Want to go to a Priori Myer Event?

If you have ever wanted to learn more about, or even try Priori products, then now is the perfect opportunity. The Priori range includes serious anti-ageing products which contain ingredients that have had the efficacy clinically proven, including Alpha Hydroxy Acids and the antioxidants Idebenone and Coffeeberry, to name a few. Spa Universe at Myer are hosting a not to be missed skin care event, presented by Sofi Lewis, the International Sales and Marketing Direcot of Priori. The details of the event are as follows:

Meet the Cosmeceutical Expert

‘SECRETS TO TURN BACK TIME’ SEMINAR

with Sofi Lewis

PRIORI® Skincare International Sales and Marketing Director

 

Learn the latest and greatest in skincare ingredients. Be one of the first to discover the clinically validated powers of PRIORI ®’s new lash-enhancing product and patented CoffeeBerry®* Mineral Skincare line. Customised skincare programmes bySofi Lewis available on request.

SPA UNIVERSE Sydney Thursday 28th July 2011  12:30pm | 3.30pm | 5.30pm

SPA UNIVERSE Melbourne Friday 29th July 2011  12:30pm | 3.30pm | 5.30pm

$50 booking fee, redeemable on Priori product purchased on the day.

Includes: Refreshments, PRIORI® Gift, Spa Universe treatment voucher and ‘Secrets to Turn Back Time’ Seminar with Sofi Lewis.

RSVP SPA UNIVERSE PRESENTATION

Sydney 02 9238 9125

Melbourne 03 9661 1282

The science behind the BIOeffect EGF Serum explained.

One product that is causing a huge amount of buzz in the beauty industry is BIOeffect EGF Serum. If you haven’t heard of the BIOeffect EGF Serum it’s because it is yet to launch in Australia (launch date is 22nd July). In fact, I only heard about it through Ling from The Best Beauty Blog when she was chatting about it on Twitter. She got me intrigued so I contacted the company for more info, and let me tell you, I have been completely and utterly blown away by what I have found out.

This is an incredibly scientific product. It is based on research that won a Nobel prize. This is pretty serious stuff – they don’t give out Nobel prizes the way we give out Blogging awards – only the most outstanding scientific discoveries receive a Nobel prize. The following post is not going to be a review, I have not been lucky enough to try this serum (yet!), but Ling has done a brilliant review on her Blog so check that out. Instead I am going to try and explain the science behind this amazing serum.

About BIOeffect EGF Serum It is produced by Sif Cosmetics, an Icelandic company. The active ingredient is EGF or Epidermal Growth Factor, which I will explain in more detail below. In fact, the serum only contains nine ingredients – literally only what is necessary to ‘maintain and stimulate the natural function of the EGF cellular activator’ and nothing else. 

 

According to the company, BIOeffect EGF Serum works by activating certain biological processes within the cell. It stimulates the skin’s own renewal process to improve the overall appearance and texture. It contains EGF cellular activator that supports the renewal of skin cells. The serum leaves you with a healthier and fresher appearance and moisturises, while at the same time it inhibits signs of skin ageing.

What is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)?  Cells in the body send messages to each other via the release of chemicals called cytokines. If a cell needs something done it releases a cytokine. Other cells have receptors that recognise these cytokines and when they come in contact with them it is their signal to spring into action. The cytokine EGF is the body’s chemical message to grow more skin cells and it is mostly released during wound healing. When you cut yourself, for example, the body realises that there is a gaping big hole that needs filling, so releases EGF. This tells the skin cells that they need to start multiplying to fill the hole. All cells in the skin have receptors for EGF – that is the epidermal cells that make up the surface of the skin, as well as the fibroblasts and collagen cells that give the skin its firmness and elasticity (check out this post if you need a refresher on the structure of the skin). When these cells come into contact with EGF it is their signal to start dividing and multiplying. EGF is also regularly released by the body to help maintain the renewal of healthy skin cells.

EGF is actually quite a big molecule. It doesn’t enter cells but rather binds with their receptors to give them the message to multiply. There were concerns that it would be ineffective in a topical agent, such as a moisturiser or serum, as it was thought that the EGF molecules would be too big to penetrate the skin. A lot of products contain ingredients that are too large to penetrate the skin – collagen is a classic example. Becuase these molecules are too big to penetrate the skin they just remain on the surface and are thus completely ineffective. However, studies have found that it EGF can penetrate the skin to reach the target cells by four different routes: through sweat glands, down hair follicles, it can squeeze though narrow junctions between cells and it can also enter bit micro lesions in the skin (ie flaking due to dryness or  scratches on the skin). What this means is that if applied topically, like in the BIOeffect EGF Serum, the EGF is able to penetrate the skin and reach the target cells to give them the message to divide and multiply.

The Efficacy Research  BIOeffects sent me a scientific paper that outlined the research that has been conducted into the efficacy of BIOeffect EGF Serum. Two studies were conducted by the company themselves and the third by an independant researcher - Dr. Ronald Moy who is the President of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Company Study 1: Participant Opinion This study involved 109 volunteers assessing whether the BIOeffect EGF Serum improved the appearance and texture of their skin. This is a typical type of study conducted by the beauty industry (you know the type – you always hear companies spurting out claims like ‘72% of women tested thought that their skin looked more radiant’). I don’t overly respect these types of studies as they are just too subjective. I know when I am reviewing a product I pay much more attention to my routine and go to a lot more effort. Plus, I am always desperate for it to work so I examine my skin more closely and will usually think that it does look more radiant – but maybe it always looks like that and I just haven’t studied it so closely? Anyway, the results of this study were that over 95% of participants saw an improvement and thought that BIOeffect EGF Serum was beneficial to their skin.

Company Study 2: Instrument analysis I have a lot more respect for how this component of the study was conducted as the result were collected on a skin analysis machine, the Soft Plus Skin Analysing System. This was also a double blind placebo controlled study. What this means is that participants received either the BIOeffect EGF Serum or a similar placebo serum that was only missing the EGF – they weren’t told whether they were in the study or placebo group. The researchers were also blinded as to which participant got which serum. That way there could be no potential biases. Parameters tested in the study included skin elasticity, hydration and image assessments of wrinkles.

During the study, hydration in the skin of participants using the BIOeffect EGF Serum increased by up to 30%, and these participants also saw a greater increase in hydration that the placebo participants. Skin elasticity also significantly increased in the BIOeffect EGF Serum group compared with the control group and there was a clear decrease in facial wrinkles in the the BIOeffect EGF Serum group.

Independant Study This research is still in the preliminary stages and is ongoing but so far it is looking really promising. Dr. Ronald Moy’s team recruited females between the ages of 30-60 to be involved in the clinical trial of the serum. The study is also a double blind placebo controlled study, like I described above, and the participants are using the control or placebo serum for 3 months. Results will be tested using the VISIA™ Digital Skin Analysis instrument. As the study is ongoing, I was only given access to one set of results and these show that after 30 days there is already a clear reduction in wrinkles and fine lines in participants using the BIOeffect EGF Serum and this is even more marked at 90 days. The full study will be published in a peer reviewed journal, hopefully later in the year, so I will update once the study is out but I have to say that these initial results really excite me. I guess what I am most impressed by is the fact that the serum is standing up to the rigors of an independent clinical trial and really seems to be producing positive results.

So, will it work? Without having tried it myself I can’t personally say whether or not it works; however, the research conducted is very positive. The theory behind the serum is very sound, so on paper it should work. I guess only time will tell whether it does.

Where to buy? BIOeffect EGF Serum cost $AU180 and can be purchased from their website -  www.bioeffect.com.au. The company are also in negotiations for it to be stocked in a major department store along with some day spas. I will update once this has been confirmed.

Want to be one of the first in Australia to try it? After reading this I bet you are all busting to try this amazing sounding serum – I know I was after reading the research. Well, I have some pretty exciting news for you! I can reveal that this is another sample that will be included in Lust Have It’s first box! So, if you haven’t ordered your first box yet, it’s about time you did – you can order your first box here.

Ok, I have attempted to explain the research in layman’s terms as best as I could. If anything wasn’t clear, please post your question in the comments section and I will endeavour to answer it better.

So, who wants to try this wonder serum?

UPDATE: Who wants to win a bottle of this amazing serum?? Check out my competition on how you can win.

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with BIOeffect or Lust Have It and received no remuneration for my comments.

ALERT ALERT! Jurlique giveaway ahead!!

This giveaway has now closed. Click here to see if you were the winner!

I have been blogging for about 3 months now and I have to say that I love it more than I could have ever imagined. When I had to write scientific papers for work it was always such a chore. I would procrastinate, write one sentence then jump onto smh.com.au to read an article; write another sentence then 'quickly' check eBay for bargains; finish the paragraph then hit the Beauty Heaven forum to see if anyone desperately needed my opinion on something, anything...

Blogging is not like that. If I am not writing an article on my computer, then I am writing one in my head. I get to write about whatever I want and it is so liberating. If an article just isn't working, I move on (I currently have 47 partially written drafts saved! One day they will see the light of day and be published!).

So, to say thanks to all the lovely readers that I have had since the start who have encouraged me on my adventure, and to also attract some newbies to my blog as blogging has made me narcissistic and I want more readers I tell you, moooooore, I have decided to host a giveaway. I mentioned in a few posts how much I love Jurlique (if you missed them they are here, here and here), so the gorgeous people at Jurlique and Torstar Communications have teamed up to help me host an amazing giveaway. One winner will get:

Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist

Jurlique Lavender Shower Gel

Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream

Now I bet you are all busting to know how you can win this awesome prize. Since it is my first giveaway I am going to keep it nice and simple. All you have to do is:

1. Follow me either by email or on Google Friend Connect (GFC)
2. Tell me in the comments section below how you are following me (and what your GFC name is) and also tell me what your favourite Jurlique product is or which Jurlique product you would most like try.

Simple! I'd love it if you also followed me on bloglovin' or Tweeted about the giveaway...but only if you want to!

This comp is only open to Australian readers and will be drawn on Saturday 16th July (which is also my sisters birthday, how cool is that!!). So what are you waiting for...get entering!!

ps Some people have let me know that their comments haven't been showing up. I had a problem with Intense Debate, but I think that I have fixed it. Every comment gets emailed to me anyway, so I will have your entry, but if you are unsure drop me an email to let me know your comment isn't showing up. Don't forget to leave your email address when filling out the comment form (not in comment box otherwise it will be public) so I can notify you if you win.

I thought I couldn't live without you but life goes on...

When products get discontinued, or are limited edition to start off with, I panic. Especially if I LOVE the product. But even if I just kind of like it, I still freak out a little bit as I simply can't imaging my life without the beloved product in it. I usually rush out and hoard multiple backups of said product so that I don't ever have to go through life without it.
It has taken me many many years to come to the realisation that when I come to the end of a bottle I am actually usually a little sick of the product and am ready to move on anyway...except that I can't as there are still another 4 or 5 bottles stashed in my cupboard/under my bed/in the freezer - pretty much wherever I can fit them.

I now think that discontinuing a product, or releasing a limited edition is actually a brilliant marketing ploy. It makes my fellow panickers and I race out to the shops and buy the product without assessing whether we even really like it - we buy first, think later. And in the cases where we do actually love it, we then buy it in quantities we would never consider if it were a permanent line. But, even though I am aware that I am being manipulated by marketers, I won't learn. I will still hoard.

So, in celebration of my hoarding ways I have listed a few products that I totally panicked over when I found out that the were discontinued or limited edition, products that I just didn't know how I would survive without... yet here I am, not simply 'surviving' but thriving without them!

When I first started writing this post I thought that there would be products from many different brands. Turns out all the products I have gone into a discontinued meltdown were from Lush. Lush are the kings of limited editions and discons and have caused me many a panicked bulk buy up and these are the products that I have hoarded.

 Love Bug



Lush Love Bug image from Lush Wiki

I remember when I first sniffed this I fell head over heels in love, which is rather appropriate considering it's name. It is fragranced with rose and vanilla and it really is divine. It also has the most amazingly flattering gold shimmer. Unfortunately it was a limited edition only available in February one year for Valentines Day. So I did what every sensible person would do about bought 5. Turns out I didn't actually use it that often and am still only half way through my first one, have sold 3 and have one other stashed away.

Schnuggle



Lush Schnuggle image from Lush

I love Lush massage bars but they are pretty greasy and can leave you feeling pretty slimy if you apply them before bed. That's where Schnuggle was brilliant. It wasn't greasy at all and was packed full of lavender oil which is great for sleep. It became part of my night time routine. Then they were discontinued. I bought 4 and stashed them in my various clothes drawers to fragrance my clothes until I used them...but somewhere along the line I forgot I had them. It wasn't until I moved houses a year or so later that I found them, and since I had gone a year without needing them I decided that I could survive without them...and so sold them after all of that!

Butterfly Ball

Butterfly Ball image from Kaboodle

This was my favourite out of all of Lush's ballistics. It is intensely floral and right up my alley. It was a small ballistic yet smelt stronger than most of the bigger ballistics. When I found out it was being discontinued I bought 5...then went back 3 days later and bought another 5. I actually used every last one of them. It was sad to use the last one but then Lush have many other lovely ballistics so my life isn't completely meaningless without it!

Yummy Yummy Yummy

Yummy Yummy Yummy image from All Hail the Queen

I actually used Yummy Yummy Yummy as my baby's bubbly bath and damn did it make him smell good. Babies smell nice normally (except when they have dumped) but this made him extra delicious. I would just sit there, sniffing his head. I miss Yummy Yummy Yummy. I bought 3 bottles but they are long gone. There are millions of other baby bubbles baths out there but none are as 'yummy' as this was!

There have been products from other brands that have broken my heart when they were discontinued, but then they were not at a price point that I could hoard. Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme is one such product. This moisturiser could have become my Holy Grail moisturiser, I loved it so much. But at $400 a jar (though much cheaper on eBay!) it was not realistic to hoard this one.

So, what products did you think that you couldn't live without, then found out you could. Or did it turn out that you actually couldn't live without the product and you are now commenting from the grave?

Product review: Revitanail Nail Strengthener

I was invited by BeautyHeaven to review the Revitanail Nail Strengthener. I was in desperate need of something to fix my nails as for the last couple of years they have been in terrible condition.

About the product (from BeautyHeaven) Use daily as a base-coat or top-coat. A superior nail care treatment that hardens, strengthens and protects nails. Also restores nails damaged from nail extensions. Fortified with calcium gel, Revitanail Nail Strengthener helps to eliminate peeling, flaking and chipping, while also benefiting slow growing nails.

How to use (from Revitanail) Apply 2 coats of Revitanail Nail Strengthener onto clean nails avoiding the cuticle area and then one coat daily for the next 5 days. On the 7th day remove with nail polish remover. Repeat the process 3 times. (Each program lasts for 25 days). Allow your nails to rest for 1-2 weeks between programs

The Experiment To determine whether or not the Revitanail Nail Strengthener actually works, I decided to conduct the trial in a scientific manner. Just prior to commencing the trial I cut the nails on both hands back to the nail bed. I then cleaned off all of the nails on both hands with Sally Hansen Strengthening for Weak, Thin Nails Nail Polish Remover with Acetone. I then applied the Revitanail Nail Strengthener, as directed, only to the nails on the left hand. I applied nothing to the nails on the right hand. Whenever it was time to remove the Revitanail Nail Strengthener from the nails on the left hand I would also clean the nails on the right hand with the Sally Hansen Nail Polish Remover.
Background Before I go into the results of my little study I'll just give you some background into my nails. I used to have really strong nails - so strong that it was nearly impossible to bite through them. Then when I fell pregnant a couple of years ago they started peeling like crazy. I had terrible morning sickness throughout my entire pregnancy so I guess that any nutrients I was managing to keep down were being shunted to the baby rather than to non-essential things like my nails. Now, a couple of years later, some of my nails have recovered but my thumb and pointer fingers are still really soft and prone to breaking. So I was really looking forward to this trial.

The results I followed the directions on the packet for my left hand, and did the program for the required 25 days. Just before I started the trial I knocked the nail on my left thumb so it was a bit chipped to start off with. At the end of the trial, the only nail that broke on my left hand was the thumb that I had previously knocked - all the other nails were in perfect condition without any chipping, splitting or peeling. The thumb nail only ended up peeling slightly at the damage site, but otherwise the nail was saved.

On my right hand, which did not have the Revitanail, the thumb nail totally split and peeled and was in terrible condition by the end of the trial and half of the pointer finger nail also tore off. The other three nails were in good condition.

The really interesting result of my little study was nail length. For some reason all of the nails on my untreated right hand grew longer than the nails on my treated left hand - approximately 1-2mm longer. This was a big surprise to me. Possibly, Revitanail slows down nail growth so that the nails that are grown are much stronger than if they grew too fast? I don't think so, though, as Revitanail claims to benefit slow growing nails. Maybe the nails on my right hand have always grown faster than my left hand and I have never noticed? I am thinking of repeating the trial but swapping hands to find out whether it was Revitanail affecting the nail growth or if it is just my nails.

The nails on the left hand were definitely stronger. The pinkies and ring fingers on both hands were the same strength - I couldn't bend these nails at all; however, on the untreated right hand I could bend all of the three remaining nails whilst on the treated left hand the only finger that I could bend was the pointer.

In addition to strengthening my nails, Revitanail also made an excellent top and base coat. It really did make my nails look nice. A friend asked whether I had had a manicure when she saw my nails. It didn't chip throughout the week so would really help to make a manicure last longer.

My Concerns One thing that does concern me with this product is the inclusion of formaldehyde as an ingredient. Formaldehyde is a chemical that, when used in my science experiments, I have to take great care in handling it (gloves, goggles and a lab coat have to be worn) so it concerns me to deliberately apply it to my body. The concentration in Revitanail would be much lower than what I was using in experiments but the fact that Revitanail is designed to be used daily for 25 days straight, you are exposing yourself to formaldehyde quite often.

Different people react to formaldehyde in different ways - and in my scientific work I discovered that I am quite sensitive to it - it stung my eyes and made me feel quite nauseated. I have not had this reaction to Revitanail so hopefully this indicates that the amount of formaldehyde present is quite low. The reason that I am concern with the concentration of formaldehyde is that at high concentrations it is know to be a carcinogen (cancer causing agent).

Conclusion

Would I buy it again? I don't think that I would buy it to use as described, that is daily for 25 days straight, and this is due to my issues with formaldehyde that I have mentioned above. However, I do think that I would keep a bottle of this on hand to use as a base and top coat as it didn't chip, so it would really help to make any nail polish that I was wearing last longer.

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with Revitanail and received no remuneration for my comments. This product was provided to me as part of Beauty Heaven's Trial Team.

Ajana Sweet & Spicy Fragrant Cinnamon Scrub and Lavender, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Body Scrub Reviews

I recently reviewed the Mocha Madness Scrub from Ajana and found this scrub to be one of the most delicious smelling scrubs I have ever tried. Well, my Ajana adventure wasn't over yet as I still had two more scrubs to try: the Sweet & Spicy Fragrant Cinnamon Scrub and the Lavender, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Body Scrub.

Sweet & Spicy Fragrant Cinnamon Scrub
According to Ajana 'the cinnamon body scrub is a deeply fragrant sweet and spicy combination of Cinnamon Bark and Leaf and is perfect as we head into winter. Aside from smelling great Cinnamon is thought to have healing properties'.

I loved the smell of this - the second the lid came off the jar I was hit with a delicious sweet cinnamon aroma - it actually reminded me a lot of chai tea. It was a very warming, comforting fragrance - especially in these cold winter mornings. I was half expecting the scrub to burn a little when I used it, like the feeling you get when you eat Big Red Cinnamon Gum and touch the tip of you tongue onto it, but alas (or perhaps thankfully!) there was no burning sensation.

To use the scrub, I would stand under the shower for a few seconds then turn the shower off and massage the scrub into my damp skin. Because the scrub is made out of sugar, the scrub particles (ie the sugar) dissolved slightly on my damp skin so it was an invigorating, yet gentle scrub. I would then turn the shower back on an rinse off the remaining scrub. I found, after showering, the fragrance of the scrub on lingered only ever so slightly. I was happy about that as it meant that it didn't clash with my perfume.

The scrub is packed with nourishing oils so it left my skin feeling really moisturised and soft afterwards. The only thing I didn't like about the scrub was that the cinnamon particles stuck to the oil and were really hard to wash off my skin. I would have to use shower gel afterwards to rinse off the cinnamon particles. But I found, even with the extra washing step, my skin still felt really soft and moisturised afterwards. The shower gel I used to rinse the scrub off was actually a rose one and I found the combination of the two fragrances was quite intoxicating - an intriguing spicy floral. A caramel or honey shower gel, like Lush's Its Raining Men (Honey I Washed the Kids fragrance) would also combine deliciously with the spicy cinnamon scent.
The scrub comes in a 250g tub and is $8.50. I got between 5-10 uses out of it (I lost count!) so it is a very economical scrub. The fragrance is quite unisex so it really would be appropriate for anyone. I think this would be a great scrub to pick up in winter as it is so warming and comforting.


Lavender, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Body Scrub
Ajana describe the Lavender, Lemongrass & Tea Tree body scrub as a 'fusion of classic floral lavender and zesty Lemongrass and fresh Tea Tree. This scrub is perfect for those times when you want to relax and forget the world. Aside from smelling great, Lavender has calming properties while the Lemongrass and Tea Tree adds a citrus and fresh twist'.

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Of the three Ajana scrubs that I tried, this was my favourite. I absolutely adored the fragrance. I went to Thailand for my honeymoon and every time I smell lemongrass it takes me back there. When I first took off the lid, it was the scent of lemongrass I was hit with and this instantly made me feel both happy and calm. Then, when I actually used the scrub, it was the lavender and tea tree notes that were strongest. The first time I used this, it was in the bath in the evening. That night I had one of the best nights sleep I had had in ages as this scrub is packed with really relaxing oils.

I won't go on to describe the scrub beyond its fragrance as it is the same as the sweet and spicy cinnamon one I described above. But I will say that this scrub left my skin feeling so soft and moisturised thanks to the gorgeous nourishing oils. Because there were no particles in it, I didn't need to use shower gel to remove any residue so I was able to leave the gorgeous oils on my skin. Initially my skin did feel somewhat greasy but by the time I had towel dried the oils had sunk into my skin, leaving it soft rather than greasy. I have used this both for my morning shower and before a nice relaxing bath. Whilst it is great for both, I prefer it in the evening as  means I will be sleeping like a baby that night (a baby that sleeps solidly through the night, that is, not one of those annoying ones that wakes every two hours for a visit from their milky friends!).

You can purchase these scrubs from the Ajana Etsy Store or from the Ajana Facebook Page.

If you would like a chance to win the Ajana lavender, lemongrass and tea tree scrub, check out Little Jo as she is giving this scrub away, along with the matching candle plus a million other items!

Have you found an amazing scrub that gets you all excited to use?

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with Ajana and received no remuneration for my comments. This product was provided for consideration.

Lust Have It sample boxes are now up and running!

Just a quick post for now - I have just noticed that the Lust Have It website is now live - that you can now order your first sample boxes ready for delivery in August. They cost $14.95 per month and you can cancel at any time if it is not what you expected or if you want to save some $$$ you can subscribe for a year for $160. You can order your August box here.

If you want some more info on Lust Have It or some hints as to what to expect in the first box, have a look at this post and if you have no idea what I am talking about in terms of sample boxes then it is all explained here.

I am pretty excited that one of these companies has finally launched!! Who else is going to get a box?