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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