Ingredients Decoded: What to look for in any FACE CREAM

Hyaluronic Acid= another name: Sodium Hyaluronate
One of the three essential ingredients in any premium eye cream, hyaluronic acid is the key to maintaining water substances in human skin. What occurs is that as a result of aging, natural hyaluronic acid concentration in the skin decreases at an increasing rate over time. As a result, the skins ability to maintain moisture is weakened, and it gives the appearance of being dry and rough. When hyaluronic acid is applied back to the skin, it penetrates the dermis, combines with water, and promotes micro circulation and nutrient absorption. It forms an air permeable layer, to keep the skin moist and smooth. Hyaluronic acid application in a topical cream leads to rapid skin rejuvenation. The results are a fast reduction in wrinkles around the face.

Retinol= Retina= Vitamin A (* variations of the same main ingredient Vitamin A)
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, best known in skin care applications as Retinol, plays an important role in anti-aging skin care. It directly contributes to the resurfacing and rejuvenating of the skin, helping to impart a clearer, more vibrant complexion for all ages. However, while vitamin A is one of the most essential ingredients in a general wrinkle cream.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an ascorbic acid who’s primary function is the manufacture of collagen. It is an important water-soluble antioxidant and critical for immune function. It is very susceptible to break down when exposed to air, which is why it is normally included in ester form when added to a skin care product or eye cream, thus allowing it to retain its efficacy much longer.
Glycolic Acid
Due to its excellent capability to penetrate skin, glycolic acid finds applications in skin care products, most often as a chemical peel performed by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or licensed aesthetician in concentrations of 20 to 70% or at-home kits in lower concentrations between 10 and 20%.
Once applied, glycolic acid reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis, weakening the binding properties of the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together. This allows the 1^st layer of cells to be exfoliated, exposing live skin cells. Highly purified grades of glycolic acid are commercially available for personal care applications.



Even though this ingredient is recommended for acne skin,…all skin types can benefit from it, but in small amounts since it is so potent.  It exfoliates the skin, leaving it ready for new cell build up, which makes your skin look fresh and young: GLOWING…. 

Salicylic acid
Salicyclic acid is an ingredient found in many over the counter acne products. It helps to exfoliate the outer layers of the skin. It is not a recommended ingredient for an eye cream as it can irritate the gentle skin around the eyes.

Our Eyes Don't lie: My favorite Eye Creams

Our eyes don't lie,... they are the windows to our soul,...so we have to keep them fresh and young looking.
 Most important fact about eye creams: THE RICHER THE CREAM,...THE BETTER.

As we age we lose collagen and moisture from our skin. Collagen is a group of proteins that provide elasticity and firmness to our skin.  The eye area is the thinnest skin on our face .  It has the least moisture.  The more moisture we lose and the less collagen is produced, and the more we smile,..which we should all do, the more pronounced the lines around the eyes, hence crows feet.

Eye Creams basics

Crows feet are wrinkles extending from the outer corner of the eyes. They can be reduced or removed with a good eye cream that contains a proper pharmaceutical-grade blend of argireline and hyaluronic acid. Most eye creams, particularly the cheaper variety, can not properly deal with crows feet due to the low concentration of the necessary ingredients needed to combat the problem.

The 3 or 4 most important ingredients in creating an excellent eye cream are

1)      Argireline

2)      Hyaluronic Acid

3)      GABA

4)      Resveratrol

Ideally it would be to find all of these ingredients in a super eye cream but if not it should have at least one of the above.

Dehydration
Dehydration is the excessive loss of water from the body or an organ or body part. Aloe vera is the most effective topical solution for dealing with dehydration. People who suffer from dry skin, which is a very common symptom of dehydration, must choose an eye cream that contains aloe vera.
Moisturizer
A moisturizer is a cosmetic lotion or cream applied to the skin to help retain moisture and combat dryness. Aloe Vera is considered the best moisturizer and an essential component to any premium eye cream.

Wrinkles
Wrinkles around the corner of the eyes, also known as crow’s feet, are the most visible signs of age. An eye cream with argireline, GABA and hyaluronic acid are fast to remove wrinkles around the eyes by almost instantly smoothing the delicate skin while at the same time permanently reducing wrinkle depth.
Argireline
Argireline is the brand name for Acetyl Hexapeptide-3.  It is manufactured by Center Chem in Conneticut. It has been called by top skin care professionals, as the best needle-free alternative to botox. Argireline has been shown to drastically reduce wrinkle depth, particularly around the forehead and eye area.  It is found in many of the best-rated anti-aging products for this reason. While Argireline can be applied daily in cream form, it is completely discomfort-free.

Hyaluronic Acid
One of the three essential ingredients in any premium eye cream, hyaluronic acid is the key to maintaining water substances in human skin. What occurs is that as a result of aging, natural hyaluronic acid concentration in the skin decreases at an increasing rate over time. As a result, the skins ability to maintain moisture is weakened, and it gives the appearance of being dry and rough. When hyaluronic acid is applied back to the skin, it penetrates the dermis, combines with water, and promotes micro circulation and nutrient absorption. It forms an air permeable layer, to keep the skin moist and smooth. Hyaluronic acid application in a topical eye cream leads to rapid skin rejuvenation. The results are a fast reduction in wrinkles around the eye area, particularly what is known as ‘crows feet’.
GABA
GABA, a relatively new topical skin care supplement, is referred to by experts as the body’s natural tranquilizer.  It works fast to penetrate the sensitive skin around the eyes by relaxing the muscles.  This has the effect of creating less skin tension in order to instantly reduce wrinkling. The instant anti-wrinkle effect of the GABA application makes it a very desirable addition to any eye cream.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is perhaps the most important anti-aging discovery of the this generation. Well publicized, with benefits documented in thousands of scientific journals, the world’s most powerful anti-oxidant has been recently added to some super-premium eye creams However, as highly-concentrated topical resveratrol is extremely expensive, expect to pay well over $100 for a small bottle of resveratrol infused eye cream. Accordingly, it is worth every penny.


Before you go ahead and spend your money,...TRY, TRY, TRY.

Go to Sephora and ask for a sample of your preferred eye cream and try it out for a few days.  See the results and then purchase it if you like it.

* As with all cosmetic products they don't all work the same for all skin types.  We all have different body chemistry so a cream that might work well for me or your friend or your mom might not work so well for you.  Don't get discouraged.  Go out and try as many as you like and then decide where you will spend your money on.  And do not feel guilty on spending on a good cosmetic product, ...see it as an INVESTMENT for your FACE.  Your face will THANK YOU without the extra wrinkles.

The eye creams bellow do not have all the above ingredients in one.  Some just have one,...while others might have them disguised in other chemical forms.

The one ingredient that I saw in two creams is Hyaluronic Acid= as Sodium Hyaluronate=wrikle reducer 

Another ingredient that I found in one cream is RESVERATROL.


And here are my favorite eye creams, listed by price not the order that I like.  I posted a few so that you can decided based on your body chemistry which works best for you.



One thing I found the higher the price= the richer the cream, the longer the moisture it provides

MOST EXPENSIVE- LEAST EXPENSIVE:
1) La Mer Eye cream $165.00
2) Fresh Eye Cream, $95.00, in a tube Black tea, age delay, $65.00
3) Caudale Eye Cream $95.00
4) Philosophy Eye Hope, $48.00

5) Clinique, All about eyes rich, $47.50
6) Booth's No7 : Protect & Perfect Intense: $19.99

Hope this helps,...Let me know about any eye cream product you have tried and how it works for you,...LOVE to know the results.

PS: FOR BEST RESULTS ON YOUNG BEAUTIFUL EYES : DON'T FORGET TO ADD YOUR CONCEALER 

Posts I am working on for 2012

1) My favorite EYE CREAMS

2) We smile with our Eyes: Mascaras that actually WORK

3) Political Arena: Which Woman has it right??? Michelle O, Michelle B, Hillary or Sara

4) Massages and WHY THEY HELP you HEAL

5) Love the SUN, Use the Sunscreen ALWAYS

6) YOGA really WORKS

7) I LOVE CHOCOLATE,...You should eat it

8) I LOVE RED WINE,...You should drink it

9) No need to go to a SPA,..only once in a while

10) HomeBASE, Your Kitchen

11) Don't LOSE all the WEIGHT,...it can make you LOOK OLDER

You don't have to lie about your AGE, Really

When I turned 20 I was still in college and the world was full of possibilities.  When I turned 30 I had tried a few jobs but I have not found my career yet.  I had an early mid-life crisis since I did not know where I belonged.  I always took care of how I looked but somehow I was not happy with where I was. Soon after, I decided to take my mom's advice and embark on a new journey.  That journey led me to where I was meant to be all along,...in front of a classroom teaching science.  Here is the interesting part, even though I started teaching in my early 30's all my students thought I was in my early 20's.  As silly as it sounds that gave me a bust of confidence and in return it made me feel like I was in my early 20's,...a life full of possibilities .  The lesson here, is that you are what you feel and you feel what you are.  The way you look is only an effect not the cause.  But with everything, you need to work on every aspect of yourself all the time,...mind and body first and then the superficial stuff, the right skin care routine, the right make-up application, the right hair style/hair color, the right clothes,...and finally the right attitude towards life.  The only judge to your appearance is yourself.

 Now lets do a quick check list of what you should attempt to accomplish,...not all at once, one at a time.


1) Listen to you  body,...take a break, enjoy yourself, SMILE
2) Sometimes you just have to IGNORE THE negative and PRETEND that it never happened

3) Eat and sleep right,...This is probably the MOST important thing you can do for your well being,...all the body cells regenerate during the night and they do that using the food that you put in your body during the day.
4) Exercise at your own pace,...a few times a week, few minutes a day, every day, every other day,...but remember don't do it in excess otherwise you will hate it.  I prefer outdoors activities, and I found that the easiest way for me to exercise is walking.  I take my daughter for 3-4 hr long walks.  Also exercise increases the endorphins in your body, which are the feel good hormones,..when you feel good, you look good and you look at least 5 yrs younger than your actual age. (that is just my estimate)
6) Drink lots of water.
7) Apply make up in moderation,...the more make-up you have the older you look. 
8) Wear age appropriate clothing but don't hide in them,..show your curves, not stripper like,..but more Michelle Obama like.

9) And finally find a hobby.  I love being out in Nature and taking pictures.
10) Stay out in the sun, of course with right protection.  The more you stay out in the sun the more vitamin D your body builds, which is believed to fight depression.  

Busy MOM: Working WOMAN: Quick Make-up

Once I had my daughter my make application time went from 10 minutes to 5 minutes to 3 minutes.
The first few weeks seemed like conquering Mnt. Everest without any rope, something that I loved doing, applying my make-up to me was like painting a beautiful canvass,...was impossible and even anxiety ridden. I was learning how to first manage taking care of my daughter while not totally ignoring my simple frivolous needs. It took time,...but once I got the time management down I started to take pleasure in the quick make-up application. One thing I learned in these 6 months is that you need to be able to still save some of your old self in order to be a HAPPY MOM.

So let's start with the CANVASS: Your FACE
1) Apply Moisturizer, and Eye Cream
3) Let them absorb into your skin for 2 mins.
4) Apply Under-eye concealer
5) Next is the press powder
6) Lots of blush (not the clown effect but more like the flush pink effect after a quick run)
7) A small dab of highlighter eye shadow in the inner corners of your eyes
8) Lastly Mascara.

MOISTURIZE = GLOW

Even if you have not been so diligent with your daily skincare routine,...you can do one thing to bring back the GLOW

1) Wash your face with really COLD WATER

2) Then add moisturizer,...but which one...the best by far for me, which I discovered way back in college : 1) CLINIQUE: Dramatically different moisturizing lotion.

Baby's butt is really softer than our SKIN

How can we have BABY BUTT SKIN???

Since having my daughter I realized that the old adage is true= SOFT AS A BABY's BUTT

But how can we get that result without breaking the bank??

If you can only do 3 things:

1) Exfoliate = once a weak

2) Apply Moisturizer/and or Sunscreen

3) Finally a great product I discovered a few years ago= Avene Thermale Spring Water (available at Duane Reade/ and or Target): Just spray it on your face whenever you are around your house,...or before you apply your make up/ or before you go to bed