Clinical Study Results on Skin Benefits of StriVectin's NIA-114™ Niacin Molecule

[Don’t miss out on a chance to win a full size ($89 value) StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum. Follow the link just to the right of this column to read the details.]

Yesterday in NEW StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum Review, we focused on the active ingredients in Get Even which should produce brighter more even skin tone:

• A high concentration of Myristyl Nicotinate (NIA-114) combined with;

• A high concentration of stabilized Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Glucoside); and

• Multiple tyrosinase inhibitors to stop excess melanin production at the source.

Today I want to share information on some of the many clinical trials which have been done into the safety and efficacy of StriVectin's NIA-114 Niacin molecule.

For you skeptics out there, let me tell you that not all of the research is being done by StriVectin (and therefore subject to bias per se).

Since NIA-114 has been selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for further study, a lot of research into NIA-114 is also being carried on in independent drug and cosmeceutical labs.

StriVectin claims that the NIA-114 and brightening combo of actives in Get Even has been "clinically proven [in a double blind, split face study] to be 6x more effective than brightening actives alone."

The press release at the time of last year’s National Cancer Institute Skin Sense award to StriVectin, shared, that 14 clinical studies with over 600 subjects demonstrated NIA-114’s "unique and unrivaled mechanisms of benefit to skin, its superb safety and tolerability with no side effects, and its compatibility with other potent skin care actives ".

The NCI has completed preclinical pharmacology and clinical safety testing on NIA-114. The Institute selected this molecule mainly because of its ability to deliver Niacin to skin cells in a way that allows it to be converted to its active form (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide or NAD) without adverse side effects.

Niadyne Pharmaceutical holds several patents on NIA-114 and believes its "efficacy profile represents a new paradigm in dermatology such that it has the potential to be 'a pipeline within a drug' due to its ability to improve the skin barrier and normalize immune function in a wide range of dermatology diseases and conditions" such as psoriasis, acne, eczema, and pre-cancerous actinic keratoses.

According to Niadyne Development, the "Myristyl Nicotinate … mechanism results in a significant improvement to the skin barrier as judged by a thicker outer layer of the skin and a strengthened epidermal structure. [The company] has statistically significant clinical trial data demonstrating that NIA-114 can improve the skin barrier and thus should improve the effectiveness of several widely used dermatologic drugs."

And I would add it should also improve the effectiveness of OTC cosmetic products such as StriVectin produces.

Tags: anti-aging skincare, erase age spots, anti-aging cell communicating ingredients, win StriVectin-EV, effective anti-aging skincare ingredients, StriVectin giveaway, join Ageless Beauty, advances in anti-aging

NEW StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum Review

[Don’t miss out on a chance to win a full size ($89 value) StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum. Follow the link just to the right of this column to read the details.]

Do you have uneven skin tone or age spots and sun damage? Get even with NEW StriVectin-EV™ Get Even Brightening Serum

Get Even is the company’s latest product based on their proprietary Myristyl Nicotinate (NIA-114™) molecule. If you follow Ageless Beauty, you know I am quite excited about NIA-114.

If you haven’t been keeping up, here are two articles I’ve written about Niacinamide and NIA-114:

• StriVectin Awarded for Development of Niacin Molecule that Promotes DNA Repair and May Help Prevent Skin Cancer; and

• Keep Skin Young and Healthy with Niacinamide Products.

The twist StriVectin has added to the Get Even formula is to combine a high concentration of NIA-114 with brightening actives including:

• A high concentration of stabilized Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Glucoside); and

• Multiple tyrosinase inhibitors (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and several citrus-based flavonoids) to regulate the source of dark spots, sun and age spots.

Studies have shown that a combination of skin lightening ingredients attacking out of control melanin on several fronts is more effective than any one alone. Read more in Skin Lightening Creams.

Please come back tomorrow for more on NIA-114 in Clinical Study Results on Skin Benefits of StriVectin's NIA-114™ Niacin Molecule.

Tags: anti-aging skincare, erase age spots, anti-aging cell communicating ingredients, win StriVectin-EV, effective anti-aging skincare ingredients, StriVectin giveaway, join Ageless Beauty, advances in anti-aging

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Review

In our series leading into the new year, You’re Not as Old as You Look, Ageless Beauty!, we identified 7 mistakes mature women commonly make that age a woman’s looks beyond her years.

Mistake #5 on our list is concealers that don’t (conceal). In fact the wrong concealer can reveal and accentuate what you’re trying so hard to camouflage.

You may find that the pasty concealer you’ve used for decades now settles into lines and creases.

If you need concealer for

1. Dark eye circles, age spots, or spider veins AND
2. Have wrinkles,

Try a moisturizing brightening concealer with light diffusers.

I suggested Sephora Collection Smoothing and Brightening Concealer or Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser.

I reviewed Sephora Collection Smoothing and Brightening Concealer and like it a lot.

The Maybelline concealer looks like a mini-version of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup and has the same sponge applicator tip which I absolutely love.

Immediately after testing the makeup, it went onto our Top Ten Cosmetics list. I'm pleased to tell you I love the concealer too.

So how does it compare to the Sephora Brightening concealer? The Sephora brightening concealer covers slightly better. The Maybelline brightening concealer is easier to apply.

The Maybelline formula, like its sister foundation, contains Goji Berry and Haloxyl, which will help even out skin tone over time.

If you need high coverage for dark circles, I recommend Sephora. If not, save a little money and time with easier to apply Maybelline.

Tags: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser review, cosmetic review, cosmetic mistakes that age you, fashion mistakes that age you, best cosmetics

You Could Win NEW StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum!

StriVectin and Ageless Beauty invite you to get in on the fun and enter to win an $89 pump dispenser of new StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum!

You have several chances to win. As prerequisites, you must:

• Be a US resident or have a U.S. mailing address where your prize can be shipped;

• Follow this blog; and

• Leave 1 acceptable relevant comment on any post(s) from today February 1 to midnight next Friday, February 10.

The comments will be assembled sequentially in date order and the winning comment will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org.

The winner will be announced on this blog Monday Febraury 13.

Earn two more chances to win by:

1. Being a member of the Ageless Beauty website Google Friend Connect Group (You can join at the bottom of each page); and/or

2. Being a subscriber to the Ageless Beauty free monthly newsletter.

In each case for additional chances to win, you'll also need to leave a separate comment on one of the eligible posts (between today and Febraury 10), letting me know you earned an extra "ticket" to win.

Be sure I will be able to contact you through your identity, leave your e-mail address in your comment(s) (with spaces please to thwart the spambots), or check the February 13th post for your name in the winning spot.

Good luck to all!

Tags: anti-aging skincare, erase age spots, anti-aging cell communicating ingredients, win StriVectin-EV, effective anti-aging skincare ingredients, StriVectin giveaway, join Ageless Beauty, advances in anti-aging

Reader Feedback on New StriVectin-SD Face and Body Concentrate

More reader feedback from Aylin on her experience with Ageless Beauty’s recommended StriVectin products …

Skin Tone Improvement

I have also been using StriVection-SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles for my face and have seen an overall improvement in my complexion.

Skin tone improvements were especially evident in the first eight weeks of use. I have combination skin and get the occasional breakout – nothing major – a blemish or two and blackheads..

The exfoliating properties in StriVectin-SD have helped combat these breakouts and blackheads. I can honestly say that I have very few breakouts. In fact can barely recall how many as they are so rare.

I also applied StriVectin-SD to my lips over the course of the treatment and, let me tell you, they look fab ... nicely plump, smooth and fewer creases.

Regarding my mum: her skin tone immensely improved over the first eight weeks of application, especially her forehead which has no sun damage ... clear, pale, and simply glowing ... the look of healthy skin.

Her skin tone in general is better though she still has sun spots which have diminished but not completely disappeared.

Overall her frown lines and those lines above her lips aren't as deep but obviously still there. Nevertheless, the firmness of her skin, especially cheek area, is better and fuller.

I always look more closely at her when her friends are around and she definitely has "younger-looking" skin in comparison to her peers.

===============================================

Thanks again, Aylin, for taking the time and trouble to send your very detailed report.

You can read my in-depth Review of StriVection-SD Intensive here.

Tags:anti-aging skincare, anti-aging product test, anti-aging cell communicating ingredients, uneven skin tone, repair sun damage, erace age spots, StriVectin user feedback, advances in anti-aging

Reader Feedback on New StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate

Aylin did some excellent testing many of us would not be willing to do, especially the split-face test! Thank you, Aylin.

She used Peter Thomas Roth Oxygenated Serum around the left eye and StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles around the right.

Here are her remarks after eight weeks.


Collagen Building Comparison.

There was an obvious improvement around the right the orbital eye area where I had been using StriVectin-SD Intensive eye cream – so much so that the right brow bone area was distinctly plumper than the left where I had been using Peter Thomas Roth Oxygenated Serum.

I stopped using Peter Thomas Roth and then began applying StriVectin-SD eye cream only to the left eye for a few weeks so it could catch up to the improvements of the other.

In the interim, I was reluctant to wear my contact lenses and I camouflaged my eyes behind my glasses to hide the hollows of one eye compared to the other.

Dark Eye Circles

It has been difficult to measure the improvement in my dark circles. They have somewhat subsided especially above the eye. I don't feel as though I have a distinct and obvious ring around my brow bone as previously.

The plumpness of this area may have also contributed to this – plumping the hollows, hence dark circles becoming less visible.

I still have dark circles particularly below the eye; however I think because I have seen an overall improvement since using StriVectin-SD Intensive eye cream, they don't bother me as much as before.

Tags: anti-aging skincare, anti-aging product test, anti-aging cell communicating ingredients, dark eye circles, eye hollows, split-face test, StriVectin user feedback, advances in anti-aging

Sunday Shopping at Ageless Beauty Jan. 294, 2012: Retinoid Adjunctive Care

Save steps and money with a leisurely stroll through the aisles of the Ageless Beauty Shop featuring recently recommended items.

Today’s Ageless Beauty Shop:
Retinoid Adjunctive Care

No need to print out articles and drag them along from store to store searching out the latest and greatest in anti-aging products. Shop now from the comfort of home.
To learn more, read:
• Combining Topical Vitamin C and Retinoids Reverses Photoaging
• Confused About Skin-Normalizing Vitamin A and its Derivatives?
• Things to Know about Retinoid Skincare
• Retin-A (Tretinoin) Info and Tips; and
• Show Me the Mexoryl

Tags: Step Up Your Skin Care, anti-aging skin care, anti-aging products, best anti-aging products, Top Ten Anti-Aging Products, cosmeceutical peptides, best skincare routine, Top Ten Affordable Anti-Aging Products

[Photo Credit: Print Shop Art Gallery]

Face Lift Youth Serum with Syn-ake Review

Face Lift, Youth Serum with Syn-ake, by University Medical Pharmaceuticals, is another of my drugstore finds. Now you can buy it from Amazon at one-third less than I paid. As they say, timing is everything.

The Amazon cost of $20 for 0.85 oz. makes it just $23 an ounce.

Face Lift Youth Serum is a really nice serum to be used morning and night. It serves as a good make-up primer.

One thing I really dislike is morning creams and serums that pill up when I try to apply make-up. It means I have to rub the product (and some/most of benefits) off unless I want to go bare-faced through the day. Nuh-uh – not at 66!

Read about the research behind Syn-ake Tripeptide in our Cosmeceutical Peptide Glossary. In summary, in clinical trials conducted by Pentapharm, objective measurements showed the average skin smoothing for each group of fifteen subjects was 21% for Syn-ake vs. 4% for Argireline. The average reduction in wrinkle depth was 20% for Syn-ake vs. 2% for Argireline.

The ads for Face Lift Youth Serum say it immediately softens and smooths the look of fine lines. I agree with that statement. They go on to say, "within 28 days: reduces the look of expression lines and creases up to 52% to reveal smoother, younger looking skin."

"Up to 58%" means that (probably) ONE study participant had this fabulous result. If you buy it expecting the average 20% reduction, you will not be disappointed.

If you can afford to splurge, Syn-ake is also available in Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle.

Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle is a skin anti-aging powerhouse which tops our list of the Top Ten Skin Anti-Aging Products.

UnWrinkle is a serum like Face Lift Youth Serum and works beautifully under make-up.

In addition to a 3% concentration of Matrixyl 3000, UnWrinkle contains 4% Syn-ake, 10% Snap-8 (chemically related to Argireline but more effective), 3% Syn-coll (Tripeptide-5) and 3% Argireline.

Tags: Face Lift Youth Serum review, products with Syn-ake, Top Ten Skin Anti-Aging Products, Cosmeceutical Peptide Glossary, anti-aging, skin health, wrinkle reduction, Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle review

Combining Topical Vitamin C and Retinoids Reverses Photoaging

Yesterday, we talked about How to Combine Cosmetic Ingredients, specifically chemical exfoliants, antioxidants and retinoids.

For example, antioxidants applied in the morning will work primarily as sunscreens to disable environmental free radicals before they can enter your cells. However, antioxidants applied at night will apply themselves to scavenging free radicals that have already penetrated your cells.

Here’s yet another reason to be sure to apply a nightly dose of the antioxidant stabilized Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitamin C Ester, L-Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, or Retinyl Ascorbate) along with your nighttime retinoid product.

Prescription Tretinion and Vitamin C Combined
One study showed that the combination of trichloroacetic acid peels, 0.05% prescription tretinoin (as in Retin-A and Renova) and Ascorbic Acid lotion are more effective than any of the components alone.

The combination therapy resulted in thicker epidermis, more even skin tone, and firmer, better organized stratum corneum. (Skin Rejuvenation Regimens, Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, May 2003.)

OTC Retinol and Vitamin C Combined
A second study reported that the combination of Vitamin C with OTC Retinol is able to reverse some skin changes caused by chronological and photoaging. In two small double-blind studies in postmenopausal women with aged and photoaged skin, subjects applied a Vitamin C and Retinol cream twice daily for three- and six-month periods.

At the end of each trial, punch biopsies showed thinning and compacting of the stratum corneum (outer layer of the skin) as dead cells were shed and the remaining younger cells became better organized. The dermal-epidermal junction, which becomes ragged with age, smoothed out as well.

At the start, photoaged skin showed an abnormally high level of type III collagen when compared to non-photodamaged skin. Post treatment, the ratio of type I to type III collagen was restored to younger levels. (Histological Evaluation of a Topically Applied Retinol-Vitamin C Combination. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology Journal, Issue 2, 2005).

Products Containing Retinoids and Stabilized Vitamin C

• True Radiance Vitamin A and C Serum with Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Retinol


• Reviva Labs Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester, & DMAE Night Cream with Vitamin C Ester and Retinyl Palmitate

Tags: retinoids, retinol, anti-aging skincare, retinoids stimulate new collagen, retinoid strength, retinoid tips, sun protection and retinoids, how to use retinoids

How to Combine Cosmetic Ingredients that Might Fight Each Other

[Yvonne's question about the Gold Standard Ingredients for Healthy Skin appeared Tuesday.]

Salicylic Acid is the only beta hydroxy acid (BHA) used in skin care. It is a weaker exfoliant and generally less irritating than Glycolic Acid. It has the distinct advantage of working not only on the surface of the skin. Salicylic Acid also penetrates and exfoliates within the pores. It is beneficial for treating wrinkles, as well as acne, whiteheads and blackheads.

Salicylic Acid and AHAs, especially Glycolic Acid, may be combined with retinoid ingredients. DERMAdoctor Audrey Kunin, M.D., advises,

"If you are experiencing any flaking [associated with retinoid use], the use of a glycolic acid product such as MD Formulations Continuous Renewal Complex is very helpful for maximizing your skin rejuvenation results as well as controlling the flaking."

Be sure to read the next section for how to combine an AHA or BHA with retinoids.

For more information on retinoids and exfoliants, read Is Tretinoin an Exfoliant Like AHAs or the BHA, Salicylic Acid?

How to Combine Ingredients

According to Dr. Neal Schultz of DermTV, retinoids and Salicylic Acid or AHAs should not be used at the same time for the reason you state – the acids can break down the retinoids. He recommends using the acid exfoliating agents in the morning under sunscreen and the retinoids at night.

Dr. Schultz also explains that antioxidants, like Vitamin C, do their free radical scavenging work within the cells at night when the skin is programmed to repair itself.

Antioxidants applied in the morning are still helpful. During daylight, they are primarily occupied fighting off UV rays and free radicals from other sources before the free radicals penetrate the cells. Thus they have little power left to penetrate and clean within the cells.

As for Vitamin C, look for stabilized forms like Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitamin C Ester, L-Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, or Retinyl Ascorbate.

Let me leave you with one final thought. If retinoids are the Gold Standard of healthy skin care, broad spectrum sun protection is the Platinum. Remember, dermatologists attribute 80% of the visible signs of aging to photoaging, that is, sun damage.

Tags: retinoids, retinol, anti-aging skincare, retinoids stimulate new collagen, retinoid strength, retinoid tips, sun protection and retinoids, how to use retinoids