I never picked a word for 2017 but if I did, it would be this: HEALTH.
Because really, without health, who cares about strength and focus and spirit and drive. In fact, health complements all of those things. And without setting a word or even an intention, I’ve been quietly on a path to better health.
It started with a change in my diet that has not only helped me feel better but has and is continuing to help me lose unwanted fat. I’m slowly adding exercise back into my routine (baby steps, people). And I’m finally taking a few supplements because I’m finally caring more about what I put in my body and on my body.
One of the supplements I started when I got deathly ill in January (from a mystery virus that may or may not have been the flu) was a probiotic supplement. I was finishing up a strong antibiotic prescription for a sinus infection and starting a antiviral medication to hopefully combat the flu. My doctor recommended eating yogurt or taking a probiotic supplement to help replenish the good bacteria in my body.
Since I’m staying away from dairy and sugar, I went straight for the supplement aisle and have been taking the probiotics ever since. And I’m feeling good.
But here’s an interesting concept, especially if you’re a science nerd like me.
If probiotics are good at helping your good bacteria flourish in your gut, can they be helpful in other parts of your body?
That’s the question that Columbia Skincare asked and answered with their new line of probiotic-based products.
Instead of developing a skincare that would topically fix all of the signs of damaged or aging skin, they wanted to develop something that would work with your body’s natural ability to regenerate healthy skin cells.
The science behind Columbia Probiotics started six years ago when their R&D team began working on ways that natural ingredients could give burned skin the ability to rejuvenate itself. As with most scientific breakthroughs, their success in rejuvenating damaged skin also resulted in a happy accident of reducing signs of aging on healthy skin.
Since mid-February, I’ve been using two products to give it a try myself: Columbia Skincare Probiotic Concentrate and Columbia Skincare Probiotic Complex. As with any skincare review, I like to use it regularly for at least 2 weeks to see if I notice a difference. And I did.
They recommend that you apply both products daily, morning and evening. Admittedly, I only wash my face once a day so I kept up with my same routine and I still feel like I saw results. It involved washing with a gentle cleanser of your choice and applying the Columbia Skincare Probiotic Concentrate (which has the consistency of a serum) followed by the Columbia Skincare Probiotic Complex (a rather thick jar of moisturizer).
Here’s what I found.
Within the first week, the texture of my skin worsened. It simply had a rougher than normal appearance – no blemishes or breakouts. But I kept up with the product and by the second week, I started seeing a difference that has continued on while I still use the product.
Their motto is Renew – Protect – Beautify and their promise is this:
A scientific breakthrough that increases the production of antimicrobial peptides to improve skin luminosity and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
But the proof is in the the pictures.
The first photo below was taken in the Orlando airport just before I headed home from a Disney cruise. Although I was tired, I had time to relax, sit in the sun, and escape the dryness of winter – all the things that usually make my skin glow.
The second photo was taken at home during my regular routine, about a week into my skincare change.
The last photo was taken over this past weekend and I’m pretty happy with the changes I’m seeing.
If you’re like me, you might have some questions.
Did you use filters or retouching apps on any of those photos?
Nope. They are all me, au naturale.
Isn’t the lighting different?
In all photos, I used available natural lighting.
Did this somehow alter your hair?
While it may look that way, I simply got a haircut while using these products.
Why do you look so miserable?
I have to admit that I’ve fallen into the trap of not smiling because it make all the wrinkles show up. But really, I just wanted an expression that was similar in all my photos. I’m not really miserable. I swear.
Does it smell like yogurt?
Good question. The Probiotic Concentrate does have a strong smell when applying. Nothing that offended me and nothing that laster for more than a few seconds on my skin. The Probiotic Complex didn’t have a smell at all.
Does this “miracle cream” come at a cost?
Well, I never said beauty was cheap. The Probiotic Concentrate has an ARV of $190 and the Probiotic Complex has an ARV of $165. But I still stand by my philosophy that I’ll pay any price if it’s something that works. But if you are interested in either product, you can purchase them directly from ColumbiaProbiotics.com. If you purchase either probiotic product and use the code ProbioticGift at checkout, you’ll also receive a FREE moisturizing cream (a $38 value!).
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Any questions? I’m happy to answer but I’m genuinely pleased with “the world’s first patent pending product of its kind.” And I’m happy to share future photos as I keep using these products until every last drop is gone!
Now if they’ll just come up with a restorative eye cream, I’ll be a customer for life!
Disclosure: Columbia Skincare provided complimentary samples of the Probiotics Complex and Concentrate for review.
