I’m not a huge believer in “age-specific” skin care. If you’re younger, apply anything that helps with acne; if you’re older, wear something that helps with hydration and has a ton of active ingredients. And, if you’re any age, wear sunscreen.
But, I’m nearing the big 4-0 (technically, I still have 2.5 years to go but I’m starting to see it pretty clearly hovering in the horizon) and my skin is not the same as it was a couple of years ago. There was such a long period of time where I was battling acne and oiliness that, even now, it’s hard for me test out anything that claims to help with hydration, firming or lifting, as I am forever in fear that if I introduce those into the mix, I will also be introducing some really serious breakouts.
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So when Shiseido told me about these two new products they were introducing this fall in its Bio-Performance line—a LiftDynamic Cream and Bio-Performance LiftDynamic Eye Treatment, both of which are specifically made for 40-something skin—I made the conscientious (yet still a little bit timid) decision that I was ready for the anti-aging big time.
As Kayoko Nakajima, research and development at Shiseido, told me, the company actually discovered weak areas of skin, called “sub-derm pockets,” that form within our skin’s structure, undermining it’s resilience and causing a loss of firmness and elasticity (yikes!). So the brand set out to focus on a way to refill the pockets—these cells assess the damage in the deeper layers and convert themselves into the type of cells that skin needs, for quick and intensive repair.
“We have been conducting research into the aging of the dermis for a period exceeding 30 years. As a part of this field, we have studied structural changes, such as sagging, that occur in the face along with the aging process for the past 10 years. This skin care research formed the foundation of the LiftDynamic series,” Nakajima says.
That’s a very long time to be researching one area of the face, and Nakajima admits in a broader sense, the science behind the new series can be regarded as a part of general anti-aging research, especially how it relates to the discovery of these dermal pockets.
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All of this sounds utterly fascinating, but for me, it’s the feel of the products, the results and the fact that it hasn’t made me break out even once that has me believing. For starters, the eye cream is a sort of lightweight-serum-type formula that glides seamlessly over makeup and will have everyone in your office believing that you just had the best night’s sleep of your life. The cream is a bit heavier than what I am typically used to, but it leaves my skin looking plumped, hydrated and just all-around better looking. Plus, it wears wonderfully under makeup.
The bottom line: Both products are amazing, have legit science to back them up and will make the foray into that 40-something-skin-care-user a lot more enjoyable.
