Perricone MD - Café Makeup

Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum Review

Apr 212013

Perricone MD Acyl Serum08

One new release in the skincare world is Perricone MD’s Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum ($155/ 1 oz.). This is a multi-tasking anti-aging treatment. One of its best features if the ability to soften fine lines

Perricone MD Acyl Serum14

This is a gently scented spot treatment that is to be applied to expression lines, lines, and creases. This is recommended for the “11″ that sometimes appear between the eyebrows, across the forehead, in the contours of the mouth (marionette lines), and anywhere else that lines are starting to form. Essentially, the product includes a derivative of Acyl-Glutathione which is intended to replace ingredients in the skin that tend to dissipate with age. For those versed in chemistry, here is one of the Perricone patent applications that describes the technology and the effects.

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The product is intended to gives an immediate smoothing effect to fine lines and lessen creases. Once again, Perricone MD has delivered. I found that the product was effective even on the first application. I’d really like to avoid using needles as long as possible, thank you very much. This serum works to soften expression lines and creases caused by facial movements and age. Unlike Botox, this product is not intended to be invasive–you still have full muscle control of course.

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The first time that I used the product, I found how quickly and completely the Perricone MD’s Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum does work. The results were truly visible. I applied this serum on some of the fine lines that traverse my forehead, and after about ten minutes they had smoothed to nothing. One area that looks like it’s on its way to a crease was far smoother and less deep. It also took care of some “11′s” that I’d developed from squinting at my computer all day. Excellent.

I’ve never had a moisturizer deliver results even close to Perricone MD’s Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum. When I used the product twice a day as suggested, the results continue to work. Ingredients (click to enlarge):

Users should keep in mind this serum is not a moisturizer, and that it can be layered with outer Perricone MD products. For example, I’ll layer this with my favorite Perricone eye treatments, including the Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum together with Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester and a moisturizer on my face.

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Overall: Great product that truly delivered for me. Bravo Perricone!

Through Friday April 26th, Perricone MD is is running a 20% off promotion with code SPRING20.

Available at Sephora.com, Perricone MD’s website and other retailers that carry the line.

Perricone MD sent Cafe Makeup this product for consideration for review. This review includes an affiliate link (for more information, see About Cafe Makeup).

Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum

Perricone MD, Skin care 11 Responses »

Mar 032013

Perricone Eye Cocktail abc1a

Perricone MD’s Acly-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum ($115/ 0.5 oz.) is designed to tighten and firm the eye area, to brighten dark circles and redness, smooth creases, and to act as a makeup primer. This is sold at Nordstrom, Sephora, Perricone MD and other retailers.

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I’ve been using Acyl-Glutathione for the past several weeks and really like it. It gives me an instant lift, both above the eye and a flattening/lifting effect on the undereye area. The first few times I used it, I could literally feel my eye area tightening.

Perricone Eye Cocktail1

I found that Perricone MD’s Aycl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum did give me a visible lift that I could actually feel. The effect seems to last all day, and it is cumulative. So, using the serum day-after-day gives me the best effect. Since researching this product, I’ve learned that many of Perricone MD products can be layered for a skin care cocktail. Taking this cue, I’ve used is the Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione combed with Perricone MD Advanced Eye Therapy ($98). The combination seems to knock several years off in just a few minutes. It’s subtle, but definitely noticeable. It hasn’t completely eliminated every single fine line. In the short term, this combination certainly softens, flattens the under eye area, eliminates some lines, and lifts the entire eye area. Note that the combination is designed for long-term effect, so I’ll be interested to see whether the results get even better.

Here is the ingredient list (click to enlarge):

I think that Perricone MD has delved into the science of anti-aging. I’m working my way through some of Dr. Perricone’s books, and his knowledge of youthfulness at the cellular level is impressive and credible. The way that he has modified the raw ingredients to ensure that they are of maximum effect when applied on the skin is one of the reasons that I think this is an effective anti-aging skincare line. For its part, Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum works well for both under the eye, as well as on the lid, to help keep the eye area looking fresh.

Perricone MD is sold at Nordstrom, Sephora, Perricone MD and other retailers.

Perricone MD sent Cafe Makeup Acyl-Glutathione without charge for consideration for review. I purchased the Perricone MD Advanced Eye Therapy at Sephora.com. This post contains affiliate links (for more information, see About Cafe Makeup)

Perricone MD Hair & Nails Formula Supplement Review

Perricone MD, Skin care 3 Responses »

Dec 242012

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As you likely know, Perricone MD offers a line of health and beauty supplements, including the Perricone MD Hair and Nails Formula ($95/ 30 day supply). Inside, the supplements are packaged in individual sleeves that ensure that you take them in the correct order.

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The supplements are designed to offer high-quality, effective ingredients. Perricone MD outlines the benefits as offering “the essential building blocks for hair and nail health,” namely:

- Biotin, an essential nutrient that plays an important role in the formation of keratin to support healthy, strong nails
- High levels of antioxidants to protect hair and nails from environmental damage
- Dr. Perricone’s exclusive Forever Young blend of extracts (watercress, dark cocoa, chili pepper, turmeric, and more) with a high level of antioxidant protection
- Omega 3’s sourced from wild Alaskan sockeye salmon for overall health and radiance

I have to admit that I’m a strong believer that beauty starts from the inside. When I’m eating correctly, exercising, hydrating properly, everything else falls into place. There are a thousand different reasons that I start a supplement regimen and then stop. My main goal is overall health, but of course some beauty benefits are a nice plus!

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In the past, I’ve taken biotin and omega 3 supplements, but I’m never quite sure that I’m taking the correct amount, or whether the quality of the supplements that I’ve purchased is adequate. Also, if I suffer a breakout or an upset tummy, I’m never certain whether to blame the supplements. I’ve wandered a few health food store aisles wondering if I should buy the refrigerated Omega 3′s, or the shelf brands are perfectly fine. Basically, there are very few ways for me to tell which ones are worth taking.

To me, the best features of Perricone MD vitamins is the trust factor, the lack of any noticeable adverse side effects (no breakouts, no upset tummy at all), and the convenience factor that facilitates following the program. The trust factor is the most important to me–I’ve been reading Dr. Perricone’s Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age, and his email advice (also reproduced here on his blog) and his advice is really spot-on for me. He holds several patents, and has a scientific justification for his products. The passion for the science of beauty wins me over every time.

I finished my 30 day supply without skipping a day despite racking up over 10,000 airline miles during the same period. I was able to place enough of these sleeves in a carry-on pocket for the lengths of my journey, which took minimal space and eliminated any bulky bottle-rattling and without any need for refrigeration.

I usually took these after a meal, with a glass of water as suggested by Dr. Perricone on the packaging. As an aside, the packages are marked “1,” “2,” and “3″ to designed the suggested order that you take them. On my crises days, sometimes I realized that I was taking them out of order (oops!) but didn’t notice any difference. Here are the product details (click to enlarge):

Supplements are a long-term commitment, and I didn’t expect miracles in 30 days. I notice that my nails are softer and moisturized, and my skin is looking vibrant. I’m not sure how much is attributable to the supplements, as I’m testing out skincare frequently these days. As I finished this box, I contemplated a replacement. Because I loved the convenience factor and because my goal is overall health, I’ve purchased Perricone MD Skin and Total Body Supplements which appears to be a more comprehensive program. I purchased it during a Friends and Family promotion on the site–you might wish to register your email with the site, because there are large samples and auto-ship discounts that pop up with some regularity.

Overall, I was pleased and impressed with the ease, convenience, and overall quality of Perricone MD Hair & Nails Formula, so much so that I’m excited to try other supplements in the line. If you are thinking of starting a New Year’s regimen, these are definitely worth a look.

Perricone MD sent these supplements to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

Perricone MD Blue Plasma Review and Daily Peels

Perricone MD, Skin care 3 Responses »

Dec 182012

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Perricone MD has just released Blue Plasma ($95 / 2 oz.), an incredibly gentle exfoliant that is designed for daily use. I’m a major fan of frequent exfoliation. Nothing reveals and renews skin like taking the dead layer off, to let the new skin show through. Sometimes I will use AHA chemical exfoliants, and sometimes other types of at-home peels (for example, this one from Le Metier de Beaute is an exceptional twice-per-week peel). I’m also going to take the opportunity to compare it to some other daily peels that I’ve tried recently.

Blue Plasma is a once-per-day lotion that had a beautiful, gentle exfoliating effect and I experienced absolutely zero stinging. If you are looking for an effective peel for sensitive skin, or one that treats your skin like a princess’, then Blue Plasma is for you. The Perricone MD website reads:

This cutting edge liquid treatment works with Bio-specific Peeling to attack only dead skin cells, Micro-extraction to lift surface debris, unclogging and purifying the skin of build-up and finally Hydro-fusion to rebalance skin’s hydration with enriched water. No rinsing needed. Apply and follow with your daily skincare regimen.

I did find the results effective. My skin was softer, brighter, smoother, and more alive. Particularly for winter-wearing skin, it’s lovely to have my glowing skin back without damaging or peeling. I typically put it on first, then wait for a few minutes to apply my moisturizer, then sunscreen. It can also be used before bed in the evenings instead.

As an introductory offer, Perricone MD’s website is running an auto-ship special which reduces the price of the product to $85.50 plus adds a free Citrus Facial Wash with every order.

Auto-ships from Perricone MD are less scary than they sound. I’ve done an auto-ship special with the Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester 15, and found that I was able to pace the shipments to my needs simply by calling (my shipments arrive every three months, instead of every month, and still get the lower price and freebie product for every shipment).

As an aside, I preferred Perricone MD to Bare Escentuals Intensive Glow Pads Brightening Treatment ($35 for 60 pads).

The Glow Pads are cotton pads (one side smooth, the other rough) that are soaked in AHA and other items, designed to combine manual and chemical exfoliation. I found that these were fine, they were certainly easy and they packed well. The container is a strong plastic, and they aren’t–strictly speaking–a liquid so they were convenient when baggie space couldn’t accommodate all the skin care that I wanted to bring. Overall, Perricone MD is far more gentle, and left me with more side benefits (softer, hydrated skin). Also, Perricone MD’s Blue Plasma doesn’t make my skin more sun-sensitive.

I did feel a stinging quality on using the Intensive Glow Pads. Generally, with this type of cotton-soaked pad product you’ll want to be diligent about flipping the jar after every use so that the pads don’t dry out. For an AHA product, I still prefer M2, the advanced formulation of the old Mama Lotion. With a bottle of M2, you don’t have to worry about any pads drying out, and you get plenty of product for the price (one bottle seems to last forever).

One product that I became very curious about for daily exfoliation was fresh lemon juice. I’ve never seen Makeupalley review a skincare product at a 92% approval rating before, so I had to try it. All I can say is, harsh harsh harsh, at least for me. If you heard someone shouting in pain, that was me. I’ve heard warnings about using this, including making skin go off-balance, or uneven skin tone after using it. I certainly would dilute it significantly the first time.

Of all of these options, Perricone MD’s Blue Plasma is by far my favorite. Together with my other Perricone MD products, my skin is vastly improved. In particular, the Blue Plasma gives me a gentle, daily exfoliation which leaves my skin looking younger, fresher, and with a beautiful luminous quality. In fact, some day’s I’ll wear the Giorgio Armani Maestro Concealer over a few problem areas and no foundation. To me, that’s a priceless result.

Ingredients for the Perricone MD Blue Plasma (click to enlarge):

Here’s a short video from Perricone MD illustrating how Blue Plasma works (no sound):

Perricone MD sent Blue Plasma to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

Quick Reviews from the Road: Loving Right Now

Hair, Perricone MD, Skin care 3 Responses »

Nov 072012

I’ve been living out of suitcases for a while now, trying to balance my beauty goods on the corner of tiny bathroom ledges and stock up on travel sized luxuries. I thought I’d do a quick “Loving Right Now” for a few items that are making life on the road a little easier. I’m really looking forward to the end of the project in a few weeks so that I can cocoon at home and spread out.

1. Travel sized Caudalie Divine Oil ($18/Sephora) and L’Occitane Eau Essentielle Immortelle mini-spray ($13ish). The full review of this mini-travel Caudalie Divine Oil is here, one of my discoveries in Paris this summer. How delightful that our local Sephora stores carry this wonderful, moisturizing oil in a travel size. I keep one in my desk at work as well, to moisturize my hands and nails throughout the day.

I occasionally stop by any nearby L’Occitane boutique and ask them whether they have any tiny sprays. Usually, they have a stock of them in the back, former limited editions that haven’t sold out yet. These are wonderful for bringing on flights to add moisture mid-flight. The types of waters and toners varies by season, so do ask. These little in-flight luxuries make those delays much nicer. By the way, this Eau Essentielle Immortelle is a wonderfully moisturizing spray for the dry winter air.

2. Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisturizing Lather Shampoo and Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger Keratin Intensive Treatment (roughly $20 each on Amazon.com and salons). I know, Paul Mitchell–it’s been years since I’ve thought anything in the line was worth exploring. Hear me out.

My salon gave me a Wild Ginger treatment, which is a professional treatment. My hair was remarkably softer and smoother, and the stylist suggested that I maintain the look with the Wild Ginger Shampoo and Keratin Intensive Treatment. They are fabulous! They really leave my hair much more moisturized, softer and smoother than my more expensive home cleansers and treatments. They smell gingery too–very pleasant! Even though it was weeks since my in-salon treatment, I found these two products were worth checking out.

3. Perricone MD Formula 15 Serum ($125). The original review for this product is here. That same evening that I published the review of the bottle sent by Perricone MD without charge to me, my bottle took a dive off of my tiny hotel bathroom ledge. Hysteria ensued. Now I’ve purchased my own. Awesome treatment for tightening, lifting, and generally youth-ifying. I love this and wish they made it in a great big bucket. A plastic one.

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