Cellnique Skincare: Advanced Bio Renewal Serum & Reversal Platinum Cream

I have a preference. I bet you do too. In fact, I bet we have very strong preferences when it comes to beauty and cosmetic products. My strong preference deals with skincare. Back in March, I had a birthday. A BIG one. No, not thirty (that's not big, sorry), and not forty either (that's getting a big bigger), but BIG...5-0. Even though the 'fight' has been on for sometime, I will not allow my face to reveal my age. That's what I have a driver's license for.


One of the key points I'd like to make with my blog is, take.care.of.your.skin. And I'm talking predominantly, your face. That's my secret, that's not really a secret but, has been good, common sense.

I have been using two skincare products for the last month that are new to me. I figured a month would give me a pretty good idea on whether I would give a thumbs up or down on these two items.  Before I go on and on about them, I want to say right off the bat, I loved using these!!

Here is what I got...

First is Advanced Bio Renewal Serum. And the other is Reversal Platinum Cream. Both of these are for skin that is, how should I put it...just past peak. That still makes me wince but, it is true. My skin is less than peak. :/ However, I don't have to give up hope, for cryin' out loud! I found two products to put into my corner.

As you can see, the packaging is simple but very elegant. These are not flimsy boxes. And that is a positive because these products were shipped from Asia. And, don't let the thought of ordering from overseas (if you don't live in Asia) detour you. Cellnique offers free shipping and a 100% refund if you do not like the products.

Their prices are in line with what I would expect from comparable department store brands. But, I was first bug-eyed when I saw these price stickers on the box...

Oh, my goodness!! But, if you go to Cellnique's website, you'll find the US dollar amount. The Serum is $51 and the Cream is $103.

Let's exam the products...here is the Advanced Bio Renewal Serum...

It is in a pump bottle nestled into a sturdy box. Even though the product is labeled a 'serum' it isn't what I expected. This is a lotion, in my opinion. However, it went on smoothly and my skin absorbed it easily. The resume' for this serum is impressive: it stimulates cell renewal, helps keep pores unclogged, improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And there was barely a fragrance which wasn't unpleasant at all.

After the serum absorbed, I followed with the Reversal Platinum Cream...

This, definitely, is a cream. The jar has a bluish hue to it but that's just the color of the jar. Both products where opaque white. And, the cream was a denser consistency than the serum, which is what I would expect. This cream is meant for skin that is drier and focusing on keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay. This cream didn't have hardly any fragrance either. It deeply moisturized my skin without making it shiny later on in the day. I could feel that my skin was moisturized and, after using it for a month, my skin is now softer. One of the benefits the website mentions for this cream is that it provides a firming and lifting effect. I didn't feel that is something I achieved. But, I'm not disappointed one bit.



On Cellnique's site, they have very extensive information on the products they sell and it points you in the best direction for choosing items that suit your skincare needs.  But, again, if you should not like anything you order, you get a 100% refund.

Cellnique has won me over. I really, really like these two products. And, if the price does put you off some, after using these two for a month and, using them both in the morning before makeup and at night before bed, I am almost half-way through them. Using it twice a day, they will last me at least 2 months. My choice would be to use them just in the morning and use another, specific night cream at bedtime. Then, that would lengthen the usage even more. That is most assuredly my preference.


This product was provided to me for my honest review. These opinions are my own.

I Have Wisdom-See Stars, Not Scars; Part 2

The photos I showed a couple of days ago, I took at the vanity. What looks normal in the mirror, actually translates into a yellow cast as the camera tries to compensate. Thus, all that light that is too warm.

So, I took some photos at the sunny window and close up to show you the facts. Rainer Lara commented on Part 1 that she has a scar and a red spot next to it that really bother her. That comment struck a very strong chord with me.

I was in a head-on collision when I was 20. It was really bad and the EMTs thought I was dead when they got to the crash. I was driving and smashed my head and face into the steering wheel then into the windshield and ended up crammed under the dashboard on the passenger's side of my car. I won't list all the injuries but, I do want to point out that this left a lot of scars on my face. I had 4-1/2 hours of reconstructive surgery at my right eye bone and, my upper jaw was wired to my skull, and then, to my lower jaw as I broke my upper jaw bone clear across.

Almost 30 years since, I still have scars, physically and emotionally. Neither have completely gone away. But let me point out the scars because I now know, you won't notice them unless I point them out. At the top of my forehead, in the middle, there is a scar that looks like a backwards 'C'. I slammed my forehead so hard in the crash that, I broke my cranium and my brain bumped forward inside my skull. This isn't a good thing. I was quickly stitched up before x-rays were taken so it was only after the fact the break and internal bump were discovered. It was a crappy stitch up job too ,and I had glass coming out of the wound for 4 months afterwards. My doctor said that maybe they were just wanting to stitch me up to stop the bleeding and didn't wash it out very good. You Think??!

Oh, then right in the middle of my forehead, I have 2 chicken pox scars. OK, now you know why I wear bangs. Oh, and I have to give extra sunscreen to that scar otherwise, I end up with a large, red backwards 'C'.

Next...

 I broke the upper and lower bones around my right eye. I have wires in there that hold the bones in place. I have a scar right along my eye brow and that deep wrinkle under my eye...that's a scar. It used to be right up under my lashes. LOL.

I love the surgeon that did my surgery. I think only I can tell there is a difference.

OK, last bit...

Besides breaking my upper jaw bone, I lost front teeth and my bottom lip was  torn away from my mouth. There is a small scar right above the right tip of the arch of my lip. That was cut clean through from my tooth behind it. I was stitched up on the inside of my lower lip, but I am now thankful they didn't realize that the cut was clear though on the top; they might have put a stitch there and I would have ended up with a more obvious scar.

There are tons of 'cat scratches' on my right cheek from all the glass cuts. I have to look hard to see them now. There are two, small puncture wounds on the top of each cheekbone where the surgeon inserted wires to hold my jaw in place to heal. I had my lower jaw wired to the top to hold it in place, so my mouth was wired shut. I sucked shakes through the hole where my teeth used to be.

One last, big scar is on my right knee cap. I almost severed it off but got a huge stitch-job for that one. I also broke my neck, bruised my liver and broke my left hip (of which they never realized. I had it finally replaced 4 years ago this next Saturday).

My point is this, for a LOT of these years since then, I have been very self-conscience about my scars. I have spent, and wasted, so much time worrying and regretting them. Then finally, after feeling the need to tell anyone who would look close at my face what had happened, I started listening. I heard over and over, 'Oh, I didn't notice.' Never once did anyone ask about the scars before I mentioned them or ask me how they got there. Never.

Please don't wait to find your own beauty. Focus on what is good, beautiful, pretty about your face (and your body). This is why I can post, confidently, my own, bare face; scars and whatever because, hey, I really do have good skin!! I no longer care if someone thinks I'm bragging. It doesn't matter to me. I have found something I love about myself and I'm owning it.

Own your beauty too.

Sample Sunday: Avon's Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid

This was a FUN weekend! The Central Florida Beauty Bloggers had a meet-up at Cafe Tu Tu Tango on Saturday, here in Orlando. We were sponsored by several, wonderful, WONDERFUL companies. And I got to meet some of the smartest, gorgeous and supportive women in the beauty blogging world. I want to start planning our next event NOW!

Yours truly, is the first on the left. From Tampa to Viera and all in between, these are the beauty bloggers of Central Florida.

Please stay tuned for reviews of the items I got at the meeting. I'll also share links to blogs by these fabulous women.

Today's sample is courtesy of Alyssa Eckhoff, an Avon representative, who knows about my love for the Anew skincare line. One of the samples she shared with us at our bloggers meeting was this...

I used half of this sample last night and the other half this morning, so it is spent. But I couldn't wait to try it. I have read about it in an online magazine and was very interested in what I read. This product sounded for me. It's suggested to use both in the AM and PM skincare regimen.

This is Avon's Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid. Phew! The names of skincare products is getting long!

The promise of this fluid is that it is almost (79%) as effective as a professional microdermabrasion treatment, sans the irritation. What this does is retexturizes your facial skin. It removes the top layer of dead cells. When your skin does this, it creates a faster turnover of your cells replacing itself. Think of it as sanding wood to a fine, smooth finish. Well, it IS called 'abrasion'! Just not that rough at all!

True to the name, this is a fluid. It's not a serum, which is thicker. It's not a cream. But it's something right in between. And when I used just three drops, I not only covered my entire face and neck, but my skin absorbed the fluid instantly.

This product is for those that want to lessen the appearance of fine lines. It's for those that want to tame down acne scars. And people that want their true glow to show on their face, will find that this may be a product that works for them.

Now, granted I have only used this twice in the last 18 hours, so I can't say it has given me results. However, it felt wonderful when I put it on. The sample has enticed me enough that I will order this from Alyssa.

You can, too, from her website: youravon.com/aeckhoff. One ounce is $38. There are competitors that have way more expensive versions of this, and there are some that are less expensive. Yet, I think this is reasonably priced, if it will deliver on that promise. I'll keep you informed.

Have you tried This Fluid? Anyone else a fan of the Anew skincare products?

Sample Saturday: Biore Restore Skin-Boosting Night Serum

Beauty samples have to be popular. They are everywhere. I am finding more and more of these flat sample packages in my magazines. I get them in the mail. Companies that have a Facebook fan page often have sample lotteries. If I oreder a product, the company usually puts in a wee sample of another product they think I might like. We love samples!

I like them too. There's a bit of excitement in a miniature version of the large size. Try before you buy. Check it out with no financial investment!

Here is the full-size version of a sample I tried...

Biore's 'Restore' Skin-Boosting Night Serum. Biore is the same company that brings you those nose strips that you wet, apply, let dry, take off and get grossed out with the junk it gets out of your pores. I bet you've tried those samples!

Here's the scoop on the serum before I share my own story about it.

This has been my favorite part of my night time skin regimen for over a year. I love what serums do to my skin. Biore tops them all for me. When I apply this, it slides on so smoothly. My skin drinks it in. And in the morning when I touch my face, I cannot believe how soft and smooth it feels.

This serum is a creamy serum. It feels cool on the skin and the smell is a slight citrus fragrance. I'm showing you about 1/2 a pump from the bottle. A full pump takes care of my entire face and down my neck. I apply this after washing my face at night, I let it dry and then I touch it up with a heavier moisturizer if my skin feels a bit tight on the tops of my cheeks and forehead. I don't use 'Restore' under my eyes as I have another product I use there.

Taken from the box, Biore describes it as follows:

Nourishes & soothes skin as you sleep for a brighter, more rested appearance in the a.m. Oil-Free. (This product) infuses your skin with powerful antioxidants and skin regenerating vitamins A and C while you sleep. Featuring soothing chamomile and aloe, plus a blend of rosemary, sage and nettle extracts, this formula is designed to work overnight to help recharge skin's appearance so you wake up looking refreshed and ready to face the day. 

All great and wonderful stuff, right? I love it. And when I finished a miniature sample bottle of this, I got more.

So, here's my story...
I have a habit of saving small samples like 'Restore' until I travel. These are perfect for packing into my makeup kit as I won't go without my skincare items. I got this one sometime back in a sampler kit from Target. Silly me, I saved it for my Christmas trip to my brother's in 2010.

I, then, discovered, how great this product was. My skin had never felt so smooth in the morning. And I was in Denver with practically zero percent humidity. My skin wasn't used to that at all, living in Florida!

Thus, I began to use it regularly when I got home. When it got down to the end, I went to buy more. I checked Target, nope. Then Walmart, Walgreens and Ulta. No. I got on the Internet and my heart dropped: they had discontinued it! Gasp! No!!!!

Now, just where do you go when you are looking for a hard to find (HTF) beauty product? Yes, I went to Ebay. There I got a lot of 3 bottles for around $12. The bottle in the photos is the end of the first of those three. It lasted about 10 months.

Moral of my story: don't hold onto samples because I might learn that I'm too late to purchase full sizes. While hunting for replacements, I see that Biore doesn't, currently, have any serums in its line of skin care. Biore, please come up with a serum again just like this one!

I have to know...has this ever happened to you?

Garnier: Skincare Without Breaking the Bank

I like fresh starts...most of the time.  However, when that fresh start involves a computer and trying to recover data...well, let's say, not so fresh words are coming out of my mouth.

Something I am working on is a 14 Day Valentine's Day Manicure Marathon.  I want to do 14 days straight of manicures for the Holiday of Love.  I think my first few manicures for this are saved on my camera.  Thanks, Cupid Angel!

So while I work on gearing up for that, here's a beauty product review.

Garnier has got to me.  All the lush commercials, the little samples in my magazines and coupons for products that are not as expensive as a spending spree at Tiffany's, Garnier is rockin' my skincare regimen.

Here are two I'm using and loving right now...

I started out with just the Moisture Rescue.  I was out of the cleansing lotion I had and wanted to try something else.  Getting a coupon made this transition easy.  I find it to be super rich and moisturizing.  More moisturizing than I would have expected.  This is very good news on my face.  I am drying out.  Becoming a raisin!!!  But, not without a viscous fight.

Moisture Rescue is very creamy and leaves my skin almost baby soft.  Washes away my super-duper mascara quite easily too.  I've been using through 2 tubes and I can say I will continue using Moisture Rescue.

I got another coupon for a Garnier cleanser and this time I picked up 'Skin Renew.'  This is three products in one.  And this is DA BOMB!  It cleanses and does a great job of it.  It scrubs the dead cells off the surface so that the glowing skin below shines through.  And third, it detoxifies as a mask.  If you have ever used a clay mask, you have an idea of how 'Skin Renew' feels and works.  And, since my skin isn't very thick, the exfoliating scrub isn't overly abrasive.  The corn starch may be the scrubbing ingredient.  However, it's the only ingredient listed that I think is the abrasive.  I do know that I get a very good, deep cleanse with this product.

The Moisture Rescue I use 4 to 5 times a week.  I will use the Skin Renew the other nights when I wash up.    The two main reasons I will continue to use Garnier is that one, it respects my skin and the moisture it needs and two, the very reasonable cost.  The drugstore price on both of these are around $8.  $1 off coupons are easy to come by too.

Recommendations, yes if you have dry and/or blackhead prone skin.  If you have oil, the kaolin clay in the Skin Renew will make a nice mask for your face.  If you avoid sodium laureth/lauryl sulphate, as well as methlyparaben, you will not want to use these two products.

Got any Garnier recommendations you can make?