As the days count down to the big three-oh (as of me writing this, precisely 3 months and 19 days), I have becoming increasingly concerned with what my mother’s generation would probably call “wrinkle cream.” I get microdermabrasion facials and I try just about everything that is going to cleanse, tone, moisturize, clarify, even skin tone and well, basically…
Make me look younger.
Now, don’t be fooled by my intro. On average, I look about 26. In fact, no one guesses any higher than 27, ever – and that is usually because they saw the photos of my niece and nephew, 5 years and 6 months respectively, on my desk and assumed they were little mini Jennifer Longs. (But I digress; I love the little people in my life.)
The moral of the story MIGHT BE that I started paying attention to the effects that sun and other environmental elements have on my skin at a relatively young age. So the first time I dipped a finger into something you might call “wrinkle cream” I was barely more than 24.
Needless to say, I was excited when Beyond Beauty Basics had the opportunity to try ZO Skin Health’s Anti-Aging products from Dr. Zein Obagi of Beverly Hills! (Woo hoo!)
My first impression of the products, based on packing and such, was just WOW. But would is pass the smell test? You sensitive skin girls may understand where I am coming from. I watch out for lotions, creams, cleansers, toners, etc., with strong fragrances because they usually mean Breakout City for me. But what little scent this product has was pleasant and I decided first to do a patch test.
After passing the patch test, I was ready to go!
Exfoliating Cleanser
I am probably what you’d call an exfoliating junkie. I’ve got everything for wrinkles, blackheads, acne (I cannot even remember the last time I even had acne!), dry skin, and the list goes on. What I have learned from all of my trials with exfoliation products is this: there is a gentle balance. You don’t want an exfoliation product that doesn’t exfoliate and you don’t want one that leaves your skin red and raw (my teen years saw a lot of these).
The exfoliator is pretty gentle, not too gentle per say, but sensitive skin girls like me appreciate it. Just scrubby enough to make your face feel nice and clean but not so scrubby that you look like you’ve had a chemical peel.
Growth Factor Serum
I am a marketer’s dream. I love anything called serum because it sounds so clinical and effective. However, some of my forays into skin care have left me wary. I want to repair the damage from the sun and environmental stressors, but um… how do I say this delicately? Oh yeah, I’M DELICATE! I don’t want to break out in the trial and error process.
I loved this as soon as I cracked open the jar. Decidedly colorless and scentless, it smoothed onto my skin like nothing else. It even left my fingertips feeling soft and beautiful. Just a tiny little bit goes a long way.
Dr. Obagi, my forehead thanks you. Those fine lines disappeared. It looks like I can skip the Botox I was going to treat myself with for my thirtieth and buy myself those Louboutins I’ve had my eye on.
Radical Night Repair
Radical repair sounds like just what I needed. Hey, I’ve been driving a convertible for ten years and I like Caribbean vacations. I don’t want to look my age and I certainly don’t want to look older. I need something that works with my lifestyle to keep me looking young. Besides, I like younger guys, too (tee hee).
Before trying, I checked Dr. Obagi’s site. It says this product addresses those deep lines, wrinkles, dark spots (sun spots, you sun-worshippers!), loss of radiance, texture and firmness. So basically, all of my problems!
This product contains a high concentration of Retinol – boasting 10 times the industry average, but in a time-release formula. It also contains Vitamins and anti-oxidants known to benefit the skin like Vitamin C and E and Coenzyme Q-10. It also contains Crithmum Maritimum, a Marine Extract that “reduces free radicals and improves cellular function while controlling sebum to restore overall skin health;” and Bisabolol, a calming botanical that reduces inflammation.
The verdict?
Those age spots (doesn’t “freckles” sound about a billion times cuter?) are disappearing. My complexion has taken on a more even tone, and is free of blemishes. The only thing to note is that my skin seems slightly paler than it has at the end of summers past, but I credit that not only to evening out my skin tone, but to the next product: the sunscreen!
Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 (UVA/UVB Protection)
Sunscreen is my new best friend. I seriously only started using it a few years ago after I went for my first professional facial and saw all those cute “freckles” were actually age spots. Ugh.
It is so hard to pick a sunscreen for your face. It needs to work while NOT causing breakouts, drying out your skin, OR leaving a gross oily residue. Plus with sensitive skin, I am overly cautious. One day with the wrong product and I could end up looking like a hormonal teenage boy. I love Dr. Obagi’s because it goes on nice and smooth and it is slightly tinted. It’s a perfect makeup primer for all over your face. The best is, it actually works. It not only helps my makeup set perfectly but I also wore it everyday without makeup for eight days in sunny, tropical, Caribbean Turks and Caicos.
No extra “freckles,” no peeling, no dry spots.
Now that’s a vacation!
photo: Amanda Picone
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September 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Great review! I think I’m going to have to pick up some of these items!!
September 4th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for the tips Jen, i spent way too much time in the sun
October 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
ZO is a great line – I agree. I’m also a sensitive type, so I like the very light scent and the light feel of the products. I have their sunscreen, which is the best I have ever used. It goes on like a dream, stays put, and works! I put it on my face every day this summer and didn’t get even a little bit pink. Even better, it doesn’t sting like the drugstore varities. I’m continuing to use it because I like the light tint as well; it’s sun-busting make up.
I also got the Exfoliating Polish: it’s like a facial in a jar. It’s gentle and really gets the job done.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I’ve been using many products from the ZO Skin Health line over the past several months and have been enjoying results that I really didn’t think were possible with over-the-counter products. (Actually, most perscription products are way too harsh for my skin – so I’m very happy to see such a dramatic result with this skin-pampering line!)
The most amazing result has been that my adult acne-prone skin has not seen a break out in two full months. I did not think this was possible after 10 years of blemishes. I’ve also noticed my skin tone has evened out considerably and my pores are not as noticeable. Driving has become a bit hazardous lately…when I’m in the natural sunlight – I just can’t help checking out my skin in the rear-view mirror! I’m so pleased with the results I continue to see with these products. I will say that it took me a full four weeks of product use (I used the Jumpstart kit from Nordstrom.com) before I really started to see results – but I’m glad I stuck it out. Another thing I’m careful about is not using too much of any one product at a time. The ZO Skin Health exfoliating cleanser, for example, is so concentrated that if you use too much, you are wasting it.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Very smart to start using it before the big 3-0! I wasn’t that smart and just started using it at the enormous 4-0! AHHH! The good news is that in just a few months, my skin looks fantastic! I like the ZO Jumpstart Kit because you can try several products that work well together. The Sunscreen/Primer is by far the best thing I’ve ever used on my skin. My skin glows and I no longer wear any foundation…I feel so light and free!!
November 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Mer, I agree on the primer!! It’s the best to have an even complexion and absolutely no need for foundation. The only people who could possible complain about that are the companies making foundation!
November 10th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I can’t say enough about the ZO Skin Health line. It all seems so logical to me about our addiction to moisturizers. I have never really thought about it causing our skin to be “lazy”. When I first read that, I kind of paralled it to charging the cell phone battery before it has used up the power, therefore conditioning it to never fully charge. So, again, it just makes sense. I looking forward to continued progress in my skins regeneration.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’ve now been using the ZO Skin Health Jumpstart Kit for two months and love it. The products go on easily and are not greasy. For someone with slightly oily skin that sometimes breaks out, this is a real benefit. I especially like the Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer. It’s slightly tinted and has a nice matte finish, so it’s eliminated my need for foundation and a separate sunscreen. I haven’t broken out since I started using the products and my dark spots have disappeared. I had one spot in the middle of my chin that wouldn’t go away, and now it’s completely gone!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I could not agree with you more! I, too, am rapidly approaching the big 3-Oh! and I am more aware now than I have ever been about taking care of my skin properly. I have uber sensitive skin and I have been acne prone my entire life, so I have tried just about every product out there. This new line from Obagi is by far the most amazing line of products I have ever used. I am also an exfoliating junkie, but most exfoliating products make me break out from being too harsh. At first I was skeptical of the ZO exfoliating cleanser because it doesn’t have a ton of beads in it, but this product is so great. It feels amazing and doesn’t leave any residue at all. I also LOVE the exfoliating polish. I had opposite concerns about this product because it is a pretty serious exfoliator, but all it does is leave my skin feeling baby soft. No redness, no breakouts. In fact I haven’t had a breakout since I starting using Obagi’s products two months ago. I cannot recommend this line of products more. You will not regret it!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
It has been just over two months since I began using the ZO SkinHealth line of products. I can’t say enough about how effective these products are. Unlike other things I’ve tried, the 4 “jumpstart” products seem to address all of my issues-brown spots, fine lines, especially around my eyes, and overall tone of my skin. I didn’t realize how “dull” my skin was, until I saw the brighter, smoother finish I now see. I am looking forward to “younger” looking skin!!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Jennifer I agree, all I have to say about these products is WOW!!! I’ve gotten my hands on the Exfoliating Cleanser, Daily renewal creme and the SPF+Primer and I can’t tell you how great my skin looks and feels. I too am about to hit 30 and I finally feel that I have found products that will keep my skin looking like its still in my 20’s. The biggest difference I’ve found is how much firmer my skin feels after such a short period of time. I can’t wait to try the Night creme!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Well ladies, I’m going to be “hitting” the really big 60 in the not too distant future (1.5 years) and if I can tell you a product is great, believe me, it is. Thank you Dr. Obagi for taking the constant moisturizing pressure off. I have been using the Ossential Growth Factor Serum for several months. My facial and neck skin has responded; it glows, feels and looks good. I have also been using the hand products. Fabulous, especially the Oraser Microderm Hand Renewal, which leaves my hands very moist – and the dry, wrinkling skin has actually disappeared. Being a baby-boomer isn’t so bad after all!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:44 am
I have found the absolute BEST facial scrub EVER! A chemist in the Dallas/Fort Worth area has put together a line of skin care. I use the scrub twice a day and find my skin glowing. It erases those inconvenient zits popping up at the wrong time! My girlfriend turned me onto this line and I won’t touch anything else. The gal has a line of products for women/men/kids and kinds of skin conditions, INCLUDING ACNE! GREAT – CHECK IT OUT!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Great article.
To be honest I like Pond’s the most but wil surely try products reviewed here.
Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it.