microdermabrasion

Algenist Triple-Action Micropolish and Peel

December 20, 2012

I know when Marcia raves about a skin care line, it’s going to be good. Every time we get together she raves and raves about Algenist, so I had high expectations for the Triple-Action Micropolish and Peel ($75). It lived up to my expectations, and then some!

Triple-Action Micropolish and Peel is an at-h0me peel that exfoliates the skin using a 10% acid duo (patent-pending Alguronic Acid + Glycolic Acid) plus a 10% fruit enzyme complex and mini-polishing crystals. It’s a gentle but potent combination that does a fabulous job of improving texture, brightening, and smoothing the skin.

love the packaging

The mini-crystals slough off dead skin, allowing the acids and fruit enzymes to penetrate and regenerate the skin.

easy to control the amount of product that comes out

I love the packaging, it’s just perfect. The tube protects the active ingredients from sunlight and oxygen, and it’s extremely hygienic.

feels like a slightly grainy serum

It’s super easy to use. After cleansing, while your skin is still damp, you apply a small amount with your fingertips using small circular motions. This activates the mini-crystals and starts the exfoliation process. It feels like teeny-tiny grains of sand in a silky smooth serum. Leave the polish on for about five minutes, then rinse off with warm water or wipe off with a damp washcloth. And that’s it! I find twice a week is perfect for keeping my skin clear and smooth.

Algenist has many excellent products, and the new Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel should be at the top of your ‘gotta try’ list. I am truly impressed. – Lisa

*pr sample

The Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel is:

Suitable for all skin types
Dermatologist tested
Non-comedogenic
Hypoallergenic
Not tested on animals

All Algenist products are formulated without:

Parabens
Sulfates
Synthetic dyes
Phthalates
GMOs
Triclosan

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Algae Exopolysaccharides, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Algae Extract, Glucosamine HCL, Galactoarabinan, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Leuconostoc/ Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Urea, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium Oxide, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Phenoxyethanol.

Filed Under: Algenist, Exfoliators, microdermabrasion, skin care, skin polish

An At Home Spa that will make a great gift.

December 3, 2012

Holiday Gifting: The Ultimate At Home Spa Kit

Are you looking for the perfect gift for someone who loves and appreciates skin care products? A fantastic present would be to put together an at-home spa gift basket for them. You can include a microdermabrasion machine, peels, moisturizers, creams, and serums. Whether the gift recipient has inquired about getting microdermabrasion done, or you just want to introduce it to them, this is a perfect opportunity.

Microdermabrasion is exfoliation of the skin using a machine to assist in the process. It is a very popular, non-invasive, and painless skin procedure that uses microcrystals to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. The unit consists on a hand-held wand with the microcrystals at the top of the wand. The wand is attached to a compressor machine. When the wand touches your skin, a vacuum is created using the air from the compressor. Once the skin cells are removed from the skin surface, they are drawn up through a tube to a waste unit. A person usually goes over their skin twice, giving a third pass over trouble areas, like a scar or an age spot.

There are many benefits to getting a microdermabrasion treatment. When a person removes the dead skin cells, they are left with healthier, more radiant skin. It can help stimulate collagen and elastin production. It can help with the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, acne scars, and brown spots. It’s great for all skin types, even those who have sensitive skin. It will leave the person with a more even skin tone and give them a radiant glow. It’s great to get the treatment anytime of the year, but especially good in the winter months, when skin is dry and dull.

Microdermabrasion should be done every thirty days. This is generally the life cycle of human skin cells. A convenient way to get a treatment every month is with affordable easy to use systems such as the Crystalift Professional At Home Micro-Dermabrasion Treatment Set. The user gets everything they need to do their treatments, including an instructional DVD. Because there is no downtime, they can follow up their treatments with a favorite cream or moisturizer.

With an at-home spa gift, the recipient can do the treatment in the comfort of his or her own home. They can do it anytime of the day they want to, any place in their home, even while relaxing in their favorite chair. They won’t have to call to make an appointment and adjust their schedule. Plus, in the long run, they will save money. It’s more economical with an at-home device. It’s the gift that keeps giving. Every time they use their device and get radiant skin, they will think of you.

*THIS IS A SPONSORED POST

Filed Under: Crystalift, microdermabrasion

Miracle Skin Transformer Complete Starter Beauty Transformation System review and giveaway

August 15, 2012

Miracle Skin Transformer Complete Starter Beauty Transformation Kit

Have I got a deal for you?? Yes I do and you are going to be saying “thank you Marcia” when you learn about this. Lisa and I have been telling you about Miracle Skin Transformer for a while. We can’t help but rave about this line. Last year I reviewed Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 for Face and Treat & Conceal and Lisa has a review of it coming up soon too. Two weeks ago I reviewed Hydroactive Cleanser and Hydroactive Microderm. Well we aren’t done because we recently learned that Miracle Skin Transformer sells these in a kit now that not only includes deluxe sample sizes of these 4 products but comes with a free Miracle Skin Transformer Refining Brush. You are going to want this kit. It’s on special for $39.95 at the MST website and it’s simply the best!

Miracle Skin Transformer Refining Brush

contents (but there’s really more!)

Products that come in the kit along with the brush

I’m not going to bore you with details about the products we already reviewed since you can (and should) go and read those posts but I will bore entice you with details about this terrific Refining Brush.

Miracle Skin Transformer brush and additional heads

The brush is a battery operated facial cleansing tool that comes with two different types of removable heads. You don’t need to wait for it to be charged because you put in 2 AA batteries and it’s ready to go. The kit comes with 2 brushes that help cleanse your skin even better with the Hydroactive Cleanser or can be used with the Hydroactive Microderm for a fuller exfoliation.

brush can be used for cleansing or exfoliating

Controls

It also comes with 3 sponge heads that can be used in a variety of ways –

- You can use one with the Hydroactive Microderm to gently exfoliate your skin. Because it’s a sponge it feels gentle yet allows the microderm to renew your skin even better.

- You can use one of the sponge heads to smooth on your moisturizer, day or night. You won’t believe how luxurious this type of application feels.

- The sponge is actually recommended for cleansing though I prefer it personally for exfoliating.

sponge head

All of the heads wash well and can be used over and over and over. I started using the cleanser and microderm a few weeks before I tried the brush and even though I loved the system I realize now how much more effective they work with the Refining Brush. The Refining Brush has two speeds and is a gentle, efficient way to cleanse my skin. Prepping my skin with the brush, cleanser and microderm prepares me for the next step of applying the MST Face and Concealer for a flawless face.

You can only buy the entire kit at the Miracle Skin Transformer website for now but you can win some Miracle Skin Transformer products on Beauty Info Zone. While we unfortunately don’t have this incredible Refining Brush for you, we are giving away the other components of the set as seen in the picture. This giveaway will be open internationally (we haven’t been able to do an international giveaway in a long time) via the Rafflecopter. Enter by 11:59 p.m. EST August 25, 2012 for your chance to win 4 of the best from Miracle Skin Transformer.

Prize package

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Cleansers, cleansing tool, concealer, Giveaway, microdermabrasion, Miracle Skin Transformer, Sunscreen

Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Cleanser and Microderm review

August 1, 2012

image from Miracle Skin Transformer website

One of the fun things about blogging is growing with a company. When Beauty Info Zone first started we learned of a new line called Miracle Skin Transformer. Slowly but surely the company has grown and we’ve been able to sample all the goodness that Miracle Skin Transformer has created. MST is a line formulated by Sarah McNamara Beauty New York. Her original product was just called Miracle Skin Transformer and it is probably the first BB Cream I tried but it isn’t called a BB Cream. Instead it’s called a 5-in-1 product to hydrate, prime, enhance, mattify and protect your skin. Sounds (and performs) exactly like a BB Cream! I don’t go shopping often but I was in Sephora recently and saw the beautiful display they had for the line. I’m so sorry I didn’t take a picture since it really was a thrill to see how much the company has changed.

The two newest products in my arsenal are the Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Cleanser ($24, 3.33 oz) and Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm ($44, 1.7 oz). Both became available in March 2012 at HSN and now are also available at Sephora.

The Hydroactive Cleanser is a very gentle cleanser with a fresh, almost soapy fragrance to it. The texture is whipped so when you squeeze it out you see it glisten. I apply about a dime’s worth to my face and then add water and it foams up slightly. Sometimes a foamy cleanser can be harsh and strip skin of its good oils but this is gentle and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. It rinses off well so I don’t need to follow with a toner if I don’t want to. In a previous MST review by Lisa she talked about Manuka Honey. This too contains manuka honey which has specific properties that contain antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. The other key ingredient is EcoPhysalis which is a natural plant extract from the Brazilian rainforest. EcoPhysalis helps protect skin from free radicals and provides additional anti-irritant benefits. It’s added to improve and even out the appearance of our skin tone.

Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm

Along with the cleanser, MST also created Hydroactive Microderm. This microderm product contains high-grade micronized magnesium-oxide crystals to refine and polish your skin’s texture. The crystals are very fine but slightly gritty. I find that I don’t need a lot of the Hydroactive Microderm to get the benefits of the product. If I use too much it’s hard to wash off. So I use just a little on wet skin and then gently massage it for maybe a minute or two. I rinse it off and then follow with the cleanser and a washcloth in order to remove any residue. This summer I’ve had more clogged pores than usual even though I’m wearing less face makeup. The MST Microderm is helping keep those at bay. Normally I’ll use it twice a week but when I notice that I have a new clogged pore that’s when I add in an extra night of using this. HydroActive Microderm contains magnesium oxide (to polish away dull, dead cells), sesame seed oil (smoothes and softens fine lines), antioxidants (protects from the environment) and skin-brightening botanical extracts (helps promote clarity and uniformity).

Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm from MST site

All Miracle Skin Transformer products are created without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes and fragrance, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan (whew!).

Stay tuned for more about this cleanser and microderm plus other new MST products. There might even be a surprise in store. — Marcia

*pr samples

Filed Under: Cleansers, Exfoliators, microdermabrasion, Miracle Skin Transformer

Nothing but raves for PMD Personal Microderm

April 3, 2012

I was so excited to get the PMD Personal Microderm ($175) to test out. I am a big believer in microdermabrasion treatments. I first had microdermabrasion years ago, I think it was 2001. I remember back then it was super expensive, and I shudder to think how much money I spent…but I definitely loved the results.

PMD Personal Microderm

The possibility of having my own microdermabrasion treatment in my own house was pretty thrilling, and I was hopeful that I would like the PMD.

Here is what is included in the set:

: PMD Personal Microderm device and discs

The system comes with the PMD wand, 3 blue discs for sensitive skin and 2 green discs for regular skin. There is a larger size disc for the body in each color. It also has a charger and 2 clear tops, one for face and one for body treatments.

I was really happy to see that in addition to discs for your face, which is to be expected, there were also ones for the body. My neck and decolletage are areas that really need microdermabrasion especially as I get older. This system is just terrific for all of those areas, plus others I hadn’t even thought of, like the elbows or knees.

I will spare you the suspense and say up front that this system totally rocks. Is it as effective as a series of salon treatments? No, I think regular salon treatments go deeper and have more intense results. But is this system worth the $175 investment? Absolutely. The convenience is fantastic, and the results are really, really good – far better than I ever dreamt they would be. If you have blemishes, this is truly fantastic because it’s gentle enough to use right over any breakouts, and boy does it help your skin clear up fast. Here’s how you use it:

Start with clean, dry skin. The small discs are for the face, larger discs are for the body. Blue discs are for more sensitive skin and green discs are for thicker skinned areas. There is an easy to use on/off switch on the wand.

Pull your skin tight, then sweep the top of the wand over your skin in an upward motion. The combination of the cup and the disc make a vacuum on the skin, so it kind of sucks the skin close. The disc basically sands your skin, exfoliating off any dead, dry skin and cleaning blackheads and blemishes. Keep that wand moving!!! You don’t want to linger over any area, and you don’t want to do more than two passes over an area. If you do that, you run the risk of irritating the skin.

Afterward, use a primer and a moisturizer. I find that one treatment per week is all I need to keep my skin clear and bright. Each disc lasts for three or four treatments, replacement packs with four face and two body discs run $14.95.

If you are looking for microdermabrasion that is quick, convenient, and affordable, you absolutely need to check this out. You can purchase this system online here, as well as replacement discs and other products such as their skin care line. Do your skin a favor and take a look!! – Lisa

*pr sample

Filed Under: beauty tools, microdermabrasion, PMD Personal Microderm

Give yourself 60 seconds with Colbert MD Intensity Facial Discs

September 9, 2011

Image courtesy of colbertmd.com

If you could change the clarity and radiance of your skin in less than 3 minutes a week would you do that? What if I told you that you can do that for less than $6 a week, would you do it then? I know I would, and I have. The product that has done this for my skin is Colbert MD Intensity Facial Discs.

David Colbert, MD is a dermatologist with amazing credentials. He’s called on by all the top magazines and television shows (like Oprah) for skincare advice. Reading about him and his philosophy of Daily Nutrition for Skin is a joy and I’d love to share more about him but I think you want to know about his amazing products instead. Here is where you can learn about him though. No matter what, you need to know that he believes in the power of plants and how they can heal your skin.

Colbert MD Intensity Facial Discs

Colbert MD Intensity Facial Discs information

I’m using two products by Colbert MD. Today I’m reviewing the Intensity Facial Discs since I think this has made the biggest difference for me. I start with a clean face but then I thoroughly dampen it. The discs are saturated with the treatment so they are damp to the touch too. The discs have a “handle”. One side has a plastic backing which you peel back halfway and then hold to use it. Directions say to dampen the disc first but I find if my skin is what’s wet then they work better. I then move it in a circular motion around my entire face for 30 to 60 seconds, rinse my face with water and then apply Stimulate, the serum. If you don’t have Stimulate you can follow with moisturizer. Use the Facial Discs between 1 and 3 times a week. I started off slowly and did it once the first week, twice the second and three times the third. Now I’m using them twice a week. There are 20 discs in the jar and after 5 weeks I’ve used just 10 so I have another 5 weeks to go. The discs have a slight scrubby feel to them but they aren’t harsh at all. I’ve had no stinging or burning with this product. I mention this because I’ve tried similar pads that did not agree well with my skin. The Intensity Facial Discs have worked extremely well for me. I love that they are an easy way to exfoliate without irritation.

treatment side of Colbert MD Intensity Facial Disc

side view of Intensity Facial Disc

The Intensity Facial Discs have a microdermabrasion action that helps prepare the skin for the use of your other products (preferably Colbert MD of course). It promotes new collagen production and leaves your skin feeling and looking radiant. It contains Bromelain A highly concentrated form of pineapple enzyme, eliminates dull skin and clears environmental toxins. Promotes long term healing while leaving skin fresh and luminous. Lactic acid A gentle natural exfoliant, helps reduce fine lines, hyper- pigmentation and other signs of aging.

You can purchase Colbert MD products directly from his website and it’s also carried at Barney’s. It’s a line definitely worth investigating. There are only 5 products in the line and they all sound as wonderful as Stimulate (review coming) and Intensity Facial Discs. Less than 3 minutes a week! That’s what I call a change for the better. — Marcia