In early 2017, I saw a photo of myself, gasped and put my foot down. I was overweight and had lost the sparkle in my eye. I started working out that April and instantly felt my mood shift; within a few months, I was feeling stronger and losing a pound or two every week.
When I incorporated a healthier eating plan that summer, everything changed. The weight started falling off even faster, my brain fog disappeared and I felt more like myself than I had in years. I looked younger, too. I mean, we all know that staying active and a cleaner lifestyle helps fight aging and contribute to beautiful skin, right? Now I was living proof.
The problem is that a lot of us are so busy looking after everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. Neglect is ugly on so many levels.
While I was really good at scheduling gym appointments and making sure I was taking time to meal plan, grocery shop and cook from scratch, I’d somehow let a committed skin-care routine fall by the wayside. It had lost its priority status because all of my efforts in the gym and in the kitchen already gave my skin an advantage. But I knew I could do better.
Even though I have heaps of products on my vanity, I’ve been pretty brutal with consistency. And with my 43rd birthday coming soon, there’s maturing skin with a bit of perimenopausal fun thrown in for good measure beating down my door.
So when L’Oréal asked me to give its new Revitalift Cicacream a whirl, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to spend time focusing on my skin health — which is just as important as exercise and nutrition.
And for someone who rarely wears makeup, bright and clear skin is important!
For me, it’s all about having a routine and creating habits. If I get in the habit of climbing into bed at night before washing my face, let me tell you: I’ll do that for weeks. (OK, truth bomb: maybe months.)
Want my top Pro Tip? I use the alarm on my phone for everything that needs to be habit-forming, which is exactly what I do for the gym and what I started doing the past week when introducing Cicacream into my life. I had to go into this thinking of it as fitness for my face.
I’ve had my alarm set every morning and every night to be sure the hustle and bustle of making lunches and getting kids out the door for school or getting myself off to work or any of the dozens of errands I run in a given week wouldn’t get in the way of my Cicacream routine.
Simplicity has been key. All I’ve done is use my Warsh Cloth (no face wash required) twice a day to clean my face and follow it with a dollop of Cicacream. Don’t forget your neck! It’s one of my problem areas — my aging really shows there — and this anti-aging product has definitely made a difference in the fine lines on my décolletage inside of a week.
Although I’ve had good results from retinol-based products before, they can be expensive and harsh on my sensitive skin. Not this one. This well-priced cream, which can be used day and night, also features natural ingredients, which is important to me.
How does L’Oréal Revitalift Cicacream work? I’m so glad you asked. 😉
In addition to the Pro Retinol in it, Cicacream contains a natural plant-based ingredient called Centella Asiatica. Known in Chinese medicine as Tiger Grass, it’s an herb that got its nickname from a legend about a Bengal tiger rolling around its leaves to heal its own wounds. Tiger Grass has been used for centuries as a natural wrinkle remedy and helps prevent the signs of aging by creating collagen production and regenerating blood vessels; it acts like a barrier to the skin. Cool, right?! It’s even considered one of the most important plants for Ayurvedic healers.
With Cicacream, it’s all about being preventive.
My sensitive skin has been in gentle hands with this paraben- and fragrance-free cream. And I’m happy to report that there hasn’t been a single breakout, which can be a problem for me with new products. My skin feels hydrated and supple, and I’m excited to see what the results will be like at the end of the recommended four-week course. Especially on my neck.
A 50mL tube (perfect for air travel, BTW) is only about $29, and you don’t need to use a lot so it should last for a couple of months. Compared to what I’ve spent on other moisturizers, this is a steal! Especially when you consider that it’s the first anti-aging cream recommended by the Canadian Dermatology Association*.
I’ve always said that when it comes to aging, I’m not going down without a fight. Turns out, I don’t have to. I just needed a little Tiger Grass in my life.
*Mass market.
DISCLAIMER: I was compensated for this post, but I really did use just Cicacream to be able to provide authentic results. All opinions are still my own — you know I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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