It’s not every day I venture into the world of super luxury skincare but when invited to a cocktail party hosted by Orlane, I couldn’t say no! In between light bites and champagne, I learned about the new B21 Extraordinaire, a serum/ moisturizer hybrid that contains 21 amino acids from organic iris flowers and works to make your skin look younger and more refreshed.
B21 Extraordinaire claims to repair the damage done to skin cells by the natural aging process. According to Orlane the product reduces progerin, a toxic protein, while causing the cells to re-energize and act as they did when you were younger. The product retails for $250 and can be purchased at www.neimanmarcus.com or orlane.com.
It’s like no matter where you look folks are talking about anti-aging. Between miracle products and intensive regimens, women are determined to turn their bathroom sink into the fountain of youth. Perhaps it’s because I’m a die hard beauty girl but I started amping up my skincare routine around the age of 20. While I wasn’t battling wrinkles (more like acne!), I made it a point to take preventative measure by using eye creams and ow, at the age of 24, I’ve integrated serums. However, the word of skincare can be scary if you’re not prepared - alpha-hydroxy, proteins, enzymes, acai, retinols - the list of ingredients can seem more like a science project than a face cream. No worries, I’m here to guide you through it all (and really, it’s not hard as it seems!)
don’t forget to wear shades!
1. Wear SPF: yes, you’ve heard this before but I bet in the dead of winter you may skip this step since it’s a bit cloudier out, huh? Or what if you’re a bit older? Some people think most their sun “damage” was done in their teens and 20’s so why bother using sunscreen regularly now? This is a big no-no as sun damage is cumulative. It’s never too late to regularly use an SPF (at least SPF 30). Apply generously and don’t forget to reapply. If you touch up your lipstick so many times a day, why leave out your skincare?
2. Exfoliate: exfoliate regularly (twice a week) with a gentle scrub or at-home peel to remove dead skin cells. Then…
3. Moisturize: I have friends who think it’s absolutely okay to skip moisturizer…WRONG! The best moisturizers are those that sink into the skin rather than lay on top of the skin. Not only does moisturizing offer hydrate skin but it can protect from further free radical damage. As you get older, your skin can become dull and uneven. To combat this, start incorporating moisturizers with collagen such as peptides or retinols. Another must? Regular exfoliation with a gentle scrub or at-home peel.
4. Get some zzz’s: Your body uses bedtime as the opportune time to regenerate, repair, and replenish what it has lost as a result of daily stresses. There are few environmental stressors to detract skin from healing itself as night, so why would you deprive yourself of that? Blood flow increases, the skin absorption of actives is at its highest rate, and cell turnover peaks — these are a few of the benefits. Get into a regular sleep cycle and show your skin some TLC.
5. Don’t forget you hands! Despite all of your efforts to save your face, skipping out on your hands can be a dead giveaway when it comes to aging. From tearing boxes, constant manicures, typing away on a smart phone in the blistering cold our hands go through a lot! Like your facial routine, keep SPF hand cream in your bag for constant use.
This all seems pretty basic doesn’t it? What are some of your skincare/anti-aging tips?
Disclosure: this is a sponsored post but views expressed are my own. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.
If you know me at all you’ll know there are several things I hold sacred - a damn good hot pink lipstick, anything Victoria Beckham and Nicole Richie related, the power of chocolate and my rather intense skincare regimen.
It [my skincare obsession] started back in the day as I watched my older brother agonize over his skin and slather Noxzema all over his face (it was the 90s after all). While he mainly wanted clear skin for the ladies, I quickly learned that one’s skin greatly affected their self esteem. I wanted clear, beautiful skin - at a time where I had a grand total of zero pimple - so I stuck my fingers in his gigantic tub of magic and prayed he never caught me.
Fast forward eleven or so years and you have a 23- year old who is still obsessed with keeping her skin as beautiful as possible, except this time there’s no need to sneak around.
Just before Christmas, I received a package in the mail containing a sample of L’Oreal’s new Youth Code Serum Intense. I’d heard rumblings on the interwebs so I was pretty excited. L’Oréal scientists claim to have unlocked the code of skin’s youth by discovering a specific set of genes that are responsible for skin’s natural power of regeneration.
Youth Code Serum Intense ($25) is a highly concentrated serum - to be used twice daily - that hydrates and makes skin smoother, luminous and rested.
With GenActiv TECHNOLOGY™ and 10 years of research, L’Oréal Paris’ Youth Code Skincare Collection promises to energize and repair gene expression, enhance the skin’s capacity for recovery faster after aggressions and unveil younger-acting skin.The line is formulated with Biolysat, a bacteria that works to repair genes, and Adenosine - a molecule that stimulates DNA and protein syntesis while producing collagen.
Having been using the serum for three weeks, I’ve become smitten. I’ve noticed that my skin is much smoother and radiant. During the winter, my skin tends to get very dull and I rely heavily on bronzer to make me look human. I’ve been able to ease up on said bronzer (and makeup in general) as my skin appears to be a lot healthier. I’ve been using this in conjunction with my Biore Steam Activating cleanser (or Clearasil DailyClear Daily Face Wash at night) and Cetaphil moisturizer. This has been giving me the best results thus far as I am not breaking out as much and can walk out of my house sans foundation.
If you’re in your 20s, I HIGHLY recommend this product as it’s great for preventative skincare. If you’re already experiencing wrinkles, I can’t say for sure how it would work at reducing wrinkles but you might want to give it a try anyway. The serum is great for anyone looking to brighten up tired, dull looking skin.
MissWYA Rating: A+
The L’Oreal Youth Code skincare line is available drugstores nationwide. If you want to learn more about the line, check out L’Oreal’s Facebook Page as they’ve got a slew of info available.
With time on my side, I have ways to go before I start worrying about fine lines, wrinkles and other crooks that weren’t there since birth BUT I am all about preventive care. If you can work on stopping something from happening now, there’s no need to worry about it later on, right?
Cue in Orlane Laboratories B21 Extreme Line-Reducing Lip Care ($75)*.
Now $75 is a bit pricey for a lip cream, but given the history of Orlane and the high standards it, as a company, sets for their products I won’t argue with it. Think of it as an investment, if you will, protecting your lips from those pesky lines that develop as you age. I’m no finance whiz but I’m pretty sure the long term benefits outweigh the cost.
Extreme Line-Reducing Lip Care promises to preserve the delicate lip area’s soft and feminine contours. It contains the Bio-Energic Vegetal Complex, Memoxyle Complex, and light refracting technology all to smooth, firm and moisturize the lips, reprogram the skin’s anti-wrinkle memory, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and create the illusion of more youthful, plumper lips with sophisticated optical diffusers.
I’ve been using this product religiously for about two weeks now (morning and night) and I absolutely love it as a lip primer. Its silky, gel-like consistency allows lipstick and lip gloss to glide on my lips without settling into any wicked lines I currently have due to my insanely dry lips. The color goes on smoother and more evenly without any bleeding.
I pair this with Orlane’s lipstick ($35)*, which also contains B21, and moisturizes my pout beyond repair! I will definitely be using this lipstick throughout the Fall (or whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us this season).
Orlane products are available at select Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and other fine specialty stores.
*I received these products from Orlane’s PR people, however, that does not influence my opinion on the product. To learn more about my Disclosure Policy, please read here
It’s not every day I venture into the world of super luxury skincare but when invited to a cocktail party hosted by Orlane, I couldn’t say no! In between light bites and champagne, I learned about the new B21 Extraordinaire, a serum/ moisturizer hybrid that contains 21 amino acids from organic iris flowers and works to make your skin look younger and more refreshed.
