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November 19, 2009 3:43 pm
PROSINA/(pro-seen-ah)/n./ 1. a purified protein isolated from pure New Zealand wool; /n./ 2. A bio-engineered peptide that produces an active form of the natural keratin produced by the body and also functions as a potent antioxidant to protect skin from free radicals, e.g., “ProSina improves the condition of damaged skin and nails for a healthier appearance.”
Try it: Dermelect High Maintenance Instant Nail Thickener, $16, www.dermelect.com.
tags: Dermelect, High Maintenance Instant Nail Thickener, Nails, ProSina
A Little Horse-play For A Youthful Complexion
November 17, 2009 5:09 pm
HORSETAIL EXTRACT/ (hoors-tale ehks-trakt)/n./ 1. Also known as Equisetum arvense, an ancient, fernlike perennial plant that thrived 400 million years ago during the Paleozoic era and can now be found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America; /n./ 2. Found in herbal remedies dating back to the Greco-Roman Empire, when it was used to treat wounds, reduce swelling, and ease fluid retention; /n./ 3. Packed with magnesium and silica, it strengthens and rebuilds connective tissue while boosting collagen, e.g., “Horsetail extract will keep you from looking like a dinosaur.”
Try it: Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil with Horsetail Extract, $48, www.us.clarins.com.
tags: Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, Clarins, Horsetail Extract, Skincare
Sending Out An S.O.S. For SOD
November 9, 2009 4:38 pm
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE (SOD)/(soo-per-oxide dis-myoo-tase)/n./ 1. An extract from a rare exotic melon harvested from fields in the South of France; /n./ 2. Dubbed the “enzyme of life,” it activates cell regeneration and boosts skin’s moisture levels while fighting free radicals, e.g., “Get a youthful, dewy glow with SOD.”
Try it: GliSODin Skin Nutrients Advanced Detoxification Formula, $125, www.spalook.com.
tags: GliSODin Skin Nutrients
Arnica Gets The Red Out
October 29, 2009 10:26 am
ARNICA/(ar-nik-kah)/n./ 1. A perennial plant, also known as Arnica Montana, with yellow-orange flowers that is native to the mountains of Europe and Siberia and cultivated in North America; /n./ 2. An anti-inflammatory that is popular in homeopathy and applied topically to relieve muscle aches, heal wounds, soothe swollen skin, and diminish acne scars, e.g., “Regroup and depuff with arnica.”
Try it: Nelson’s Pure & Clear Acne Gel With Arnica Extract, $7, www.nelsonsstore.com.
Barking Up The Right Tree For Clear Skin
October 14, 2009 4:45 pm
WILLOW BARK/(will-oh bark)/n./ 1. A plant extract derived from the bark of the white willow, also known as Salix alba, a deciduous tree that is native to Europe and parts of Western and Central Asia; /n./ 2. A known anti-inflammatory with reported anti-acne properties from salicin, which can be gradually converted into salicylic acid in the presence of enzymes, e.g., “Exfoliate and soothe your skin with willow bark to stimulate cell renewal without the irritation.”
Try it: StriVectin Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum with Willow Bark Extract, $59, www.strivectin.com.
tags: Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum, Salicin, Skincare, StriVectin, Willow Bark
Immortelle Combat
October 9, 2009 11:11 am
IMMORTELLE/(eee-moor-tell)/n./ 1. A small flower with more than 600 varieties, including the genus, Helichrysum italicum, which is native to the Mediterranean region; /n./ 2. Believed to have regenerative, eternal-youth properties in Greek mythology; /n./ 3. Possesses high levels of neryl acetate, which is a known free-radical fighter, e.g., “Immortelle gives you ageless skin of siren and goddess proportions.”
Try it: L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream, $95, www.loccitane.com.
tags: Divine Immortelle Cream, Immortelle, L'Occitane, Skincare
Looking Your Berry Best
September 24, 2009 5:15 pm
SEA BUCKTHORN BERRY/(see-buk-thorn ber-ree)/n./ 1. The small yellow-orange fruit of the shrub Hippophae rhamnoides that grows throughout various regions of Asia, Europe, and North America; /n./ 2. Containing bio-active oil derived from its seeds and pulp, which has been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal texts for centuries as a natural sun-block agent and to treat burns, wounds, and other forms of skin damage /n./ 3. A recently dubbed “super fruit” with high concentrations of moisturizing omega fatty acids and antioxidants to scavenge free-radicals and prevent premature aging, e.g., “Embrace the magic of sea buckthorn berry and keep your skin supple and wrinkle-free.”
Try it: Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Daytime Facial Cream, $19.95, www.sibubeauty.com.
tags: Sea Buckthorn Berry, Sea Buckthorn Daytime Facial Cream, Sibu Beauty, Skincare
Kigelia Puts The Boob Job In The Bottle
September 3, 2009 5:59 pm
KIGELIA / (ki-ga-li-ya)/ n./ 1. The sausage-shaped fruit from the Kigelia Africana, a semi-deciduous tree that is found in wet desert areas across Africa; /n./ 2. Possessing a long cultural history as both an ingested and topical aphrodisiac, disinfectant, and skincare miracle worker that has been known to fight acne, tighten sagging skin, and enhance breasts, e.g. “Get blemish-free skin and go up a cup size with a generous slathering of kigelia extract.”
Try it: Liz Earle Superskin Bust Treatment with Kigelia Extract, $52, www.us.lizearle.com
The Cosmetics Industry’s Biggest Rock Star
August 27, 2009 10:08 am
MICA/(my-kah)/n./ 1. A sheet silicate mineral characterized by a near perfect atomic arrangement that creates a series of hexagonal crystals in two varieties—brown, or Phlogopite, which contains iron and magnesium; and clear white, or Muscovite, which contains potassium and aluminum; /n./ 2. Derived from the Latin word Micare, meaning “to glitter,” in reference to its brilliant appearance; /n./ 3. A popular ingredient in mineral makeup that provides a hypoallergenic alternative to talc and a translucent glow to skin, e.g., “Learn to love mica, the all-natural sparkler that keeps your skin glistening sans irritation.”
Try it: Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup, $32.50, www.prescriptives.com.
tags: All Skins Mineral Makeup, Makeup, Mica, Prescriptives
Calendula: One Word, Nine Letters, Sounds Like Caligula
August 20, 2009 11:47 am
CALENDULA /(ca-len-du-la)/n./ 1. Also known as pot marigold, a Mediterranean annual and herbaceous plant characterized by bright orange and yellow flowers, beloved by gardeners for its ease of growth; /n/ 2. The extract is prized for its medicinal effects including powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties; /n/ 3. A soothing and effective emollient used to combat dry and sensitive skin, including conditions like eczema and dermatitis; /n/ 4. A healing remedy for irritated scalps and hair that is thinning or moisture-deficient. e.g., “Admire its blooms in your garden, but put calendula to better use in your bathroom on hair and skin.”
Try it: Davines Nourishing Moisture Remedy Shampoo, $19.50. For salon locations, see www.davines.com.
