"bliss the youth as we know it" Review

"bliss the youth as we know it" Anti-aging Face Cream vs. StriVectin-SD with SPF

One reader's anti-aging cream dilemma.

Is anyone familiar with "bliss the youth as we know it " by Bliss Spa? I have used it but can't tell if it is that or the StriVectin that is producing results.

My skin reacts well to the StriVectin which I use during the day since it has the sunscreen in it and then use "youth as we know it" at night.

An expensive regimen.

Star

What "bliss the youth as we know it" is Doing for Your Skin

"bliss the youth as we know it" face cream by Bliss Spa is an excellent formulation for anti-aging. It contains the strongest moisturizer known, Hyaluronic Acid, as well as several other top quality moisturizers (Glycerin, Shea Butter, Ceramide and Soluble Collagen).

It has Retinyl Palmitate for exfoliation.

Exfoliation with retinoids is one of the few clinically proven ways to stimulate growth of new collagen. Retinyl Palmitate needs to be present in a fairly high concentration (0.04 to 0.07%) to be effective.

We can't tell the exact concentration from the ingredient list alone; but Retinyl Palmitate is in the top half of the list - a good sign.

Finally, "bliss the youth as we know it" cream contains two anti-aging peptides: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. One of these is a plumping peptide and the other is a lifting peptide.

So "bliss the youth as we know it" is doing a terrific job of moisturizing your skin and supporting its glycan network. It is encouraging the sloughing of dead surface cells to reveal the younger fresher skin beneath; and its peptides are both plumping wrinkles from with and fighting glycation damage which causes the skin to sag.

What StriVectin-SD SPF is Doing for Your Skin

On a per ounce basis, it costs more than the original StriVectin-SD without sun protection. You could save a bit by buying the original SD and adding an SPF product during the day.

StriVectin-SD contains excellent moisturizers: the second strongest, Urea, and some of the same ones found in "bliss the youth as we know it" (Glycerin and Shea Butter). It too has Retinyl Palmitate in the top half of the ingredient list.

In addition, StriVectin-SD has temporary tighteners - good for daytime use: Algae Extract, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein and Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch; and a skin brightener/clarifier, Licorice Root Extract.

StriVectin-SD contains two anti-aging peptides: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4. Both of these are plumping peptides.

So StriVectin-SD with SPF is providing excellent broad spectrum sun protection and is doing an admirable job of temporary tightening and moisturizing. Its high concentration of plumping peptides explains why it has a reputation for erasing even old stretch marks and why it is considered effective for plumping and smoothing wrinkles. Finally it has Licorice Root Extract to even skin tone.

The Peptides Explained

Palmitoyl Oligo- (or Penta-) Peptide is one of the plumping peptides. By stimulating the growth of new collagen beneath the skin's surface, it has the effect of plumping wrinkles from within.

Both products contain Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, though StriVectin-SD contains a significantly higher concentration. As well, StriVectin-SD has a second plumping peptide, again very high in the ingredient list, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4. It's easy to see why StriVectin-SD has had success against stretch marks.

The other peptide found in the Bliss Spa product is Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. This is one of the lifting peptides.

Lifting peptides control the body's inflammatory response (as your own hormones did in younger days). The effect is to reverse sagging skin caused by out-of-control inflammation (glycation damage), thereby restoring skin elasticity and lifting facial contours.

Conclusion

I agree with you that your regimen is fairly expensive, but have you broken it down into the monthly cost?

For example, your 2-oz. size of Strivectin probably lasts two months and the 1.7 oz jar of bliss cream almost as long. Try staggering your purchases so that they fit into your budget better.

You could save money by buying the classic StriVectin-SD and adding another SPF product for day.

Your combination of "bliss the youth as we know it" face cream and StriVectin-SD is very serendipitous because it attacks wrinkles on two fronts: stimulating collagen growth to plump wrinkles from within; and fighting aging skin's out-of-control inflammatory response to stop and reverse the glycation damage which results in sagging skin.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.