Out of the hundreds of products at the Esthetics convention,
I only purchased a few of the most exceptional cleansers, creams, and
treatments. So, let’s get down to business as promised!
Hydropeptide:
When you visit this company’s website, your immediate
impression is that the line belongs in a medical facility based on all the
beakers filled with skin saving concoctions and droppers of the most advanced
serums. Truth is, this line definitely deserves that type of association and
recognition. The first time I was introduced to Hydropeptide was at the LakeAustin Resort and Spa in Texas. (Amazing experience, and you should see Erin if
she still works there. She was one of the most in-tune estheticians ever).
Anyways, I was super excited to see Hydropeptide’s booth at
the convention and decided to go up and chat with the sales reps. They had some
great deals going on so I was able to nab a few products and samples to test
out.
5x Power Peel DailyResurfacing Pads: These pre-soaked pads come individually packaged and are
meant for use 3-7 times a week. It uses a blend of AHA’s (Alpha hydroxy acids; glycolic
and lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic) to exfoliate the skin, and mushroom enzyme
to help brighten the complexion and even tone. After cleansing my face, I
applied the pad, wiping evenly over the entire face. I was pleased that there
was absolutely no burning or tingling sensations- If you’ve ever done a
glycolic peel you know what I’m talking about- ouch! That’s because green tea
extract helps to buffer the pH and prevent that deep burn. While wiping the
pads across my face, it felt mostly like I was wiping water on my skin and had
a nice, fresh scent. Afterwards, I had a cooling sensation and if felt very
refreshing. This would be great for all skin types but those with extremely dry
skin may want to watch out since the retinoic-like action may dry the dermis
slightly.
Overall score: 9/10
Cleansing Gel: This
cleanser comes in a sleek aqua colored pump and is designed for more
combination skin types. The consistency of the gel is really nice – liquid
without being too runny and suds up nicely to give you that deep clean feeling.
What I love about this cleanser is that it contains Lactic acid- a more
hydrating but still deeply exfoliating AHA. Witch hazel and geranium help to
tone the skin (it’s advertised as a toner as well!) and give it a fresh, mildly
minty or lemony- floral scent. This cleanser didn’t dry me out or irritate my
eczema, so I’m pretty happy with it! I’d also recommend using this with your
Clarisonic 2-3 times a week for an even deeper cleanse!
Overall score: 10/10
Hydrostem +6: Stem Cell Antioxidant Serum: The
serum comes in 1 fl. Oz. blue pump and doles out exactly what you need to apply
for the entire face, neck, and even décolletage. The texture is extra smooth
and comes out rather runny- almost like a creamy toner, so be prepared that
your hand is cupped appropriately. I like that it was very spreadable and acted
as a great based to my moisturizer. After about a minute or so, you’ll notice a
cooling tingle to your skin, something I find to be very refreshing! My skin is
combination oily-dry, and I found that this serum absorbed really well without
leaving me feeling greasy. The power of Hyaluronic acid is evident in this
serum, as my skin drank up the moisture stat! Other active ingredients include
Botanical Stem Cells, peptides (that activate CoQ10) and deliver collagen
boosting results. You’ll also receive antioxidant benefits from Green Tea
extract, licorice root, and cucumber to help tone, calm, and even your
complexion.
Overall score: 8/10 (I’m picky with my serums. While I liked
that it did not irritate my skin very much, I find it a little too expensive
for the average budget, retailing at $160)
Purifying Mask: I’m so excited to get
to this one! I first tried this during my facial at Lake Austin and fell in
love with it. It’s by far one of my most favorite Kaolin clay-based mask. This
is great for most skin types (very dry or sensitive skin types may find this
irritating) because it has a nice balance of oil absorbing clay, lightly
exfoliating enzymes, caffeine to tone, peptides to plump, and hyaluronic acid
to bind water to cells to reveal a plumper, more youthful complexion. The mask
glides on very smoothly and has an instant cool and tingling sensation where
applied. I keep this mask on for about 10 minutes after cleansing my skin
thoroughly. When done, rinse off with a facial towel- now you’ll really feel
the coolness!
Overall score:
10/10 (love this mask and I really can’t say enough great things about it!)
 |
| Hydropeptide (left to right): Hydrostem 6+, Cleansing Gel, 5x Power Peel, and Purifying Mask |
Onward to
Hydrafacial MD…
This line is
probably not as widely available to the public due to its exclusivity to
pairing it with Hydrafacial treatments. If you haven’t had one of these
treatments, go get one now! Your skin will thank you (but your pocket book won’t).
It’s a treatment that combines a bit of microderm with hydrating “chemical peel”
treatments, but without the irritation. It even extracts pesky blackheads!
Seriously, it’s one of the best treatments out there and leaves the skin SO
smooth and hydrated afterwards.
Antiox +: This serum is one of my
favorites I’ve ever tried. Loaded with peptides and Hyaluronic acid, it helps
to deeply moisturize the skin. I’ve found that using this with LED therapy
treatments drives the product even deeper and leaves skin super soft. I feel as
though this product penetrates a little deeper than just the first layer of the
dermis because my skin feels extra soft the next morning. I’ve been using this
morning and night and I’ve seen great results! Also, love the feeling of the spring pump.
Overall score:
9/10 (docked a point because I think it may have irritated my eczema a bit)
UV Smart Daily Sunscreen SPF 40: This
sunscreen uses zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octisalate to protect the skin from
harmful UVA and UVB rays. While I really appreciate the combination chemical
and physical sunscreen factors, I’m not a huge fan of octinoxate in my
sunscreen because of the mixed reviews of it actually causing hormonal
disruptions or progression of aging. Otherwise, I really wanted to like this
sunscreen because of its rich and creamy texture. It absorbed nicely into my
skin and felt great; actually one of the better ones I’ve tried (Skinceuticals
still tops my list!).
Overall Score:
7/10 (loved the texture and application, not a fan of the ingredients)
