washing, and I definitely had to use regular soap to remove deodorant residue. Even though I didn't see any improvements in my blackheads or pores, I did not experience any breakouts. And I was testing it during the recent extended heat wave when my skin was feeling amazing from all the humidity, so I can't speak to its ability to reduce flakiness or remove dead skin layers. Overall, my skin felt naturally healthy and energized, thanks to the high percentage of silica, magnesium, potassium and calcium, the same minerals found in therapeutic hot springs.

I didn't have a problem with bits of dried clay on the tub, bathroom sink and shower curtain - they didn't stain and were easier to clean than soap scum - but I had to see how the Rhassoul Body Bar ($11.50) compares to the pure stuff.  It's made of the same mineral clay mixed with oils for a more traditional creamy bath soap/shampoo with low lather.  It is not recommended for long hair. The lower part of my long hair turned into a bird's nest after a storm. Just like the pure clay, it cleansed thoroughly and gently, but with less mess. It's a little ho-hum, and unlike the pure rhassoul clay, which is, in my otherwise low-maintenance household, worth the fuss and mess, the Rhassoul Body Bar is not worth the price.

Moroccan Natural Prickly Pear Seed Oil ($53) comes in a convenient roller ball vial. I roll a little (or a lot) on clean fingertips then massage to eyelids, cheeks, lips, hands, cuticles, knees. It absorbs remarkably well - barely a hint of sheen on my eyelids or cheeks where I applied it. It softened my hands well enough but my cracked lips and cuticles needed something stronger. Prickly pear seeds contain a high percent of linoleic acid, 61-74%, depending on the variety of cactus and the extraction process. It takes about a ton of cactus fruit to produce a liter of this oil, making it expensive to produce, hence the price. It got me comparing various beneficial oils - pomegranate seed, rosehip seed, argan and caneberry seed (red and black raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry) - the most prominent EFA powerhouses appearing in many skincare products these days. Not only do they contain the same EFAs found in prickly pear seeds like linoleic, oleic and linoleic acids, albeit in varying percentages, some have so much more including super antioxidants like ellagitannins, and punicic and ellagic acids. Until they discover something more about prickly pear seed oil, I'll be sticking to less extravagant choices, like Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil ($24.99 in our shop) it has all the antioxidant oils you could wish for.

Reviewed by Margie

I'll confess, I am a 50-ish woman who used to stress out trying to find the perfect skincare products for all my skin woes - including combination skin, sensitivity, periodic breakouts, wrinkles, loss of firmness etc. I finally gave up my pursuit with the conclusion that most products probably helped some and that I would just try different products, as long as I had a peptide product in the morning and a retinol product in the evening.

When I received the sample of Michael Todd Damascus Rose Enriched Anti-Wrinkle Cream ($89), I discontinued all other anti-aging products, even my beloved Ultra Renew Plus and Juice Beauty products.
 
This organic product is loaded with 10 peptides for collagen production and multiple antioxidants to fight environmental stress (vitamins A, B5, C, E and CoQ-10). The cream also contains lots of essential oils (avocado, jojoba, palm, rose hip, wheat germ, carrot seed, neem) as well as acai, blue green algae to promote cellular renewal and black willow bark to eliminate toxins. It contains few preservative/thickener/stabilizer items like sodium benzoate, gluconolactone, xanthum gum and palm stearic acid. Oh my!
 
It does not contain a sunscreen, and carries a warning on the label that some ingredients may cause sun sensitivity and recommends use of a sunscreen.
 
Directions say to use twice a day to face and neck area; or as a five minute mask. It also recommends to allow time for absorption before applying makeup. I recommend waiting at least five minutes.
 
Because I already have a skincare regime for anti-aging and moisturizing I really wasn't sure how much improvement to expect. For the first three weeks, I only noticed some plumping and softness/texture improvements. I experienced a few breakouts initially, which I do with almost any new skin care product. The breakouts were resolved in the first few weeks. I felt kind of ho-hum until the third or fourth week.

I generally avoid anything scented, but the subtle rose scent seemed fresh, and dissipated quickly. The texture of the cream is soft and almost mousse-like. I can still feel it on my face in the morning, but it doesn't feel greasy to me.

Overall I would recommend this this product as a moisturizer, however as an anti-wrinkle agent, I would say the effect is not dramatic enough to be worth the price point.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate, Persea Americana (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Palm Oil, Palm Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Retinol Palmitate (Vitamin A), Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Ester), Dl-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Allantoin (Comfrey), Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000TM), Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Argireline NP(r)),  Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 (Syn(r)-Coll),  Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Leuphasyl(r), Pentapeptide-19, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-29, Octapeptide-4, Decapeptide-7, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-1 (Snap-8), Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid, Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Daucus Carota (Carrot Seed) Essential Oil, Salix Nigra (Black Willow Bark) Extract, Spirulina Maxima (Blue Green Algae) Extract, Coq10 (Coenzyme Q10), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Absolute, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Citric Acid

Reviewed by Charley

Moroccan Natural Rhassoul Clay ($14.50) was a novel experience for me, not having had a mud bath, or being from Morocco where women used it for skin and hair care for over a thousand years. Moroccan Natural's website recites a list of benefits from this wonder product of the Atlas Mountains including reduction in dryness, flakiness, dead skin layers and surface oil. The product is also said to improve skin clarity, elasticity, firmness and skin texture.  

The powder version comes in individual 50g packs that you mix in a non-metallic container with enough water to make a thick paste. You can add a few drops of oil as a special treat and more importantly, to keep it from turning to cement. It turns into a grey-green goo that has no odor (unless you add an aromatic oil).

Once I got over the weirdness of using "dirt" as soap, I was pleased to note that it does clean without stripping skin or hair. The clay is so fine that there is no grittiness. My hair is soft without conditioning, though I did have to use anti-frizz/glossing product to tame it. My only complaint is that the oilier parts of my face and scalp still felt and looked slick after washing, and I definitely had to use regular soap to remove deodorant residue. Even though I didn't see any improvements in my blackheads or pores, I did not experience any breakouts. And I was testing it during the recent extended heat wave when my skin was feeling amazing from all the humidity, so I can't speak to its ability to reduce flakiness or remove dead skin layers. Overall, my skin felt naturally healthy and energized, thanks to the high percentage of silica, magnesium, potassium and calcium, the same minerals found in therapeutic hot springs.

I didn't have a problem with bits of dried clay on the tub, bathroom sink and shower curtain - they didn't stain and were easier to clean than soap scum - but I had to see how the Rhassoul Body Bar ($11.50) compares to the pure stuff.  It's made of the same mineral clay mixed with oils for a more traditional creamy bath soap/shampoo with low lather.  It is not recommended for long hair. The lower part of my long hair turned into a bird's nest after a storm. Just like the pure clay, it cleansed thoroughly and gently, but with less mess. It's a little ho-hum, and unlike the pure rhassoul clay, which is, in my otherwise low-maintenance household, worth the fuss and mess, the Rhassoul Body Bar is not worth the price.

Moroccan Natural Prickly Pear Seed Oil ($53) comes in a convenient roller ball vial. I roll a little (or a lot) on clean fingertips then massage to eyelids, cheeks, lips, hands, cuticles, knees. It absorbs remarkably well - barely a hint of sheen on my eyelids or cheeks where I applied it. It softened my hands well enough but my cracked lips and cuticles needed something stronger. Prickly pear seeds contain a high percent of linoleic acid, 61-74%, depending on the variety of cactus and the extraction process. It takes about a ton of cactus fruit to produce a liter of this oil, making it expensive to produce, hence the price. It got me comparing various beneficial oils - pomegranate seed, rosehip seed, argan and caneberry seed (red and black raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry) - the most prominent EFA powerhouses appearing in many skincare products these days. Not only do they contain the same EFAs found in prickly pear seeds like linoleic, oleic and linoleic acids, albeit in varying percentages, some have so much more including super antioxidants like ellagitannins, and punicic and ellagic acids. Until they discover something more about prickly pear seed oil, I'll be sticking to less extravagant choices, like Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil ($24.99 in our shop) it has all the antioxidant oils you could wish for.

Ingredients:

Morrocan Natural Rhassoul Clay: Lava Clay

Morrocan Natural Rhassoul Body Bar: Filtered water (aqua), rapeseed oil (sodium brassica rapus), sustainable palm oil (sodium palmate kernelate), coconut oil (sodium cocoate) organic Rhassoul Clay (Moroccan lava clay)

Moroccan Natural’s Prickly Pear Seed Oil: Pure Prickly Pear Oil (Opuntia ficus-indica)

The M.A.D. Environmental Detox Mask ($36) a creamy white pure-seeming mask that spreads on easily and removes almost as easily with tepid water. It smells fresh, benign, and has a pleasant feel on the skin. My skin felt smooth, and calm in the sense that my skin appeared more matte after removal of the product, kind of powdered-looking and "unified". But I'm wondering about the major ingredient, Propanediol, and how it can be truly good for detoxing, since it is also used as antifreeze and can absorb through the skin. Since kaolin and zinc oxide are also major ingredients, the 'powdered effect' made sense, if not total detox sense. And what does "detoxing" of the skin actually mean?

Reading the box, which the product comes in made me question how this mask actually works. It says it protects and nourishes skin against "environmental aggressors" such as pollution, stress and poor diet. So does it leave a film on my skin to do this? The active ingredient "CELLDETOX(r) reinforces the cell detoxification process: it reduces the level of oxidized proteins and peroxidized lipids. By noticeably smoothing facial lines and illuminating skin complexion, CELLDETOX(r) reduces the visible signs of age and restores natural radiance to intoxicated and tired skin." Huh? There are some active ingredients listed, but given the mumbo-jumbo written on the box, I really couldn't understand what this mask would actually do for me long term, and although my skin looked nice after each application, I didn't find any noticeable cumulative effects with use over the last 5 weeks, using the mask 2-3 times per week. So, no, I don't recommend this mask.

Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kaolin, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Almond) Oil, PEG 100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Astrocaryum murumuru (Palm) Seed Butter, Theobroma grandiflora (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Runus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Oil, Ribes nigrum (Black Current) Seed Oil, Sambucus nigra (Elderberry) Seed Oil, Astragalus gummifer Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Candida saitoana Extract, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria gigantea Ferment Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-26, Porphyra umbilicalis Extract, Camellia sinensis Extract, Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Pyrus malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Phellodendron amurense Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Palm Alcohol, Lecithin, Phytosteryl Canolate, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA , Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance.

Reviewed by Cristina

I have been testing NCN Professional Skin Care Volu-Lift Recontouring Face Cream ($55). Volu-Lift Recontouring Face Cream with Ceramides claims to add volume, firm and lift skin, decrease wrinkles, attract and retain moisture and is a strong antioxidant.

I love to read about the company of the product I am testing. I find that if you read into the background you get a sense of the inspiration and passion of the developer/owner. This gives me an insight into the genuineness and quality of the product and it tells me that these products weren't developed just for a business opportunity. NCN Professional Skin Care was started by a Certified Aesthetician who listened to her clients about the overwhelming choices offered on the market but with mostly poor results. We all know that feeling! As a result she combined her knowledge and her passion for effective skin care products to develop her own line with high quality, cutting edge highly-effective ingredients. The products are based on cell renewal and collagen. I am impressed by the passion of the owner of NCN, and her innovations in formulas for skin care. Her products are not jumbled with unnecessary ingredients and are all natural and paraben free and very inexpensive. The ingredients she chose are very powerful and work hard towards the company's claims.

The following information about the ingredients is taken from the NCN website.

One of the main ingredient is ADIFYLINETM: Hexapeptide. Its job is to redefine facial contours especially increasing the volume of cheeks. Tests show that a cream containing 2% Adifyline TM Solution applied twice daily achieved a 12% increase in cheek volume in only 14 days!! Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant that's found in red wine and cocoa. Ceramides is one of the main components of the lipid layer of the skin. It plays a huge role in water retention and skin hydration. Ceramides hold onto water molecules, helping to attract and retain moisture. It stimulates collagen production, is an anti-irritant, speeds healing, is a long lasting film forming moisturizer, activates immune cells, reaches the dermis (where wrinkles form), diminishes fine lines, wrinkles & roughness by 10-15 percent, increases firmness and reduces scarring. The ingredients also include some well-known moisturizers to supplement these powerful ingredients such as shea butter, oils of mango seeds, olive, sweet almond, avocado, sunflower and gape seed.

My first impression when I opened the package was bewilderment. By the look of the label it gave me the impression that this was a homemade product. The label was very plain, understated and very deceiving. Not that this was bad, but just curious. Applying the cream, I found that the pump container dispensed much more than was needed. Half a pump would have been sufficient as the cream goes a long way. The first time I used the cream, the texture felt a bit heavy and maybe a little greasy. That sensation did disappear after a few minutes and the product was sufficiently absorbed so that I could continue applying my makeup. However I didn't have that problem anymore when I learned that half a pump was sufficient. The results after 5 weeks applying twice a day? To my eyes it was very subtle until I compared before and after photos. Wow, this cream does work!! After a week of using Volu-Lift my skin had this velvety texture and soft glow. I tried to focus on the areas of interest to me such as the upper lip and the Nasolabial fold. And yes, those areas much "softer" and fuller after 5 weeks but not gone. Volu-Lift is intensely moisturizing and I can feel it. It does feel and look good and does not remain greasy. Cost is very reasonable for a bottle that is still going after 7 weeks. I would definitely by this again! In my experience with testing so far, I feel that 30 days is barely enough to see dramatic results. So if you are using a product and don't seem to see results within a month even though the product is highly rated, be patient and give it time.

 Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Ceramide 1, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 3, Resveratrol, Oat Beta Glucan, ADIFYLINETM SOLUTION (amino acid peptide that adds volume) & Hylauronic Acid added to: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Shea Butter, Mango Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Vitamin E (mixture of Tocopherols & Tocotrienols), Lavender Essential Oil, Optiphen(r)

Medik8 Red Alert Solution (15ml/$68) isn’t your mother’s anti-redness, broken vein treatment. This extremely targeted formula has just one active ingredient that is cutting edge and remains quite rare. I have been trying out on my roscacea, thread vein-prone cheeks and and sides of the nose and find this to be the most effective solution so far. For an added bonus, that rare ingredient I was talking about also repairs wrinkles.

The active is teprenone. To appreciate what it does and how it works, we need a 101 on telomeres, recently discovered by scientists and regarded as one of the keys to aging. Telomeres allow cells to distinguish chromosome ends from broken DNA. If DNA is broken there are two options after the cell cycle is stopped: Repair or death.

Telomeres shorten every time a cell divides. When they become very short, they trigger cell crisis and cell death. As we know, cells can only replicate a limited number of times - a phenomena called the Hayflick Limit. In cosmetics, the objective is not to lengthen the teleomeres, but stabilize them so that at least they won’t shorten. Maintaining telomere length extends, we are told, the Hayflick Limit by one third.

And that is what teprenone is supposed to do – stabilize the telomeres. And, as such, may be a useful anti-aging active. It is also said to mend broken veins and calm rosacea. The only problem is that there’s no independent research to corroborate these claims. Actually, there’s another problem with teprenone. It seems to be shrouded in patents and this may be why I have seen very few cosmetics using it. Medik8 says it operates under an “exclusive” license from the IP owner. Sederma (the makers of Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000) manufacture teprenone under the brand name Renovage, which can be found in products by Osmotics and Your Best Face.

My one-woman trial suggests that teprenone can help greatly with redness, rosacea and broken veins and I see Medik8 Red Alert having a regular place in my skincare routine. The formula is rounded out with vitamin E and sage extract. As always with Medik8, I wish for a little less silicone, but otherwise there’s nothing to dislike.

Ingredients in Medik8 Red Alert: Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tocopherol Acetate, Teprenone, Salvia Officinalis Extract

Natura Bissé says it was inspired by facial fillers when it created its new High Density Lift ($290). Well there certainly are plenty of fillers, too many, for a 1.7oz pot that costs nearly $300. But I told myself not to dismiss High Density Lift until I had investigated further – after all Natura Bissé claims to be using a “revolutionary” ingredient for the “very first time in a cosmetic formula”. What could it be? 

Natura Bissé calls its revolutionary active PDGF-Remodeling Complex High Density Lift. Since this doesn’t really mean anything, I moved on to the next clue: a peptide going by the name of sh-polypeptide-59. It seems that sh-polypeptide is a synthetically produced human growth factor. I found them numbered 7, 28, 71 – and others, including sh-polypeptide-50 in a cream called Prolastil E-50, but never a 59. So perhaps that is what makes Natura Bissé High Density Lift unique.

Perhaps, but it doesn’t shed much light on whether High Density Lift deliver on the promise that it “restores the appearance of suppleness and a youthful volume”. There are some other ingredients though that have a credible track record, such as pea extract, an antioxidant and thiotic acid (also known as alpha lipoic acid), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that also boosts glutathione – a tripeptide that is also present in the formula. 

High Density Lift majors on sodium hyaluronate in three different guises, which moisturize and will counteract the drying effects of the exfoliants, retionol and lactic acic.  Natura Bissé has added in some hydrolyzed elastin and collagen. Personally, I’m not yet convinced that adding collagen creates collagen, ditto elastin. It seems to me that collagen boosting peptides and other actives are more likely to pull this off.

While I’m not really persuaded that Natura Bissé has really pulled off anything never before seen in cosmetics, there are some good ingredients here. The problem is that there aren’t really enough of them to justify the price tag.  Which takes me back to my (admittedly weak) pun on fillers. By which I mean the synthetic emollients such as penetaerythrityl tetracaprylate/tetracaprate and diisostearate, silicones, stabilizers such as octadecyl di-t-butyl-hydroxyhycinnamate.

I was surprised (and kind of amused) to find a spermicide, octoxynol-9, lurking amongst enough preservatives (including controversial parabens) to ensure that High Density Lift will have a shelf life of decades. I don’t really know why a spermicide should be here, but it does give this cream another role in your life should it disappoint as a facial filler.

Ingredients: Water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl ethylhexnoate, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, penetaerythrityl tetracaprylate/tetracaprate, propanediol, shea butter, pea extract, cetearyl alcohol, ethylhexyl stearate, cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, distarch phosphate, mango seed butter, coco-caprylate, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed elastin, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, arginine, methylsilanol hydroxyproline, aspartate, sodium hyaluronate oligosaccharides, ascorbic acid, glutathione, thiotic acid, retinol, sh-polypeptide-59, allantoin, tocopherol, lactic acid, sodium lactate, serine, urea, cyclopetasiloxane, sodium polyacrylate, PEG-75 stearate, polyglyceryl-4, diisostearate/polyhydroxystearate/sebacate, sodium isostearate, ceteth-20, steareth-20, dimethiconol, ethylhexyglycerin, disodium EDTA, benzotriazoyl doceyl p-cresol, cyclodextrin, pentylene glycol, octadecyl di-t-butyl-hydroxyhycinnamate, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, sodium chloride, octoxynol-9, polysorbate 20, lecithin, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, chlorphenesin, methyparaben, salicylic acid, sodium methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance, limonene, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, linalool, citronellol, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, benzyl benzoate. 

Reviewed by Katya

Under-eye dark circles are quite annoying. In my case, I have found out long time ago that no matter how much sleep you get, how much water you drink or how perfect your diet is, they are difficult to get rid of. I am in my mid thirties and starting to see signs of crow's feet, but my under-eye area is what bothers me the most. There are two things I look for in an eye cream: plumping up the skin and minimizing the darkness under the eyes.

I have been very eager to test a Medik8 Dark Circles ($68) eye treatment because my hunt for an effective and affordable eye-cream appears to be never-ending. I have been testing it for slightly over 2 months and, in a nutshell, I have mixed feelings about it.

Medik8 Dark Circles has a quick-absorbing gel texture. Key ingredients are Haloxyl (6.0%) for lightening and Regu-Age(r) (10.0%) for tackling puffiness and discoloration. Haloxyl reduces overall inflammation under the eyes. It contains n-hydroxysuccinimide and chrysin and is designed to lighten the skin by boosting blood circulation and not by skin lightening. N-hydroxysuccinimide stimulates circulation while chrysin is a flavonoid that works to reduce skin pigmentation.

Regu-Age(r) (10.0%) includes purified soy and rice peptides and biotechnologically produced yeast protein to improve microcirculation and protect the integrity of the collagen and elastin. Medik8 Dark Circles is also loaded with peptides--palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide--that support collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Finally, there are optically reflective particles included in the formulation that are supposed to brighten the under-eye area.

Here is what the Medik8 Dark Circles eye treatment claims it does:
• Strengthens connective tissues around the eyes
• Improves microcirculation and reduces inflammatory response
• Trials show a 32% reduction of eye puffiness after 8 weeks
• Trials show a 35% reduction in dark circles after 8 weeks
• Optically reflective particles gives immediate reduction in appearance of dark circles
• Glycerin hydrates the skin and reduces transepidermal moisture loss

You are instructed to apply the product twice daily on the under-eye area only, following cleansing. A little dollop is enough for each eye. I used it beneath liquid and cream concealers without any creasing or caking. When applied, it feels very quick-absorbing and non-greasy. It hydrates well, smoothes fine lines, and has a lovely tightening effect, especially in the morning.
While Medik8 Dark Circles formula did a decent job of keeping my under area moisturized, supple, and less puffy with all those good actives, I have seen almost no improvement with my dark circles. After 2 months of use, I can say that it has helped maintain the overall firmness of my skin but the improvement for the under-eye area is very negligible.

The light reflecting pigments do illuminate the area a bit when you have no makeup on, but I think this light illumination actually draws unwanted attention to the already problematic eye area. Perhaps, it will be of use to some people that are not "blessed" with prominent dark circles by creating a light luminous effect under the eyes. However, those who do have under-eye dark circles are probably going to use a concealer to camouflage them anyway, so these optically reflective particles won't be visible under makeup.

Finally, I am not particularly fond of the Phenoxyethanol, a toxic additive, in the formulation. Also included is ethylhexylglycerin, which is however generally viewed as a safe preservative.

In sum, Medik8 Dark Circles has performed wonderfully as a nourishing, de-puffing and tightening under-eye product but, unfortunately, its effectiveness has not been equally strong on the dark circles front for me. I am very pleased about some potent actives in the formulation but I remain on the fence in terms of the efficacy of the product to put an end to the under-eye darkness.

Ingredients:

Aqua Glycerin Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein Glycine Soja Protein Oxido Reductases N-Hydroxysuccinimide Chrysin Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide -7 Steareth-20 Biotin Chlorhexidine Digluconate Potassium Sorbate Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Mica CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide) Silica Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin

Reviewed by Karen

At first review I loved the description of the Sweetsation Jolisse Organic Botanical Hand Treatment ($18). It claims to treat tired, dry, overworked hands. That's me, or rather my hands. The ingredient list lists a range of wonderfully sounding organic exotic oils and extracts like kukui nut oil, caviar, and lots of others that I have no clue what they do specifically. I'm sure they are all good for the skin, but I must say that the cream is very rich. It's so rich that it took a while for the cream to fully absorb into my skin.

I mostly used this cream at night (when I did remember to use it) before going to bed, and I used it only on the back of my hands, as I did not want my sticky hands to goop up my iPad. I did not particularly like the feel of this cream. I have it on now (daytime) as I type this, and it feels like I want to wash off the stickiness. This is one good reason to use it only at night before going to bed.

There is another factor about this cream that I did not like, the scent. It has a cacao smell that although I like chocolate and its smell generally, the scent on my hands is not appealing. Did this cream help my hands? Unfortunately not. As much as I wanted it to smooth and brighten up my tired looking hands, I don't see a difference. I kept adding more days to try it out, but still I did not feel it helped. For these reasons I can't honestly recommend this product. Needless to say I was disappointed, as I was hopeful of becoming a Sweetsation fan based on reviews of their other products.

Ingredients:

Purified Water, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil), Glyceryl Stearate, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Octyl Palmitate, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cacao) Seed Butter, Vegetable Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Organic Beeswax, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caviar Extract, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit), Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Wildcrafted Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi) Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Organic Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Organic Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice), Organic Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry), CoQ10, Wild Crafted Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle), Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Ananas sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed OIl, Santalum Spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil, Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend (Sodium L-Pyrrolidone Carboxylate, Sodium Lactate, L'Arginine, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Serine, L-Valine, L-Proline, L-threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Phenylalanine), Organic Linum Usitatissimum (Flax Seed) Oil, Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Organic Rosa Canina (Dog Rose) Hips Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Allantoin, Organic Arnica Montana (Arnica) Flower Extract, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Organic Calendula Officinalis (Pot Marigold) Flower, Organic Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia) Nut Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Sodium Phenoxyethanol (0.5%), EthylHexylGlycerin.

I shine. By which I do not mean that I excel at anything. What I mean is that more often than not, I cross the borderline from dewy to gross; my cheeks, forehead and nose slick and glistening. Because I’m not much of a makeup person and find that powder finishes leave me too far in the other direction (dry and old), I have mostly lived with this affliction. Until I found W3LL People Realist X, HD Matte Mineral Setting ($24).

W3LL People Realist X works so well for me, I can hardly believe it. It leaves my complexion looking matte but silky. All shine is dissipated, but I still somehow look polished. Quite surprising and impressive. I love it so much that I carry it around with me for touch ups. These touch ups, it has to be said, are never needed – unless I need to freshen up at the end of the office day before going out.

This mineral finishing powder is white, but does not leave me with a ghostly pallor. It is translucent and goes on beautifully over my Osmotics Inner Light ($35 in the TIA shop) and RMS Un-Cover Up concealer ($36 in the shop).

As always with W3LL People, there’s a happy marriage of performance and purity. The main ingredient is sericite, a kind of mica. It is useful as a safe talc substitute in mineral makeup, a reflector of light with low luster and an absorber of oil. Also helpful for absorbing oil is kaolin, a fine and white clay. Keeping the skin soothed are aloe and chamomile and there’s antioxidant boost from green tea.

Ingredients:

Sericite, Iron Oxides, Kaolin Clay, Organic Aloe Barbadenis (Aloe)*, Matricaria recutita (Chamomile)**, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea)*

*USDA Organic, **QAI

Reviewed by Shannon

Body scrubs are one of my favorite products. I was very excited to try the Sweet Georgia Brown Caramel Brown Sugar Scrub ($26), a natural, vegan product. Upon opening the jar, I was greeted by a wonderful, sweet fragrance that was not overpowering.

The Caramel Brown Sugar Scrub is a true scrub. It feels rough upon application, but quickly rubs into the skin. After rinsing off, it leaves behind soft, smooth skin, with a light, pleasant scent that disappears after about an hour. After 4 weeks of use, I have noticed that my skin has become softer and smoother.

I had very high hopes for this scrub, especially because it claims to be great in pedicures. Due to my former retail job, I have dry and cracked heels from standing all day, and I have calluses from dancing. I was not expecting a total improvement, but I hoped that this scrub would help to improve the appearance of my feet.

The Caramel Brown Sugar Scrub was okay for my feet. Following the directions, I used it once per week, focusing on my heels. The scrub slightly improved my right foot. While it appeared less dry and the cracking did improve, I was expecting more. The strange thing is that my right heel appears to have developed more dry skin on the bottom of my heel. However, my calluses on the balls of both feet did soften and the dry skin in that area went away. I would not suggest using only this scrub if your feet are like mine. I recommend using a pumice stone and moisturizing lotion to help get rid of the dry skin. I did not use these products with the scrub because I did not want them to interfere with the effectiveness of the scrub.

The Sweet Georgia Brown Caramel Brown Sugar Scrub is a great scrub that I recommend. It leaves your skin soft, smooth, and smelling great!

Ingredients:

Fresh brown sugar, caramel flavor, cocoa butter, coconut oil, sugar, grape seed oil, cocoa seed butter, jojoba oil, vegetable glycerine, natural food flavor oil, Vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract

Medik8 Red Alert Solution (15ml/$68) isn’t your mother’s anti-redness, broken vein treatment. This extremely targeted formula has just one active ingredient that is cutting edge and remains quite rare. I have been trying out on my roscacea, thread vein-prone cheeks and and sides of the nose and find this to be the most effective solution so far. For an added bonus, that rare ingredient I was talking about also repairs wrinkles.

The active is teprenone. To appreciate what it does and how it works, we need a 101 on telomeres, recently discovered by scientists and regarded as one of the keys to aging. Telomeres allow cells to distinguish chromosome ends from broken DNA. If DNA is broken there are two options after the cell cycle is stopped: Repair or death.

Telomeres shorten every time a cell divides. When they become very short, they trigger cell crisis and cell death. As we know, cells can only replicate a limited number of times - a phenomena called the Hayflick Limit. In cosmetics, the objective is not to lengthen the teleomeres, but stabilize them so that at least they won’t shorten. Maintaining telomere length extends, we are told, the Hayflick Limit by one third.

And that is what teprenone is supposed to do – stabilize the telomeres. And, as such, may be a useful anti-aging active. It is also said to mend broken veins and calm rosacea. The only problem is that there’s no independent research to corroborate these claims. Actually, there’s another problem with teprenone. It seems to be shrouded in patents and this may be why I have seen very few cosmetics using it. Medik8 says it operates under an “exclusive” license from the IP owner. Sederma (the makers of Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000) manufacture teprenone under the brand name Renovage, which can be found in products by Osmotics and Your Best Face.

My one-woman trial suggests that teprenone can help greatly with redness, rosacea and broken veins and I see Medik8 Red Alert having a regular place in my skincare routine. The formula is rounded out with vitamin E and sage extract. As always with Medik8, I wish for a little less silicone, but otherwise there’s nothing to dislike.

Ingredients:

Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tocopherol Acetate, Teprenone, Salvia Officinalis Extract

New York City is in election mode, but while results are still months away, we already have the winners of the TIA Readers' Choice Awards. The TIA community, which is vital in maintaining the integrity of the site voted on its favorite products in more than 10 categories. We tallied up the votes and are ready to present you with the winning products. Check back daily as we'll be announcing the winners over the next couple of days.

Anti-Aging Facial Serums

1st place:  AQ Skin Solutions Active Serum ($149 in the shop) consistently tops the 'best-of' lists. The product fights damage accumulated over the years such as sun spots and wrinkles and reveals young, healthy looking skin.

2nd place: Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum ($29.99 in the shop) is an excellent value antioxidant blend formulated to brighten, tighten and smooth. It has a highly stable and non-irritating form of vitamin C, Stay-C 50, vitamin E and ferulic acid.

3rd place: E'shee Elixir of Life KI Therapy Serum ($189 in the shop) E'shee has done it again. Marta says the serum proves astonishing results on skin smoothness, tone and even on stubborn lines. The formula combines growth factors (FGF 1 peptide) and Far Infrared Powder (FIR) to rejuvenate and restore damaged or aging skin.

Day Creams

1st place: Your Best Face Advanced CE Concentrate ($50 in the shop) For Marta the Your Best Face's Concentrate series (which includes Antioxidants and Hydrate B) are genius. This product is a lightweight, non-irritating facial lotion with high concentrations of vitamins C and E.

2nd place:  La Vie Celeste Extra Rich Cream ($75 in the shop) is a game changer in the world of moisturizers. The cream feels luxurious while hydrating and moisturizing without ever feeling too heavy.

3rd Place:  Arcona Magic White Ice ($40 in the shop)
Say hello to the moisturizing for those with oily skin. Mark says Arcona Magic White Ice is a hydrating gel ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. The product does not clog pores and works to prevent breakouts.

Cleansers

1st place: La Vie Celeste Exfoliating Mother of Pearl Cleanser ($40 in the shop) 
La Vie Celeste Exfoliating Mother of Pearl Cleanser is a unique cleanser that uses Mother of Pearl and pink and white clays to gently cleanse and exfoliate. The creamy texture allows it to be massaged into the skin while the clays work as gentle exfoliators.

2nd place:  Red Flower Lymphatic Phytopower Sea Cleanser ($42 in the shop)
This product serves double duty as a soft, gentle cleanser and a masque boosted with powerful antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients. With all natural ingredients Red Flower's cleanser is calming and moisturizing, says Marta.

It's a tie!

3rd place: Josh Rosebrook Moisturizing Cleanser ($27 in the shop)
Josh Rosebrook Moisturizing Cleanser is rich in antioxidants and botanical ingredients, which protect the skin while moisturizing deeply. The result is a bright, clear complexion.

3rd place: suki exfoliate cleanser ($32.95 in the shop) Amy B. said she noticed smoother, brighter skin with suki exfoliate foaming cleanser. The cleanser resurfaces skin, unclogs pores and exfoliates dead cells.

3rd place:  Arcona Toner Tea ($42 in the shop) Marta was initially skeptical of using a soap bar, but was pleasantly surprised with this product. It seems like soap bars have been cleaning up their act! This cleansing and toning bar is rich in antioxidants and is formulated with black, white and green teas and witch hazel that lives up to its expectations.

Shampoo

1st place: Hair Vitality Shampoo ($35 in the shop) Marta's goal was to create a shampoo that cleanses gently, imparts ingredients that encourage healthy hair growth, rinses out completely and complements Hair Vitality Conditioner and Hair Vitality Complex.

2nd place: Mukti Botanique Shampoo ($43 in the shop) Marta says this is by far one of her favorite shampoos. She says it foams up like a treat and leaves her hair feeling clean and soft. She's even noticed less shedding.

3rd place: Yarok Feed Your Volume Shampoo ($12-55 in the shop) Raise your hairs' volume and lower your carbon footprint with this luxurious shampoo. The preservatives are all essential oils such as sage and rosemary. Then there is plenty to love amongst the botanicals, Marta says.

Conditioners

1st place: Hair Vitality Conditioner ($44 in the shop) is formulated to give you smoother, shinier hair with fewer tangles, improved fullness and decreased hair shedding.

It's a tie!

2nd place: Yarok Feed Your Volume Conditioner ($12-55 in the shop) has warm and earthy aroma and is free of chemicals, alcohol, sulfates, parabens or animal testing.

2nd place: Mukti Botanique Conditioner ($43 in the shop) Just like the shampoo, the Mukti Botanique Conditioner is one of Marta's favorites. She says it conditions without weighing the hair down.

3rd place: Get Creamed Body Naked Decadence Conditioner ($20 in the shop) Tiffany says this conditioner left her hair lightly fragranced and in perfect donation. The conditioner defined her waves and balanced out her dry and greasy spots. It also left her hair untangled and full of volume throughout the day.

Save 20% on all Readers' Choice Awards Winners through 8/29. Use coupon code WINNER20 at checkout.

Upon discovering and experiencing the great anti-aging benefits of Hyalogic's Episilk Pure Hyaluronic Acid and Instant Face Lift serums, I was encouraged to give other Hyalogic products with a go. Knowing that good skin starts with clean skin, I began my trial on Episilk Facial Scrub ($19.95), for my night time cleansing regimen. I was so pleased with how Episilk PHA and IFL serums refined fine lines, plumped and firmed up my skin as I mentioned in an earlier review. So I thought it a good idea to maintain and supplement those good effects by including the Episilk Facial Scrub in my "anti-aging weapons".

Not only is its cleansing performance highly effective, it also hydrates and softens, unlike some cleansers-exfoliants that leave the skin feeling stripped of its natural moisture. Thanks to the key actives Exfo-Amber and Hyaluronic Acid formulated amongst other natural ingredients, Episilk Facial Scrub deep cleanses, lightly exfoliates, moisturizes, soothes and preps my skin for the easy application and absorption of the serums.

According to the company's FAQs on this product, "Exfo-Amber is a novel plant ingredient naturally derived from fossilized forest resin that is ground to a fine particle size, thus allowing for mild facial exfoliation. This plant product accelerates skin desquamation, therefore improving skin appearance."

The Hyaluronic Acid provides the moisture and nourishment for the collagen in the epidermal top layers and underlying dermal areas for skin hydration and firmness.

Indeed, with the microscopic granules in this creamy sand-colored scrub, a pea sized amount can easily dissolve the day's make-up and other environmental grime aside from shedding off dead skin cells. With regular use of Episilk Facial Scrub, I feel like my skin's natural renewal process is accelerated and there is quicker penetration for serums and moisturizers which are easily absorbed upon application. My pores are visibly unclogged, my skin tone seems more even and brighter, and my skin is softer and smoother to the touch. I can have a glowing complexion every day with Episilk Facial Scrub which is gentle enough to use daily (or in my case, nightly, as I choose to use it at the end of the day) for my combination normal to oily skin, and according to the company information, even for sensitive skin.

I would definitely recommend it because of its efficacy and good value. I believe that the 4.58 oz tube, priced under $20, will last longer than six months with my once a day usage.

Ingredients:

water, decyl glucoside, sodium lauroyl lactylate, Exfo Amber (glycol stearate, ceteartyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, pinus resin, glycerin, hydrolyzed caesalpinia spinosa gum, caesalpinia spinosa gum), olive squalane, organic corn starch, cetyl alcohol, sodium hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), natural peppermint oil, glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase.

New York City is in election mode, but while results are still months away, we already have the winners of the TIA Readers' Choice Awards. The TIA community, which is vital in maintaining the integrity of the site voted on its favorite products in more than 10 categories. We tallied up the votes and are ready to present you with the winning products. Check back daily as we'll be announcing the winners over the next couple of days.

Night Creams

First place: La Vie Celeste Extra Rich Cream ($75 in the shop)
A winner for the day cream category as well, La Vie Celeste Extra Rich Cream is a true gem. Melli says the cream goes on smoothly and leaves an airbrushed effect while Carole said her dry skin disappeared.

Second Place: Me & the Girls Moon Anti-Aging Night Facial Moisturizer ($36 in the shop)
Emily says Me & The Girls Moon Anti-Aging Night Facial Moisturizer makes a great addition to her regimen on a bitter cold winter day while Melissa says her face feels amazing and she loves that's is also a vegan product.

It's a tie!

Third Place: 100% Pure Wrinkle Smoothing Night Cream ($38 in the shop)
The 100% Pure Wrinkle Smoothing Night Cream helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, brighten age spots and firm skin. Kim admits her skin looks brighter and softer after a few weeks of use.

Third place: Snowberry Bright Defence Night Cream ($67 in the shop)
Snowberry Bright Defence Night Cream lightens, and deeply hydrates the skin while you sleep. Francine says she has seen an improvement in her skin tone and that her face feel less dry when she wakes up.