STAGES of BEAUTY is committed to keeping our skin looking as young and beautiful as possible. An anti-aging skin-care line, STAGES of BEAUTY is focused on fulfilling all the changing needs of a woman's skin throughout her life, starting in her 20s and moving through the decades into the 50s and beyond.Biological changes happen like clockwork. Many skin-care brands fail to consider age in their formulations. They want you to believe that one size fits all. STAGES of BEAUTY understands that some of us are fighting against more than acne or more than wrinkles. Many other changes are occurring, like increased sun sensitivity (triggering sun spots and spider veins), dulling complexions, and thinning and thirsty skin, just to name a few of the symptoms women experience.
To please every age group, STAGES of BEAUTY offers different products for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50+. Here's why. Isn't a photo worth a thousand words? You can click on the graph to see an enlarged view.
Unfortunately, my age group has the lowest levels of everything - moisture, thickness, collagen, immunity, and the ability to repair itself. Sigh! That's why I jumped at the chance to test the company's products for women who are 50+.
Grace Treatment Cream ($74.99) from STAGES OF BEAUTY is targeted to women in their 50s or beyond. In a word, it's love. It is packed with key ingredients to help give you a beautiful, youthful glow and the best moisturizing and treatment results. As an extra-added benefit, the cream is fragrance-free and formulated for the most sensitive skin. That means no harsh chemicals or irritation, just results that you will love.
What's in it? From the company's Web site, I know it has these ingredients.
Sorghum Extract
Derived from a vegetable extract, it provides immediate skin tightening and helps form a stretching film on the surface of the skin to provide an immediate and durable tightening effect
Amino Acid Complex
A bioactive complex that helps counteract environmental skin damage. Helps stimulate, protect, and repair our skin's DNA. Comprised of:
- Acetyl Tyrosine, which helps speed and promote the repair of free radical damage to the skin's DNA; and
- Adenosine Triphosphate, an energy booster that helps speed up DNA repair reactions and helps stimulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
A synergistic blend that has been shown to effectively reinforce the skin's self-protection system against dehydration, oxidative stress, irritation, and degradation of the extra-cellular matrix. It consists of Japanese honeysuckle flowers, Siberian cocklebur fruits, and the purple nuts edge rhizome.
Monk's Pepper Berry Extract
An antioxidant complex shown to help dramatically improve the vitality and appearance of the skin. Specifically, it helps:
- Fight the appearance of all signs of aging;
- Promote a radiant, healthy glow;
- Increase hydratio; and
- Protect the skin from free radical damage.
A botanical compound and powerful antioxidant found in the skins of red grapes. Many studies on this polyphenol have indicated its potential as an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and UVB protection. It protects collagen by:
- Inhibiting enzymes that degrade collagen; and
- Supporting existing collagen structures.
A form of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a major component of the extra-cellular matrix of the skin that helps with the retention of moisture. In fact, HA is a sponge, holding many times its weight in water. It is one of the most sought-after hydration ingredients in the industry. With age, naturally-occurring HA decreases, leading to dryer skin. Applying topically, it:
- Reinforces the skin's natural short- and long-term hydration;
- Improves the barrier function of the skin;
- Significantly improves elasticity; and
- Reduces skin roughness and the appearance of wrinkles.
Anti-aging peptide that helps stimulate collagen and elastin production. A unique peptide sequence based on the skin's own structure that has shown potential in its ability to counterbalance the degradation of the extra-cellular matrix of the skin as well as its ability to stimulate collagen synthesis.
There's more in the product line: apple stem cell extract (stems cells are the rage in skin care), prickly pear extract, seaweed extract. If you have been paying attention to ingredients, these are being used by a few luxury (read very highly priced) brands in their newest products. It's an all-star line-up.
I am a serial tester, meaning I only test one skin-care product in its category at a time. I have tested Grace Treatment Cream for three weeks - the only moisturizer I've used in that time. That way, I know that any improvement in my skin has been due to Grace. My verdict? I love it! It competes nicely with other moisturizers I have used in the last year, some of which cost many times what Grace costs. During my test period, I have never felt or looked dry, and my skin has been very happy. The medium-weight cream with a glorious texture absorbs quickly. Makeup applies extremely well over it. When I take my morning shower, I can feel the protective application on my skin from the night before; I like that proof that the treatment cream is still working for me. I am seriously happy with the company's refusal to do animal testing. That's the right thing to do.
When you go to the STAGES of BEAUTY Web site, you are going to see that the 50+ products are available, along with the treatment creams for all age groups. The rest of the products are labeled "coming soon." I am pleased to report that the rest of the products will be available next week. I assume the company started with those of us who need the most help!
If you are looking for new skin care, you really should check out STAGES of BEAUTY. The company is devoted to "doing the right thing" for our skin (and the animals), they use state-of-the-art ingredients, and their price points are so competitive, you would be missing a bet by not trying the products for your skin's age. The brand was created by a woman with a degree in chemical and biological engineering from MIT. Passionate about skin care, she saw that few brands actually catered to all of our skin's anti-aging needs throughout life. As they say, it's skin care as dynamic as we are! You have nothing to lose because the company offers a 14-day free trial. Don't take my word for it. Head over to the Web site to learn more. Some of you have told me recently that your skin is in transition. This may be the right line for you.
Photos courtesy of STAGES of BEAUTY