Congratulations to those of you who were lucky enough to snag one of my “Sophie’s Picks” Beauty Box – January 2016. Supplies were very limited, so I’m sorry if you were out of luck this time. Be sure to put your name down on the priority list for next time to avoid future disappointment.
But, for those of you who have a box making its way to you, I wanted to “un-box” the anti-aging star players in the box, and show you how they work.
Let’s get started:
Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer: This is a favorite of mine because of its unique formulation, smell, and texture. It is all about brightening and refining your complexion. So if like me, you are dealing with years of abusing the sun, this cream is a miracle moisturizer (full-size jar): it contains fruit acids to fade pigmentation and brown spots. It is also highly moisturizing and can be used as your go-to daily am/pm moisturizer. It’s great for all skin types, except for those with very sensitive skin and/or rosacea.
KPS Renu Face Cream: You are so lucky to get a full size of this unique anti-aging face cream. All the ingredients have been carefully chosen and formulated to plump, thicken, and deeply hydrate your skin. I recommend using it day and night and don’t forget to bring it down to your neck and chest too. This luxurious cream is good for all skin types – even sensitive.
Beauty Box – January 2016 Tip: If you intend to keep all the goodies to yourself, you’re spoiled for choice! I would recommend trying one of the above moisturizers for one week, and the other the following week. If you like both of them, you can alternate daily or weekly.
Radical Skin Care Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads: These pads are a great introduction to this awesome line, which takes anti-aging to the next level. These pads (great for travel) and full of physician-grade (10%) AHA and BHA acids. This means they will deeply exfoliate the skin, removing layers of dry, glued-on dead skin cells. This will brighten your skin, and prep it to absorb any serums that you apply after. This is not a treatment for those with super sensitive skin or Rosacea, but great for any other skin type.
MyChelle Perfect C Serum: This was the first product that I wanted in my box because I hold this company in such high regard, and because I’m vigilant about recommending a stable form of Vitamin C as an integral part of your anti-aging regime. Vitamin C has to be stable enough to stay fresh in a formulation, and MyChelle has done just this. Moreover, they have added enough of a concentration of Vitamin C for you to actually see results. The cherry on top is that you can even use this serum if you have sensitive skin – THANK YOU, MYCHELLE!! I recommend you use this serum in the morning after cleansing and follow with your favorite moisturizer.
Pure Ceuticals Retinol & Lactic Resurfacing Serum: Wow – a 2-in-1 anti-aging punch! This small bottle of serum (you get the sample size), will last you a while because you only need to use a couple of drops per application. If you’ve ever wondered about using a potent but gentle form of retinol, this might be a good choice. Retinol is vital as we get older because it helps thicken our skin, which thins as we age. The retinol is encapsulated, which means that you won’t get the same side effects as you would from a regular straight-up retinol product. This serum also contains AHA’s for extra exfoliation. I recommend using it every other night after cleansing, and when you get used to it, you can use it every night. If your skin is sensitive, try it out once a week to see how you go.
MV Organics Pure Jojoba: MV Organics carries the highest quality plant oils ever, and this Jojoba oil is no exception. This is a superfine oil, meaning that it’s not too thick a jojoba, and this means that it’s multi-functional. It can be used to remove eye makeup, stubborn makeup, or as an excellent moisturizer for even the most sensitive of skins. It’s actually a great oil for those with acne, or who breakout because the jojoba mimics the sebum in our skin, and since breakouts are caused by the overproduction of sebum, jojoba slows production down!
Extras to enjoy:
A lip treatment lipstick by Eco Bella
A trial size serum from Intelligent Nutrients
A body lotion from Earth Science.