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Confidence in a Cream has what it takes to be a wonderful moisturizer for normal to dry or combination skin. However, like many other skincare products from It Cosmetics, the formula contains fragrant oils that present a potential to irritate skin, especially because this moisturizer's scent lingers rather than fades.
Along with the fragrant oils that keep this from being recommended is the brand's choice of jar packaging. Confidence in a Cream is loaded with light- and air-sensitive ingredients that cannot bring their full benefit to skin when packaged in a jar. See More Info for details.
Revisiting the fragrant oils for a moment: The citrus oils—bergamot, grapefruit, and orange—pose a risk of causing what's known as a phototoxic reaction when skin is exposed to sunlight. This type of reaction can potentially cause brown discolorations, which we're almost certain you don't want! See More Info for the full story on this issue.
The fragrance and packaging are especially disappointing because Confidence in a Cream has an otherwise impressive formula. It contains several tried-and-true hydrating ingredients, lots of proven skin-restoring ingredients, antioxidants, and peptides that work together to help skin look and act younger. It feels good and leaves a fresh, dewy finish—a hallmark of more youthful skin.
Sadly, the missteps of this moisturizer don't allow us to recommend it, not when there are so many well-formulated moisturizers that don't present a high risk of irritation and come in better packaging. See our list of Best Moisturizers for the top picks!
- Creamy texture contains several tried-and-true hydrating ingredients.
- Contains lots of skin-restoring ingredients.
- Contains several antioxidants and peptides.
- Leaves a fresh, dewy-looking glow.
- Jar packaging won't keep the light- and air-sensitive ingredients stable once opened.
- Contains several fragrant oils known to irritate skinand their scent lingers.
- The citrus oils can cause a phototoxic reaction.
Jar Packaging & Anti-Aging Moisturizers: This anti-aging formula is packaged in a jar, which means the beneficial ingredients won't remain stable for long once it's opened. All plant extracts, almost all vitamins, antioxidants, and other state-of-the-art ingredients break down in the presence of air. Therefore, once a jar is opened and lets the air in, these important ingredients begin to deteriorate.
Jars are also unsanitary because you're dipping your fingers into them with each use, adding bacteria, which leads to further deterioration of the beneficial ingredients.
One critical factor in any anti-aging formula is the amount and the variety of antioxidants, signaling ingredients, and skin-restoring ingredients—the more the better. These ingredients function in a variety of ways to reduce the effects of the constant environmental stresses your skin experiences (Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012; The Journal of Pathology, 2007).
When shopping for an anti-aging moisturizer, the ingredients that provide the most benefit in treating wrinkles or other signs of aging are not stable in the presence of light and air, which is exactly what you expose them to when you take the lid off a jar (Pharmacology Review, 2013; Journal of Biophotonics, 2010).
Ingredients that Have Phototoxic Potential: This product contains citrus oils (bergamot, grapefruit, and orange) that are loaded with furanocoumarins (psoralen) and coumarins, a class of substances primarily responsible for what's known as a phototoxic reaction when skin is exposed to the sun. The potential result of UV exposure while wearing a product that contains them—even when wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen because none are 100% effective—is that skin may become discolored (Journal of Food and Agriculture, 2013; Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2007).
In addition to discolorations, these fragrant oils present a potential to irritate skin from their fragrance compounds, which can impair the production of healthy collagen and reduce the skin's ability to heal (Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008; American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003). Fragrance free is the best way to go for all skin types.
Strengths: Excellent color products, standout foundation and concealer options, impressive highlighters.
Weaknesses: Can be on the pricey side; has a few makeup products with exaggerated anti-aging claims.
IT Cosmetics (the IT stands for Innovative Technology) is the creation of Jamie Kern Lima, a former Miss USA pageant contestant and TV news anchor. Lima founded IT Cosmetics in 2008, selling her products in boutique stores and on QVC, then expanding into Canada in 2009. Since then, the line has gotten a lot of exposure with featured reports and stories on network television, including prominent mentions on the ABC reality show Dancing With the Stars.
The labels on most IT Cosmetics products reveal a variety of age-defying claims centered around ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, and collagen. Those are indeed great additions to any cosmetic product, but unfortunately, the combination of compact or jar packaging among the formulas that include those helpful ingredients isnt a good thing.
Air exposure compromises ingredients like antioxidants and peptides, rendering them useless. While that doesnt affect the quality of the makeup, it is worth noting if you were hoping for an anti-aging edge from IT Cosmetics antioxidant-boosted blush or powders.
Of course, IT Cosmetics does have products that are absolutely worth checking out. The line boasts an excellent range of color products, highlighters, foundations and many more worth consideration. As with any line that has a mix of standouts and caveats, shopping using our reviews to guide you is a great way to ensure youll at least get your moneys worth, and your skin will be the better for it.
For more information on IT Cosmetics, visit www.itcosmetics.com.
About the Experts
The Beautypedia team consists of skin care and makeup experts personally trained by the original Cosmetics Cop and best-selling beauty author, Paula Begoun. We’re fascinated by skin care and makeup products and thrilled when they meet or exceed our expectations, but we’re also disappointed when they fail to perform as claimed, are wildly overpriced, or contain ingredients scientific research has proven can hurt skin.
Our mission has always been to help you find the best products for your skin, no matter your budget or preferences. Beautypedia’s thorough and insightful reviews cut through the hype and provide reliable recommendations for all ages, skin types, and skin tones.
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