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MARCH 98: VITAMIN THERAPY
Check your local drugstore or makeup counter these days and you'll find that vitamin-packed moisturizers and treatments are becoming as common as alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Both vitamin A and C face creams promise everything from improved clarity to diminished wrinkles. Are these "wonder creams" really for you?

Conveniently packaged in individual use capsules, Avon's Anew Formula C Facial Capsules ($19.00 for 30 capsules/one month supply) deliver a pre-measured dose of vitamin C in a silky cream base. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant vitamin that helps repair and prevent future damage to the skin by the sun and pollutants in the environment, like smoke. For the first two or three nights, my sensitive skin did experience some tingling, but it was quickly replaced with a healthy glow and improved clarity. For me, "improved clarity," meant those little red spots that hang around even after a pimple is gone were actually diminished. After just two weeks, my skin has a more even tone and feels smoother. For Formula C, visit Avon online.

Vitabolic Lancome Vitabolic Deep Radiance Booster ($45 for 1 ounce) is different from most vitamin C serums on the market - Lancome has stabilized vitamin C in a gel-creme form that is lightly moisturizing. Vitabolic's vitamin C helps repair and prevent damage to the skin by the sun and pollutants in the environment, like smoke. Ginseng stimulates and increases skin's resistance to stress, while ginkgo improves skin tone, which gives the skin an instant rosey boost. I use it under my makeup in the morning, and it really makes me look more refreshed and awake. One drawback: If you flush easily or have rosacea, this rosey effect might not be for you, so test it on your skin at the Lancome counter before you buy.

Philosophy Hope and A Prayer topical vitamin C ($45) is the most unusual anti-oxidant product I've tested. Unlike other vitamin C products I've tried, you actually mix Hope and A Prayer fresh every time you use it; the kit comes with a bottle of vitamin C powder and a bottle of oil-free liquid solvent (great for any skin type, and made with algae and ginseng extracts). Not only does this method ensure the vitamin C is stable, but it allows you to choose how strong you want it to be. If you've tried vitamin C products that made you break out, were too weak, or too strong, Philosophy's Hope and A Prayer might be just what you're looking for.

For an exfoliating and wrinkle-reducing treatment that really does work, Avon Retinol Recovery Complex ($17.50) is definitely worth trying, especially if you have sun damaged skin, lots of fine lines, or even deep wrinkles. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, works to gently exfoliate dead and damaged skin cells, replacing them with fresh, new cells. This sloughing action can make wrinkles less severe and reduce splotchiness, age spots, and sun damage. My main objective in using the Retinol Recovery Complex was to reduce some of the redness I've had in my cheeks from living under the Florida sun for four years. After using it every night for just over 2 months, my skin felt smooth and actually looked less ruddy. This lightweight cream penetrates very quickly and is light enough that you can use your regular moisturizer over it if necessary. While the major benefits are definitely more long term, if you have sun damage or noticeable wrinkles that bother you, this cream might just give you the results you are looking for.

Diminish I am not easily impressed, but I saw results with Estee Lauder Diminish Retinol Treatment ($47.50 for 1 ounce) after just two days! On developing wrinkles around my eyes and those stubborn red spots left over from healed blemishes, Diminish made my skin look smoother and more translucent in the first few days. After several weeks of use, my skin tone is more even with fewer red, blotchy areas. The Retinol (vitamin A) in Diminish is encapsulated in collagen to be gentle, so there's less chance of irritation (great for someone with sensitive skin). Diminish is rather expensive at almost $50 an ounce, but for its traditional lotion texture, soothing green tea extract, and impressive results, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a smoother complexion.


 

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