Acne Products : Beauty and Fashion Tech

Contest! Win a set of Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Products and the Book Confidence is Queen-the Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking

Congrats to Kandice, comment number 19, on winning this contest! An email is on the way to you!

Everyone could use a bit of stress control, so Beauty and Fashion Tech is happy to hold a reader giveaway for the items described below:

A Confidence Inspiring Book: Neutrogena spokesperson and former Miss USA, Susie Castillo, recently published Confidence is Queen: The Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking. In the book, Casillo writes about her experiences growing up and shares the lessons she has learned about positive thinking. I flipped through it and it looks like a pretty good motivational read. It also is getting good reviews on Amazon.com.

Products from the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Line: This line aims to help you gain confidence by making acne one less stress. The items in this giveaway are:

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment: A water-based acne treatment, with an ultra light formula that it is absorbed quickly and without a greasy residue, while also absorbing excess surface oil. The treatment contains MicroClear™ to boost the delivery of 2% salicylic acid to reach the source of acne. The treatment is infused with a cucumber scent.

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub: This scrub softens skin, while microbeads massage and exfoliate. Containing the new MicroClear™ technology, it dissolves oil to reduce shine and utilizes 2% salicylic acid to fight breakouts. It is scented with green tea and cucumber.

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner: This multi-tasking toner is formulated with MicroClear™ technology and has a cucumber scent.

To enter, leave a comment before the beginning of Thursday, September 11 (midnight between Wed. and Thur.), stating why you would like to read Susie Castillo’s book and/or why you would like to try any of the items from the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne stress Control line. You must answer one of those questions in order to be entered. Just saying “hi” won’t cut it! One entry per household please. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. On September 11, I will randomly select a winner, who will be notified here and by email. Failure to respond within 7 days will result in the prize being redrawn.

Promotional/spam comments entries will be deleted per the comment policy. Please don’t use your website as your user name or include promotional or commercial links in the text, it violates the comment policy.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Remergent Skin Care

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the wonderful book The New Science of Perfect Skin: Understanding Skin Care Myths and Miracles For Radiant Skin at Any Age by Daniel Yarosh PH.D (read review). Yarosh also has a skin care line through his company AGI Dermatics. If you are a retinol fan, or have been considering trying retinol products, this is great line to look at. If you are not familiar with retinol, it is one of the most effective, if not the absolute best, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle treatment actives available.

I tried four products from the line, and today will focus on the Complete Cleanser and two retinol products, the Progressive Retinol Complex and Advanced Retinol Therapy. Watch in a few weeks for a look at the Clarifying Concentrate, aimed at treating melasma and similar types of hyperpigmentation.

The Complete Cleanser provides pH-correction to condition and prepare the skin for optimum delivery of treatment actives. This is a generally non-drying lotion type of cleanser that does a sufficient job of cleaning and removing makeup. Mostly, it is aimed at helping the treatment actives absorb the best.

The two retinol products are what really shine. The Remergent Progressive Retinol complex contains .4% retinol and serves as a good beginner product in order to acclimate the skin to retinol. It is also formulated to minimize irritation from the active ingredient. If you have not used retinol before or are sensitive to it—something that is common and is entirely normal—this is a great place to start. From there, the next step is a move up to Advanced Retinol Therapy, which has 1% retinol, the highest concentration available over the counter. Finding a product with a full 1% over the counter can be a bit difficult, and many products never tell you the concentration, so it is nice to know that you are getting the full amount with one.

I found that the Advanced Retinol Therapy was a bit more gentle than some other retinol products I have used, although I still did get a bit of redness from it, likely from a bit of overuse. Remember that a little goes a long way with this stuff! The container actually puts out pre-measured doses for your entire face and one is enough! I had no issues with breakouts using it (retinol can also help treat acne in some people, but it doesn’t seem to work well on acne for me). I also saw nicely bright and good looking skin after 4 weeks of use. I have particularly been using retinol in conjunction with various skin lighteners to treat melasma and pigmented areas.

Overall, the Remergent line is a nice option for anyone wanting to try retinol or who wants to know that they are getting the full over the counter amount. It is available online from various sources and through some dermatologists. See remergentskin.com for locations.

Comparison Shop for Remergent Skin Care Products

Popularity: 19% [?]

Bioelements and DDF: Two Good Acne Masks

I’m starting to get fed up with my adult acne, so I made a dermatologist appointment. In the meantime, I am trying out some treatment masks, both as spot treatments and as all over masks. There are two that I highly recommend: Bioelements Amino Mask and DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask. Each are good, but also slightly different. Notably, the Biolelements mask includes Salicylic Acid and less Sulfur, while DDF is a higher concentration Sulfur Mask

The Bioelements mask is described as follows:

For All Skin Types Medicated facial mask helps prevent and clear acne blemishes. Draws-out pore-clogging debris, soaks up excess oils, calms inflammation and promotes fast healing of existing breakouts. - Medicated acne treatment mask - Contains 3% anti-bacterial sulphur and 2% salicylic acid - Unclogs pores, destroys acne bacteria, controls excess oils and helps heal existing blemishes No artificial colorants, synthetic fragrance or animal by-products. Not tested on animals.

When I used Biolements Amino Mask, I found that it worked well– both as an all over mask, and as a spot treatment. It feels like any other clay type mask and does a good job at absorbing oil and removing the gunk in your pores. But I particularly like this one as a spot treatment. Put a bit on a blemish and leave it on overnight. The Salicylic Acid helps dissolve the gunk, while the Sulfur provides good anti-bacterial acne treatment. Meanwhile, the mask as a whole absorbs oil had helps draw everything out.

DDF’s mask contains 10% Sulfur. For those who want maximum anti-bacterial agents, this one is great. I tend to use it more as an overall face mask once each week, although it will also work as a spot treatment.

One thing to note. Sulfur doesn’t smell really good, and because these masks contain it, they obviously have an odor. I don’t mind it at all, but if you are sensitive to sulfur smell, you might not care for these.

Comparison Shop for Acne Treatment Masks

Popularity: 13% [?]

Review: New Clean and Clear Soft Acne Treatment

Clean and Clear has a new acne treatment line out and the daytime moisturizer has quickly become a big favorite for me.

For some time I have been wishing for a fairly light acne treatment, or at least acne safe, drugstore moisturizer. It seemed that whenever I looked at ingredients on various brands, there would be something I was concerned about or the product would be too heavy. Well, Clean and Clear came through for me with their Clean & Clear Soft Oil-Free Day Moisturizer, SPF 15!

The moisturizer is pretty light and absorbs quite quickly, so it is perfect for oily skin. It does not contain harsh treatment actives such as Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide, which is fine by me because I would rather add those as needed myself using separate products. Instead it has various fruit extracts. I found nothing of particular concern in regard to pore clogging in the ingredient list, and it adds SPF 15 through three different chemical blockers. Best of all, it carries a decent price!

Clean & Clear Soft In-Shower Facial is another favorite from the line. This unique mask is applied in the shower, left on for a minute or two, and then washed off. It is basically a heat activated scrub that I would place in the medium range of exfoliation. It is a heavier scrub than the other Clean and Clear acne scrubs that I have tried, but it isn’t a strong as something like Dr. Brant Microdermabrasion in a Jar (Read Review) or Bioelements Pumice Peel (Read Review).

Personally, I like a strong scrub because I don’t have particularly sensitive skin. At the same time, I had been looking for something a bit more gentle because I wanted to exfoliate a bit more often, without risking worsening my acne by over doing it. Clean and Clear’s new offering has been just about perfect for that and I have been using it twice each week.

There are two more items in the line that I have not tried, but examined at the store. Based on my impressions of the daytime formula, Clean & Clear Soft Oil-Free Night Moisturizer should be a nice nighttime compliment. Clean & Clear Soft Scrub, Purifying Cleanser also looked interesting, although I tend to avoid scrubbing cleansers. I like to keep my products separate.

Clean and Clear is available both online and at a wide variety of drugstores, grocery stores and big box retailers.

Shop for Clean and Clear Acne Treatments

Popularity: 19% [?]

Dermaquest Anti-Bacterial Cleanser

When I started having some unusual problems with acne a few months ago, I started researching products. My goal was to find a set of skin care items that would not be likely to contribute to acne, would treat the condition, and would also work with my melasma treatment regime. Dermaquest Skin Therapy Anti- Bacterial Enzyme Cleanser - 8 oz. was my choice in cleanser.

After quite a bit of consideration, I chose Dermaquest because it did not contain any ingredients likely to contribute to acne and it had anti-bacterial functions to help treat it without being too drying. I have been pleased with my choice.

Dermaquest’s Anti-Bacterial Cleanser is a very low foaming cleanser that does a decent enough job at cleaning without drying. It also removes makeup sufficiently well, although I suggest using a separate eye makeup remover. After 6 weeks, I am still happy with it. At first blush the price seem a bit high, but considering that the bottle is 8 ounces, it actually is a pretty good value.

Comparison shop for Dermaquest skin care products

Popularity: 8% [?]

DDF Moisturizing Dew

DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew provides light oil and fragrance free moisture with antioxidant Grapeseed extract and Vitamins A, C, E. It is free of acne causing ingredients, and a tiny amount is sufficient to give light moisture to the entire face.

I have been using DDF’s Moisture Dew for some time and find it perfect when my skin is on the oily side. Although when I am dry, I need something a bit heavier. This is by far, my all time favorite moisturizer for oily skin and acne treatment, and it comes highly recommended for those who need some light moisture as part of an acne treatment system.

DDF products tend to run a bit on the expensive side. However, the amount of product needed is tiny, making it more of a value than it seems. There are some decent drugstore light moisturizers, but I have yet to find a comparable drugstore product than can provide oil free moisture in a formulation that is as light as this one.

Comparison shop for DDF Skin Care

Popularity: 8% [?]

DS Labs Trioxil Acne Treatment Gel

When I first read about DS Labs Trioxil (bisazulene gel) I was rather curious. I came across it on several message boards and it seemed that about half of the people who tried it loved and half hated it. After more reading, it became clear that many reported an increase in acne when they first began using the product, followed by significant clearing. So there was a trend where those who stuck with it, liked it, while those who quit during the first week or two hated it.

I decided to purchase some and try it. Using an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compound from chamomile that is encapsulated in nanosomes for time release of the active ingredient, Trioxil is advertised as being as effective as Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide, without the drying and irritation that those can cause.

I have been using Trioxil for about 6 weeks, but alternating it with another product, so it tends to get used every other day. Consistent with the reports that I read, I experienced an increase in acne the first few weeks that I used it. My theory is that it probably exfoliates to a certain degree, which will bring some of the underlying acne to the surface. Regardless, after a couple of weeks, I cleared up significantly, and while my acne isn’t gone, it is definitely improved 6 weeks later. Unfortunately to get full clearing, I think an appointment with a dermatologist for a prescription is in the cards for me.

Trioxil tingles a bit when used, so those with sensitive skin should be prepared for that. But it does not tingle any more than many salicylic acid products that I have used, and it is not drying or overly irritating. It has a bit of a yellow/tan color to it and a slightly odd scent. Neither is overly problematic, and I don’t notice the scent after it has been on and absorbed, but I would prefer it to be scent free.

I am inclined to repurchase DS Labs Trioxil once my tube is gone, although I might go to using only the Dermaquest Dermaclear formula (read review) that I have using in conjunction with it. I haven’t quite decided yet. At $34 for a tube, Trioxil is cheaper than the Dermaquest product, albeit for a smaller amount of product. But I like Dermaquest Dermaclear quite a bit as well.

Shop for DS Labs skin care products

Popularity: 8% [?]