I get a lot of sunscreen inquiries, but haven’t loved any one product enough to drop a full-on endorsement on my faithful DC readers.  Either the SPF isn’t high enough, the finish is too greasy, or the product rubs off and burns my eyes.  For example, I really wanted to like this Alba Organics SPF 30, but in addition to causing eye irritation, it migrates and you end up tasting it.  This creates a grossly unpleasant and uncomfortable experience, especially during any kind of physical activity.In response to dissatisfaction with all the obvious big players (Neutrogena, Coppertone, Aveeno), the pendulum swung way to the other end of the spectrum, and I invested in this Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30.  The plastic end houses peachy colored powder that dispenses through the brush.  First off, when the product arrived it was difficult to tell if any actual powder trickled down through the bristles.  I pulled off the end and dumped half the product on the floor.  At around $30 bucks (on clearance now as low as $12), $15 was wasted by this careless accident – super annoying for sure!  Can’t really blame PTR, but the mistake soured my overall impression.  The powder formulation skirts the typical perils of cream or oil sunscreen as mentioned above.  It doesn’t run into the eyes or mouth.  Instant mineral isn’t greasy, and it doubles as a loose powder by providing a matte finish.  The main drawback is it is difficult to tell if you’ve achieved adequate coverage.  Furthermore, like most other sunscreens, it sweats off.  I don’t hate this product, but it is most useful as a scalp sunscreen.  It doubles as a dry shampoo and crown protector.  Sun-roof and convertible babies, this one is for you.  Of all the sunscreens tested (far more than discussed here), Ocean Potion Face SPF45 Clear Zinc Oxide is my favorite.  Unlike many carcinogenic sunscreen ingredients readily absorbed into the blood stream and linked to hormone disruption, zinc oxide is an inorganic compound which provides complete UVB/UVA protection, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is considered a safe sunscreen ingredient.  It is also about the only sunblock approved by the FDA for children under 6 months of age.  This particular light weight cream absorbs easily and does NOT leave that weird white film many of us associate with standard zinc oxide sunscreens.  The best part?  This stuff is very reasonably priced.  Find this one ounce jar widely available for less than $2, and with a little research, bargain hunters can track it down for only $.67! 

StriVectin was one of the first medico-prestige brands to hit the scene about eight years ago, but I never really got on board because frankly the word “StriVectin” sounds too much like a herpes treatment.  In the service of finding an effective product to combat hyperpigmentation, enter StriVectin Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum.  StriVectin claims this serum “gently and effectively resurfaces the skin with results starting in as little as a week while promoting visibly healthier skin, with a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles within 28 days.”

In a word, bollocks.  This product did little to nothing for evening skin tone, and there are less expensive and more effective chemical exfoliators available.  After using the entire bottle, improvements were imperceptible.Pinkish clear and lightly fragranced, this serum dries quickly and leaves the skin feeling tight.  Only those with the oiliest of skin would find this product adequately moisterizing on its own.  Most serums are not intended as all-in-one products, so best not to go in with that expectation.  This product is at best mediocre and not worth the nearly sixty dollar asking price.  The best thing about it is the packaging.  The glass bottle and dropper are both high quality, as demonstrated by the precise control the user has over the amount of product dispensed.  Other companies should take note – product waste resulting from poor package design is extremely frustrating and unforgivable.  

By day fifteen, a major purge begins and weird impurities emerge from the cheeks and jaw line.  This creates a serious temptation to extract, but self-control is the order of the day.  A hen-pecked look just won’t do for an event this Friday.

It should go without saying that the goal here is perfect skin, no make-up.  This seems like a meaningful possibility with Kinerase C8 — if you keep your hands off your face.  My skin looks clearer each day.On day seventeen, met up with a friend who described my face as “glowy.”  One more night of treatment must eliminate any remaining imperfections.Today is the big day and skin is looking pretty great, but four days (or 20) was barely enough time to make that happen.  After sweating whether or not C8 has the power to uncover the freshness, it is obvious that there just isn’t enough resurfacing action in this product when used alone.After stumbling in inebriated, it is a wonder the treatment even made it on last night.  As a result of its application, my face looks better than I feel.No longer able to resist, my own lack of will power caused reaggravation.  This episode confirmed my previous suspicions that Kinerase C8 Intensive Treatment does not make an ideal spot treatment.After three weeks, skin still feels and looks better immediately after application, but cumulative results are negligible to non-existent.  Next week will conclude the experiment, and perhaps the true test of Kinerase will be whether it is missed when it is gone.

So far, I’ve been loathe to spend over $50 on a face cream.  Something about spending $80 on a single ounce of fluid seems absurd, especially for a person who favors abundance.  However, as time marches across my face, I recently decided that a luxury skin treatment might be worth it — but only if it is really, really effective.  We begin with Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment on the recommendation of a very well-informed friend (merci AMP). Kinerase claims that C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment creates younger looking skin in 28 days.  The active ingredients are essentially Kinetin, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, white tea, and Acetyl Octapeptide 3.

Days 1-7, average application: 5 pumps

Within two hours of the first application, areas of inflammation calmed.  An angry red stubborn blemish softened to pink.  Skin texture felt moisturized, but not oily; nourished, but not too shiny.  Immediately the treatment softens skin.  Overnight the angry blemish lightened even further to a very pale, smooth pink.  Skin looks tighter; lines softened.  Moisture content in skin retained overnight.  By day three, hot spots not completely gone, but greatly improved.  Skin texture appears tighter, but still soft.  No new areas of inflammation have surfaced.  The visage looks healthier.Truthfully, after going in for some regrettable extractions last night, this morning’s face still shows the evidence.  While each morning skin texture looks better than the night before, there have yet to be much in the way of cumulative results.  So far it has been the same two steps forward, one step back when it comes to Kinerase C8.  Day five, the re-aggravated hot spots have not completely subsided, but the overall skin tone appears more even.  No new blemishes have emerged since treatment has commenced.  Though it contains vitamin A, it is not a strong exfoliator.   This serum is calming, but not the most “active” product when it comes to skin resurfacing.On day six, woke up wishing this stuff was a bit more emollient.  Stubborn spots still present, but hyper-pigmentation appears less noticeable.  Hot spots chilled out overnight.  After the seven days, there is notable improvement in skin texture to the touch.  To make Kinerase C8 worth the investment, the next seven days must bring a marked improvement in visible skin texture.