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Welcome to Skincarma.

These are the musings of Carmine Montalto, NYC-based writer, skincare junkie and brand guru. The former copywriter at Kiehl’s, Carmine has more than 25 years of experience in beauty. Through the Skincarma Blog, he puts all of his product wisdom to work demystifying the ever-evolving world of skin care. 

You can change your skin’s destiny.™

WINTER MOISTURIZERS PART 2 – SOME OF THE BEST FACE CREAMS FOR DRY SKIN AND ALL SKIN TYPES IN COLD WEATHER
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Back to the ole grind! This was the busiest work week I’ve had all year. One where I felt like I couldn’t catch up no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I wrote. I certainly put some real miles on the new MacBook Pro!

It’s all good though. It feels great to be busy again — and even a little hectic. When was the last time things felt really hectic? For me, at least, it was last December!

So, a good week. And made all the better with the return of The Crown on Netflix. Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher is simply delicious. I loved her on X-Files, of course, and in The Fall; but this, I savor every moment of it. And I’m forcing myself not to binge on it, so that I don’t finish it too quickly.

The Crown season four is like a rich, velvety panna cotta! That’s why it’s always served with a tiny spoon; often an espresso spoon. You want to savor it, eat it ever so slowly and enjoy it for as long as you can. When it’s gone, it’s gone; and you have no idea when you’ll have the chance to experience it again. That takes discipline. So, no more than an episode every other day or so. I figure that was I can extend its deliciousness for two whole months!

I actually had two nirvana-like experiences this week! A couple of weeks ago, I took a chance on a $500 migraine treatment — a neurostimulation device called Cefaly. It was invented by a Belgium-based firm several years ago and only just this year received FDA clearance in the US.

The Cefaly device, when attached to the forehead, sends electrical impulses into the trigeminal nerve that runs from the eyes to the jaw and then to the back of the brain. It somehow reboots, calms, stabilizes an erratic trigeminal nerve which, for me, is a major cause of my migraines.

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At first, I was using it as directed — a single 60-minute treatment to block an oncoming migraine, which could easily be once a day. I found it quite effective at stopping a migraine attack in the moment. But what do I do several hours later when another one (or the same one!) begins to trigger? It was always back to the meds.

Until I googled: how often can I use the Cefaly?

And what I found was stunning and characteristic of our deeply flawed, sluggish, unresponsive and outrageously bureaucratic healthcare system in the US. In the United States, the FDA has approved the device for a single daily use. However, the Canadian equivalent of the FDA, Health Canada, has approved the Cefaly device for all-day use.

Thank you, Canada! I’ve been using it multiple times a day, sometimes five or six treatments. And, it’s working! I’ve only had two mild migraine days this week!

That’s real progress, eh?


The skincare stuff starts here.

Last week, I kicked off my winter series of my top ten moisturizers in a blog article titled, Winter Moisturizers Part I – Some of the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin and All Skin Types in Cold Weather. If you missed it, by chance, you can read it here.

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The first five was a collection of moisturizers from more popular, better known brands and included my favorite and what I think is the best face cream ever, the Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer. I’ve been through maybe a dozen bottles of it since it launched. You don’t want to sleep in this baby.

From new brand The Clean Beauty Co was the clean, vegan The Clinical Beauty Moisture Cream, comprised of 93% natural and 81% organic ingredients. As I said in the piece, it’s a 100% skin-active formula and true skincacre innovation.

There were two of the best face creams for sensitive skin with FAB’s Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration and the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream — a lipid rich treatment and a real game changer for the skin.

And, rounding out the first five, was Yon-ka’s Phyto 52 — a next-level spa experience. If you’re a fan of aromatherapeutic treatments, this one is for you.

So, I’m excited to bring you the second five of my winter moisturizer picks — a more eclectic collection from more niche brands. Among them, Josie Maran’s Skin Dope Inner Strength Protein Boost Cream powered by Josie’s signature Argan Oil as well as nutrient-rich Hemp Seed Oil. I reviewed the brand’s initial Skin Dope range over the summer in a piece titled, Products I Love: Josie Maran Skin Dope Clean Facial Skincare with CBD.

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In addition, there are picks from guy’s brand, Jaxon Lane; ethereal, natural skincare brand, Ayond; the fruit-crazed Glow Recipe; and Youth to the People –– oddly, my first product review from the brand in a long time.

Let’s have a look at the second half of my cold weather face creams in this year’s two-part series…

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Josie Maran | Skin Dope Inner Strength Protein Boost Cream

This is stuff is dope! Sure, Josie Maran’s Skin Dope Inner Strength Protein Boost Cream sounds like a mouthful, but what it’s really full of is good-for-skin stuff. Characteristic of all my winter moisturizer picks, it’s thick, it’s rich – and it feels like heaven on dry, dehydrated skin.

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The combination of Josie’s signature Argan Kernel Oil and Hemp Seed Oil makes for a splendidly nourishing moisturizer. And it’s got this otherworldly experience to it that I love.

Open the lid and you’re immediately struck by its odd, greenish hue. The Grinch would love it! I don’t know why it’s green, actually, but my guess is it’s the high concentration of omega-rich hemp oil. That Grinch green tint does serve a purpose, come to think of it. It delivers a subtle color-correcting effect on red, irritated skin.

The Skin Dope Inner Strength also has a mild herbal smell to it. And my hunch is that’s the reason for the bit of natural fragrance that Josie and team added to the formula. Both CBD and Hemp Seed Oil tend to have a somewhat off-putting odor to them. Not exactly welcome in a moisturizer.

But I think they got it right here. It’s a lovely and pleasurable experience actually. And it’s super emollient, which I want on a cold, harsh day. I think the brand’s description of the Skin Dope Inner Strength is spot on:

“Packed with protein-rich super amino acids derived from hemp seed oil and essential fatty acids from Josie’s 100% Pure Argan Oil, this luxurious cream keeps skin nourished and hydrated for added strength, glow, and suppleness. Enjoy quick-absorbing, weightless hydration with a soft, satin finish.”

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What is the difference between CBD and hemp seed oil?

I know there are questions concerning the differences between these two components of the cannabis plant. So I thought it would be nice to explore the benefits and differences a bit. There’s an excellent article, full of insights, on the Healthline website titled, CBD Oil vs. Hempseed Oil: How to Know What You’re Paying For. If you’re interested, check out the full piece here. But this is what I thought most salient:

There’s been a “green rush” of cannabis-inspired products flooding the market, including beauty products. While CBD is a new ingredient to many consumers, hempseed oil has around for decades. It’s sold at health food stores and is used in both cooking and skincare.

When CBD oil and hempseed oil are put side by side, a lot of misleading labeling happens. To filter out the CBD marketing, here’s a cannabis breakdown: Cannabis (often referred to as marijuana) and hemp are two varieties of the same plant species, Cannabis sativa. Since they share the same species name, they’re often lumped into one big family, and there seems to be a lot of confusion around their differences.

CBD oil and hempseed oil are both trendy ingredients used in topical skincare products.

Hempseed oil, in particular, is known for not clogging pores, having anti-inflammatory properties, and providing superior moisturization to keep the skin looking and feeling supple. It can be added to a product or just used on its own as a face oil.

New research is coming out all the time about the skin-related benefits of CBD. What we know so far is it’s been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, like its cousin hempseed oil. It reportedly helps in healing: acne, sensitive skin, rashes, eczema, psoriasis.

CBD also has a ton of antioxidants. But are CBD beauty products actually more effective or worth paying more for?


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Beyond those two non-fragrant plant oils, there are a few other antioxidant oils and botanicals, but nothing special. The benefits of the formula are specific to those of the high amounts of argan and hemp seed oils in the formula — at perhaps a 10% concentration.

The Skin Dope Inner Strength face cream looks much thicker than it actually is. It spreads nicely on the skin and absorbs in seconds, leaving a comfortable veil over skin that lasts throughout the day, even the colder ones I’ve experienced so far this season. I love applying it at night; it just feels so good on the skin, like a plush, velvet pillowcase.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Josie Maran Skin Dope Inner Strength Protein Boost Cream for $52.00 here.



WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF

WINTER MOISTURIZERS PART 2

ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE


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Jaxon Lane | Relax and Repair

I’ve featured Jaxon Lane on the blog a couple of times now including most recently in a piece titled, Three Facial Cleansers I Love But You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of. The brand’s “Shake And Wake” Enzyme Powder Face Wash is one of my favorite facial cleansers — and among the best cleansing powders in the niche cleansing category. Cleansing powders are so underrated!

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I use Shake And Wake several times a week, always on the mornings that I shave. A cleansing powder is ideal for softening my beard and ameliorating the effects of the sharp razor blade over my skin.

Jaxon Lane’s lightweight powder cleanser has this deliciously invigorating grapefruit aroma to it that’s just so crisp and refreshing. It makes shaving something to look forward to. Almost.

But perhaps the one product Jaxon Lane is most known for is its Bro Mask! Powered by 3% Niacinamide, collagen, peptides, green tea, licorice, and ginger, the hydrogel Bro Mask put Jaxon Lane on the map. It was the first product from the brand that I tried and I get all choked up thinking about my initial experiences with the Bro Mask. Perhaps as with a St. Pauli Girl, you never forget your first Bro Mask!

So, sure, I’m a big fan of Jaxon Lane and was super excited to be among the first to try the brand’s new Relax and Repair face cream — what Jaxon Lane refers to as “the ultimate treat for your skin.”

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Relax And Repair Ultimate Anti Aging Moisturizer is, in fact, a treat for the skin. As indicated in the name’s descriptor, it’s infused with beneficial anti-aging actives, including Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, collagen and ceramides.

Relax And Repair is not too thick, not too thin. And if it’s intended for guys as the Bro Mask is, then it’s just about as thick as most men want in a moisturizer. The clean, fragrance free formula is, of course, perfectly legitimate for both a woman’s and a man’s skin. Skin is skin.

If you’re sensitive (and I don’t mean emotionally!), then Relax And Repair is perfectly suited for your skin.


FOR A LIMITED TIME

SAVE 20% OFF ALL JAXON LANE SKINCARE

CLICK HERE AND ENTER CODE SKINCARMA20 AT CHECKOUT


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I also love that it comes in a tube rather than in a jar, unlike the other four cold weather face creams in the part two collection. But that’s more of an indication that it’s lightweight enough to be squeezed out of a tube. The others are likely too thick and rich.

The fact that Jaxon Lane’s Relax And Repair is housed in a tube is beneficial to its numerous antioxidant botanicals – including Licorice Root Extract, Ginger Root Extract, and Green Tea Leaf Extract, all traditional Korean Hanbang ingredients.

If I weren’t wearing my blue light reading glasses, I’d think I’d stumbled upon a new K-beauty moisturizer. There’s an intriguing ingredient in here that I just had to google: Coptis Japonica Root Extract, or Tsubaki, Japanese camellia. I told you this was no run of the mill face cream!


What is Japanese tsubaki?

I found some great information on the extraordinary antioxidant botanical from the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team. They explain tsubaki this way:

Camellia japonica flower extract is also known as Tsubaki, Japanese camellia, common camellia. Native to Korea, China, and Japan, research has shown this plant has impressive antioxidant, anti-pollution, and soothing abilities.

Specific to anti-pollution, testing on human skin samples revealed that topical application of the flower extract protects fibroblasts (cells in skin that make collagen) from oxidative damage that heavy metal airborne pollutants trigger. It also intercepts collagen-degrading enzymes before they lead to visible signs of aging such as wrinkles and orange peel-like skin texture. At the same time, this plant extract addresses loss of collagen that can visibly impact pore size.

Along with offering antioxidant and pollution-neutralizing benefits on its own, topical application of Camellia japonica flower also boosts the presence of several antioxidant enzymes that naturally occur in skin, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. This helps skin better defend itself against external aggressors that detract from a healthy appearance.

This plant is also a rich source of the oil-soluble antioxidant gallic acid that defends skin against visible signs of UVB damage while also interrupting excess melanin production.


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Without doubt, Jaxon Lane’s Relax And Repair is the most surprising of the five winter face creams. And, just may be the “ultimate anti-aging moisturizer” after all!

SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 20% on all Jaxon Lane skin care with code SKINCARMA20. Purchase the Jaxon Lane Relax and Repair for $28.80 (reg. $35) here.


FOR A LIMITED TIME

SAVE 20% OFF ALL JAXON LANE SKINCARE

CLICK HERE AND ENTER CODE SKINCARMA20 AT CHECKOUT



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Ayond | Taos Blue Day Cream

Ayond. Where have I heard that name before?

Well, you might recall a recent blog article of mine titled, The Best Cleansing Balms for Dry Skin, Oily Skin and Sensitive Skin. In it, I featured perhaps the best cleansing balm I’ve ever tried, the Metamorph Cleansing Balm. And it’s from new, indie brand Ayond.

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Ayond is an exquisite, natural skincare brand with exceptional, luxurious formulas that make a lasting impression.

And that’s certainly the case with the brand’s Metamorph — I have literally been blown away by it. The stuff is a next level cleansing experience! It’s a thick, emollient-rich balm that has a texture like a delicious panna cotta — the very same panna cotta that I savor as much as I savor those moments with Gillian Anderson in The Crown.

At launch, Ayond offers four products in all: the Metamorph Cleansing Balm, Rock Rose Face Serum, Amber Elix Face Oil, and the Ayond Taos Blue Day Cream — one of my top ten moisturizers for dry skin in winter.


At AYOND,

our philosophy is informed by the desert – a vast, enigmatic landscape where hidden reservoirs nourish and sustain life in beautiful ways. Such extreme environs are home to highly efficacious botanicals that have evolved over millennia to preserve water, store nutrients and protect against harsh aggressors.

That’s why high desert actives like Rock Rose, Wild Indigo, Blue Butterfly Bush and Sand Verbena – imbued with potent therapeutic benefits from intense hydration to renewal and repair – are the soul of our skincare.


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Ayond’s Taos Blue Day Cream is perhaps the richest in the entire collection of cold weather face creams. I love that Ayond describes it as a “sanctuary for your skin.” It’s that rich and certainly meets the challenges of even the driest of skins. I applied it again just last night and as I write this, my skin still feels soft, plump and healthy!

Like all of Ayond’s formulas, it’s infused with hearty botanicals indigenous to the super dry “high desert” climate in the Southeastern United States, specifically New Mexico.

At the heart of the Taos Blue Day Cream formula are two indigenous botanicals, Blue Butterfly Bush and Blue Corn Extract. Both potent antioxidants, they’re purported to “help protect against the damaging effects of blue light, free radicals, and pollution while encouraging repair, for soothed, hydrated, re-energized skin.”


FOR A LIMITED TIME

SAVE 15% OFF ALL AYOND NATURAL SKINCARE

CLICK HERE AND ENTER CODE SKINCARMA15 AT CHECKOUT


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Water in skincare has no benefits for the skin beyond a temporary humectant effect. Wisely, in place of useless water, at ingredient number one is Rock Rose Leaf Water Extract that helps nourish and recharge the skin as it boosts radiance.

But the key to the formula’s richness, and what makes it ideal for the harsh cold air in winter, is a blend of six organic and nutrient-dense botanical oils, including – Sacha Inchi Oil, Prickly Pear Oil, Cacay Oil, Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Oil and Babassu Oil. Each is enriched with antioxidant vitamins to defend against environmental damage.

Two of my favorite non-fragrant plant oils, both Rosehip Oil and Prickly Pear Oil have additional anti-aging benefits on the skin beyond their antioxidant potency. Notably, Prickly Pear Oil is a bit of an unsung hero among the 87,000,000 plant oils, with extraordinary benefits on the skin.


What Is Prickly Pear Oil?

I found a wonderful piece on the Byrdie website with terrific insights into the anti-aging benefits of Prickly Pear Oil titled, Prickly Pear Oil Has the Highest Vitamin E Content on the Market. The highest Vitamin E content! That makes it ideal as an effective moisturizing antioxidant in winter.

What is Prickly Pear? 

It's not often anyone will tell you to put cactus on your face. Largely, this is because cacti are spiny and in fact we wouldn't suggest touching them at all. However, the insides of desert plants are frequently beneficial because the desert is so sparse; think of aloe as an example. Prickly pear isn't only used for beauty products, it's actually often eaten (ever heard of cactus fries?) or consumed in a distilled, syrupy form. In fact, you've probably seen it in cocktails or (for those who don't drink) as an ingredient at your local juicery.

How Does Prickly Pear Benefit Skin? 

To help us understand all the benefits of prickly pear, we spoke with Munemi Imai, founder of the celeb-favorite prickly pear–based skincare line Mūn. “Prickly pear is extremely high in essential fatty acids, omega-6 and -9, and the natural antioxidant vitamin E,” she tells us. “It’s also rich in amino acids, which stimulate collagen production to promote faster cell turnover. And finally, it also contains vitamin K, which brightens under-eye dark circles and also promotes your skin’s elasticity.” Kypris, another natural skincare line, features prickly pear in its Beauty Elixirs and claims that prickly pear oil contains 150% of the vitamin E contained in argan oil and is more sustainable.


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Again, Ayond’s Taos Blue Day Cream is the richest face cream of the collection. If you are dry year-round and, thus, very, very dry during the colder fall and winter months, then the Taos Blue Day Cream is ideal for your skin. It forms a wonderful, occlusive veil over the skin for lasting comfort all day long. In fact, it’s great for nighttime, too!

SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 15% on all Ayond natural skin care with code SKINCARMA15. Purchase the Ayond Taos Blue Day Cream for $93.50 (reg. $110) here.


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Youth to the People | Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream  

I’ve had this face cream for dry skin in reserve for months now — it’s literally been calling my name since the spring. Again, I’d been planning for a winter moisturizer series since the summer and I knew the Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream would be a perfect recommendation for the colder months. I really couldn’t wait to play with it!

I’m happy to say its thick, creamy, delicious texture is ideal for moisturizing dry skin and locking moisture in to keep skin healthy and comfy all day long. And, Youth to the People’s clean, vegan Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream is simply a pleasure to use.

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Most skincare junkies (and especially those of us who roamed the aisles of Sephora pre-pandemic) have heard of Youth to the People.

Personally, I’ve had my eye on the brand for ages, but somehow hadn’t gotten around to really exploring the brand’s clean, natural skincare in depth.

Last winter, I experienced my first Youth to the People product — the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask with Vitamin C. It’s a well-formulated sleeping mask with about a 3% concentration of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C) to help brighten skin whilst you sleep. I remember really being into the texture!

But who is Youth to the People and what are they all about? The California based brand was founded just five years ago by Joe Cloyes and his cousin Greg Gonzalez, who drew inspiration from their grandmother, “a pioneer in professional-grade skincare, but a dominant force in [their] lives.”

Their formulas use what the brand describes as “consciously-sourced, nutrient-dense premium superfood blends” for their vegan, cruelty-free moisturizers, cleansers and toners.


“We believe in youth. The optimism in it and the courage to act to protect our future. We believe in being Good To The People. Our Giving arm is a foundry for people who care about people and the planet. Giving initiatives support non-profits and activists working to amplify diverse voices and increase inclusivity, build a more just world, and save the planet. Giving takes action. As the charitable arm of YTTP, Giving invests in shaping a better future for everyone.”

— Joe and Greg, co-founders


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The Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream is a rich blend of nourishing plant oils, antioxidant botanical extracts and skin-calming adaptogens. Among its moisturizing oils are Sunflower Oil, at ingredient number two, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil and Shea Butter.

There’s an exotic blend of antioxidant botanicals including Holy Basil Extract and Rhodiola Rosea Extract, also known as Arctic root or golden root, that is high in protective antioxidants and nourishing flavonoids.

But the star actives, as indicated in the product name, are two adaptogens, Ashwagandha Extract and Reishi Mushroom Extract, which can help to calm overactive, stressed-out skin.


What are adaptogens?

There’s an insightful article on adaptogens in skincare on the Dermstore website titled, What Are Adaptogens and How Do They Benefit Your Skin? which you can read here. A few insights...

Adaptogens are herbs that reduce fatigue and the toxic effects of stress. They’re called adaptogens because they adapt to what the body needs, “regulating the body rather than pushing it in one direction or the other,” explains Alan Dattner, MD, a holistic dermatologist in New Rochelle, New York. For example, Dr. Dattner continues, “some people need ginseng because their energy is down, while others need it because they’re too fired up to go to sleep.”

What are the benefits of adaptogens?

Adaptogens are said to work by normalizing the adrenal system. And “since skin rashes can often be traced back to a hyper- or hypo-adrenaline condition,” according to herbalist Michael Forman, a doctor of Oriental medicine in Miami, “they can also benefit the skin.”

Dattner agrees: “I do a lot of treatment of the digestive system in order to treat skin disorders. Licorice, for example, calms the digestive system and slows the breakdown of cortisone, acting as an anti-inflammatory,” which may help with skin irritations and rashes.

In addition, adaptogens are thought to slow the appearance of aging. “Eleuthero has antioxidant properties that may help delay skin aging by preventing free-radical damage to the skin,” notes Joe Feuerstein, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University and director of integrative medicine at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut. Likewise, he continues, “Angelica may have estrogen-like effects on skin to keep it looking youthful.”

Just plain stressed and exhausted? If so, your appearance—including your skin—will show it. However, “if you get a boost from adaptogens like ginseng or maca,” says Dattner, “you’ll give your skin a boost as well.”


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If you’ve been itching to try Youth to the People, the brand’s Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream is a great place to start. And, with the craze of the holidays on top of the stress of the last few months, it might be just what your skin needs right now.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream for $58 here.



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Glow Recipe | Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream

Who doesn’t love bananas?! Actually, I can’t even eat them as they’re a sure migraine trigger. But, back in the day, I did love a warm, moist banana bread! And, the Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is a treat unto itself.

I’ve been a day-one fan of Glow Recipe since they launched four or so years ago with their star product, the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. I love that gorgeous pink glass pot of hydration in the summer!

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The brand’s fruit craze began with watermelon and has become a veritable Glow Recipe fruit salad today — with products marketed and categorized around avocados, papayas, blueberries, pineapples and, yes, bananas.

Glow Recipe’s Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is a smooth, velvety cream that deeply moisturizes dry skin with a blend of nourishing plant oils, potent antioxidant botanicals and hydrating extracts.

You could be forgiven for assuming that the custard-like Banana Soufflé is created in a big vat of mashed bananas.

I imagined the same myself. In fact, the only sign of banana-anything in the formula’s INCI is at ingredient number ten, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Water. Rather, the product’s sumptuous, creamy texture is a far less exotic mélange, derived from several common plant oils and extracts, including Squalane and Jojoba Seed Oil and Gotu Kola Extract.

There are perhaps a dozen or more antioxidant botanical extracts in the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream. And, interestingly, I think the high level of power-antioxidant Turmeric Root Extract is the main source of the deep yellow banana-ish hue. If you’ve ever cooked with turmeric, you know what I mean!

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The blend of plant oils and extracts feels wonderfully soothing and comforting on the skin and particularly on dry, dehydrated skin. It’s no where near as rich and thick as it seems; it’s actually relatively lightweight, making Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream ideal for just about any and all skin types on a dry, cold day.

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Glow Recipe describes its Banana Soufflé mosturizer as “a soothing, lightweight moisturizer, this sweet soufflé of banana, magnesium, turmeric, and cica is your recipe for calmer, hydrated, even skin.” 

Interestingly, one of the more intriguing actives in the formula isn’t a fruit; it’s not a plant oil, or even a botanical extract. It’s Magnesium PCA!

Categorized by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team as among the best ingredients in skincare, Magnesium PCA helps to enhance skin’s moisture content.

Magnesium PCA is the magnesium salt of PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), which is part of skin’s intercellular matrix. Magnesium PCA therefore plays an influential role in what’s known as skin’s natural moisturizing factor.

As an electrolyte mineral, magnesium plays a role in enhancing skin hydration and barrier repair. It also influences how skin cells move through skin’s surface layers, how they shed, and how skin responds to external stimuli.

Interestingly, pure magnesium and some forms such as magnesium chloride have a difficult time penetrating skin; however, linking magnesium with PCA or lactic acid (as in magnesium lactate) helps to overcome this issue, allowing skin to benefit.

If you’re looking for a lighter moisturizer for dry skin or combination and normal skin in winter, Glow Recipe’s Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream is a solid option. If you’re looking for a fruit salad, well, that’s another story. 

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream for $39 here.



That’s it guys! I hope you’ve found my two-part series on the best moisturizers for dry skin, and all skin types in winter, helpful in your effort to winterize your own skin.

Wherever you are, stay safe, warm and moisturized like a warm banana bread…

🖤 SKINCARMA



WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF

WINTER MOISTURIZERS PART 2

ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE


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The Ingredient List of the Josie Maran Skin Dope Inner Strength Protein Boost Cream:

Water (Aqua)**, Isoamyl Laurate**, Propanediol**, Glycerin**, Cetearyl Alcohol**, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside**, Cetyl Palmitate**, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract**, Phenoxyethanol, Vegetable Oil, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax**, Galactoarabinan, Alcohol**. 

The Ingredient List of the Jaxon Lane Relax and Repair:

Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Alcohol, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Seaweed) Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Potassium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside (Centella Extract), Propolis Wax, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20,Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7,Chlorphenesin, FragranceThe Ingredient List of the Ayond Taos Blue Day Cream:

The Ingredient List of the Ayond Taos Blue Day Cream:

Cistus Ladaniferus (Rock Rose) Leaf/Stem Water Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice so|h, Cetyl Alcohol emo|emu|vc|surf 2 2, Opuntia Engelmannii (Prickly Pear) Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil emo 0 1, Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil aox|emo|h, Polyglyceryl-3 Rice Branate emu, Caryodendron Orinocense (Cacay) Seed Oil emo, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emo 0 0-2, Propanediol solv|h, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Zea Mays (Blue Corn) Kernel Extract, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) aox 0-3 0-3, Buddleja Davidii (Summer Lilac) Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate h, Xanthan Gum vc|emu|surf, Orobanche Rapum (Broom Rape) Extract, Buddleja Officinalis (Butterfly Bush) Flower Extract sunsc, Trehalose h, Sucrose Stearate emo|emu|surf 0 0, Saccharide Isomerate h, Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root Oil perf, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract aox|so|amic, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil , 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters emo, Water solv, Phenylpropanol perf|solv, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract so|emo, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Petitgrain) Leaf/Twig Oil, Cuminum Cyminum (Cumin) Seed Oil perf, Triethyl Citrate perf, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Citric Acid buff, Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Flower Oil perf, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Sodium Benzoate pres, Cistus Ladaniferus (Rock Rose) Oil emo, Canarium Commune (Elemi) Gum Oil, [Benzyl Benzoate solv|perf|amic, Benzyl Salicylate perf, Farnesol perf, Geraniol perf, Limonene perf|solv, Linalool perf
Organic Ingredients
Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.

The Ingredient List of the Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream:


The Ingredient List of the Glow Recipe Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream:


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