The BEST Serum I Have Ever Used: Orlane Super-Moisturizing Serum.

Really, this is the most amazing serum I have ever used. Yes, really. My title is not to be taken lightly. This is the best serum I have ever used. Orlane Super-Moisturizing Serum has earned holy grail status in my life, and I have only just begun to use it.

The serum is more like a lightweight lotion, that absorbs into my skin, immediately making it more plump. My lines appear less as they soak in the hydration. My skin immediately feels soft and full of moisture. I cannot tell you the difference it makes. I use it right after I apply my eye cream and before my daily moisturizer, though it almost feels like I do not even need it.

The wonder of this serum is in how it works with hyaluronic acid and in three ways, as it works into each layer of the skin.

Based on the latest research on hyaluronic acid, this serum activates the key moisture receptor, CD44, for the very first time. To trap water like a sponge, hyaluronic acid must bind this membrane receptor, which is located on the surface of keratinocytes.

Super Moisturizing Serum provides intense hydration in three synergistic steps:
• Increases the number of CD44 receptors necessary for capturing and redistributing water—skin is replenished and its natural self-moisturizing mechanisms are restored.
• Fosters natural hyaluronic acid productions, which slows down as we age—skin becomes smoother.
• Optimizes the availability of water by encouraging aquaporins, which are channels that conduct water to the epidermis—skin is immersed in a moisture bath.

Super-Moisturzing Serum* is not cheap. 1 oz. is $190, but oh so well worth it. Seeing as one pump dispenses enough to cover my entire face, neck and part of my decolletage, I am guessing it will last a good while. If you are concerned about the price, use it just for daytime, which is what I am doing, so I can make the bottle last as long as it can.

To see for yourself just how amazing this serum is, visit an Orlane counter and rub a small amount into one hand and not the other. Wait a minute or two and you will notice the difference and be sold.

You can shop for Orlane Super-Moisturizing Serum at fine department stores such as Saks, Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus.

*I received a press sample of this product.

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The Lumixyl Experiment.

I have been dealing with hyperpigmentation for years. As I get older, it inevitably gets worse. Much worse. I actually went to the dermatologist recently and have a prescription, for which I have yet to fill. Why not? First off, I am hesitant to use it with its' high concentration of hydroquinone. Don't get me wrong, if all else fails, I will try it. Second, I just read about this new hydroquinone alternative called Lumixyl, and I want to give it a try first.

Lumixyl is a brand new skin brightening cream that claims to be non-irritating. It contains a newly found synthetic peptide technology that has been helping to improve the appearance of unwanted discoloration, age spots, sun spots and uneven skin tone.

Developed by dermatological researchers at Stanford University, Lumixyl's ground-breaking technology is the only peptide shown to measurably promote healthy skin function in restraining tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for initiating the overproduction of melanin, that can cause uneven pigmentation and dark spots.

The studies have proven that Lumixyl has been very successful in improving hyperpigmentation. From everything I have read, I have decided that Lumixyl deserves a good try, as I said. I am going to chronicle my experience here, with photos of my forehead, where I have the worst sun damage. Every week or so, I will update on my "Lumixyl Experiment" so you can hear and see how it is working for me.

I do have a lot of freckle, and I never expect them to disappear. It is the more blotchy areas, that are like patches of molted together freckles. Those are the areas where I really hope to see improvement.

Lumixyl is only available through a dermatologist or physician for $120 for 1 oz.

*I received a press sample of this product.

Defy Your Age Beauty Award Winners and a Chance to Win Them Yourself!

Prevention magazine put the leading anti-aging beauty products to the test again this year and found seven products deserving of the “Defy Your Age” seal, including Olay ProX Age Repair Lotion, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream and Estée Lauder Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment.

To determine the winners, Prevention enlisted seven leading dermatologists to test the claims of the 35 most promising products of the year on a group of 175 women, ages 40-plus, for a period of up to eight weeks. The doctors then employed state-of-the-art equipment to measure which products best delivered on their claims using before and after skin analysis. The teams investigated seven categories of products including hand, eye and night creams; lip, adult acne and microdermabrasion treatments; and day lotions with SPF. This year’s winners are all available for less than $50.

Check out the winners below and see how you can win the goodie bag containing these beauties!

• Best Day Lotion with SPF: Olay ProX Age Repair Lotion SPF 30

This lotion contains two powerful peptides that work to smooth fine lines and firm skin by speeding the production of new collagen. ($42; drugstores)

• Best Night Cream: Roc Multi-Correxion Night Treatment

Includes multitasking ingredients like retinol and vitamin C, which smooth and firm skin and lighten discoloration. ($25; drugstores)

• Best Lip Treatment: Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge La Base Revitalizing Lip Treatment SPF 10

Contains Pro-Xylane, a sugar molecule that boosts production of collagen and skin’s built-in moisturizers to plump lips and diminish fine lines. ($29; lancome-usa.com)

• Best Microdermabrasion Treatment: Estée Lauder Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment

This skin polisher instantly boosts brightness, decreases pore size and smoothes skin thanks to salicylic acid, glucosamine and a blend of spherical beads. ($49.50; esteelauder.com)

• Adult Acne Treatment: Avon Clearskin Professional Acne Treatment System

Unlike teenagers’ treatments, this trio of products—a scrub, a toner, and an oil-free lotion—contains humectants that soften and smooth. ($34; avon.com)

• Hand Cream: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream SPF 30

This cream smoothes fine lines and keeps hands soft with heavy-duty humectants and emollients; potent UV protection helps stave off future damage. ($6; drugstores)

• Eye Cream: Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover Cell 2 Cell Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

Made with hyaluronic acid, peptides and dermaxyl (a nonirritating synthetic retinoid), this cream decreases wrinkles, brown spots, and under eye darkness. ($15; CVS pharmacy)

A feature on the award winners, why they work and how to use them for best results can be found in the current issue of Prevention, on sale now or at http://www.prevention.com/beautyawards2009.

Now, Prevention Magazine has offered up one lucky Beautiful Makeup Search reader the goodie bag which contains a sampling of the winning products and some other fun goodies. To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post telling me your biggest anti-aging concern you have and why. One winner will be chosen at random to receive the prize, valued at over $200. This giveaway is open to US residents aged 18 years and older only. One entry per e-mail address, only please. Multiple entries will be discarded The deadline to leave a comment on this post is Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 11:59 P.M. One comment will be randomly selected and the winner will be notified by e-mail on Monday, August 10th.