Results of The First Ever “Defy-Your Age Beauty Awards.”

Which skin care products really help turn back time?

·     Each product was tested by a group of five women 40+ for a period of 6 weeks (long enough so they could deliver on their claims)--looking for changes in wrinkles, redness, spots, pore size, etc.

·     Then dermatologists used state-of-the-art equipment--such as the Visia Complexion analysis machine--to compare their skin before and after.

·     Women kept diaries to answer anecdotally how easy the product was to use, how it felt on their skin, and results compared to the aesthetic of the product.

·     These are the just some of the products we found delivered results you can see, our first-ever Defy-Your-Age Beauty Awards.

1. Best Eye Cream:   Priori Smoothing Eye Serum           ($60, prioriskincare.com)

·   Testers reported fewer fine lines and less puffiness and darkness

·   This serum is 70% active ingredients

·   Includes a dozen de-agers, including lactic acid (an alphahydroxy acid to slough away dead skin cells), glycerin, humectants such as sodium hyaluronate (HI-uh-LOOR-oh-nate), caffeine, and acetyl hexapeptide-8 (uh-SEE-til   hex-uh-PEP-tide), a muscle relaxer that smoothes fine lines

·   Contains light-refracting mica and silica particles to soften imperfections

·   Smells good

 2.  Best Night Cream:   Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Night         ($110, peterthomasroth.com)

·   Everyone noticed improvements in their fine lines after just 2 weeks

·   No testers experienced irritation even though some ingredients can be drying

·   Includes exfoliators like retinol and glycolic acid

·   Contains collagen-stimulating peptides

·   Refines texture

·   Increases hydration

·   Boosts firmness

·   Enhances radiance

·   ALSO improved redness (probably due to anti-inflammatories like aloe and allantoin (uh-LAN-toe-in)

3. Best Lip Treatment:    Avon Anew Clinical Plump and Smooth Lip System         ($25, avon.com)

·   Innovative two-sided click pen features a lip plumper on one end and a wrinkle smoother on the other

·   Hydrators in the product attract water to the lips and surrounding area, adding volume and erasing the vertical lines that lead to feathering

·   Contains peppermint oil to increase blood flow to the lips.

·   Contains retinol to reverse tissue loss.  

4. Best Brown Spot Fader:    DDF Discoloration Reversal-Pod         ($70, sephora.com)

·   Testers raved about how it evens out skin town

·   Ingredients such as n-acetyl glucosamine (uh-SEE-til    gloo-COSE-uh-mean) and Niacinamide (nye-uh-SIN-uh-mide) block the enzyme that produces melanin, a pigment that colors skin

·   Works quickly (testers reported results after a month)

·   Sponge like applicator speeds results by exfoliating while it penetrates

5.  Best Redness Reducer:   Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream       ($39.50, clinique.com)

·   Softened and smoothed skin without irritation

·   Contains time-released salicylic (SAL-uh-SILL-ick) acid to gradually exfoliate skin

·   Contains heavy-duty moisturizers like shea butter, cholesterol, and linoleic acid (Lin-oh-LEE-ic)

·   Also contains anti-inflammatories and antioxidant

·   Does not contain preservatives, which can irritate skin

 6.  Best Daily Moisturizer with SPF:   Vichy Laboratories UV.Activ Daily Moisturizer Cream with Sunscreen      ($29, vichyusa.com) 

·   Testers loved this product—one stocked up on two more bottles before she even ran out of the first!

·   Contains glycerin, which plumps up fine lines by attracting water to skin

·   Also contains Mexoryl (Mex-OR-ill), a UVA blocker

·   Fast-absorbing formula  

7. Best Microdermabrasion Treatment: Prescriptives Instant Gratification Skin Renewal Peel             ($45, prescriptives.com)

·     A peel and microdermabrasion product all in one.

·    · Contains salicylic acid and acetyl glucosamine (uh-SEE-til Gloo-COSE-uh-mean) and a combo of natural exfoliators to slough away dead skin

·    · Testers gave it glowing marks for speed and effectiveness

·    · They also reported tighter pores

·    · Contains spherical beads

·    · Also creates a warming sensation that softens skin and increases blood flow

8.  Best Facial Sunscreen:  Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 55   ($10, drugstore.com)

·    Silky texture feels like a high-priced moisturizer

·    Oil-free, non pore-clogging

·    Contains Helioplex, a complex that protects against aging UVA Rays

·    Features antioxidants

9. Best Body Sunscreen: Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray SPF 70   ($9.50, drugstore.com)

·    High SPF (none of the testers—who were all in southern California—ever burned!)

·    Easy to apply—bottle sprays upside down, making hard-to-reach spots accessible

·    Does not need to be rubbed in

·    UVA protection from stabilized Avobenzone (AY-VOE-BEN-ZONE)

·    Built-in antioxidants

·    Light scent

Have you tried any of these products? Tell Frankie what you think?