Skin Care

Your Best Face Skincare Balance Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 5 Comments
YBF Balance
YBF Balance

Balance from Your Best Face Skincare is a cream that claims to fight new breakouts and decrease damage and duration of existing breakouts, as well as regulating oil over time.  It can be used alone or with other skincare products. Reformulation review here.

Ingredients: Reverse Osmosis Water, Nylon-12, Olive Squalane, L-Carnosine, Olivem (Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate), Ppg5 Ceteth-20, Niacin, Tetradecylthioacetic Acid (TTA), C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Vitamin B5, Alpha Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavender Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Niaouli Oil, Triethanolamine, Paraben Du, Azulene (Guaiazulene)

Nylon-12 is the ingredient that absorbs excess oil on the skin, eliminating shine. L-carnosine is a combination of two amino acids, alanine and histadine, and is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Ppg5 Ceteth-20 can be used as an emollient and surfactant. When used as an emollient, it creates a dry silky feeling on the skin and reduces the slick feeling of oil on the skin. Tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and can regulate the oils that cause breakouts. C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is used to create a smooth consistency and can be used as a stabilizer. Vitamin B5 and niacin are used to reduce breakouts. Alpha bisabolol, sodium hyaluronate and azulene sooth and hydrate the skin. Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic. Cedarwood oil properties include antiseborrheic (anti-oil) and antiseptic. Niaouli oil is an antiseptic and bactericidal (kills bacteria). Triethanolamine is an amine produced by reacting ethylene oxide (considered  toxic) with ammonia (also toxic) and is used as a buffering agent and surfactant with its primary use as a pH adjuster.  The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel) found that Triethanolamine was “safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. In products intended for prolonged contact with the skin, the concentration of Triethanolamine should not exceed 5%.” Triethanolamine is third-last on the ingredient list, so this would be under 5%. Still, this information is pretty unfortunate as Balance is not a rinse-off product and one that I like to use daily as it really helps my skin. This product also contains paraben du. There is a good article on the YBF website about why they use this paraben. Azulene is considered to have a calming effect because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

This product is for people in their teens and 20s when still dealing with excess oil. Oil production is supposed to regulate as one gets older, but in my case, at 34, I’m pretty sure I’m stuck with my oily skin. This extra oil on my skin causes breakouts, enlarged pores, blackheads, and a shiny face about an hour after cleansing (most of my skin issues and what I am trying to fix and prevent). I get one or two big pimples every few months and redness and many small pimples on the right side of my lower cheek that stay a long time.  If I use a lotion or moisturizer (I use a glycolic lotion) my face stays shiny all day. I found YBF Balance about a year ago. This product goes on very nicely, under or over other products including foundation. It absorbs into the skin fast and the skin feels smooth and looks matte for the whole day. You can apply this throughout the day if needed. Some may not prefer the matte look, and it may look a bit strange if you are used to seeing a shiny face in the mirror. Using this, my breakouts and redness are reduced and I don’t get the urge to wash my face in the middle of the day because of the extra oil. This product is supposed regulate oil production over time; I’m not sure I’ve really noticed that. It apparently has a very light lavender scent but I didn’t really note any scent. I wouldn’t really consider Balance to be a moisturizer; it creates a silky, matte feeling on the skin and is not drying.

Balance would take the place of blotting papers or oil absorbing powders/makeup. I often see people comment on makeup reviews that their oily skin causes foundations to break up and slide off their face, and I just want to leave comments everywhere saying to try this product, as it would resolve that issue. Balance is one of my must-haves.

This product is affordable, as it does not contain the two products in almost all of the other YBF products, spin trap and lipochroman.

This is probably my favorite product and one that I will continue to buy, as it definitely calms the redness in my skin, absorbs excess oil and reduces breakouts; but there must be something else that can be used in place of the Triethanolamine. YBF Skincare often reformulates their products; I hope Balance is on the list.

Update May 12, 2019 – Balance has undergone reformulation; you can find the review here.

Thank you for reading.

Your Best Face Skincare Prep Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 2 Comments

YBF Prep
YBF Prep

YBF Prep is a microdermabrasion scrub from Your Best Face (YBF) Skincare (not to be confused with YBF Beauty). This is a physical exfoliant that claims to brighten skin, fight free radicals, smooth and prevent wrinkles and heal and protect with vitamins and antioxidants for a smooth complexion. This can also be used on the hands.

Directions state to use at night one to three times a week on clean damp skin. Apply in a thin layer with small circular motions and rinse with cool water followed by a moisturizer. This can also be left on as a mask for 15 minutes to get more benefit from the botanicals and antioxidants. I like to follow this with the YBF Clarity mask.

Ingredients: aluminum oxide crystals, reverse osmosis water, cetearyl olivate (and) sorbitan olivate, meadowfoam seed oil, hydrogenated olive oil (and) olive oil (olea europaea) (and) olive oil unsaponifiables, TEGO® Pep 4-Even (tetrapeptide-30 (and) glycerin (and) water), Leucidal® (leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate), ethoxydiglycol, edelweiss extract, Relistase™ (glycerin, acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine), glucono delta lactone, olive leaf extract, licorice root extract, Matrixyl™ 3000 (glycerin (and) water (and) butylene glycol (and) carbomer (and) polysorbate 20 (and) palmitoyl oligopeptide (and) palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), TEGO® Pep 4-17 (tetrapeptide-21 (and) glycerin (and) butylene glycol (and) water), dl-panthenol(vitamin B5), kojic acid, aspen bark extract, coenzyme Q10, hydroxyethylcellulose, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone),tetrahydrodiferyloylmethane (turmeric root extract), vitamin E succinate, niacin, allantoin, ferulic acid, lipochroman-6 (dimethylmethoxy chromanol), tetrahydropiperine, vitamin B6 (coenzyme B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate). 

There is no added color or fragrance.

Like most of the at-home microdermabrasion scrubs, this contains aluminum oxide crystals. Meadowfoam seed oil comes from the seeds of the limnanthes alba that has antioxidant properties and skin softening benefits. TEGO Pep 4-Even (tetrapeptide-30) reduces hyperpigmentation. Leucidal (radish root ferment filtrate) is used as a natural preservative instead of something like phenoxyethanol. Relistase (glycerin, acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine) is a tetrapeptide used to treat sagging skin and lack of firmness. Licorice root extract is a salt derived from the licorice plant and can improve the appearance of dry skin by restoring suppleness and also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Matrixyl 3000 reduces wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. TEGO Pep 4-17 is a peptide that boosts collagen and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. Kojic acid inhibits the skin pigment melanin and is used as a skin whitener. It is, however, a known skin irritant. Aspen bark extract is derived from the bark of the American Aspen. It contains  salycin, an aspirin-like substance, that has calming and anti-inflammatory effects. It has also been shown to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts and E. coli. Hydroxyethylcellulose is a gelling and thickening agent. Spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone) is still a pretty rare ingredient in skincare that YBF uses in most of its products. It is an antioxidant that works by stabilizing free radicals that are spinning out of control. Turmeric root extract is an anti-inflammatory and helps with acne and hyperpigmentation. Allantoin is a naturally occurring nitrogenous compound used as a skin conditioning agent. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant that prevents wrinkles and sun damage. Lipochromin-6 (dimethylmethoxy chromanol) is an antioxidant. Tetrahydropiperine is derived from black pepper and helps to increase dermal absorption therefore enhancing the performance of other active ingredients.

I have used a couple other microdermabrasion scrubs including ZO Skin Health Offects Exfoliating Polish, Susan Lucci’s Youthful Essence Micodermabrasion System (this was about 8 years ago) and Astara Daily Refining scrub.

I have used Prep on and off for about 2 years. It has YBF’s, what I will call, signature scent as many of their products I have used have the same smell – kind of a mixture of almond and nutmeg (I think from the meadowfoam seed oil); they use similar ingredients in their line. The aluminum oxide crystals are very fine. You can add more water if your skin is more sensitive or dry. I like using this as a mask as well, as there are so many beneficial ingredients that I don’t want to wash off right away, but if you are short on time, this can be used as just a scrub. The crystals are in a creamy base that rinse very well. After rinsing my skin is not irritated or red and doesn’t feel stripped of moisture. After a couple months of twice-a-week use my skin is much smoother, and I always get whitish bumps and congestion on my forehead which disappear when I use this. Over time fine lines on my forehead are reduced as well.

This has great ingredients and peptides and it lasts a very long time, as you only need a bit of product for each use.

Thanks for visiting.

ZO Skin Health Olluminate Intense Eye Repair Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment
ZO Skin Health Olluminate Intense Eye Repair
ZO Skin Health Olluminate Intense Eye Repair

This product claims to strengthen skin and minimize fine lines and wrinkles by using stabilized retinol and peptides. It also claims to reduce puffiness and dark circles with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. This also contains diffusers to highlight the eye area to reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Nylon-12 Fluorescent Brightener 230 Salt, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Caprylyl Esters, Glycerin, Glycosaminoglycans, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Lavandula Stoechas Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Linoleic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Mica, Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Just to go through some ingredients – cetearyl alcohol is used as an emolliant, thickener and carrying agent for other ingredients. Unlike denatured alcohol or ethanol, this is not drying. The nylon-12 fluorescent brightener 230 salt emits and diffuses light to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Glycosaminogycans is a family of carbohydrates that maintain and support collagen and elastin. Retinol is the thirteenth ingredient. I couldn’t find the actual percentage of retinol in this product. I believe my skin specialist said it was 3%; maybe 4%. Lavandula stoechas extract is lavender. While this can be an irritant to some, especially in larger amounts, it can be beneficial as an antimicrobial and helping heal skin infections. Palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 are the active ingredients in Matrixyl 3000 which mimic the skin’s broken down collagen, causing the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. Mica gives products shine. Polyvinyl alcohol crosspolymer  is polyvinyl alcohol linked with glyoxal. Looking at these ingredients separately, polyvinyl alcohol is a gel based thickener, film-forming and binding agent. According to EWG, “Glyoxal is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetic products. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself.” Glyoxal is restricted to use in cosmetics at certain concentrations. Looking at these ingredients together as they are, I couldn’t find any warnings, but using a formaldehyde-releasing ingredient on my skin, by my eyes, makes me a little worried. Phenoxyethanol worries some people. It is used as a preservative as alternative to parabens. In high concentrations it can be everything from an allergen, skin irritant (even at low doses), damaging to the brain and nervous system and a carcinogen. In skincare this is generally used at 0.5-1% concentration.

As for how it worked for me – My eyes are pretty good for my age I have been told. Unfortunately, I didn’t take before and after pictures. I have a couple fine lines on the lower lids, no crow’s feet, but I do have dark circles. This eye cream felt nice to apply, thicker than some eye creams I’ve seen, but went on smoothly and absorbed nicely. I used this on my lower lids, my upper lids and to the brow bone. Hours later I still felt the eye cream on my eyelids with my fingers. It wasn’t an annoying feeling though and it didn’t feel heavy on my eyelids; they felt moisturized. The fine lines on my lower lids were reduced, not gone, and after applying, my eyes did appear brighter. It also probably helped prevent further fine lines to my eyelids. I thought a retinol product might be irritating so close to the eyes, but it wasn’t. I’m a couple weeks  away from finishing this product and likely won’t buy it again. While it does have some good repairing and active ingredients including retinol, Matrixyl 3000 and glycosaminogycans, some ingredients I could do without. I have seen other retinol eye creams with better ingredients that are less expensive. This product comes in a jar and it can be difficult to keep bacteria out of a jar. After I’m done with this eye cream, I will be moving onto Your Best Face Correct from YBF Skincare.

Medik8 CE-Tetra Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment

Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection, protecting the skin from the damage of free radicals in the environment like UV light and pollution. Vitamin C can help reduce hyperpigmentation and red spots and maintain collagen and elasticity, thus helping wrinkles.

Depending on the form, vitamin C can be unstable and irritating. It is sensitive to heat, light and oxygen.

I have never used a vitamin C product for my skin previously and after looking at different brands and products, I bought Medik8 CE-Tetra. Medik8 is a British professional grade skincare company with roots in science and technology to manufacture effective and stable products.

The Medik8 CE-Tetra is targeted towards those with normal, dry and redness-prone skin. I have oily skin, but purchased this as the oil-free vitamin C product targeted to oily skin was more expensive.

Medik8 CE-Tetra
Medik8 CE-Tetra

This product comes in an amber glass bottle to protect it from light and dispenses from a dropper. The first ingredient, jojoba seed oil, derived from the jojoba shrub, is a source of fatty acids that the skin recognizes and can use to help the skin repair itself, defend against UV light and stimulate collagen production. It is noncomedogenic and is fast-absorbing. Next are two silicones, cyclopentasiloxane and cyclohexasiloxane. Silicones are used in skincare as conditioning and lubricating agents, providing slip and giving the skin a silky feeling. I don’t usually like using skincare with silicones; I find my skin feels heavier or extra oily when I do. However, this has been in moisturizing lotions and lotion sunscreens, which I no longer use on my face. A serum with silicones probably won’t feel as heavy. Next is the vitamin C form tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (7%). This is a mild vitamin C derivative that is stable in light and air for up to 18 months. It is oil soluble and used in skincare for brightening, collagen production and repairing and preventing effects of environmental damage. On the box, it says that this form of vitamin C has the equivalent potency of 28% L-ascorbic acid (which is unstable). There is tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). Vitamin E and vitamin C are used together to prevent UV damage, therefore indirectly increasing the efficacy of sunscreen. PPG-12/SMDI copolymer is a film-forming agent that has water binding properties and gives a smooth feeling to the skin. The last ingredients are grapefruit peel oil, limolene, citral and linalool. These last ingredients are generally used as aroma compounds from plants to provide fragrance – the grapefruit peel oil, limolene and citral give a citrusy scent, and linalool comes from many different plants and provides a floral scent with a bit of spice. The box says fragrance-free, so I’m assuming this means no added chemical fragrances. These plant fragrances and oils can be irritating to the skin.

I used this in the morning after cleansing and toning and used one drop for my forehead, one drop for each cheek area and one drop for the chin and jawline. When I first used this product, I was surprised by how thin it is; a water-like consistency. This made it hard to see and feel if each drop was being spread over each area. After a few days of use, though, I got used to the consistency and found the drops were being spread around. When putting this on, it absorbed immediately and made the skin feel very silky upon application (due to the silicones). It smells great; like oranges (this fragrance, though natural, is probably not necessary). After applying the serum and waiting a few minutes I only used my Colorescience Sunforgettable powdered sunscreen on top because I wanted to see how my skin reacted to the vitamin C and how it performed on its own. I usually otherwise use YBF Balance in the morning to absorb the oil on my skin throughout the day.

One-Month Results:

By the end of the first week of use I thought my skin looked a little brighter; it was very subtle. At the end of week 2 I started to get breakouts; a couple on my forehead, four small ones between my eyebrows, and a big one on the right cheek. I get breakouts every couple months, but not so many at once, and they come and go. The left side of my lower cheek breaks out every couple months and lasts a long time, and has come and gone for a long time. I have two theories about the increased breakouts during this time. My skin could have been getting used to a new product or my already oily skin does not like the extra oil from this product. Because of this, I am going to add my YBF Balance back in the morning. This is a product that absorbs oil and prevents breakouts. This product doesn’t have an effect on fine lines or hyperpigmentation, so I should still be able to see a difference in my skin with the use of Medik8 CE-Tetra.

After this one month of the Medik8 CE-Tetra use I am not seeing any difference in my fine lines or hyperpigmentation yet. Some products take time to see results. I will continue use and update in another 2 months.

Three-Months Results:

While the lighting and focus looks better, unfortunately, I’m not noticing a lot of difference after the 90 days of use – the hyperpigmentation has not faded noticeably (if at all). The fine lines on my forehead have also not diminished. I do notice that my skin does look overall brighter and feels much softer than it has in a long time. As I had noted at one months, I felt that my skin had more breakouts than usual. These have mostly calmed down other than the right side of my face where breakouts seem to occur every couple weeks to month. I’m beginning to think these are hormonal breakouts. The serum, specifically the jojoba oil, doesn’t seem to make my skin oilier than it usually is, which is something I was worried about.

Despite not noticing much difference in the fine lines and freckles while using this vitamin C serum, I am going to continue use; I still have about two-thirds of the bottle left and I think that vitamin C is very beneficial for the skin. Once I’m done the bottle I might try the vitamin C serum from Mad Hippie, it’s much less expensive and I feel like I should see more results by now from an expensive product such as this from Medik8 (of course expense doesn’t guarantee results). I am also tempted to try another vitamin C serum also from Medik8 called CE-Thione, a “step-up” from the CE-Tetra.

Delon+ Premium Cotton Rounds Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

Delon+ Premium Cotton Rounds
Delon+ Premium Cotton Rounds

After trying a few different kinds of cotton rounds, I happened on these from Delon Laboratories at Costco. I got them because they were in a pack of eight and these are now my favorite brand of cotton rounds. These are made in Canada and are 100% cotton with no additives. Others I have tried, generic and other name brands, always fell apart or lost fibers. These have a smooth surface and a textured surface. I use the smooth surface to apply toner and remove eye makeup. These are gentle enough for use on the eye area and are soft and strong. The textured surface can be used to remove nail polish or gently exfoliate the skin. When I apply toner to the face and neck, these don’t fall apart or leave cotton fibers on the skin.

The smooth surface and the textured surface are held together at the edges by a sort of seam and when I accidentally ran that seam across the skin, it made a small almost paper-like cut. So I be sure to use the center of the cotton round and when using around the eye area, I fold it in half.

These are also available in organic and with aloe vera and provitamin B5 added. I haven’t tried these.