July 25, 2008
Flawless Foundations
Lycogel is the first gel-based foundation.
A new offering in the cosmetics market could fix those nagging skin problems in no time at all.Regardless of race, creed or religion, all women tend to worry about three major skin problems.
"There are several things that always come up, whether you're a celebrity or just someone trying to go to work in the morning," says Barry Knapp, a veteran makeup artist with 12 skincare brands under his belt. "It's always wrinkles, redness and discoloration."
Despite most people's unwillingness to admit skin problems, especially after a certain age when it seems that pimples should be a thing of the past, most women struggle with these issues all of their lives.
"20 million people have rosacea, but few of those will admit it," Knapp says. "Another 50 million people have acne, but only half of those will admit it. It's always 'I break out from time to time.'"
Unfortunately, what we normally use to cover up these flaws is also the culprit of so many skincare problems.
"Typically, makeup causes these conditions," Knapp says. "When you put stuff on your face, the skin can't breathe. Pores are looking for air, so they get larger. Your collagen elastin production is cut down to about 10 percent of what it should be."
"Women do that to their face every morning. They put on something that suffocates their skin and actually causes aging."
In light of this, Knapp set out to design a foundation that could not only mask problem skin, but also improve it. The result was Lycogel, the first gel-based foundation, and the Dermacia line. Lyco2, the main ingredient in both foundations, is a "breathable mesh" that "acts like a delivery system for active ingredients" like oxygen.
"[The products] speed up cellular turnover and get rid of conditions like acne and rosacea because your cells are functioning," Knapp adds.
To figure out how sensitive his product was, Knapp decided to test his latest venture on "the worst case scenario" before putting it on the market.
"I went to situations that were even worse than wrinkles and discoloration," Knapp says. "That was burns."
Knapp approached friends in plastic surgery and began testing his products on patients with second degree burns and those recovering from laser treatments and harsh chemical peels.
"One plastic surgery friend saw half the recovery time in patients who used Lycogel," he says.
Today, 3,000 doctors recommend Knapp's products, and he counts celebrities like Rachel Hunter and Teri Hatcher as fans.
Having been sent my own sample of Lycogel, I have nothing but praise to offer. After wearing the foundation for two days, my aunt approached me at a family gathering and brought her face just a few inches from my nose, "What's new here?" she said. "Your skin looks amazing."
"There are several things that always come up, whether you're a celebrity or just someone trying to go to work in the morning," says Barry Knapp, a veteran makeup artist with 12 skincare brands under his belt. "It's always wrinkles, redness and discoloration."
Despite most people's unwillingness to admit skin problems, especially after a certain age when it seems that pimples should be a thing of the past, most women struggle with these issues all of their lives.
"20 million people have rosacea, but few of those will admit it," Knapp says. "Another 50 million people have acne, but only half of those will admit it. It's always 'I break out from time to time.'"
Unfortunately, what we normally use to cover up these flaws is also the culprit of so many skincare problems.
"Typically, makeup causes these conditions," Knapp says. "When you put stuff on your face, the skin can't breathe. Pores are looking for air, so they get larger. Your collagen elastin production is cut down to about 10 percent of what it should be."
"Women do that to their face every morning. They put on something that suffocates their skin and actually causes aging."
In light of this, Knapp set out to design a foundation that could not only mask problem skin, but also improve it. The result was Lycogel, the first gel-based foundation, and the Dermacia line. Lyco2, the main ingredient in both foundations, is a "breathable mesh" that "acts like a delivery system for active ingredients" like oxygen.
"[The products] speed up cellular turnover and get rid of conditions like acne and rosacea because your cells are functioning," Knapp adds.
To figure out how sensitive his product was, Knapp decided to test his latest venture on "the worst case scenario" before putting it on the market.
"I went to situations that were even worse than wrinkles and discoloration," Knapp says. "That was burns."
Knapp approached friends in plastic surgery and began testing his products on patients with second degree burns and those recovering from laser treatments and harsh chemical peels.
"One plastic surgery friend saw half the recovery time in patients who used Lycogel," he says.
Today, 3,000 doctors recommend Knapp's products, and he counts celebrities like Rachel Hunter and Teri Hatcher as fans.
Having been sent my own sample of Lycogel, I have nothing but praise to offer. After wearing the foundation for two days, my aunt approached me at a family gathering and brought her face just a few inches from my nose, "What's new here?" she said. "Your skin looks amazing."
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