As you are well aware, I absolutely love French Pharmacy skincare, and Vichy is undoubtedly one of my most reached-for brands. I have used Vichy Mineral 89 for many, many years, and it is the perfect hydrator for summer!
Vichy Mineral 89is described as a "new generation face moisturizer." It features 89% of Vichy's iconic Mineralizing Thermal Water that is further enhanced by Hyaluronic Acid to deeply boost hydration and fortify the skin. The consistency is that of a lightweight gel-like serum that sinks into the skin immediately leaving it hydrated with a luminous, ethereal glow. Dehydrated and dull skin gives way to comfortable, refreshed and moisturized skin without any greasy residue or stickiness. Furthermore, this fragrance-free moisturizer plumps fine lines, nourishes the skin and leaves skin soft, smooth and supple. It offers my normal/combination skin enough moisture and hydration during the warmer months that I can forgo a regular moisturizer altogether, and it pairs beautifully with my favorite serums and face oils, but during the rest of the year I layer it with richer moisturizers.
According to Vichy,
For the 1st time, a breakthrough moisturizing formula, with 89% Mineralizing Thermal Water to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and make skin more resistant to visible aging caused by environmental factors combined with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. Minéral 89 face moisturizer fortifies and makes skin more resistant to visible aging caused by pollution, stress to skin, and fatigue. Its moisturizing formula boosts hydration to replenish the skin's moisture barrier. As a result, skin feels more hydrated, plumped, and toned. Day after day, skin radiates with a healthy glow.
Directions: Apply morning and evening to cleansed skin by spreading a touch of booster all over the face. Spread with outward movements from the middle of the face, without applying too much pressure. All skin types benefit from Mineral 89. It can be easily included in any beauty regimen after cleansing and before your usual serum and/or moisturizer.
Formula Properties: Pure and Clean, Oil free, Alcohol free, Fragrance free, Silicone free, Colorant free, Paraben free, 100% transparent formula, Allergy-tested, Tested on sensitive skin and tested under dermatological control for safety.
Overall Assessment: I absolutely love Vichy Mineral 89, and highly recommend it if you need extra hydration!
$29.99 for 1.69 oz. from Ulta, Amazon, Dermstore and Walgreens (Affiliate Links). Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate is an effective water-gel hydrator that immediately melts into the skin, without leaving behind a greasy residue, and it infuses the skin with a serious surge of hydration– just as the name would suggest. It is fragrance-free, formulated for most types of skin and it leaves skin soft, smooth, hydrated and balanced. Furthermore, it contains Hyaluronic Acid- which effectively helps to retain hydration while lightly plumping the skin. I am personally very fond of water-gel moisturizer formulas for my normal/combination skin, and I think that this is a good one. I like to layer this under my regular moisturizer du jour, and find that it offers my skin sustained hydration throughout the day.
According to Clinique,
A supercharged water-gel hydrator that instantly quenches dehydrated skin. It keeps skin hydrated for a full 72 hours and helps break the cycle of dryness and environmental stress that can lead to premature aging. Liquid-Sphere™ Technology combines water-binding ingredients with encapsulated antioxidants, while hyaluronic acid fragments and activated aloe water plump skin with moisture.
Features:
- 100% fragrance-free; paraben-free; phthalate-free; oil-free
- Allergy tested
- Nonacnegenic
- Helps break the cycle of dryness and environmental stress that can lead to premature aging.
- Antioxidant-infused water-gel that's ultralight yet delivers an intense moisture.
- Skin types: very dry, dry, dry/combination, combination/oily, oily and normal.
Directions: Apply to clean skin morning and evening.
Key Ingredients:
- Liquid-Sphere™ Technology combines water-binding ingredients with encapsulated antioxidants.
- Hyaluronic Acid fragments and Activated Aloe Water plump skin with moisture.
Overall Assessment: If you are a fan of gel and water/gel moisturizing formulas that are effective and fast-absorbing, then this is definitely worth trying. If you aren't sure, it might be worth testing it at your local Clinique counter to see if you like it. I would encourage you to ask for a sample while you are there!
I have been a devotee to The Organic Pharmacy for many years now, and their beautiful products rank among my most coveted items in my skincare collection.
The Organic Pharmacy Jasmine Night Conditioner is such an incredible treat to the skin, and it is so easy to use. Simply spritz it on cleansed skin at night, allow it to absorb completely and go to bed. Since it does come in a spray bottle, and because you don't want to get it into the eyes, I tend to cut a large cotton round in half and then place them over my eyes for protection– then I spray.
A fragrant Jasmine infusion, this potent Retinol and Glycolic Acid-based gem exfoliates dead skin cells, while the Vitamin C brightens skin and helps to fade hyperpigmentation. Additionally, the Hyaluronic Acid binds and retains moisture which beautifully plumps and revitalizes the skin while the active exfoliants work hard at the removal of dead skin cells. I am always struck by the extent to which my skin looks rested, rejuvenated, soft, smooth, supple, hydrated and luminous when I awaken the following morning. This is such a novel approach to hydrating and exfoliating nighttime treatments, and in the form of a face mist, no less.
According to The Organic Pharmacy,
Regenerate and oxygenate the skin while you sleep with powerful Retinol, Hyaluronic acid, Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C for vibrant, glowing skin. Packed with skin-saving ingredients such as Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and Vitamin C, this newly formulated Jasmine Night Conditioner regenerates and oxygenates while you sleep to give you a vibrant, healthy glow from the moment you wake up.
Directions: After cleansing, close your eyes and spritz Jasmine Night Conditioning Spray all over the face and allow the skin to full absorb. Avoid the delicate eye area. If contact should occur, rinse well with water.
Overall Assessment: The Organic Pharmacy Jasmine Night Conditioner really resonates with me. It is such a unique delivery system for an exfoliating and hydrating facial treatment, and I can say without hesitation that it is extraordinarily effective and such a true pleasure to use. A+
African Botanics Rose Treatment Essence is a truly unique multipurpose treatment gel that transforms from a gel into a aromatic Rosa Centifolia infused liquid that immediately melts into the skin. Formulated to tone, temporarily diminish the appearance of enlarged pores, hydrate, brighten, detoxify and refine the skin– this magical vitamin and mineral infused antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory elixir is nourishing, moisturizing, refreshing, healing and calming. My skin feels remarkably soft, supple, toned, hydrated and luminous after use, and it pairs perfectly with my most beloved African Botanics Fleurs d'Afrique Intensive Recovery Oil, or any of my face oils for that matter. I simply apply this in the morning and evening to freshly cleansed skin before my beauty oil, and let it work its magic. If you have a tendency to breakout, or have sensitive skin and inflammation, then this gentle healing gel is worthy of your attention. I have noticed such a difference in the appearance of my skin since I started using this gem. While my skin isn't generally prone to serious irritation and inflammation, it can be sensitive at times, and this gel really makes a big difference. Since I test a lot of skincare products, there are times that I have to endure product related dermatitis when my skin has a reaction to certain products. I recently had such a reaction, and I immediately stopped using it, and used African Botanics Rose Treatment Essence to heal my skin. What I noted was immediate relief, a swift reduction in the inflammation and itch, and a quick return to balanced happy skin.
According to African Botanics, Rose Treatment Essence is a unique multi-functional treatment gel that melts into a toning hydrating liquid upon application. Designed for all skin complexions, this intensely concentrated formula helps detoxify cells, tighten pores and restore moisture levels while brightening, refining, hydrating and rebalancing skin's pH levels. The powerful combination of bioactive medicinal plants, botanical emollients, peptides, humectants, B vitamins, oligosaccharides, yeast beta-glucan and collagen boosters deliver vitality and nutrients deep into the skin. Infused with pure Rose Flower Water and a refreshingly light CO2 extract of Rosa Centifolia to help retain moisture, brighten and even out skin tone while reducing redness and inflammation. Rosa Centifolia contains a complex array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and has excellent emollient properties for moisturizing dry skin; it also offers antiseptic and astringent properties to treat acneic skin, as well as anti-inflammatory properties that help treat redness and inflammation. Rosa Centifolia can also help refine skin texture, controlling skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Directions: Apply daily AM / PM to face, neck and décolletage after cleansing before serum/oil in upward and outward strokes with your fingertips or a cotton pad. Pat remaining product into skin until fully absorbed.
Key Benefits: • Regenerates, increases skin firmness and elasticity with Aloe Ferox and a targeted extract of Kigelia Africana that maximizes firming and anti-inflammatory activity. • Tones, restructures and smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with oligosaccharides from “Calendula Flower”, “Blue Agave plant” and a botanical collagen booster from “Bulbine Frutescens” which helps correct skin’s microrelief. • Provides enhanced skin structure and firmness while softening and relaxing the appearance of fine lines with anti-wrinkle peptides and B-Vitamins. • Plumps and deeply penetrates skin for intense and continuous moisture with Sodium Hyaluronate molecules. • Reinforces the skin’s natural protective layer and calms redness with a potent combination of moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich botanicals including Marula Oil, Centella, Arnica, Calendula,Green Coffee, Nettle, Ivy, Mallow, Pellitory, Witch Hazel, Pine Cone, Cucumber and Chamomile. • Rebalances skin's pH levels, saturates and prepares the skin to receive and help absorb subsequent products (serums, face oils, moisturizers and creams), boosting their efficiency. Directions: Apply daily AM / PM to face, neck and décolletage after cleansing before serum/oil in upward and outward strokes with your fingertips or a cotton pad. Pat remaining product into skin until fully absorbed.
Advanced Skincare Technologies and Select Ingredients ant Their Attributes: A Bioactive Extract and an Intelligent Collagen Booster: Obtained from the leaf sap of the South African medicinal plant “Bulbine Frutescens” - recalibrates the equilibrium between the decomposition and reconstruction of dermal structures, thus providing the skin with an extra portion of high quality Collagen.
Yeast Oligosaccharides:, derived from Blue Agave plant and Calendula Flower - Increase Hyaluronic Acid production, restore the skin’s ability to attract and retain water, resulting in more supple, plump skin.
Di- and Tripeptides: protect the skin from nutritional deficiencies and improve the barrier function. the skin is left more radiant, smoother and wrinkles are reduced.
Synergetic Botanical Complex: Maintains water at the skin surface, slowing down water evaporation from the stratum corneum area and improving skin’s micro-circulation. Mallow Flower Extract, Ivy Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Extract and Arnica Montana Flower Extract.
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): Reduces water loss by 24% in 4 weeks, boosts Fatty Acid and Ceramides by 67% and 34% respectively; stimulates new Fibroblasts by 20% and Collagen secretion by 54%; inhibits pigmentation by 68%.
Vitamin B5: Penetrates deep into the lower layer, works as a humectant by infusing water in to the cells, retaining moisture deep within the skins tissues.
Green Coffee Extract: extremely rich in antioxidants, helps shield the skin from free radicals.
Ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Aloe Ferox Leaf* Extract, Butylene Glycol, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Hyaluronic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Arnica Cordifolia Extract*, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Sambucus Nigra (Elder Tree) Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract, Anacyclus Pyrethrum (Pellitory) Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein (Di- and tripeptides), Hamamelis Virginia (Witch Hazel) Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Kigelia Africana** Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Allantoin, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Bulbinine Frutescens*, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract, Green Coffee, Caffein, Lamium Album (White Nettle) Flower Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Burdock Root (Arctium Lappa), Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile)* Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia (Rose)* Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula)** Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol. *Organic, **Wild-Harvested Ingredients. Contains responsibly sourced and Fair Trade ingredients. Never tested on animals. Formulated without silicones, mineral oils, parabens, allergens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, PEGs and SLSs.
If your hair is anything like mine, it is in need of added moisture during the colder months of the year. Here is my roundup of a few great haircare products to help combat dry hair.
Phuse Hydration Head Case Shampoo ($18.00 for 10 oz. from Phuse Beauty): Nourish your locks with this Sulfate and Sodium Chloride-free shampoo that will not to dehydrate your hair. It is enriched with Argan Oil to add moisture and shine to dehydrated hair.
Features:
Argan Oil added to promote shine, shine, shine
Helps control frizz
Gentle and safe for color treated hair
Squeaky clean formula
Petrochemicals and parabens free (you are welcome)
No animal testing
Gluten-free
For all hair types
Phuse Headstrong Keratin Protein Primer ($22.00 for 2.25 oz. from Phuse Beauty): If you color, flat iron, blow out, straightening, or heat style your hair in any way, then your hair could benefit from using a primer. Just add a few pumps to protect your hair's cuticles to cover and protect it with this Argan Oil and Keratin Protein infused formula.
Keratin Protein mends damaged hair
Gentle and safe for color, keratin and other chemical treated hair
Heat activated, leave-in treatment that improves hair’s texture
Creates a soft, smooth finish
Calms frizz and those fly aways
Formaldehyde free
Paraben and petrochemical free (you are welcome!)
No animal testing
Gluten free
Phuse Just Venting (Vent Brush $13.00 from Phuse Beauty): The Just Venting brush is the ultimate accelerator to speed up your hair drying time. Ceramic, Tourmaline and Ion infused ball tips remove unwelcomed static and promotes shiny hair. Vented patterns, non-snag bristles, basically this bad boy is in a rush to dry so you can fly.
Phuse Need a Lift (Teasing Brush $6.00 from Phuse Beauty): Secured tightly in the brush head, the bristles are flexible enough to evenly distribute the oils throughout hair. This brush has a combination of boar and nylon multi-level bristles that let you create various degrees of volume and super style. It also has a finely pointed handle for effectively parting your hair.
Abba Moisture Shampoo ($17.00–$34.00 for 8 oz. and 33.8 oz from Abba and Ulta): The key moisturizing botanical ingredients in this shampoo and conditioner are Olive Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Abba's special ProQuinoa complex, and even when my hair is extremely dry it looks and feels better after I use this shampoo and conditioner. The minty aroma smells delectable, and is very refreshing.
Abba's high performing ProQuinoa Complex contains quinoa, barley and soy proteins which rescue damaged hair fibers. Abba Moisture Shampoo uses natural botanicals to help moisturize dry, brittle hair and scalp. Wild mint and olive butter work together to create high performing products. 100% Vegan, Sulfate Free, Plant derived botanicals, Free of synthetic color additives. Use daily to help moisturize dry, damaged and brittle hair.
Abba Moisture Conditioner ($18.00–$36.00 for 8 oz. and 33.8 oz from Abba and Ulta): This conditioner leaves my hair so soft and hydrated, and it leaves my hair frizz-free.
Abba's high performing ProQuinoa Complex contains quinoa, barley and soy proteins which rescue damaged hair fibers. Abba Moisture Conditioner conditions dry damaged hair with natural botanicals. Olive butter and wild mint work together to create high performing products. pH 4-5. 100% Vegan, Sulfate Free, Plant derived botanicals, Free of synthetic color additives. Use daily to help condition dry, damaged and brittle hair.
Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer ($ from Ouidad and Ulta): If you have curly hair that needs a bit more moisture, then this multipurpose product is a wonderful addition to your haircare arsenal. It not only offers rich moisture, without weighing hair down, but it also protects hair. Furthermore, it defines curls, eliminates frizz and makes hair shine.
Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer is a modern, dynamic multi-tasker that combines therapeutic conditioning with style priming power. This rich, silky formula wraps curls in a unique Triple Olive Oil Blend and Green Tea Extract to nourish and protect dehydrated hair, keeping curls moisturized all day long. Primes while conditioning to restore the natural curl pattern and encourage bouncy, defined, frizz-free curls.
Key Product Benefits:
Instantly restores moisture balance within curls
Makes curls feel soft and conditioned on contact
Ideal for wash and go's, for natural curl with slight definition in shorter hair
All curls, especially dry, damaged, frizzy curls, need an instant therapeutic infusion of moisture from time to time.
To use as a daily conditioner: First, prepare hair by shampooing and conditioning with a Ouidad shampoo and conditioner. Then, apply a silver dollar amount of Whipped Curls to wet hair. Leave on hair for 3-5 minutes, then rinse out thoroughly.
To use as a styling primer: First. prepare hair by shampooing and conditioning with a Ouidad shampoo and conditioner. Then, apply a silver dollar amount of Whipped Curls to damp hair. Comb through and style as usual.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water/Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Polyquaternium-37, Lanolin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ceteareth-20, Lauryl Glucoside, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzophenone-4, Trideceth-12, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Triethanolamine, Benzyl Salicylate, Fragrance/Parfum. Ouidad Melt-Down Extreme Repair Mask ($44.00 for 6 oz. from Ouidad): I am a huge proponent of deep masking, and advocate doing it often during the cold months of the year. This formula is ultra-conditioning, and leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable after only 10 minutes of use. I like to leave it on for about 20-30 minutes when my hair is feeling particularly dry and unruly, and it does the trick every single time.
Melt-down Extreme Repair Mask is a luxurious treatment formulated with our proprietary CR-4 Repair Complex including nutrient-rich Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil - that envelops the hair shaft with a cushion-like coating of concentrated fatty acids vital to rebuilding, nourishing and protecting hair. A blend of three clinically-proven actives instantly recreates hair's depleted lipid barrier, restoring the protective layer to promote health and prevent future damage. Unique melt-down technology pampers hair with a subtle warming sensation as it replenishes moisture.
Features:
Fatty acids rebuild, nourish and protect
Active ingredients restore hair's protective lipid barrier to prevent future damage
On clean, damp hair, apply starting at the more damaged ends of the hair and work your way up toward your regrowth, being careful not to concentrate too much on the scalp. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse. On dry hair you, apply as a hydrating, reparative warming mask. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and cleanse the hair with Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Oil. Follow with Whipped Curls for extra conditioning.
Overall Assessment: If you need to add some moisture to your hair this season, then these products offer some great options. What do you use on your hair to keep it in tip-top shape during the cold months of the year?
As you may remember, I experienced the truly amazing ARCONA Studio Signature Facial Contouring from Brandi Brown some months ago (reviewed here), and have been using The Basic Five Regimen for quite some time. It is an easy-to-use regimen that is tailored to the particular needs of your skin. Rather than selecting the products myself, Brandi chose for me since she, as an expert esthetician, was able to carefully assess the needs of my skin. I only offered the added information that I have normal to combination skin, that I loved to exfoliate, and that I always sought out antioxidant rich anti-aging products. It was from this point that my extraordinary ARCONA journey began.
According to ARCONA,
ARCONA’s Basic Five skin care regimen begins with products chosen to address your particular skin concerns. The purpose of the Basic Five is to help speed up, strengthen and enhance the skin’s own renewal process. The products you use in the morning nourish, strengthen and protect your skin by day. The products you use at night heal, repair and regenerate your skin as you rest. You’re likely to see an immediate difference in the way your skin looks and feels, and with faithful continuous use, the Basic Five will bring your skin into balance for cumulative long-term change.
All ARCONA products are free of: petrochemicals, binders or fillers, chemical stabilizers, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates, perfumes, dyes, or any other caustic, toxic ingredients.
Below you find all of the specifics about each of the products in The Basic Five Regimen tailored to my skin type. Here, however, is my specific morning and evening routine.
Evenings: 4. CLEANSE / TONE: Cleanse with the Toner Tea Bar 5.REGENERATE:Apply the Gentle Solution 2-3 nights a week. Apply Magic Dry Ice on top of it and use the Magic Dry Ice alone the other nights.
*When I use Gentle Solution at night, I always wake up and cleanse with the Brightening Gommage the following mornings. Therefore, 2-3 mornings a week I cleanse with the Brightening Gommage instead of Toner Tea Bar. I massage the Gommage on damp skin and then leave on for a few minutes before rinsing off.
*I cleanse with the Brightening Gommage the mornings after using the Gentle Solution in order to effectively exfoliate the skin. It is a simple and extremely effective method of exfoliation that is started at night with Gentle Solution, when the body naturally engages with skin turnover, and then is completed the following morning with the Brightening Gommage to exfoliate the remaining dead skin cells.
1) ARCONA Toner Tea Bar is a beautiful cleansing bar for aging, normal, oily or problem skin. It has a delectable smell that is reminiscent of steeping tea, and it feels absolutely amazing on the skin. It leaves the face soft, supple and hydrated, but never stripped or dry. It can be used alone, or with a cleansing device like the FOREO LUNA or the Clarisonic, and the results are always fantastic.
According to ARCONA,
Antioxidant facial cleanser soothes and strengthens your skin as it tones and minimizes pores. Neutralize free radicals, calm and help protect skin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory green and black teas. Nourish, oxygenate and clarify your skin with antibacterial enzyme-rich manuka honey. Helps maintain your skin’s natural ph balance with soothing coconut, palm and aloe extracts.
Key Benefits:
Especially effective for combination and/or congested skin.
Black and green tea infuse skin with antioxidants leaving it strengthened and renewed.
Pure enzymatic cleanser containing natural surfactants.
Honey enzymes help to dissolve dead skin.
Witch Hazel leaves skin cleansed and tone.
This cleansing bar is not a soap.
Contains no sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfates. Free of chemical detergents.
Won’t strip, dry or irritate skin.
Use daily: Apply to wet face with light, upward and outward circles. Rinse well.
The container itself doubles as a soap dish with the spiked bottom. One can also buy the refill soap alone.
Closeup view of Toner Tea Bar
2) ARCONA Brightening Gommage is a wonderful facial exfoliator that is good for all skin types. This is, without question, one of the very best exfoliators that I have ever used. The exfoliating beads are small and in abundant supply, and they effectively remove dead skin cells revealing radiant skin with pronounced clarity and improved tone. It smells and feels amazing, and is an absolute game-changer for me.
According to ARCONA,
Two-in-one brightening gommage synergistically promotes deep exfoliation while visibly improving skin’s balance, tone and clarity. Reduce the appearance of uneven pigmentation and scarring with ascorbic acid and skin-lightening daisy extract. Exfoliate and purify skin with naturally occurring diatomite, jojoba beads and zeolite. Helps protect skin with antioxidant-rich cranberry and blueberry extracts. Leaves skin toned, vibrant and more luminous.
Key Benefits:
All natural clay-like diatomite derived from water plants provide excellent exfoliating and oil absorbing properties.
Contains jojoba beads and zeolite to exfoliate, cleanse and to stimulate circulation.
Helps to decongest pores leaving skin polished and luminous.
Powerful antioxidant-rich L-ascorbic Acid and daisy extracts provide safe and effective skin-brightening agents that alter melatonin production.
Use 2–4 times a week: Apply 1 teaspoon to damp face, neck and décolleté in light upward and outward circles. Leave on skin for 3-5 minutes for optimal brightening benefits. Avoid eye area. Rinse well.
3) ARCONA Magic Dry Ice Ultra Daily Hydrator, while formulated for dry skin, is a remarkably effective and lightweight hydrator that works wonders on my normal to combination skin. ARCONA believes in highly effective fast absorbing hydrators rather than thick and rich creams that don't penetrate the skin with the same efficacy as their lighter counterparts. To that end, Magic Dry Ice Ultra Daily Hydrator is a thin fast absorbing hydrator that sinks into the skin immediately, and it offers the skin deep hydration. Additionally, it leaves skin soft, supple, radiant, brightened and calmed.
According to ARCONA,
This ultra hydrating, anti-aging lotion moisturizes dry skin and helps protect from environmental damage. Olive fruit, squalane and raspberry seed oils replenish moisture and improve elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Cassia alta leaf extract (DN-AGE®) helps to inhibit tyrosinase activity and reduce free radical damage. Lipobrite®HCA, derieved from plants, helps to brighten skin and provides antioxidant protection. A synergistic blend of Clari-NET (sea daffodil) and KombuchkaTM, derived from black tea, has anti-glycation benefits and enhances smoothness, leaving skin smooth, radiant and ultra hydrated.
Key Benefits:
Powerful formula provides deep hydration.
Perfect for chronically dehydrated skin types.
Brightens and restores skin.
Soothes irritation and redness.
Helps protect skin from free radical damage.
Leaves skin radiant, dewy and ultra hydrated.
Use daily: Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin in AM and/or PM.
4) ARCONA Desert Mist is a skin protector for all skin types. This is one of those products for which there is truly no equivalent on the market. It is a bit like a serum and a bit like a beauty oil, but it functions to create a protective barrier between the skin and the environment. It is a thin noncomedogenic liquid that is packed with humectants and antioxidants. Furthermore, you can toss out your primer because this is a great base for makeup, and unlike most primers it contains no silicone.
According to ARCONA,
Unique protective barrier for skin defends against environmental damage and free radicals and reinforces daily hydration. Seal skin against pollution, weather, chemicals and free radicals with antioxidant glutathione, vitamins C and E. Hydrate with sodium PCA and mucin, natural humectants that pull moisture from the air to alleviate skin dryness. Repair and strengthen skin’s collagen and elastin to see real changes in dry or aging skin.
Key Benefits:
L-Ascorbic Acid, Sodium PCA, Vitamin E help to hydrate, bind moisture, protect skin from free radicals.
Mucin protects and shields skin from pollution and dehydration.
Tocopherols from Vitamin E assist with skin regeneration and provide smoothing benefits.
Protective barrier defends skin from the environment.
Hydrates without clogging skin.
Excellent makeup base allowing for makeup to stay on skin longer.
Use in AM as needed: Shake well and apply one pump into palm of hand. Evenly distribute over face, including eye area, lips, neck and décolleté.
(Note: Following application, allow product to dry on skin for approximately 3 minutes. Do not use too much product.)
Ingredients: Agua (Distilled Water), Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (Witch Hazel), Glycerine, Mucin, Na PCA, Tocotrienols (Vitamin E), Glutathione, L Ascorbic Acid, Selenium, Acetyl Cysteine, Wild Marjoram Extract (Origanum Vulgare).
5) ARCONA Gentle Solution is a highly effective nighttime serum for dry, normal or sensitive skin types. It is a wonderful deep exfoliator that stimulates rapid cell turnover while you sleep. When you wake up there is a very noticeable difference, but it is once you use one of ARCONA'S Brightening Gommage that its miraculous efficacy is the most evident. Skin is renewed, rejuvenated, brightened, luminous and youthful.
According to ARCONA,
Gentle nighttime treatment for dry and sensitive skin repairs sun damage and resurfaces skin as you sleep. Stimulate rapid cell renewal and deep exfoliation with our gentle-acting Glycolactolymer Complex. Strengthen skin’s immune system and combat free radical damage with our highpowered antioxidant complex. Decongest microcomedones to refine pores, smooth and clear skin. Nourish with algae, amino acids and chlorophyll for healthy, glowing skin.
Key Benefits:
4% Glycolymer and 3% Lactolymer
Especially effective for sensitive skin types.
Repairs sun damage and resurfaces skin, while increasing cell turnover.
Decongests microcomedones to refine pores while leaving skin smooth and clear.
Powerful antioxidants combat free radical damage.
Algae, amino acids and chlorophyll nourish skin.
Glycolactolymer Complex stimulates rapid cell renewal and gentle
Use 2–4 times a week: Apply 1–2 pumps after cleansing to face, neck and décolleté with upward and outward circular motions. Avoid eye area.
The only thing that would make The Basic Five Regimen even better is adding a luxury beauty oil, and as luck would have it ARCONA has recently created their Wine Oil, and my love of beauty oils means that I really need to try it!
ARCONA Wine Oil is a day and night antioxidant rich beauty oil that was created for all skin types. While I have not yet tried this, there is no beauty oil that I want to try more than this one. Resveratrol is a highly effective antioxidant found in red grapes that has become a popular skincare ingredient, and that it is being used in a luxury beauty oil by ARCONA is all I need to know to want it!
Harnessing the anti-aging power of resveratrol – an antioxidant molecule found in the skin of red grapes – ARCONA Wine Oil reverses signs of skin damage and rejuvenates dry skin, nourishing it to increase radiance and improve elasticity. Wine Oil’s grape seed oil base with linoleic and oleic acids provides anti-inflammatory, moisturizing support to the skin. Use daily before your regular hydrator. Suitable for all skin types, ideal in dry climates.
Key Benefits:
Defends against environmental damage with resveratrol.
Repairs skin damage and hydrate dry skin with grape seed oil.
Stimulates and tones skin with cinnamon leaf oil.
Supports and nourishes skin with linoleic and oleic acids.
How to use: Apply 3-7 drops to your face, neck and décolleté morning or night. Use it alone or blend with a hydrator for additional moisture. Avoid the eye area. Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Resveratrol, Tsuga Canadensis Leaf Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (* Denotes organically sourced).
The ARCONA Philosophy
Arcona always said, 'Color, fragrance and consistency don’t change your skin—live, active ingredients do.' We believe lasting beauty comes from within—whatever you put on your skin goes into your body. We use only the finest quality, pure and powerful ingredients in products that penetrate deep into the cellular layers of the skin to effect real change, resulting in glowing, healthy skin at any age. Dedicated to creating the most effective skin care for both home and professional use, we infuse ARCONA products with enzymatic-based ingredients such as high concentrations of antioxidants, plant lipids and extracts, sea vegetables, essential oils, vitamins and minerals. Active ingredients are processed and our products are manufactured according to scientifically tested, state-of-the-art, chirally correct technology, to produce products that link up effectively with skin cell receptors for better absorption and more visible results. Because what’s NOT in a product can be vital, ARCONA products contain no petrochemicals, binders or fillers, chemical stabilizers, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates, perfumes, dyes, or any other caustic, toxic ingredients. Common additives such as these support no more than a brief, cosmetic change in the skin, while clogging the pores and ultimately blocking the restoration of healthy, balanced skin. To experience ARCONA for yourself, discover your BASIC FIVE and begin to achieve balance and renewal for your skin today.
Overall Assessment: ARCONA is a remarkably effective skincare line that believes in healthy ingredients that are effective and potent, and that deliver real results. The Basic Five Regimen, particularly when carefully tailored to the specific needs of your skin, offers everything that you need for healthy skin, and nothing that you don't. Of course you can add products for targeted concerns, and a sunscreen is imperative, but The Basic Five Regimen features the core products for your skincare routine. ARCONA products boast superior quality, exceptional efficacy, and they are a joy to use. A+
