I must confess that when the nice people at Your Best Face told me with great excitement that they had mailed me a sample of their new facial oil, I did not jump for joy. I'm not big on oils for the skin - they seem too dry (paradoxically) or too oily (obviously) or a bit hippie dippie (somehow). Well, I suppose a good way to start the New Year is to admit that my prejudices were undeserved: YBF's Private Reserve ($75 for 1.7oz in the TIA shop) is a deceptively simply, versatile and very welcome addition to my bathroom.
With only four ingredients, two of them being hard-hitting antioxidants, Private Reserve is a refreshing change from all those complex formulations out there. It is oily, but not sticky or greasy. It makes a fantastic lip salve and I love knowing that I am not licking any nasty preservatives or other toxins.
The two antioxidant ingredients are spin trap and Lipochroman-6 and they are signature Your Best Face. Spin trap is a busy little molecule that stops free radicals in their tracks before they spin out of control and do no end of damage. Lipochroman-6 is a radical scavenger that is even more powerful than resveratrol. Together, they make Private Reserve perfect for use with LED light. LED although antioxidant over the long term has a short term pro-oxidant effect. Researchers have shown that this can be counteracted with a topical antioxidant. I smear on Private Reserve just prior to using my LED light.
Directions for use: Apply a few drops to damp skin and massage. May be used any time and easily combines with most other skin care and beauty products. If you have combo, oily or breakout-prone skin, finish with Balance or if your skin is extra dry and lacks moisture, finish with Boost.
Emily's Review (Posted on 4/8/12)
The Treatment Oil is, as several others have noted, a really delightful addition to the YBF line. I particularly liked Marta’s suggestion to apply it before LED sessions and have been using it with my Sirius Aurora red-light treatments – I’m very pleased with how easily it absorbs and leaves my face, post-Aurora, feeling smooth and plump. I’ve also used a couple of drops after my morning cleansing before a quick slather of YBF Boost and my face felt nicely hydrated all day without being oily. It didn’t get in the way of my makeup, either.
Cristina's Review (Posted on 4/2/12)
I didn’t know what to expect from Private Reserve, but I felt like it was probably something very special. I used it morning and night immediately after washing. It was very light, not at all greasy, and didn’t rub off on anything. It left a dewy finish, and my skin felt smooth and soft. A drop went a long, long way. I didn’t notice anything outstandingly different while using Private Reserve, but the whole experience felt like I was doing something good for my skin.
I really like the idea of using this product as my skin vitamin. I also feel that the longer I use this product, the softer and more radiant my skin will look. I can’t imagine what Private Reserve would have done had I started using it 20 years ago!
Ann's Review (Posted on 3/20/12)
I just discovered this, left over from an offer I purchased a few months back. I ran out of my usual all-over face serum, so thought I'd give it a try. It has replaced the other product. This little gem, what doesn't it do? I looked younger and fresher after the first application. I think the secret is, don't use too much. Press it in first and then lightly massage. I look airbrushed! I no longer even have pores! My skin is plumper and glossy. It is also a wonderful treatment after using the Palo Via laser. It is soothing and reduces redness. I wish all products were this simple and effective.
carole's Review (Posted on 3/7/12)
love the oil as part of my night time routine. i have the special edition with the rose scent, which smells soooo wonderful. after a few weeks, my skin is looking a lot better, esp under my eyes, which were particularly dry.
i started off by using it morning + night but broke out with some serious acne. cutting back to just night time has been a great move. my acne has completely disappeared, + my skin is starting to glow (may also be from my use of La Vie Celeste rich cream and La Vie Celeste facial wash, too).
definitely worth a try!
Vicky's Review (Posted on 2/15/12)
Love the ybf facial oil. It’s great with sirius led light and has made it’s way into my regular moisture routine. Less is more with this oil. I put a couple of drops on my fingertips and press into skin. then use more if needed. It absorbs better that way for me rather than massaging. I pat on some ybf Boost or La Vie Celeste rich cream a couple of minutes later. It’s really helping the dry winter skin. It can also be used over a serum that has had a few minutes to penetrate. My skin has another level of softness and suppleness since using the oil.
Ki G's Review (Posted on 1/1/12)
I was excited to try all the samples in my YBF stocking stuffer: I'm a dedicated Your Best Face Correct user, and was replenishing for the New Year but hadn't yet sprung for any other YBF products. I'm not a person who wants to do a lot of experimentation with a variety of products; just give me three things that work and I'll stick to them forever. But when I smoothed the single drop of YBF Private Reserve ($75 for 1.7oz in the TIA shop) on my skin, it was like the Skin Goddess had reached down and brushed my face with magic dew!
The oil is, on first touch, well, oily, spreading easily over the entire face. The smell is divine, sandalwood, and immediately relaxing. My 59 year old skin drank it up. I went to bed feeling like I had done something nice for myself, and when I woke up I wanted to do it again! For the next several days I used the oil morning and night, and found that it gave my skin such a smoothed and firmed look that soon I was snooping online to try and find when and where I could snag some more of this youth elixir. I think it is a hit product; I love putting oil on my skin anyway at my age, and this product is both simple, economical and lovely: no shine, but a light DEWINESS that looks fresh and healthy. And who doesn't need that?
I also totally love the sample of Prep, the YBF exfoliation product that left me glow-y after washing. So there's my 3 for 2011: Correct, Prep and Private Reserve and I am looking super fine and out the door in no time!
Meadowfoam seed oil, spin trap (phenyl butyl nitrone), Lipochroman-6 (dimethylmethoxy chromanol), sandalwood oil.