Oct 29 2014

-TEN- Skincare Review: Instant Lifting Cream

Posted on October 29, 2014 by admin

109 TEN Skincare Review: Instant Lifting Cream

Having reviewed Clever Skin’s -TEN- Skincare Breast Care Cream & -TEN- Hydration Body Cream whilst still in the throes of post-partum recovery, I was recently sent some of their facial skincare range to try. I’m pleased as it’s given me an opportunity to report further on my initial review. The body care solutions have certainly grown on me over time and there are more visible results to share.

I am losing weight which is obviously the main contributing factor for more muscle definition on my legs, but the hydration body cream has definitely supported my skin as it has undergone any associated changes. I’m also completely in love with the breast care cream which has significantly improved the elasticity of the skin above my boobs. Again, I can’t say how much of this is because they’re receiving a daily massage they weren’t previously, but I’m very happy with the results.

So onto the skincare range! I received the -TEN- Instant Lifting Cream and the -TEN- Revive Eye Contour. I’m only reviewing the -TEN- Instant Lifting Cream in this post as I’m currently trialling another eye care product and don’t like to overwhelm my skin with too many chemicals.

So what’s in the Instant Lifting Cream?

Main ingredient is high molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid (HA). They say:

As we age, skin moisture can decrease significantly. Hyaluronic Acid forms a protective barrier on skin, locking in moisture to give a youthful appearance. This air permeable layer penetrates deeply into the top layers of the skin, thus boosting elasticity and hydration. It also contains antioxidants that decreases the formation of free radicals, which contribute to the aging process, and reduces harmful UV penetration.

108 TEN Skincare Review: Instant Lifting Cream

To recap, the entire -TEN- range is completely free of paraben, ethanol, SLES, formaldehyde, dyes, colour, phtalates, lanolin, soap, paraffin mineral oil & nitrosamine. Yet as we all know, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Instant Lifting Cream contains the following:

Cyclopentasiloxane (a synthetically manufactured, silicone derivative believed to protect the skin) which is widely believed to be a cheaper alternative to organic compounds like vegetable glycerin.
Phenoxyethanol which is presently under review by the Soil Association and ECOCERT. It’s a preservative favoured by many brands for its disinfectant, antiseptic and antibiotics properties. Although it is generally considered a safe preservative, it is synthetically produced.
Imidazolidinyl Urea - this one is a little more disconcerting as it is a formaldehyde releaser. It must be at levels lower than 0.05% as it doesn’t contain any additional information on the packaging.
Sodium Polyacrylate (a synthetic polymer generally used as a thickening agent) - this can contain methacrylic acid, acrylic acid or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, known toxins that can be formed during its synthetic processing.

The rest of the ingredients are primarily palm / coconut oil based esters and compounds commonly found in skincare and cosmetics. They’re generally regarded as having sound emollient, emulsifying and moisturising properties. Other compounds include ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate which is most commonly used to protect the skin from the sun’s damaging effects. The range appears to favour ingredients found in North America with many rich and nourishing butters noted for their conditioning properties.

I should point out that nothing in the above raises any concerns for me, and nor should it for you. All the synthetic ingredients listed are high quality and low toxicity; exactly what we’d expect of a premium scientific beauty brand.

What did I make of it?

No filter TEN Skincare Review: Instant Lifting Cream

Zero filters / No difference to fine lines / Improved elasticity / Skin tone far more even

I’ve been using this now for one week. I did have a very minor reaction on Day 1 as I’d effectively gone from a 100% organic serum to a scientific formulation, but I stuck with it and my skin has now acclimatised to it. I used it twice daily as a day & night cream.

It absorbs into the skin incredibly well and there is some plumping and firming action. This is down to the Hexapeptide Argeriline which is a key component of acetylcholine (a chemical compound that can be found in the body’s peripheral nervous system and central nervous system). It acts as a neurotransmitter, contracting muscles to give skin a smoother, more youthful look.

The smell is incredibly subtle; a light blend of shea, cocoa and coconut. The cream does contain perfum yet I can’t see why they’ve bothered with this.

Hyaluronic acid is also a ‘smart’ nutrient that can adjust its moisture absorption to any climate — so a great cream to take on holiday when you’re more exposed to UVAs & UVCs and sweating more in the evening. Although compound barriers are present to block harmful rays from the sun, I wouldn’t swap my day moisturiser for this one due to a lack of SPF (I’m sure I’ll write about this in much more detail soon as I plan on trying a red raspberry oil & carrot oil mix next summer in place of my usual SPF), but I can see it being very refreshing after a day swimming and sunbathing.

In conclusion

Hyaluronic Acid complex & Hexapeptide Argeriline have both been under scrutiny in the press recently, with lots of independent studies as to their efficiency. In regards to Argeriline, one study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science did show a 10% concentration of Argeriline helped reduce wrinkles by 30% over a 30-day period. The HA complex is much more tried & tested yet still very little is known about its anti-aging properties. At any rate it makes for a very effective moisturiser.

The elasticity of the skin on my face does feel markedly different and much more even in tone (particularly around my neck) so I’m going to stick with it as a night cream to see what happens. I’ll report back in due course.

To try this for yourself, you can buy the range from CleverSkinCare.com. The TEN Skincare Instant Lifting Cream is available for £34.50 which is excellent value for a 50ml pot. You can also see what others think of the range by checking out TENSkincare on Facebook and Twitter.

Aug 11 2014

TEN Skincare Review - A new skincare range for mother & baby

Posted on August 11, 2014 by admin

I’m sure you’re already aware I’m skincare obsessed. So much so, Craig and I have our own bathrooms so he won’t lose his shaving foam under all my lotions, serums and body butters. I’ve passed this obsession down to my children and now Dexter’s favourite post-bath ritual is to smother himself in E45.

Whilst I adore all the massages and slippery cuddles with the kids, I often neglect my own skincare routine. There are days I’m so exhausted I’ll fall asleep next to Craig with a full face of make-up, and gone are the days I have baby soft legs against our bedsheets every night.

As such, I love products that are specifically designed for the dehydrated and tired skin of a new mum. Making the transition from breastfeeding to formula, late nights, and an erratic diet can play havoc with your skin. With Heidi only 16 weeks old, I can definitely testify to this. Most notably, my boobs have lost some of the elasticity they once had. Okay, compared to some, I’ve got off lightly. They’re not yet drooping and are still firm enough to look good in a bikini, but there are some stretchmarks at the top of my chest where gravity and rapid growth are taking their toll.

So for the last few weeks, I’ve been trialling Clever Skin’s new -TEN- Skincare Breast Care Cream. This has been specifically formulated to combat stretchmarks, improve elasticity and firm up the breasts during pregnancy and beyond. Their no nonsense brand message promises to use skin science that is as natural as possible and will offer the very best results.

At -TEN-™ we have a no-nonsense approach to skincare and empower you with making the right skincare choice for you. We tell you what the key ingredients we use are, and most importantly, why these are used.

My hope was that the weakened skin around the top of my breasts would receive some much-needed nourishment. Fluctuating growth throughout pregnancy and nursing, then switching back to the bottle quickly, saw them grow to a staggering 34HH from a 36G so the skin has certainly been stretched. I just wanted a smoother appearance and a bit more firmness to counteract even more stretchmarks as I attempt to lose the baby weight.

So what’s in it?

Rice extracts (Oryza sativa) - Rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids which are an effective substitute for lanolin, this can help reduce inflammation and itching. It is also a great source of vitamin E which helps to protect dry, scaling and chapping of skin.

Papaya extracts - Elastin and collagen are two fibers in the skin that contribute to skin firmness and help restore skin elasticity. The papain (a digestive enzyme) in the papaya can help rebuild the elastin and therefore help improve the elasticity and firmness of your skin.

Hydrolyzed fibronectin - Proteins are made of long chains links made of amino acids. So for instance, collagen has about 1,000 such links. Fibronectin (also a protein) has a molecular weight of 4,000 amino acids. Fibronectin is a large molecule in fact too large to be absorbed by the skin, and so it is reduced by being hydrolized, thus making it easily absorbed. It is added to improve overall elasticity and skin firmness.

Whoa!

I know what you’re thinking! Didn’t -TEN- say they were going to leave out all the science jargon for the benefit of us mere mortals…? They definitely could dumb it down further. However, the proof is in the pudding so to speak.

To my surprise, the cream has made a notable difference to my boobs. This might just be because they’re now receiving more attention than before and getting a daily massage. Regular massage can help improve your circulation and encourage new tissue growth so it wouldn’t be unusual to see visible results if the skin is getting a bit more love than usual. But all in all, I’m really happy with the results.

I’d described the smell as a mixture of sun lotion and cocoa butter that isn’t at all unpleasant. Give it 3 minutes to sink in and it dries to a matt finish. I’ve also been using this on my hands and have noticed they look much younger. At £34.50 (inc tax) this is undeniably expensive compared to high street alternatives, but I just can’t argue with how great my skin looks.

I also trialed the Hydration Body Cream which has an exhaustive list of ingredients including Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Vitamin F, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Cacao Butter and Wheat Germ Oil. There’s an explanation on the website behind each ingredient that is just as mind-boggling as the breast cream, but once again this stuff really works.

The smell is equally good, it’s incredibly hydrating and leaves your skin silky smooth. It’s also really cooling and refreshing and would be a real treat for swollen tummies & legs during pregnancy, particularly as the skin can undergo some fairly dramatic changes due to hormonal activity within the body. At £31.80 (inc tax), once again it’ll be one of the more expensive brands available to you, but you do get a soft sheen that lasts the entire day.

My only criticism of the range (and this is perhaps a little unfair) is that the Clever Skin website clearly needs some proof-reading. I spotted several spelling mistakes that might ultimately put people off what is essentially a premium product. Other than that, the rest of the range looks to be equally impressive with products tailored to expectant mummies, babies, and the everyday woman, with face, body and hair all covered.

Okay, the range isn’t cheap, but it’s a lovely range for mama & baby pampering. It’s lightly scented and incredibly delicate for sensitive baby skin, and skin that’s undergoing the trauma of pregnancy. It would make a fabulous gift for new and expecting mums, or an ideal treat for yourself if you’re feeling a little jaded with your post-baby body. If you’re into skincare, or have a specific skin complaint that’s affecting your comfort or confidence, you won’t be disappointed by -TEN-.

You can buy the range from CleverSkinCare.com or from Boots. You can also see what other mums thought of the range by checking out TENSkincare on Facebook and Twitter.

Samples were provided for this TEN Skincare Review