Planet Eden Organic Skin Care

Photo: Photo: NewHealthGuide.org

Good skin care is an ongoing topic on THE SAVVY SHOPPER. Although we can't stop the march of time, we can strive to have "glowing, radiant skin'' at every age. And ... we don't want to go broke doing so.

Plant Eden is a company offering the best quality organic serums, moisturizers and treatments without the expense of the luxe brands. What an amazing find!: You get top-notch skin care at affordable prices, which is why the retailer began in 2009. Plus, the products are cruelty free, none are tested on animals.

Here are some of the crème de la crème Planet Eden anti-aging potions to try:

1) Eden Skin Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid Serum - Reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Protects against inflammation and stimulates the growth of collagen. Lightens freckles and age stops. (Apply the serum at night.)

2) Miracle C Serum With Cam Camu Berry - Cam camu berry is a natural source of high potency vitamin C. It improves uneven skin tone and helps your sun screen work better. The serum has ferulic acid which doubles the benefits of vitamin C to protect skin against free radicals, as well as, produce collagen. It also contains hyaluronic acid, a vital component in skin. The serum boosts elasticity and keeps your skin healthy, moist and supple. (Wear it day or night, but not with a retinol. The 2 ingredients, retinol and vitamin C cancel the benefits of the other.)

3) 20% Gly-Lactic Exfoliating Lotion with Glycolic and Lactic Acid - Has 10% glycolic and 10% lactic acid for cell turnover. There are no harsh chemicals, but tons of moisturizers. Your skin plumps up with dewy moisture -- derived from hyaluronic acid and sealed by exotic oils and butters -- while shedding a layer of dead, dull skin over a short period of time to revel fresh skin. (Use day or night.)

4) Antioxidant Recovery Cream for Stressed Dry Skin And After Skin Peels - Loaded with organic botanicals, such as rose hip oil, evening primrose oil, grapeseed oil, caledula, frankincense, macadamia nut oil and many other ingredients, including Anica and vitamin B5. It sooths, moisturizes and heels the skin. (Apply day or night.)

5) Dermaneedle Skin Roller (540 needles) - Using a skin roller reduces pores, acne scars, pigmentation and wrinkles. The motion of the needles stimulates collagen. It can be used on the face and other parts of the body.

The serums, creams and treatments have a pleasant, clean scent (very faint), a smoothing effect and are filled-to-the-brink of their containers. Value without compromise; plus all items ship for free.

With the cash you save on Planet Eden's youth elixirs, you can splurge on a useful tool like the skin roller. In a nutshell: This highly effective brand is a bargain!

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Are Makeup Clubs Worth The Money?

Subscribing to a makeup club usually costs between $10 - $15 per month, depending on the club, which adds up to $110 - $150 a year. A few clubs charge more. Popular makeup clubs include Birchbox, ipsy makeup bags and Beauty Army. Most clubs let customers cancel a membership at anytime, without penalty.

Upon joining, a subscriber is asked to select her makeup preferences. This includes: 1) Types of products: mascara, eyeshadow or lipstick, etc; 2) Colors: reds, pinks, plums, browns, or nudes; and 3) Looks: bold, glam or natural, etc. However, customers find that the boxes contain essentially the same products, regardless of what they select.

So is subscribing to a makeup club worth the money? Yes, if it brings you happiness. But no, if you are looking for value.

Here are the reasons why:

1) You have the ability to try skin care, or cosmetics for free simply by going into the Sephora, or Ulta shops. Plus, beauty companies give away plenty of free samples. It is better to experiment on someone else's dime before you spend money on products you may not like.

2) You will not use much of the club makeup, which comes automatically to your home because you didn't select it. If you go into a store, you can buy only the makeup that you like, not the mascaras, foundations or red lipsticks you don't.

3) Some of the products are sample size, not full size. You shouldn't have to pay for samples that companies traditionally offer for free.

4) Subscribers say after a few months, the products get redundant. 

5) Moreover, we acquire less, if we make concious decisions to walk into a store to buy things. To avoid clutter, waste or extra expense, we should develop the habit of getting only the things we need. You are handing over your control to a club.

The only time I would buy a subscription to a makeup club is as a gift for someone who can't afford makeup; or who is too busy to procure it. What a treat for such a person to receive a monthly gift of new products. The rest of us can always walk into a store to shop with purpose.

What do you think?

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The Skinfood Beauty Line

Gold Caviar for anti-aging

Skinfood is a skin care, hair care and cosmetic line that uses the highest quality food, such as black sugar, royal honey, egg white, avocado, peach sake, yuja and gold caviar to create its products.

The company buys food from organic farms around the globe, which utilizes eco-friendly and sustainable growing methods, then formulates powerful food-based skin care, hair care and makeup.

Address specific skin concerns like acne, dryness, redness or anti-aging with a variety of special face serums and creams; or add an Argon Oil Serum to repair and condition your hair. The focus is "on long-term beauty, not short lived results." 

The cost of items start at $5 and go up. With promotions, prices are reasonable for clean, top-notch ingredients. It's another winning brand to get to know. Makes terrific gifts; and choice is a Savvy Shopper's best friend!

Currently beauty editors are excited about Skinfood's limited edition Snoopy Collection, a collaboration with K-Beauty.

The Snoopy Collection

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New Neutrogena Hydro Boost & Maybelline Master Prime

How I love when top-notch beauty products appear at the corner drugstore! 

Neutrogena is an excellent skin care line. The retailer is launching new treatments to keep your skin healthy and glowing from within. First up is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel Cream, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and olive extract to hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes for up to 48 hours. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient to help your skin attract and hold moisture. Who wants to dry up like a leathery old prune? Let's fight the signs of aging all the way! Cost: $15.

Also new is Neutogena's Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for Extra Dry Skin. Cost: $18. Apply it to your face. I only buy a single gel/cream to treat both areas -- eyes and face, since my skin can tolerate it. But if your eye area is sensitive, buy serums and moisterizers specifically formulated for your more delicate eye area, where the skin is thinner, i.e. both items. You will need to pay the piper. Sorry wallet!

Next to discuss, Maybelline has developed a master face primer. There are three lightweight formulas to fight three different skin concerns. Wear the primer under makeup to blur skin imperfections like zits, a red tone or fine lines. Without clogging pores, the primer gives your complexion a nice glow and youthful appearance. It also prevents aging: SPF 30 sunscreen guards against future wrinkles and skin cancer. Cost: $10.

How exciting! Skin care, once only sold behind a costly cosmetic counter, is now available at your local drugstore for less. Sometimes beauty is skin deep!

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Jaclyn Smith's Anti-Aging Skin Care



Photo: Jaclyn Smith

Staying abreast of new skin care brands is smart. Not only is it good for your epidermis, it is good for your wallet.

Jaclyn Smith, with the help of medical researchers including her husband, Dr. Bradley Allen, developed her own high end products that she sells at K-Mart. Her skin care line, while not dirt cheap, is budget friendly. You will pay 3 to 4 times more for comparable products that are sold in luxe department stores. I love finding cheaper alternatives on good skin care. Since these products are used every day, the savings really add up!

What makes Jaclyn Smith's brand a contender is her serums and moisturizers contain lots of ani-aging properties. When shopping for remedies for your beauty routine be sure to look for four key anti-aging ingredients:

1) Antioxidants - Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, green tea.

2) Glycolic acid - a/k/a hydroxyacetic acid

3) Peptides

4) Retinols (over the counter) - or retinoids (prescription strength)  

Beauty experts agree that these four ingredients are top performers in slowing down the aging process by either preventing skin cell damage, speeding cell turnover or helping to rebuild collagen.

It's never too late to begin taking care of your skin. So the next time you are shopping at K-Mart, take a stroll down the personal care aisle to give the brand a browse. 

Finally, Jaclyn Smith's website gives useful tips on good skin care, as does THE SAVVY SHOPPER. Start with the links below, or enter "skin care" in the blog's search box.

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Atoxelene Line Wand

There is a trendy beauty fluid celebrities use to erase wrinkles and promote youthful skin. Have you heard of it? And if so, can you pronounce it?! The name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?

Call it Botox on a brush. Reportedly, many A-list stars keep an Atoxelene Line Wand within reach. 

Here's why: It hydrates the skin and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles with properties of hyaluronic acid and peptides. 

The Atoxelene Line Wand is applied under makeup and before red carpet events to take years off a face. The treatment works immediately, but since it is an intraceutical, the effects are also cumulative, according to Hollywood markup ... um makeup artists. The more you use it, the better your skin looks. Brush it on crow's feet, furrows, frown lines and laugh lines to soften and reduce their appearance. Moreover, its anti-aging ingredients (the peptides) encourage quicker cell turnover and the growth of collagen to keep new expression lines at bay. It's a splurge at $49. The equally popular Atoxelene daily serum costs $149.

For a similar, but cheaper treatment, try Watts Beauty Peptide - Hyaluronic Acid Concentrated Serum Complex with L-Arginine and Silk Amino Acids.

And just for fun, challenge yourself by pronouncing the names of each of these products three times without stammering!

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Cosmeceutical Skin Care ... Say What?

Photo by Osmosis skin care

Cosmeceuticals is a new vocabulary word I leaned by picking up a street copy of a magazine called Image.  The free monthly is published by plastic surgeons, and according to them cosmeceuticals are the new wave in skin care.

 Let me sum up the article for you.  Our new word is a hybrid of the words cosmetic and pharmaceutical.  Cosmeceuticals are key ingredients with anti-aging benefits that can be bought without a prescription.  Common over the counter cosmeceuticals include glycolic cleansers, anti-aging moisturizers, skin lightening serums and skin tightening creams. 

Skin ages due to oxidation and free radical damage.  Sun exposure is a major cause of free radical damage.  Free radicals breakdown the skin's molecular structure leading to wrinkles and the loss of elasticity and resilience.

According to the article, studies show that antioxidants slow down free radical damage and can improve the skin's appearance.  Cosmeceuticals contain high doses of antioxidants, plus complementary ingredients like phytochemicals, enzymes and essential oils so that your skin can absorb the anti-aging ingredients.

Here is a list of cosmeceuticals -- 10 Active Ingredients -- to look for in high tech youth serums:

1. Retinoids (such as Retinol, a vitamin A treatment) speeds up the skin's natural exfoliation process, lessening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by thinning and flattening the top layer of the skin.

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – Exfoliates the skin.  Encourages cell turnover.

3. Alpha Lipoic Acid – Erases fine lines and wrinkles, shrinks pores and reduces under-eye puffiness, improves circulation; brightens your complexion.

4. Glycolic Acid – A fruit acid that exfoliates the skin and speeds up the growth of new skin.  Promotes a smoother, fresher looking complexion.

5. Antioxidants – Look for vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid), vitamin E, green tea, Q-10, Vitamin B Complex. They have anti-inflammatory properties and help build collagen.

6. Peptides – Are tiny protein molecules used to slowdown the loss of collagen, as well as, stimulate skin repair.

7. DMAE – This ingredient may or may not be effective in lifting and firming sagging skin.  There is no consensus on whether it works.

8. Epidermal Growth Factors (EPG) – Fights the loss of skin elasticity and discoloration.

9. Hyaluronic Acid – is a protein that keeps the connective tissues of the skin moist; makes your skin look soft, supple and smooth.

10. Enzymes – remove dead skin cells.

To zero in on specific anti-aging skin care products to try, click the links below.  The first link explains face serums.  You can also peruse THE SAVVY SHOPPER's many posts on good skin care by using the "Search This Blog" box.  It's located at the bottom right-hand corner.

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Boots No. 7 Is Coming To Walgreens

Boots is sold throughout the UK

One of the aims of  THE SAVVY SHOPPER is to find a few steals.  Boots UK offers stellar beauty products at very affordable prices.  The company began as a family herbal medicine shop in 1849 in Nottingham, England.  Today everybody from Nottingham to Madison Avenue raves about Boots' No 7 line of anti-aging face serums, moisturizers and makeup – much of it priced under $20.  In the USA, Boots' No 7 is now sold at Target and will soon be distributed by Walgreens drugstore.  Recently the two companies, Boots and Walgreens, merged.  [At times you can order online cheaper from sellers at Amazon.]

While the Examiner, an English newpaper, reports that there are higher concentrations of key peptides in more expensive brands, Boots' No 7 consistently scores higher than skin care products costing $100 or more by leading beauty editors, as well as, everyday women who use it.  English roses and Southern belles alike love the results … plus the savings!  Sometimes, you don't need more of the ingredients, you simply need enough of them to work, and that level is often open to debate.  Boots' No 7 is definitely a top-notch brand worth trying!

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Here Comes The Sun ... 10 Sunscreen Mistakes

Now that the dog days of August are here, doctors advise us to be vigilant about protecting our skin.  Everywhere I turn, there are articles and news segments telling us what to do and not do in the war against skin cancer.  The consensus: Skin cancer is on the raise.  One out of five people will get it in his or her life, with melanoma being the most serious diagnosis.  Many people today know they need protection.  But here are 10 common mistakes people make when using sunscreen, as cited by many dermatologists:

1. Not avoiding midday sun – The sun is stronger between the hours of 10 am - 4 pm, so shun peak hours.

2. Not wearing a high SPF sunscreen – If you are outdoors for hours, dermatologists recommend SPF 30.

3. Not reapplying sunscreen every two to three hours – This is what yours truly fails to do.

4. Not applying enough (quantity) sunscreen – At the beach you should use two tablespoons, or a shot glass amount to cover your skin.  A family of four should go through a bottle of sunscreen every 3 to 4 days, says [You] Dr. Mohmet Oz.

5. Not applying sunscreen to your scalp, ears and lips.

6. Using a sunscreen that blocks only UVB rays – A sunblock that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide blocks both UVB and UVA rays.  UVB causes burns and cancer, and UVA causes aging.

7. People with dark or olive skin not wearing sunscreen – Unlike centuries ago, the earth's ozone layer is compromised.  Today every skin type needs protection while outdoors to prevent skin cancer.

8. Using expired sunscreen – Some experts tell you to replace your sunscreen every year to be safe, but according to Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson, a dermatologist from the Mayo Clinic, sunscreens are made to last for 3 years and will remain stable as long as they don't bake in the sun.  So keep the bottles tucked away in a tote, or indoors, and check exploration dates.

9. Wearing only sunscreen, but not wearing protective clothing – Dermatologists advice us to wear wide brimmed hats and cover ups, along with sunscreen while outdoors.

10. Only wearing sunscreen in the summer – We need to protect exposed skin all year around even on cloudy days, or while driving.

However, the prescription gets a tab more complicated.  While dermatologists, who -- naturally, see lots of skin cancer -- warn patients to stay out of the sun, other doctors worry that we are not getting enough vitamin D, and a lack of vitamin D may cause other cancers and health issues.  So now the conventional wisdom is, be sure to get 10 - 15 minutes of direct sunlight 3-4 times a week, before using sunscreen and/or covering up the rest of the time to guard against skin cancer.  These doctors say getting a little direct sun allows your body to make vitamin D without significantly increasing your risk of skin cancer.  Got that?  So once again, everything in moderation. 

Good health care is always a matter of weighing risks against benefits.  I like to wash sunscreen off my skin before bed, because in the absence of the sun, I don't need the chemicals.  Enjoy the easy, breezy long days of summer.

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Makeup Tips For A Summer Scorcher

Would you rather deal with a heat wave, or a blizzard?  It's been steamy in New York City all week, hitting  a record 104°F last Friday.

Wisely, people are choosing activities carefully, staying in air conditioning and drinking plenty of water.  A scoop of ice cream helps too.

Blistering heat forces us to strip down to t-shirts, shorts and bare feet.  Anything above a cotton tank, or sandals is pure insanity.

When temperatures broil, it's the perfect time to tie hair up in a ponytail and wear less make-up.  I like it.  Why bother with cosmetics that melt off your face in five minutes flat?  Plus, we are all in the same boat.  We can go l'naturelle together and not worry about it.

Here are a few barebones beauty essentials to see you through a long hot summer:

1. A Moisturizing Soap like Dove or goat milk.

2. Face serum – Dr. Andrew Weil Plantidote is refreshing and reduces inflammation.

3. Olay Complete  – It has sun protection and comes in regular or tinted.  I apply it to my face all year around.

4. Max Factor Pan-Stik – It should match your skin tone.  Use it as an under eye concealer.  It also covers zits.

5. NARS Multiplier – You can dab color to cheeks and lips.

6. e.l.f. Clear Lash & Brow Mascara – To keep eyebrows groomed.

7. Baby Powder – When temperatures rise, I use it as loose face powder.

8. L'Oreal Colour Juice – It's a sheer lip gloss good for both summer and winter.

9. A Bronzer – Contour your face to look sun kissed. The Body Shop makes them with rich pigments that can be used in place of blush [i.e. then skip #5, if you wish].

Personally, I'm not a big fan of oil blotters.  A Kleenex works as well as, if not better.  And I forgo eye liner, shadow, mascara, skin primer and foundation.  It all goes south in extreme heat, which looks worst than going bare.

You want your complexion to look fresh for as long as possible.  So keep it light and simple.

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Organic And Eco-Friendly Gifts

As the holidays approach I'm starting to think about great gifts to buy for family and friends. I do my best to select special items that are useful and will make relatives and buds happy. This year I'm adding beautifully wrapped gift sets of organic bath and body products to my list.

One reason I like to give organic products is for their purity. All natural soaps and moisturizers, made with essential oils like lavender and jojoba, are good for you and the environment. I look for toiletries with no unnecessary chemicals and artificial emollients to dry out the skin as we move into a colder climate. Another consideration is, they are not gender specific and can be enjoyed by the entire family. Ingredients like olive oil and aloe vera have been used for centuries to care for the skin and scalp. Even people who are allergic to perfume can appreciate the clean scents and soothing properties of herbs and essential oils like eucalyptus, sweet almond or calendula flowers. [Personally, I prefer the scent of botanicals like peppermint oil over a strong perfume.]

The trick is to find organic products, which work as well as and better than conventional goods. I narrow it down to companies who use the finest natural ingredients, whose products are non-greasy and long lasting.

Here are a few of my favorite eco-friendly companies for bath and body products:

Skinnyskinny – Located in Brooklyn, it offers premium ingredients and pretty packaging at reasonable prices. [I want the organic buckwheat hull pillow.]

Aveda – Where you'll find top-notch organic skin care and make-up, knowledgeable sales associates and a spot of herb tea while you shop.

LaLicious – A Los Angeles company selling luxury all natural products. The peppermint body butter is a favorite. I keep it at my desk as a hand cream.

Whole Foods Market – They carry a wide selection of nourishing soaps, lotions, body butters and hair care, all made from botanicals.

And don't forget about the presentation. Look for eye-catching, recycled materials to wrap gifts. Be kind to the environment while making everyone on your list feel pampered and special.

Great Gifts For Mom And Everyone Else

For natural beauty products I count on two stores, their names so similar that folks looking for one might make the mistake of walking into the other. The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works are two separate stores with much in common. Both offer skin, body and hair care items made from pure, ultra indulgent ingredients. Both sell pretty gift sets – ideal for birthdays, special occasions and days when you just need to pamper yourself. And both give terrific discounts on spa and glamour products that are already reasonably priced – usually just when you need gifts for special occasions like Mother's Day.

Recently I received a thoughtful gift – The Body Shop's "Love Your Body" card. It comes with exclusive member-only benefits. On Thursday, the card's 10% discount increased to a whopping 25% [for one day only], so I ran in to stock up on my favorite product in the store, their Mononi Miracle Oil. It's a great after-bath moisturizer and ends-of-hair treatment. I was given my membership card along with a gift certificate – the perfect combination to make someone feel like a VIP. The Body Shop also has top-notch makeup. Rich in pigments, colors last all day.

At Bath & Body Works the inventory is enormous! Whether you buy fragrances, skincare, or accessories, you'll get excellent quality and value. There are literally 1001 gifts to choose from - including their signature body sprays, lotions and shower gels, soft micro-terry loungewear, self-heating gloves, and booties, plus blends of aromatherapy oils, shea butter, and candles. Brand new this year is a lovely "garden in a pail.'' You can select a mix of snapdragon, petunia, and marigold, or bring home indoor sunflowers, or choose parsley, basil, and chives. You simply can't go wrong with either store to find the perfect gift. And while you look, be sure to pick up a tiny indulgence for yourself.