Best New Beauty Innovations of 2011 -- So Far
I know, I know -- it's only April, but there have already been so many amazing groundbreaking beauty products and services I've heard about this year that a roundup seemed necessary. So, if you are like me, or just like to know what's up when it comes to new, high-end beauty technologies and breakthroughs, check out these products:
Chameleon foundation
Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation, $42 is Argan Oil-infused makeup which uses "chameleon pigments" to create a "color-match technology." Basically, it goes on white and instantly adjusts to match your unique skin tone. The serum foundation not only becomes a magic, flawless second skin, it also helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Transforming scrub
This won't be found in a Michael Bay film, but it's a new formula that starts as a gel scrub and transforms into a milky lotion that hydrates the skin. L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator, $36 contains pure organic immortelle essential oil, which is extracted from the flower that grows on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and has been shown through in vitro tests to naturally boost collagen synthesis and cell renewal for younger, more luminous looking skin.
Makeup applying camera
Panasonic has released a point-and-shoot camera, the Lumix DMC-FX77 that digitally airbrushes on makeup at the moment you take a photo -- no Photoshop necessary. Not only can it instantly add lipstick or eyeshadow, it can smooth complexions, reduce wrinkles, whiten teeth, erase dark circle and add a faux glow. That's right -- you'll never have an awful picture tagged on Facebook again -- well, that's if you invest in this little gadget. Beauty is officially in the eye of the [camera] beholder.
Accelerated skin renewal cream
The new and reengineered StriVectin-SD for Sensitive Skin Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks & Wrinkles, $79 uses a patented form of the skin nutrient Niacin (nicotinic acid) they call NIA-114 (a molecule discovered during skin cancer prevention research) to reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and stretch marks. How? Not to get too technical, but the increased levels of Niacin helps to stimulate repairing DNA, enhances cell turnover, and helps decrease hyperpigmentation. Together these changes help reduce the signs of aging. The kicker? This new formula does all of this without oils, fragrances, parabens or dyes, which helps keep skin calm and irritation free.
Ultrasound facelift
While I'm not in line for a facelift (yet), this sounds awesome. In an attempt to render the scalpel obsolete, a company called Ulthera has manufactured the first "energy-based device for aesthetics cleared by the FDA." It uses non-invasive ultrasonic imaging to lift and tighten skin on your face and neck.Ultherapy directs sound waves into the skin at the muscular level and heats the underlying tissue, which causes it to contract while aiding in the production of collagen. The procedure takes up to an hour with minimal downtime and costs $2,000 on average. And as with any novel cosmetic procedure, there are always risks that come with the benefits, so consult your doctor.
