While many all natural and organic anti-aging skin care lines purport to contain a cocktail of antioxidants promising to rejuvenate skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines, the truth is that antioxidants alone are not enough. I’m not knocking antioxidants, they are an important part of a well rounded skin care regimen. However, while they help stabilize already sustained skin damage born of braving the elements and pollution, they have a minimal affect on building and strengthening the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In other words, they don’t do much in the way of actually turning back the hands of time.

Skin science basics

As we age, our skin’s ability to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid wanes. We see the visible signs of this in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, irregular pigmentation and sagging skin.

What’s a girl to do?

The reality of the situation is that every 365 1/4 days, our skin, along with the rest of our body, ages another year. Enter Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum. My mother discovered this skin care line, literally as it was launching, two years ago in Savannah, Georgia. At first, I wouldn’t even look at it. “Savannah, Georgia”, I said, “you’ve got to be kidding me”. I’m a serious skin care snob and, with few exceptions, won’t let anything near my face that is not from Europe or Asia.

A month later, I had lunch with my mom and noticed a significant change in her skin. It looked really taught and radiant, like she had just sat for a microcurrent facial. I mentioned that her skin looked great and she said “it’s Sapelo. I’ve been using it for a month and can’t believe the results.” I couldn’t either. I’ve never seen results like this from a topical skin care range.

Naturally, when I learned that Sapelo Skin Care had launched a new revolutionary anti-aging serum, I had to investigate. This silky serum combines the power of nature with science to visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines by retraining signals in the skin to manufacture increased collagen and elastin. Spring Tide Serum is the latest addition to this all natural, wonder anti-aging line. Similar to the other products in the range, the science is rooted in its Southern heritage.

Founders Cindy Edwards and Stephanie Duttenhaver explained:

“In Savannah, the Southern spring tide signals the season of rebirth and renewal. This nourishing surge tide coincides with a full moon, flooding the wetlands of Savannah with nutrients to last the year through.”

This sounds like exactly what my skin needs! Especially with winter around the corner. In addition to high concentrations of a potent cocktail of proteins, peptides, amino acids, active Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, as well as selenium, magnesium, copper and zinc, the fourth ingredient in the formula is 5% highly blenderized, unfertilized, organic Norwegian Salmon Roe Extract.

Warning! We are about to get a little science geeky…

If you think about the purpose of roe, it is to provide all the nutrition that a zygote needs to become a fry - right? Molecules that stimulate growth are concentrated in the egg. Similarly, this extract stimulates growth in the dermis boosting the skin’s ability to build collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Why is this so important? The skin’s capacity to produce these vital anti-aging proteins and acids begins to diminish at the age 25 and by the time our 80th birthday rolls around our skin has lost 32% of its ability to carry out these cellular activities. So even if you are 25 and still look twelve, listen up! The earlier you start taking care of your skin, the better positioned it will be to age beautifully.

The best part is that there is real science to back this up. The highly-concentrated extract that Sapelo uses is taken from the unfertilized salmon roe by an all natural organic solvent which stabilizes this extraordinary biologic activity. The effectiveness has been proven in a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial (The gold standard of scientific proof of principle – we are talking the very same standard that is used to test prescription drugs y’all) to dramatically increase collagen and elastin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and minimize redness and irritation. I won’t get into a scientific dissertation but I can tell you that using the 5% concentration of this new ingredient, dramatically increases collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production by up to 350%. That’s huge! Results can begin to be seen in as little as two weeks and have proven to transform skin in eight weeks. It is also worth noting that Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum is the only product on the US market to contain this powerful ingredient.

Spring Tide Serum can be used as a stand-alone product at night or as part of a bedtime skin care regimen prior to applying face cream. I have been using it morning and night as the second step in a cleanse, treatment, moisturizer regimen. It is so gentle, you can even work it around the eye area.

Spring Tide Serum has multiple applications

It is an excellent, non-abrasive alternative to undergoing a chemical peel, microdermabrasion or laser treatment. These procedures burn and damage the skin in order to initiate repair whereas this serum works to naturally repair the dermis without harming it.

Not convinced enough to forego these abrasive therapies?

Spring Tide Serum is also prescribed as an ideal post-procedure treatment product. It is extremely gentle and can be applied to nourish and protect your skin as it undergoes the healing process.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

While many anti-aging skin care lines boast having a cocktail of antioxidants promising to rejuvenate skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines, the truth is that antioxidants alone are not enough. I’m not knocking antioxidants, they are an important part of a well rounded skin care regimen. However, while they help stabilize already sustained skin damage born of braving the elements and pollution, they have a minimal affect on building and strengthening the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In other words, they don’t do much in the way of actually turning back the hands of time.

Skin science basics

As we age, our skin’s ability to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid wanes. We see the visible signs of this in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, irregular pigmentation and sagging skin.

What’s a girl to do?

The reality of the situation is that every 365 1/4 days, our skin, along with the rest of our body, ages another year. Enter Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum. My mother discovered this skin care line, literally as it was launching, two years ago in Savannah, Georgia. At first, I wouldn’t even look at it. “Savannah, Georgia”, I said, “you’ve got to be kidding me”. I’m a serious skin care snob and, with few exceptions, won’t let anything near my face that is not from Europe or Asia.

A month later, I had lunch with my mom, who was then 66, and noticed a significant change in her skin. It looked really taught and radiant, like she had just sat for a microcurrent facial. I mentioned that her skin looked great and she said “it’s Sapelo. I’ve been using it for a month now and can’t believe the results.” I couldn’t either. I’ve never seen results like this from a topical skin care range.

Naturally, when I heard that Sapelo Skin Care had launched a new revolutionary anti-aging serum, I had to learn more. This silky serum combines the power of nature with science to visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines by retraining signals in the skin to manufacture increased collagen and elastin. Spring Tide Serum is the latest addition to this all natural, wonder anti-aging line. Similar to the other products in the range, the science is rooted in its Southern heritage.

Founders Cindy Edwards and Stephanie Duttenhaver explained:

“In Savannah, the Southern spring tide signals the season of rebirth and renewal. This nourishing surge tide coincides with a full moon, flooding the wetlands of Savannah with nutrients to last the year through.”

This sounds like exactly what my skin needs! In addition to high concentrations of a potent cocktail of proteins, peptides, amino acids, active Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, as well as selenium, magnesium, copper and zinc, the fourth ingredient in the formula is 5% highly blenderized, unfertilized, organic Norwegian Salmon Roe Extract.

Warning! We are about to get a little science geeky…

If you think about the purpose of roe, it is to provide all the nutrition that a zygote needs to become a baby fish – right? Molecules that stimulate growth are concentrated in the egg. Similarly, this extract stimulates growth in the dermis boosting the skin’s ability to build collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Why is this so important? The skin’s capacity to produce these vital anti-aging proteins and acids begins to diminish at the age 25 and by the time our 80th birthday rolls around our skin has lost 32% of its ability to carry out these cellular activities. So even if you are 25 and still look twelve, listen up! The earlier you start taking care of your skin, the better positioned it will be to age beautifully.

The best part is that there is real science to back this up. The highly-concentrated extract that Sapelo uses is taken from the unfertilized salmon roe by an all natural organic solvent which stabilizes this extraordinary biologic activity. The effectiveness has been proven in a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial (The gold standard of scientific proof of principle – we are talking the very same standard that is used to test prescription drugs y’all) to dramatically increase collagen and elastin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and minimize redness and irritation. I won’t get into a scientific dissertation but I can tell you that using the 5% concentration of this new ingredient, dramatically increases collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production by up to 350%. That’s huge! Results can begin to be seen in as little as two weeks and have proven to transform skin in eight weeks. It is also worth noting that Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum is the only product on the US market to contain this powerful ingredient.

Spring Tide Serum can be used as a stand-alone product at night or as part of a bedtime skin care regimen prior to applying face cream. I have been using it morning and night as the second step in a cleanse, treatment, moisturizer regimen. It is so gentle, you can even work it around the eye area.

Spring Tide Serum has multiple applications

It is an excellent, non-abrasive alternative to undergoing a chemical peel, microdermabrasion or laser treatment. These procedures burn and damage the skin in order to initiate repair whereas this serum works to naturally repair the dermis without harming it.

Not convinced enough to forego these abrasive therapies?

Spring Tide Serum is also prescribed as an ideal post-procedure treatment product. It is extremely gentle and can be applied to nourish and protect your skin as it undergoes the healing process.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

One of the benefits of working with indie beauty brands is we have the opportunity to develop relationships with the brands’ founders. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Stephanie Duttenhaver and Cindy Edwards, the founders of Savannah, Georgia based Sapelo Skin Care.

Sapelo Skin Care is the wonder anti-aging line that you may not have heard of yet, but you will! We instantly fell in love with Sapelo’s spa grade, deliver on its promise, formulas and unique Southern heritage. It started with two Southern women who developed the skin care products they sought for themselves but could not find in the marketplace. They drew inspiration from the Southern marshes, tides, marine and plant botanicals as well as the legacy of beautiful Southern women.

3-Step, 28-Day Recovery System

This isn’t just a genius piece of marketing, though. All Sapelo Skin Care products are developed and manufactured at a high quality cosmetic laboratory in Savannah, GA. The impeccable packaging is evocative of a lush Southern garden —  these products would make a stunning addition to any vanity or shelf. Most importantly, however, these products WORK. Sapelo Skin Care merges state-of-the-art scientific breakthroughs with long passed-down knowledge of indigenous plants to understand the biological mechanisms of healthy skin rejuvenation. This is a 3-step, 28-day recovery system that gently hydrates, nourishes and improves skin quality at the cellular level.

You met each other in 2009 while serving as board members of the Savannah Book Festival. How did this meeting lead to the creation of Sapelo Skin Care?

SD: I had been thinking about developing a skin care line for years. Many of the anti-aging products on the market have harsh ingredients that actually strip aging skin of what it needs to protect itself. I wanted to create an effective line sans these harsh elements. Having worked with Cindy for three years to build brand awareness for the nationally acclaimed Savannah Book Festival, I realized that I had found my partner. We shook hands sitting in front of the great Pat Conroy and began our own story: Enter Sapelo Skin Care.

CE: I had spent the past two decades as a stay-at-home mom and though I had been active on charitable community boards, my true desire was to resurrect my career. After a twenty year absence from the workforce, finding employment proved to be challenging. In 2009 I joined the board of the Savannah Book Festival and met Stephanie Duttenhaver. We hit it off right away.

How did you develop Sapelo’s 3-Step System?

Living in coastal Savannah, we drew inspiration for our products from the twice-daily high tides that bring life-sustaining nutrients and water to our environment. Our complete and simple 3-step regimen mimics the rejuvenating effects of the tides with hydration, stimulation and revitalization of the skin. This regimen contains all the ingredients and molecular compounds needed to hydrate skin and renew collagen, elastin and skin cells.

Step 1

Our Renewing Serum creates a flood tide or open channel, deep within the basement layer of the skin. The serum is infused with gardenia stem cells and hyaluronic acid, the goddess of all humectants. The water-based ‘flood tide’ prepares the skin to inhale our star product, the Rejuvenating Cream.

Step 2

The Rejuvenating Cream unleashes peptides, humectants and micronutrients on the ‘flood tide’. Infused with 5 peptides, the platinum peptide targets inflammation caused by UV damage while the other 4 peptides work to boost collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production at the cellular level. It is oil based to enable the ingredients in the cream to easily penetrate the dermis and effortlessly deliver all the goodness needed to build up collagen and elastin.

Step 3

The Softening Emollient is infused with essential oils that bar the evaporation of the dermal saturation of peptides, stem cells, hyaluronic acid and micronutrients that are in Steps 1 and 2. In other words, it seals all the good stuff in! The essential oils also add an extra boost of hydration to the skin – particularly useful in winter or for drier skin types –  you will love how it moisturizes, especially the dry areas around your eyes and brow! Our emollient contains only natural and breathable oils and there are no silicones or ingredients that stop the skin from breathing.

What about an eye cream?

CE:  You can use all three products around the eyes. During development, our cosmetic chemist advised us that it would be all that we would need. There are no retinoids or harsh ingredients that can cause irritation to the sensitive eye area — which is the only reason to have a separate eye cream. That said, due to demand, we have since released our Restoring Eye Cream. Like the cornerstone products in our three step system, it contains a blend of powerful peptides, including anti-aging milk peptides that boost collagen production and skin cell count. It also contains antioxidants to increase circulation and strengthen capillaries in the tissue surrounding the eyes.

By: Travel Beauty Editors

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC is the very newest member of the Juvederm family of facial fillers, and can be used to perfect your pout and help erase under eye circles for longer than previously-used fillers. It is a smooth gel formulation made up of a modified form of Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally-occurring sugar found in the human body. The role of Hyaluronic Acid in the skin is to deliver nutrients and help the skin retain its natural moisture and softness. The JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC gel formulation also contains a small quantity of local anesthetic (lidocaine) that helps minimize discomfort during injection.

How Long Does It Last?

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC is exciting because it is longer-lasting than other similar fillers previously available such as BELOTERO BALANCE. It lasts for up to a year in the lips (compared with around 5-6 months with previously available fillers) and up to 2 years under the eye (compared with around 1 year for previously available under eye fillers). The longer duration is due to the patented VYCROSS® technology that blends different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid.

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC For Lips

The decision to augment the lips is usually one that is easily made by my patients. Either they want fuller lips, or poutier lips, or they don’t. It’s more difficult for people to determine on their own if their dark circles would benefit from JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC injection.

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC For The Under Eye Area

When it comes to filling under the eyes, the best candidate for injection is someone who’s under eye darkness is the result of “hills and valleys” under the eye. The “valleys” are hollow, sunken spots that, when they’re beside normal, plump areas (“hills”), create shadowing—and the perception of dark circles. To help determine if your circles are shadow-related, sit down in a room with overhead lighting. Take a mirror and first look straight into it while seated and holding the mirror at eye level. Say hello to your circles. Next, lay back a bit, and let the overhead light hit you directly on the face while looking into the mirror, so that all under eye shadows are eliminated. If the darkness under your eyes disappears, it’s shadowing that’s causing the circles, and JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC may be a good option for you. If the darkness remains, the problem is probably excess pigmentation in the skin, something filler will not address.

So, say goodbye to your under eye circles with your newly-plumped pout just in time for New years! Yes, please!

I’ve never been a cigarette smoker, and as a working mom with two school-aged kids, I rarely have time for a drink (though the desire pops up frequently). I workout regularly and eat pretty darn healthfully. So totally vice-free am I, I have *no shame* in my coffee-drinking game. If coffee is my one “addiction” in life, so be it. I truly look forward to my Nespresso every. Single. Morning.

For so long, caffeine was seen as little more than an extremely addictive (yet quite useful) drug to be consumed in controlled quantities–a necessary evil without which the world would grind to a grumpy halt.

Then, a few years ago, numerous studies started to surface that declared coffee a life-extending, brain-benefitting wonder food. It was with great pleasure (not to mention vindication), that I read these studies, knowing I was on to something ALL ALONG. And, really, it all made sense: Coffee is an antioxidant rich plant! As long as you’re not drowning it in cream and sugar ( I would NEVER), it should be good for you, no?

Given the beauty industry’s obsession with all things antioxidant, it wasn’t long before caffeine–in the form of black coffee, white tea, green tea, etc.–started popping up as a featured ingredient in all sorts of beauty products. Color me intrigued. I wondered how, exactly, caffeine benefits skin. The same antioxidants that help fight dementia when you ingest coffee also fight signs of premature aging caused by light, pollution and free radicals when slathered onto skin. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, reducing redness (making it an ideal treatment for rosacea and/or flushed skin) and puffiness (hello under eye area!). And–hold onto your venti no whip double pump caramel macchiato–caffeine can even temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Because caffeine is a diuretic, creams and serums containing it can temporarily minimize the visibility of cellulite by dehydrating fat cells. This shrinks their size, resulting in a tightening  and smoothing effect (less lumps).

Just as drinking a green tea makes you feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, using products containing caffeine will leave you *looking* bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, too.

Ready to caffeinate from the outside in? Here are some of my favorite skin and body care picks to give your dermis a rejuvenating java jolt.

Perk Up Your Peepers With These Caffeinated Cosmetics!

Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches – These fast-penetrating (only five minutes!) under eye masks target all eye areas of concern: bags, shadows, wrinkles, swelling and sagging. An intensive eye treatment that deeply restructures and instantly lifts the fragile eye contour area. Dark circles, puffiness, sagging and signs of fatigue are visibly minimized. The caffeine they contain is part of a decongesting complex that activates circulation and breaks down fatty deposits under the eye, whilst hyaluronic acid repairs, hydrates and improves elasticity. The skin around the eye area is instantly moisturized, protected and repaired. Try them at the end of a long flight, or the morning after a long night.

Cosmetics 27 Eyes 27 – This tube’s got coffee and tea! Eyes 27 is incredibly effective at reducing the signs of aging, fatigue and stress that show around the eyes first. Its patented MA2 Complex, a combination of three purified extracts of Centella Asiatica, offers exceptional repairing, regenerating, soothing and antioxidant properties. Black coffee, White Tea Extract and Kombucha cause a draining and detoxifying action. Black Coffee and White Tea Extracts work together to stimulate microcirculation and drain away the toxins and fluids that build-up to create puffiness. Features are relaxed, dark circles and bags significantly reduced and skin’s radiance and youth are restored. Especially soothing after an aesthetic treatment.

Get Your Tummy Taut With…

Mio Skincare Get Waisted Sculpting Body Shaper. Used every day, this 5-star reviewed caffeine-infused body shaper will whittle your waist and tighten your tummy. Formulated with Rhodofiltrat Delessaria™ and pharmaceutical grade caffeine, Get Waisted’s Oat Protein Complex helps to replenish moisture to improve the look and feel of abdominal skin.

Go Green (Tea) With Our Face/Body Combo Favorite

Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish. This scrub can be used on face and body–it’s gentle on body and powerful on face. Unlike many scrubs, no additional soap is needed with it; just polish, rinse and go. Foaming Skin Polish contains fine grains of rice bran and bamboo to exfoliate dead skin cells, while gentle cleansing agents purify and refresh. The rich, foaming texture thoroughly removes excess oils and buildup, allowing skin to immediately look bright, pure and smooth. Ginger root and ginseng extracts balance and tone skin as green tea, camphor and geranium oil calm, nourish and supply antioxidant protection. Skin is left smooth, soft and radiant…and ready to soak up all your skin care treatment products. There is no other product under $20 that will instantly improve your skin like this scrub.

There’s Tea Time For Men, Too…

Alchimie Forever Antioxidant Skin Repair Gel. Alchimie Forever Antioxidant Defense Gel hydrates, protects and soothes your dude’s face to leave it feeling soft, healthy and refreshed. Its invigorating oil-free formula features an antioxidant-rich complex of green tea and tomato extracts to counter premature aging. Soothing rosemary, menthol and turmeric extracts reduce inflammation, while panthenol softens and conditions. Ideal for use as an aftershave to prevent ingrown hairs and in sticky summer months when a cream could be too much.

What’s your favorite caffeinated cosmetic? Share with us!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram