Older Girl Beauty Blog

First Look: Avon ANEW REJUVENATE Glycolic Facial Treatment

oldergirlbeauty — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:03:27 -0500

You guys know how much I like Avon and that I am impressed with their R&D, leading to some really great breakthrough products, right? Well, I am happy to let you guys know that I was one of 4 lucky people to get to sneak peek their brand new release, "ANEW REJUVENATE Glycolic Facial Treatment".

I have heard lots of things about the benefits of Glycolic Acid for the skin, so I wanted to see what this was about. This treatment is in the form of a serum that dispenses from the bottle in a dropper that gives you just the right amount to use - you really do NOT need to overdo with this stuff. (*I can't tell you the exact percentage that is in this, but it is the second ingredient, after only water, fyi.) They say:

Overnight: 78% of women saw retexturized, more flawless skin.*
In 1 week: See fine lines and wrinkles visibly fade. 94% of women showed improvement in texture & clarity.**
Over time: 97% of women showed improvement in dullness and tone.**

(*In a consumer-perception study. **In a dermatologist-supervised clinical study.)

I can tell you that, knowing that I can have sensitive skin, I didn't use this every night because I wasn't sure how harsh this would be on my skin. I found that using it every other to every third night worked really well for me in the fact that I didn't have any adverse reactions on my skin - no burning or lingering redness, which is a plus. I have seen a brightness in my skin, improving the dullness that can happen, too. This is also supposed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, I don't have a real problem with this, so I can't really speak to the effectiveness of this for that, but that is more an issue with my skin versus any issue with the treatment.

I think if you have considered getting a glycolic peel, or considered adding a glycolic element to your skincare routine, you should take a look at Avon's latest REJUVENATE product, because for less than the cost of just one peel (*on average), you can treat yourself at home & many more times, too.

You can pick this up online for $30, or from your local Avon rep. Let me know if you try this, as I'd love to hear your results, too.

Priming the palette

oldergirlbeauty — Mon, 03 May 2010 09:04:29 -0500

Up until a couple of years ago, I had no idea what a face primer was, nor what it could do for you when applying makeup. Well, I have come to learn *plenty* about them now & want to make sure that you do, too.

In the video I mention the following primers, and tried to touch on their price points, but I did so with out any notes. I'll list them here, with links for more details on them, and will list their current SRP:

Avon MagiX - $10 (on sale now for $7.95) (*bought this myself)
Tricia Sawyer Skin Balancing Water Primer - $34 (*bought this myself)
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Luminizing Face Primer - $10 (on sale at CVS for $7.99) (*bought this myself)
Stila Hydrating Primer SPF 15 - $34 (*PR provided)
Cover FX Clear Prep FX - $39 (*PR Provided)
Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Primer - $38 (*PR Provided)
Two Faced Shadow Insurance - $17 (*bought this myself)
L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara - $10.95 (*bought this myself)
Cover FX Mint Glaze FX Primer - $22 (*PR Provided)

I also mentioned, but didn't show:
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base - $13
Urban Decay Primer Potion - $18

I also wanted to mention one that I had forgotten to show in the video, the Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base SPF 15. This is a primer that not only sets your skin for your foundation, it does so by correcting the redness in your skin, with a green tint, if that is one of your problems - $17.50 (*PR Provided)

Just so you know, I have only touched on the brands, and availability, of primer products that are out there. I just wanted to at least let you know how much of a variety there is, and how there is definitely one for you and want you need it to, if you decided to start using a primer. Please let me know if you use any of the ones I mentioned or if this compels you to try one - I'd really like to know.

A reversal of fortunate skin

oldergirlbeauty — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:39:20 -0500

Last week I was lucky enough to get the chance to talk to Anthony Gonzalez, Senior Manager, Global Skin Care Product Development - Global Research & Development for Avon (*heck of a title, eh? Whew.) about Avon's "ANEW Reversalist" line. This is their anti-aging skincare line for 40+ folks with moderate signs of aging, including wrinkles, loss of firmness and discolorations.

The primary component of this range is the "Activinol Technology". I know, you're like I was - what's that? So, I asked. Anthony told me that "it is based around the protein "Activin", which helps promote healing & that this is important because aging is really accumulated damage under the skin (*says wrinkles are micro-injuries to the skin). The good thing about this Activin is that it can be "stimulated" to reactivate the healing/repairing by the "Activinol Technology". Avon is the first to use this patent-pending complex of two highly purified fractions of specific plant components: 1) Amorphophallus: Stimulates Activin production to help trigger skin’s repair process & 2) Sesbania: Boosts skin’s support structure."

There is actually a complete "holistic" system to the Reversalist line, from cleanser to moisturizer, but we were talking about the two lastest additions, the "ANEW REVERSALIST Day Renewal Cream SPF 25" and the ANEW REVERSALIST Illuminating Eye System. The Day Renewal Cream seems to have some pretty dramatic results:

Instantly, helps reduce the look of dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes*
In 2 weeks, fine lines and wrinkles visibly improved up to 25% **
Over time, clinically shown to improve the look of dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles **

(*In a consumer-perception study. **In a clinical study.)

In addition, it contains SPF 25 UVA/UVB, which we all know we should be applying every morning anyway, right?

As for the Iluminating Eye System, it has two parts to it. 1) The first part is the eye cream itself, which can be used all over the eye area, including the eyelid. Now, I did ask Anthony about this, as most eye creams don't want you to get it too close to the eye, let alone on the eyelid. He said that "thru the screening process, it was determined that it was mild enough for the eyelid, without stinging, so that it could be used there". I like that because usually I wonder if it am getting enough around my eye, since I stay so far back with cream to not get it IN the eye. Anyway, this cream "visibly reduces dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles over time". 2) The second part is the "Sheer Veil", which contain "potent skin brighteners". It has a very soft feel about it and when I asked Anthony about what it was made up of, he told me that it used pigments and MagiX, which made me very happy to hear because you guys know that I really like me some MagiX. Again, this one has some pretty dramatic results, too:

Instantly, helps reduce the look of dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes*
In 2 weeks, fine lines and wrinkles visibly improved up to 25% **
Over time, clinically shown to improve the look of dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles **

(*In a consumer-perception study. **In a clinical study.)

Now, I haven't been using this for too long, so I haven't seen dramatic results, but I can say that they feel really good on. I really like the feel of the Sheer Veil in the eye system, but I may be biased since I already like the MagiX. Have any of you guys tried this? If you have, I'd like to know your experinces with it so far, too. And, if you would like to, as always with Avon, you can shop online or from your local Avon rep. (*if you don't have one, you can find one of those on their site, too.)

(*Thanks to Anthony for his time to speak to me and to the teams for putting this together. I really appreciate it.)

The History of Beauty: Ungaro is NOT Lindsay Lohan

oldergirlbeauty — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:12:00 -0600

Nowadays, when you hear "Ungaro" you think of the dismally received fashion show fronted by "artistic designer", Lindsay Lohan. Thankfully, it has not always been that way.

Emanual Ungaro, born in 1933, took to sewing, as his father had done. So much that by the time he was 22 he moved to Paris, & 3 years later he was designing for the House of Cristobal Balenciaga. He stayed there for 3 years before moving on to design for André Courrèges. Only 4 years later, in 1965, he opened his own fashion house - having his first Prêt-à-Porter collection and opening his first stores in 1968.

For the next 30 years, he expanded stores and licensing agreements. Along the way, he created perfumes - Diva (1983), Senso (1987), Ungaro (1991) and Emanuel Ungaro For Men (1991). In 1997, Emanuel Ungaro partnered with Salvatore Ferragamo and Bulgari to create a new company: Emanuel Ungaro Parfums. This company produced the fragrances Fleur de Diva (1997), Desnuda (2001) and Apparition (2004).

Keeping with the history of creating scents, in 2008, Ungaro teamed with Avon to create two new frangrances: Avon U by Ungaro for Her and Avon U by Ungaro for Him. The sucess of these fragrances led Avon and Ungaro to collaborate again - this time with color cosmetics - "U by Ungaro Color Collection".

This Limited Edition collection contains 8 pieces, ranging from $10 to $20. It includes 3 lipsticks (*including one in the iconic Fuscia color "Ungaro Pink"), 3 eyeshadows and 2 face shimmer powders.

I've had a chance to try some of these, and I gotta say that I like the pink packaging - looks very luxe. The only thing I didn't care for, was the lipstick case. It looks nice and sleek, but the top to pull out the lipstick is small and the tube itself is slick, making it difficult to open. It has a sheer ribbon on top, and while it may just be there for decoration, it became my go to way to open it. But, once it was open, I liked the texture.

So, when I tell you this is Limited Edition, I mean it - it's only going to be around until December 31st. Then *poof*, it's gone. So, hit up Avon.com or your local Avon representative and take a look at this collection with a pedigree for yourself.

It's not Mall Hair gel

oldergirlbeauty — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:16:03 -0500

(*I really wish I could remember on who's site I originally saw this moisturizer on, because I would give them a huge "Thank You!".)

Now, we all know I am not one to get out in the sun, but I still get dry arms and legs that I need some moisturizer on them - even coming in from the heat. When I read about Avon's Skin So Soft Summer Soft Cooling Gel Moisturizer (*gawd, that's a hell of a long name), I knew I had to try it.

I can't stand a heavy moisturizer during the heat of the summer - it just makes me feel like I am smothering in it. That is what makes this so good - it is a gel and goes on so light. Since I keep it in the fridge, it goes on so cool that it can make my body temp feel like it goes down at least 5 degrees or so. Now, I don't know if that is the case (*i'm betting it's not), but it still feels so good.

It contains Aloe and Cucumber and had a light scent which goes away pretty quickly, after it's absorbed. Now, we know I love me some Cucumber smell, but this isn't really as detectable as that, just mostly a light, fresh scent.

I picked mine up earlier this summer on sale, but I see that they are running a 50% off "While Supplies Last" special for $3.99/6.7oz tube. If you are live anywhere like I do, even tho the calendar says summer is almost over, we still have some heated days ahead of us, so I would try to pick this up while you can, just to cool off and get rid of the heat dryness for now.