Happy Halloween from Cosmetic Connection!

As promised, this week I am excited to bring you my full (and lengthy) review of Epicuren Discovery live enzyme skin care. I have been on the basic program for the last three weeks and have noticed some real results that I think are worth sharing.

Let me start by saying that Epicuren Discovery is not for the budget-minded. The mid-size/travel kit (lasts 2-3 months) that I tested, which contains small 2 ounce bottles of their six key products, is $180; the full size kit that you would normally use at home is $350. We are not talking bargain basement here, but the results I've seen are compelling enough for me to recommend this line.

When I started the program three weeks ago, I considered my skin to be a wreck. I was suffering from severely clogged pores on my forehead (dozens of tiny bumps and blackheads), oiliness in the T-zone, and new breakouts daily of small red pimples and whiteheads (like a pimple but more superficial) on my chin and around my mouth. I attributed these breakouts to the rise in hormone level that my body has gone through during my pregnancy, and I tried my usual remedies (acne creams and masks) as well as seeing a dermatologist in an attempt to clear the condition, all without much success. My face basically looked like a battle zone, with pimples and red blotches sprinkled here, there, and everywhere. This was not the "glow" of pregnancy that I had hoped for!

Enter Epicuren Discovery. I first heard about ED from a small mention in InStyle magazine several months ago and had been curious about the line ever since. When the opportunity came to try it, I jumped. ED's concept is based on a combination of live enzyme, vitamin, and protein solutions being applied to the skin to encourage cell regeneration. This basically means that the cells are getting more oxygen and are working more efficiently (like aerobic exercise for your skin), so they act and look healthier and more alive.

The basic ED system involves two steps (preparation and treatment) with three products per step. There are quite a few other products that you can add or substitute, like eye creams, different cleansers, and richer moisturizers, but these are normally prescribed by your ED consultant later based on your results with the basic kit.

Step One - Preparation
Apricot Facial Scrub ($20 for 2 ounces) seemed similar at first in consistency to some other "seeds and shells" scrubs I've tried, but it actually much smoother and gentler. The apricot and walnut scrub bits are flat and designed to very gently remove dead cells from the skin rather than just grinding and tearing at the healthy ones like some rougher scrubs can do. The scrub is supposed to be used once a day (unless your consultant advises another schedule) before cleansing to remove cell buildup. I really look forward to using it every morning, and I think it helps the treatment products get "into" the skin more easily.

Apricot Facial Cleanser ($18 for 2 ounces) is a rich cream cleanser that effectively removes makeup while keeping the skin soft and supple. In the morning this is my second step after the scrub, while at night, it's the first. I really like this cleanser and would compare the silky consistency to Remede Milky Wash, Brad Johns lotion cleanser for dry/sensitive skin, or Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs. Since this cleanser is in the basic kit, it is designed for all skin types; however, your consultant would evaluate your skin after using the system for several weeks to see if it could benefit from one of the other cleansers (gelle for oily skin, herbal for dry skin).

Facial Conditioner ($22 for 2 ounces) acts a bit like a toner to prepare the skin for the treatments that are to follow. It contains collagen amino acids, aloe vera gel, ED's live enzyme complex, as well as lemon, sage, and apricot extracts. The instructions say to either saturate a cotton pad with the Conditioner, or apply it directly to the skin with your fingers - I prefer the direct method and found I used much less product this way.

Step Two - Treatment
Enzyme Facial Concentrate ($86 for 2 ounces) is the basis for the effectiveness of the whole system, and the strongest application of live enzyme protein. The vitamin and protein complex makes the skin cells work harder and more efficiently, so your complexion looks healthier and smoother.

Enzyme Gel Plus ($68 for 2 ounces) also contains concentrated vitamins and protein that make the skin look and feel tighter and firmer. I began by using one pump of the gel once a day, then twice a day. Now that my skin is responding well to the system and absorbing the products more readily, I like to use two pumps twice a day for added moisture, especially with colder weather on the way.

Facial Emulsion ($26 for 2 ounces) is the basic ED moisturizer. It's rich in protein, vitamins, and collagen, and seals in the benefits of the other treatment products. I am also using two pumps twice a day of this, and plan to supplement my routine with one of ED's other moisturizers as winter sets in. This lotion is light to medium weight and absorbs fairly quickly, especially after you've been using the products for a while.

After using this basic system for the last three weeks, I definitely notice a positive difference in my skin. The first few days were transitional, like with any new skin care routine, but after about a week and a half my pimples were almost completely cleared up (just a small whitehead appeared once or twice instead of half a dozen every day), my forehead was almost completely cleared of pore congestion, the excess oil in my T-zone disappeared, my cheeks felt noticeably smoother and softer (to me and my husband), and my skin's overall color was more even and rosy. Now, at the three week mark, my skin is more resilient, less sensitive, and continues to be almost completely pimple-free.

Most people will notice a small change within 2 to 4 weeks, and even greater results after two months. I plan to continue on the program and adjust a few of the products for my skin's current needs, including changing to the Herbal Cleanser and adding the Protein Mist and Glycolic Lotion, which I will review after several weeks of use.

As I mentioned before, Epicuren Discovery is a high-end skin care system that is more costly than most department store lines (because of the live enzymes), but is one that has produced real results for me in a relatively short amount of time. If you are at the end of your rope with other lines and are looking for improvement in your skin's texture, clarity, and color, ED is definitely worth investigating. For more information, you can contact Kim Heiman at ED by phone at (415) 641-1779, or by email at hkimh@best.com. She will also have an orders-only website up soon at www.discoverepicuren.com.

The Cosmetic Connection Product Panel is hard at work to bring you more new reviews, and this week is no exception. Check out Panelist Lisa's look at Exclusively Jo Ann, an online boutique that carries Pola cosmetics and skincare, as well as her own private label makeup. You'll find the review at http://www.cosmeticconnection.com/eja.html.

We also have reviews on Cosmetic Connection of Awake, Profaces, Prescriptives Photochrome makeup, 5S from Shiseido, and the latest from Three Custom Color Specialists. You'll find them all linked from our Product Reviews page.

You'll find the reviews are now a bit easier to scroll through, and those brands with multiple reviews (like BeneFit, Prescriptives, and Stila) now have their own "main" page from which you can choose which review to read.