Have you seen those commercials where wrinkly clothes simply need a spritz of Wrinkle Release and suddenly they're smooth without a single crease to be found?

Fresh Chemistry's Wrinkle Release Peptide Serum follows the same theme, targeting fine lines and wrinkles with a potent mix of hyaluronic acid, olive oil, Cacay nut oil, peptides, lavender oil and marine elixir.

I was sent Fresh Chemistry's Wrinkle Release with Marine Plus ($75). Wrinkle Release is also sold without the Marine Plus ($62.)

The larger bottle contains the serum base, which is a blend of 3 kinds of olive oil, hyaluronic acid and mica. It's definitely sparkly, and as someone with combination skin, I was worried that the shimmer would add to my shine.

Step 2, 3 and 4 all come separated in their own glass vials. You add them to the base, shake it up and then it's ready for use. Once mixed, it's best to use this serum up within 4 weeks.

I personally love lavender, and this serum is lightly scented. The scent fades once the serum is applied to your face. But this lavender oil is present for more than just scent and stress-relief.

Lavender oil has known benefits of reducing wrinkles, fighting acne, and soothing skin.

This serum applies so smooth, I swore it had dimethicone in it. But it doesn't. I've never had a serum feel so amazing on my skin like this.

This serum is not greasy either, despite the cacay and olive oils. It quickly absorbed into my skin, making it feel supple and soft almost immediately.

My worries about the shimmer quickly went away, as the mica creates a blurring effect when applied versus looking like glitter. Flaws appear minimized upon application because of the magic of this blurring effect.

So is it just an optical illusion? Did my wrinkles really go away?

Wrinkles never go away friends. However this serum packs an ultra moisturizing punch that all skin needs. There were days I even went without adding a moisturizer because this serum did the work of two products.

Healthy, hydrated skin + hyaluronic acid lessens how deep wrinkles look, while the blurring from the mica makes you look refreshed and youthful.

I personally loved this serum and found myself saving it for use when I knew I'd be taking pictures or social gatherings - basically when I wanted people to remark on how great I looked. :)

You can find this serum, and their Glow Getter serum, at www.freshchemistry.com.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Trophy Skin. Review and opinions are my own.

Blackheads on my nose and chin have long been an issue for me since my teen years. Having oily skin for most of my life, and not a good skin care routine in my younger years, created a perfect storm for my pores.

Now in my mid-40's and losing skin elasticity by the day (it seems), means those large pores can appear even larger when clogged. Add in now having "mature skin" (yes, I am literally doing air quotes), means my skin has a tendency to get dry in some spots leaving my skin looking dull.

In between monthly spa facials, I began using Trophy Skin's LaBelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula to unclog my pores, and exfoliate my skin without ever applying a scrub or mask to do so. If you've been wondering about this beauty tool, read on for my review!

What's Included:

The LaBelle device, charging adapter, storage case, and user manual. Mine also came with a promo for a free travel size skin care item (I plan to get their Argan Stem Cell Serum.)

How it Works:

The LaBelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula is a professional grade extraction, exfoliation and infusion beauty device. It has two modes - scrubber mode and infusion mode.

Scrubber Mode is the mode in which you are exfoliating, deep cleaning and extracting dirt and debris; you do this with your face wet. But don't be fooled by the name - you aren't physically applying pressure to scrub your skin. The LaBelle does all of the work for you with ultrasonic waves moving at 30,000 Hz.
Infusion Mode is used after Scrubber Mode and aids in deeper infusion of your serum. You'll be able to accomplish both modes in under 5 minutes. Recommended use is 1-2 times per week the first few weeks and then 2-3 times per week once your skin is used to it.

My Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect of this skin spatula and I made sure not to read other reviews prior to using it so that I could form my own opinion on its use.

It easily fits in your hand and comes in a handy case for storage. My device was fully charged, so that made for a great out-of-the-box use. The manual is very easy to understand, so you don't have to be a professional to use this beauty device.

I was a little awkward the first time I used it when trying to make sure I was using the correct side of the device for scrubbing and then for infusion; I kept referring back to the manual as I used it. I even put way too much water on my face the first time causing the ultrasonic waves to gently bounce a spray of water into the air, scaring the life out of me and making me laugh out loud. My kids wondered what in the world I was up to.

After the first use, it was smooth sailing and I really liked that this was a super quick skin treatment and didn't require much from me.

Scrubber Mode

As you glide the spatula across your skin in Scrubber Mode, you'll watch the dirt and debris on your skin seem to effortlessly lift and find its way onto the spatula. It was oddly satisfying to watch, especially since I really wasn't doing any physical labor to make it happen. You do have to make sure to keep your skin wet when using it or you do feel the pulsing slightly. It doesn't hurt, but it makes you aware that the water has evaporated off your skin.

Scrubber Mode only took about 90 seconds to use - it's very quick! I paid special attention to my nose and chin since those are my main problem areas when it comes to blackheads and being prone to blemishes. You can use the device anywhere on your face, but you do have to keep it away from your eyes.

If you have an active breakout, you need to avoid that area as well. When you are done, make sure to wipe the spatula clean (it will have lots of gunk on it) and wash your face with warm water, patting dry when done.

Infusion Mode

This is the second button on the LaBelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula. First pat on your favorite skin serum (do not rub it in as you want it lying wet atop your skin.) Next, press the Infusion button and lie the flat end of the spatula on your skin moving in circular motions.

Do not apply pressure as you do this, as the ultrasonic waves will do the work for you just like it does for Scrubber Mode. You'll begin to feel when the serum has absorbed as you move across your face. This mode took maybe 45-60 seconds at most.

Does the Skin Spatula Work?

I was pleasantly surprised at the difference in the appearance of my skin after the first use. I watched with my own eyes as it removed the dirt and oil, and then delivering my serum deeper really seemed to help soften some of my wrinkles due to being well-hydrated.

For the two months that I have had the chance to use this product, my face has not been dry at all and I haven't had a break out at all. I'm really impressed, but I almost feel guilty in a way because it was very little work to see such great results.

So does it work to improve your skin? It did for me! Try it for yourself at TrophySkin.com. 

This is a Sponsored post. Opinions are my own. 

As you get older, your skin care needs change. With so many products vying for our attention, it's easy to get overwhelmed. So how do you narrow it down? I recently was given the opportunity to have a 30 minute skin care consultation with Jan Marini. Jan Marini is a leading educator, innovator, and skincare product researcher. I've never actually prioritized my skin care issues, so having the ability to chat with Jan really helped me to understand how to be selective when choosing the right products for my needs.

Skin Concerns

Mature skin (40+) Sun damage with Melasma-like patches and dark spots Deep and fine wrinkles Some areas of skin redness Sagging skin, especially under the eyes and jowls and neck Large pores on and around my nose Honestly, I could've totally picked apart my skin and gave her even more things I wish would change, but decided to stick to the primary concerns.

Skin Care Product Recommendations

Based on the above, Jan recommended her Skin Care Management System in addition to two extra products. (All pictured above.) These products included: BIOGLYCOLIC® FACE CLEANSER, C-ESTA® SERUM, BIOCLEAR® LOTION, TRANSFORMATION FACE CREAM, ANTIOXIDANT DAILY FACE PROTECTANT SPF 33, Hyla3D, and Marini Luminate® Face Lotion.

In talking with Jan, she's not a fan of manually scrubbing your face to exfoliate, as it creates other issues like inflammation and micro-tears and scarring. Jan recommends resurfacing. Resurfacing goes after superficial imperfections – fine lines, acne, tackles roscea, skin texture issues; it gives that glow to skin.

Resurfacing uses an acid, like glycolic acid (the smallest alpha hydroxy acid), which stimulates collagen. You may know resurfacing by another term, chemical exfoliation. Chemical, what the what? It doesn't mean it's bad. All things are chemical after all, like dihydrogen monoxide... or as us common folks know it - water.

But back to chemical exfoliants. So I've already mentioned glycolic acid, which is my fave because it melts away the build up in your pores, however, Jan Marini's Bioclear Lotion does a hat trick with a combination of glycolic, salicylic and azelaic acid. I have combination to oily skin, so this is perfect for my skin type and tackles a multitude of sins (fine lines, wrinkles, redness, acne scarring, large pores and uneven texture.)

Jan told me that it is for this very reason, that her Bioclear Lotion is her hero product. It is can used by many different skin types while covering a large majority of skin concerns. Something to note about the Bioclear Lotion - it's more of a serum consistency than a lotion (see photo above.) You only need 2 drops to cover your face and neck, so a little goes a long way. The Hyla3D and Marini Luminate® Face Lotion are must-haves for aging skin. Pro-active skin care should begin in your early 20's, as that is when you begin to lose hyaluronic acid. So by the time you're in your 40's, you're really feeling and seeing it by way of volume loss and fine lines and wrinkles. 

Hyla3D restores moisture back to the skin and reduces the appearance of those lines. Her Face Lotion contains non-staining tumeric to lighten pigmentation and retinol. Just for the record, at this age there is no reversal of lines and wrinkles. Even Botox is just a temporary fix. So finding the right skin care products that help minimize are important, just as much as avoiding the ones that contribute to exacerbating your skin issues.

Jan Marini Skin Research has been around for 23 years. Constantly researching, developing innovative and transformative products from the beginning – technologies that have medical validations - are how Jan and her team create products that are truly effective.

Jan told me that she reads medical journals because there is a lot that relates to how we age, such as diabetes. She has a dedication to marketplace, education, and wanting to provide technologies that truly address skin care issues, not just cover them up.

We were both on the same page that you should see your skin as an investment and as such, really do the research on the products that would benefit you most. I explained that I would much rather use a $100 product that gets it right the first time than to buy five $20 products that are ineffective, waste my time and end up collecting dust in my cabinet.
I learned quite a bit during this consultation, such as that you need to use a separate sunscreen from your moisturizer and that they should not be in the same product. Sunscreen in moisturizer would have to be the majority of the product, which means you are doing more protecting than moisturizing and as such, you may then think a product doesn't work because it hasn't addressed your skin's lack of moisture and abandon it.

We live in a want it now world and have high standards for our skin care products. Must fade discoloration, clear out blackheads, hydrate where necessary, mattify in the T-zone, reverse wrinkles, prevent sun damage and bake us a cake.

While some of the products Jan Marini has does address a lot of issues, she was very firm that sunscreen has to be worn on its own to help protect the skin from future damage.

Which, by the way, if you have a lot of hyperpigmentation and dark spots like I do, you will want to try her C-ESTA Face Serum. It has Vitamin C and DMAE. It's very liquidy in texture (so not really what you are used to for serum), but its thin consistency makes it great to be able to use a little and spread out across your face/neck.

So far I really like her products. I've only been using them twice per day for a month now. Having been around the block and knowing that addressing skin care issues, especially hyperpigmentation, takes a good 10-12 weeks. Give it a try for yourself.

I'll be honest, I was not very familiar with the world of cosmetic ultrasound treatments when I decided to try the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device. Upon doing my research, I learned that ultrasound is a non-surgical/non-invasive treatment that counteracts the effects of time and gravity on your skin.

Ultrasound uses the body's own regenerative response to gently and gradually lift skin on the eyebrow, under the chin and on the neck, and smooth lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.  It can improve the appearance of moderately loose or sagging skin by depositing focused ultrasound energy below the surface to stimulate the body’s creation of new collagen.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device promises the benefits of a professional cosmetic ultrasound spa treatment in the comfort of your own home whenever you so desire and at a fraction of the price. 

After receiving my Mira-Skin Ultrasound, I used it for a month before writing this review. The issues I was aiming to treat with this device were dry dull skin, acne scars and skin that just seemed tired looking.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device is extremely easy to use. After cleaning my face, I just followed the simple directions and applied the Mira-Skin Hyaluronic Serum to my skin. The serum helps skin to retain moisture, which lends to a plumping effect in the skin. 

After applying the serum, I then applied the Conductive Gel to my face and glided the ultrasound device across my skin. It's the ultrasound waves that help to break up and lift dead cells and boosts the performance of the anti-aging nutrients in the serum.

I then just applied my regular moisturizer, as usual. Serum's role is to help bring your moisturizer deeper into your skin as well, allowing for both products' ingredients to work to their full potential.

After the first use my skin immediately looked more hydrated.  After about a week of using the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device for about ten minutes three times per week, my skin looked rejuvenated, hydrated and smooth. 

After one month of using the ultrasound device, a lot of my acne spots have faded and I am hoping with continued use they will fade even more.

My skin looks brighter, feels more supple, I have noticed my face is a lot less puffy in the mornings and best of all, except for one or two minor pimples, my acne issues seem to be a thing of the past.

I have to be honest and admit that I was really skeptical about the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device, especially after using it for the first time.  Because I didn't feel any vibrations, or tingling...or really anything. It seemed too easy and I didn't think it would work, but I have seen a huge improvement in my skin in the past month.

This device is definitely worth investing in and the very minimal time it takes to use it just a handful of times per week to see such a difference.

Disclosure: Press sample

Are you in search of a facial exfoliant that can tighten, brighten and smooth skin? More importantly, one with the least amount of ingredients - yet the most effective ones? Since I'm now in the mature skin category (that makes me feel old), my skin is in need of something that will exfoliate my skin while helping it to regain its youthful glow. I'm also a big believer in less is more, which is something you'll rarely find when reading product labels. So I was pleasantly surprised when I received SILK Therapeutics Silk Renewing Peel. The ONLY ingredients in this peel are: Water, silk, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and lemongrass essential oil. The end. Additionally, the silk in all SILK Therapeutics skin care products is real silk in liquid form. That's important to mention because most brands use hydrolyzed silk, sericin or silk powder, but these are actually silk waste byproducts or genetically altered proteins that don't render the same skin care benefits like pure silk does. Did I mention that this is a US brand and that their products are not tested on animals? That's just as important to me. The Silk Renewing Peel is considered an intense treatment that is for once a week use. The fragrance from the lemongrass essential oil is revitalizing and invigorating - I love it. The texture of this peel is a gel that isn't sticky or tacky. It comes with a small spatula to scoop the gel out with (you don't want your fingers introducing bacteria into the jar.) While the box says to use a dime size amount, I had to use a little bit more in order to cover my entire face and neck. Your skin will experience a tingling sensation with this peel, but it's not painful. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to patch test this product before applying it to your entire face (and don't worry - they have a no questions asked full refund policy should it be too much for you.) This skin renewing treatment should be left on the skin no longer than 10 minutes. For me, I found around 6 minutes to be good as the gel began to dry a little on my skin. Rinse off with water and pat dry (I used a wash cloth to make sure I removed all of the peel), then apply your serum, eye cream and moisturizer. I loved how utterly soft my skin felt after rinsing off the peel and how the glycolic acid dissolved the hardened oil in my clogged pores. The glow was apparent. I recommend doing this peel at night when you do your evening beauty routine, so that you get the max benefits while your skin is repairing itself while you sleep. Silk Therapeutics Professional Use Only products are launching in select spas across the country. The full skin care line is available for purchase online at www.silktherapeutics.com. Have you tried this peel yet, or other products from SILK? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press sample