Ark Skincare

I consider myself pretty well-versed in the language of beauty and skincare brands, but Ark Skincare is completely new to me. I'd never heard of it before I got the opportunity to try some products out, but boy am I glad they are now on my radar.

Ark Skincare is an English brand that segments its line of skincare products by age: 20s, 30s-40s, and 50+. By doing so, they can help target general concerns a given age group most likely has. 

I was sent two products to try: the SkinEssential Pro Remove Pre Cleanse and the Age Protect Skin Vitality Moisturizer.

L to R: Moisturizer, PreCleanse 

The Pre Cleanse is essentially an oil cleanser that works to strip off any makeup or dirt clinging to your face. Not only does it remove any and all makeup, but it has ingredients that help protect against dryness, it banishes existing bacteria and protects from new bacteria forming, and soothes sensitive skin. UH-mazing.

I put this to the test and it did a fantastic job of removing my makeup, even mascara (I didn't give it a go on waterproof mascara -- I just don't ever wear it) and a full eyeshadow look! It feels so light when you massage it in, and when you rinse away all the grime and dirt, there isn't any residue left behind like many facial oils tend to do. My only gripe is this is realllllly pricey - like $60 for a 5.1 oz bottle kind of pricey. If you have that kind of money, girl, get you some! 

The Skin Vitality Moisturizer is part of the line for 20-somethings. The formula is filled with antioxidants and anti-pollutants that help defend against environmental factors. Other nourishing ingredients include Vitamin B to soothe, avocado and peach lipids for softness and hydration and lots of other good stuff! 

I really enjoy this moisturizer - it has a cool top that you just pump down to disperse the perfect amount. It goes on light and doesn't make my skin feel greasy or look too shiny. It can be used morning and night and it offers light hydration. I think this is good for people with combination to normal skin. If you have dry skin, this might not be nourishing enough for you. This moisturizer can be purchased for $60 for 1.7 fl. oz.

While Ark Skincare is an English brand, they do have a website for US residents to order. Check out arkskincareusa.com to make your order or learn more. 

Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream

I think the entire review of this product could just be "OMG LOOK AT HOW CUTE THE PACKAGING IS!!" The end. But of course that wouldn't be very helpful, now would it? Rest assured, the product inside justifies your purchase so you can have this cute little snail adorning your vanity shelf. 

The Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream does all sorts of good things for the skin, thanks to the wonder ingredient - Snail Slime Filtrate. Sounds gross, but works wonders. Korean beauty products often contain snail slime because it's a moisturizing wonder. This lotion also has other natural antioxidants and botanic extracts that hydrate and nourish the skin. 

This product aims to boost elasticity, repair damaged skin cells, hydrate and brighten your complexion. After cleansing and toning, apply the lifting cream all over your skin. If you have dry skin, follow with a moisturizer. I found that this provided very light hydration, and on a no-makeup day I could get away without using a moisturizer on top. If you're planning to wear makeup and have dryer skin, definitely use a moisturizer on top. 

The consistency of this cream is very thin and watery. It almost has a gel-like quality that I really like. It applies easily and feels comfortable on my skin. It didn't break me out at all either. I like how it made my skin look and feel. The ingredients list fragrance, however it doesn't really have much of a smell, which I prefer. I'd have to use it longer to see if it helps with anti-aging. Hard to tell from only a couple weeks' use. 

Overall, I like this product and I'd recommend it if you're interested in branching out from typical American anti-aging products. 

Purchase the Ladykin Affinitic Lifting Cream on the Memebox website here for $15 (3.3 oz).

StriVectin Multi-Action Restorative Cream

StriVectin is a brand I've always loved. Their products have active ingredients that are great for your skin, helping keep wrinkles at bay and pores tight. They recently sent me the Multi-Action Restorative Cream to try and over the last couple weeks I've been putting it to the test.

The main purpose of this cream is to target the 12 main signs of aging. If you're like me, you're thinking - what the heck, there are 12 ways I can look old?! What the heck are they?! And for your information, they are: fine lines, wrinkles, density, firmness, sagging, texture, dehydration, dullness, discoloration, clarity, resilience, and enlarged pores. Phew... that's a lot of different aging signs to combat..

I use this cream as my finishing step in my skincare routine both day and night. It's has no scent at all, and has a very light, almost whipped texture. It sinks in to the skin without a trace. It's light enough that it sits well underneath makeup, but it's moisturizing enough that it can serve as your night time moisturizer. If you have really dry skin, you may need to use something on top of this to give you some extra moisture. 

Unfortunately, StriVectin products tend to break me out a little bit (not as bad as other StriVectin products I've tried, fortunately), so I use this sparingly. I have sensitive, combination skin that is triggered easily, so it's not really a shock that introducing a new, potent product in to my skincare lineup disturbs the peace. 

This cream will do a lot of good for your skin, but it will come at a cost. This stuff isn't cheap, retailing at a whopping $95. You can find it online at StriVectin.com or in stores and online at Ulta. 


What's your favorite StriVectin product? Let me know! 

Last minute stocking stuffer: Algenist Kiss & Wink Collection

If you're a last minute shopper and still in need of one final stocking stuffer or two, I've got the perfect thing for your skincare and beauty loving pal. (pssst.... here's a couple other ideas if you need a little more help)

Algenist has a handful of affordably-priced and amazing gift options, one of which I have to show you today. If you're not familiar with the brand, Algenist offers anti-aging skincare products made from high quality ingredients. If you've heard rave reviews about Algenist, it's for good reason. 

The Kiss & Wink Collection ($25) comes with two anti-aging products that are formulated with patented Alguronic Acid and Microalgae Oil. These two ingredients help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkes, restore firmness, and soothe and nourish the eyes and lips.

This set, which is a $45 value, comes with the Complete Eye Renewal Balm which hydrates the under-eyes, decreases puffiness and dark circles, and reduces fine lines. It also comes with the Lip Renewal Balm SPF 15, aimed at nourishing dry lips, minimizing the look of lip lines, and providing UV protection. 

This is a really nice set if you want to try out a couple Algenist products and give your skin some line-reducing encouragement. You can find this set at Sephora, Ulta, Sephora inside JCP, and online at sephora.com or algenist.com.

Christie Brinkley Skincare | CLOSE UP Instant Wrinkle Reducer & Treatment

Did any of you know Christie Brinkley has a new (adorably packaged) skincare line? Yeah me either, until I was contacted to try out their Close Up Instant Wrinkle Reducer and Treatment. Seems promotion for her line has been rather hush, I've seen it nowhere! However, if you've ever seen what Christie Brinkley looks like, you'd believe she knows a thing or two about anti-aging skincare. The woman looks 25, and she's in her 60s!

This Close Up treatment aims to firm and smooth the appearance of crows feet, fine lines and wrinkles. It can be used anywhere you need a boost of youth - under the eyes, on the forehead, around the mouth, etc. 

This treatment is virtually odorless, glides on easily and is weightless on the skin. The ingredients are far from natural, as I tend to prefer, but as I was sent this product, I don't mind giving it a go. It sits really well under makeup, and didn't break me out at all.

You don't need much when applying this to your face. I primarily used this under my eyes (as it's said to reduce puffiness and underye lines) and on my forehead where I have some noticeable wrinkles (Damnit, skin. I'm only in my 20s....). This stuff provides a subtle blur, making any lines or imperfections a little less noticeable. The formula also has full spectrum UVA/UVB and infra-red protection, so it'll provide protection from the sun and help prevent any wrinkles sun exposure can cause.

While this product is nice, and does provide instant blurring  results, it is way too pricey for me to ever purchase it again. For just 0.33 oz, you pay $79.95! Ouch. If that number doesn't phase you, you can purchase this product online here. 


Have you heard of or tried the Christie Brinkley skincare line? Let me know. 

Michael Todd | Intensive Cream Lip Treatment

It's no secret - ya'll know I'm a big Michael Todd fan. (Didn't know? See what I mean here and here) Their all natural products agree with my skin and have been long standing favorites of mine. I know there's a lot of YouTube + beauty blog hype about Michael Todd, but I can promise you it's all legit. Full disclosure: Michael Todd sends me a lot of products to try, but nearly all of what they've sent me, I've also bought myself (even before it was sent to me).

Anyway, today I'm talking about the Michael Todd Intensive Cream Lip Treatment, a product totally new to me. The main goal of this lippie? To ward off signs of anti-aging on your lips. Seems kind of crazy, right? But hey, who wants wrinkly, indented lips that don't hold lipstick?! Not me.

The ingredients in the product are good, and all vegan! The key ingredients are what's worth looking at more extensively. Soluble collagen: a protein naturally found in the skin, plumps and smooths the appearance of fine lines in the skin. Hyaluronic Acid: Naturally occurring molecule, attracts water to the skin's surface to plump with the body's own moisture. Actimp: peptide blend extracted from the White Lupine Flower, restores elasticity and firmness, proven to increase collagen production by 95% in 10 days. Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: Soothes, heals, and has anti-inflammatory properties. 

This is a very slippery, thin lip cream that smells citrusy and feels wet on the lips. It's not intensely hydrating and doesn't last too long on my lips. For that reason, I like to put it on when I'm getting ready in the morning just for something slippery on my lips.

I use this, obviously, for preventative measures, as I don't have super wrinkled lips just yet. If you do have lined, aged lips, take a look at the before/after pictures on the Michael Todd website, and you'll have this thing in your cart in no time. 

Is this product essential in your skincare routine? No. Is it the best lippie I've ever used? No. Is it something I'll repurchase? Probably not. But it IS something targeted at a certain crowd with a specific skincare need - and if you fit that target, this is right up your alley. Natural, vegan anti-aging skincare that works is hard to come by, but Michael Todd knows how to make a quality product that fits the bill. 

The Michael Todd Intensive Cream Lip Treatment ($48 for 0.5 oz) can be purchased online at michaeltoddusa.com. 


Have you used anu anti-aging lip products before? Let me know what you've tried! 

StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner

No one wants large, in your face (no pun intended) pores. I think most people strive for "baby skin", poreless, smooth, perfect skin. If you're lucky enough to be born with it -- GOOD FOR YOU. Ha ha ha... I kid, but really. Most of us have to put in a little effort to have flawless skin. And that is where StriVectin Advanced Retinal Pore Refiner comes in. 

The Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner is a lightweight moisturizer that utilizes retinol to minimize pores and other anti-aging ingredients that keep skin looking young. One thing I really like about this product is that it's a very gentle retinol - you don't have to worry about your skin drying out and flaking. 

According to StriVectin, "Patented NIA-114™ technology nourishes the moisture barrier to provide visible age fighting efficacy as it limits the sensitivity common to Retinol use." .... which is 100% true! I have used other retinols in the past that totally irritated my skin, but I had no such issues with this product.

To use this product, go about your normal skincare routine - wash, tone, and moisturize your face. Save this product for last, to use on top of your moisturizer both day and night. I truly did see a difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. I've always had sightly pores - not horribly large, but definitely noticeable -- but after using this product for a mere two weeks, I was shocked at how flawless my skin looked! It looked like I had used a pore minimizing primer. 

Overall, I really like this product. I actually saw results after a short time of using it, plus it has a nice soft smell (it's fragranced - something to watch out for if you're sensitive to that kind of thing) that I really liked - kind of perfumey. 

You can purchase the StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner online at StriVectin.com for $99 (1.7 oz) per bottle. It's also available in stores like Macy's and Ulta. I would highly recommend it if you want a 1-2 punch of pore minimization and anti-aging in one bottle.


What's your favorite pore-minimizing product? Let me know! 

StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive Concentrate

If you're in to the whole anti-aging skincare thing, you've likely heard of StriVectin, one of the top dogs in the wrinkle-free world. Their original StriVectin-SD product was huge, as they claimed their product was better than Botox. The StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive Concetrate for Wrinkles & Stretch Marks is a reformulated version of the original (this is the third version of this product) and is jam packed with skin moisturizers, antioxidants and other good stuff.

The SD Advanced Intensive Concentrate boasts a slew of benefits: significant reduction of wrinkles and fine lines, healthier, younger looking skin, hydration and enhanced texture of skin, and a strengthened skin barrier for maximum skin performance. It's supposed to change your skin for the better in just 15 days (based on their clinical studies). 

How has this product changed from what it once was? StriVectin listened to what the people wanted, and this formula is now more moisturizing and has a better texture (I can't speak to this as I never tried the first 2 formulas), and supposedly the results appear quicker than before. 

It's hard, as a 26-year old with some fine lines, to really speak to the anti-aging properties of this product. Right now, I use products like StriVectin SD to prevent wrinkles, and improve my skin's texture. But I can say that overall, I enjoyed using it. I was a bit concerned that it broke my face out after extended use, but I am not sure if my skin was just being problematic or if I can even directly relate it to this product. Hard to say, especially since I have sensitive combination skin. This cream has the consistency of a light lotion, and it doesn't smell like anything, which I like. I found it to be hydrating enough to use as my night cream, and I didn't use it in the morning because I want some SPF in a day cream (anti-aging products need to be used with care and a good SPF in the daytime).

Overall, I like this product. I'll certainly continue to use it because I am always in search of the best Fountain of Youth cream. I've seen this at Costco in a 2 pack for somewhere around $100, or you can buy a 2 oz. size from Ulta for $79.99. It ain't cheap, but keep in mind this stuff is LOADED with amazing anti-aging ingredients that are proven to work, and your skin will thank you for the investment.

Have you tried anything from StriVectin before? Let me know your thoughts on it!