Skinmedica TNS Recovery Complex

I just have to tell y'all that I love this stuff.

I have only been using it for two weeks or so, but my skin looks amazing.  It feels amazing.  I hope that the improvements continue.

Two drawbacks:  First, it's expensive.  I shopped around and still paid more for it than I would have liked,  but then you know I'm over 40 and childless - what else do I have to spend my money on?

Second, it stinks.  As in it smells like feet or moldy socks or a combination thereof.  It's just putrid.  It seems to dissipate pretty fast, but you should prepare yourselves for it if you try it.  Then again nobody ever said that looking good was pretty or smelled good. 

But I wear it at night, underneath the retinol complex and the hydrating B5 gel and the moisturizer and my skin just looks amazing.  I can't get over it.  Here's hoping it continues to improve, as I have read good reviews to that affect.  Or is it effect?  Hmmm.....

And Now for the Rest of the Face

 

A few years ago I read an article about skin care, written by a dermatologist and published in Blueprint Magazine (which is now, unfortunately, defunct).  The good doctor stated flatly that "aging skin" really needs to be treated with a retinoid.  

Since I've been in absolute denial about the whole thing, I refused to accept it.  Instead I continued to lie to myself and lean heavily on the somewhat flimsy belief that my skin was too "sensitive" for such a product.  

About a month ago, bolstered and emboldened by my positive experience with the SkinMedica TNS Night Eye Repair, and facing the ever mounting evidence that my skin is, in fact, aging, I decided to try the SkinMedica retinol complex.  

Y'all, I have to tell you that while I am not the least bit happy to admit that I need it, apparently I did.  And I have to add that - damn - but I love it.  

I've been using it about every other night along with my Skinceuticals hydrating B5 gel and my trusty Lubriderm and my skin looks great.  I was worried that it would make me either break out or dry out and as long as I don't overdo it, it's been OK.  I did get a little bold and use it 2 nights in a row, but on the 3rd night I noticed that I was feeling really "dry".  I decided to lay off and use the superhydrating Aquafor that I keep under the sink for just such this type of emergency.  FYI, the Aquafor was also recommended by a dermatologist as a non-clogging, heavy duty moisturizer. 

My skin feels much firmer and looks much brighter. 

I have just finished ordering SkinMedica TNS recovery complex and I will report back to the committee after an appropriate test period.

Eye Cream and other Necessities

When I was in law school, I was driving around in the car one day and I looked in the rearview mirror and for the first time, noticed all the lines around my eyes.  My God!  I was horrified.  A lifetime of squinting was already catching up with me.

Since then, I have been all about the eye cream but as I've gotten older the issues surrounding all my skin, including my eyes, have gotten more complicated.  When you're 25 skin care is a luxury.  After 35 it becomes an absolute necessity. 

Generally speaking, I use Skinceuticals products because they were recommended to me by my dermatologist's office and I find them very effective.  About six months ago I reordered the Skinceuticals eye cream that I wear during the day and the nice people at SkinCare RX sent me a sample of the Skinmedica TNS Night Eye Repair Creme.  I said "cool" and gave it a shot.

I really like it.

First and foremost, it doesn't irritate my eyes, which is huge.  In addition to being prone to puffiness and fine lines and wrinkles, they are also incredibly sensitive to irritations.  This stuff didn't make them swell shut, so it passed that test.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you that this cream contains "human fibroblast conditioned media".  This means that it makes use of the same technology that is used to grow new skin for burn victims and that at some point, was developed from human tissue cells, most likely from the skin of donated foreskins.

The use of this technology may be morally offensive to some, or at least icky.  It is neither to me.  I think that if parents want to donate their children's foreskins to research, we should accept the outcome of that research.  There are a lot of people on the web screaming that Skinmedica is packing it's products full of dead babies and that is just not so.  If you really believe that, please do not buy Skinmedica products and go read someone else's blog, because I think you are hysterical and reactionary.  I think that this type of research is really exciting, both for burn victims and for women over 40 who are just trying to hold it together.  Let's face it ladies, beauty is not cheap and it isn't pretty.  We need to take our help where we can get it.

Ultimately, this stuff makes my eyes look better and feel better.  It is great with lines and puffiness and I've noticed a real improvement.  Also, as an extra added super bonus, it appears to be making my eyelashes grow longer and thicker.  I thought it was just me but then my facialist noticed it, too. 

The price is a little bit steep, but a little goes a long way, and more importantly, it works.  If you're looking for a good night eye cream, you may want to check this out.

Love Your Skin

Once one reaches a certain age, one notices that one's skin is not as, shall we say, tolerant, as it used to be.

When you're 18 you can wash your face or not wash your face. You can moisturize or not. When you're 18 you've never heard of sunscreen, yet alone the recommended SPF.

And you still look great.

However, once you hit your late 30's, you realize: I've got to pay more attention to my skin or I'm going to look like an old shoe.

Two or three years ago, after my last trip to France, I came home and my face was in a state. I love Paris but every time I go there I come home with skin that is dry, flaky and breaking out. I don't know whether it's the food or the water or the plane, but I'm always a mess after France. (As a side note, I will tell you that I did not have this problem in the aftermath of Italy. The water there is divine.)

Back to my story -

When I got back it was so bad I scheduled an appointment with my dermatologist and was directed to the aesthetician in her office. She turned me on to Skinceuticals and I have to say - I love it.

However, I am not hear to plug Skinceuticals (although if you comment, I will tell you about it.) I am here to plug SkincareRX, where I buy the Skinceuticals online.

The Skinceuticals line is extensive and expensive. Although, I hate to call it expensive. While it isn't cheap, I have found that it does work and you get a lot of product for the money. But, ya know, in this economy, every little bit helps.

Enter SkincareRX.

They have the whole line, they have free overnight shipping, their customer service is to DIE FOR, they don't charge sales tax and, here's the kicker, if you Google "SkincareRX Coupon" you can usually get 20% off!

Y'all!

I can't do any better than that in town!

If you have beauty and/or skin care needs, please go check them out. SkincareRX makes me happy and I hope you can enjoy them, too.