Luminesce & Arbonne

This is the fourth blog post in our series about Skin Love.  Before we begin, here is our disclaimer:  

Pink Ink will not endorse one specific product.  We will present the facts as diplomatically as possible and allow you an opportunity to choose which product line works best for you.  We strongly do endorse small business and therefore we would hope that you would check out one of the representatives from the product lines we talk about and offer them an opportunity to have you fall in love with their product and develop a long lasting business relationship.  After all, when we support small business we are supporting our very own communities!  At the end of the series there will be a chart with all information presented summarized.  

Ok, so here we go!

The two skin care lines that we are going to look at are Luminesce and Arbonne.  The retail price follows each description of the product.  Keep reading though because you NEVER have to buy retail!!

What you need to know about the Luminesce skin care line:  Luminesce is part of the Jeunesse family of products and is the recipient of the Direct Selling Association's Rising Star Award.  It does not only address skin care issues from the outside but also deep within the layers of skin - going down to the Dermis.  (Remember our first two blogs on Skin love?  If not, go and check them out!)  The products are reportedly infused with over 220 growth factors(the language that cells use to communicate).  The Jeunesse family of products rejuvenate skin cells at a molecular level and therefore only has one skin care line as opposed to multiple skin care lines.

The set is comprised of five products - The Youth Restoring Cleanser, the Cellular Rejuvenation Serum, the Daily Moisturizing Complex, the Advance Night Repair and the Ultimate Lifting Masque.   

Youth Restoring Cleanser:  This cleanser restores the skin's natural brilliance by detoxifying deep within the cells. The ingredients are formulated to maintain the nutrients and moisture needed to support cell renewal. We tried it and we liked it.  It thoroughly cleaned the face and removed makeup and impurities.

Retails at $44.95

Cellular Rejuvenation Serum:

This is the most popular product in the Luminesce skin care line.  It reportedly has the highest percentage of growth factor complex to encourage cell renewal.  After using this product we could feel the product working.  My cheeks tingled (good tingling - smile).  We could feel this product at work.  Like most people, we found this product very effective.  Also, we could feel the skin tighten (good for those of us experiencing sagging skin).  This product is definitely anti-aging! 

Retails at $134.95

Daily Moisturizing Complex:

This is the daytime moisturizer in this product line.  After using the serum, this product truly moisturized our skin leaving it feeling hydrated and very soft.  The makers of this product report that the growth factor complex helps to revive cells in the skin to help with an age-defying glow.

Retails at $69.95 

Advance Night Repair:

This is the night time moisturizer for the Luminesce line.  I can say that my skin felt very hydrated with this product.  You should know, that when you sleep your body is busy repairing the damage of the day and rejuvenating itself.  This cream works hardest at night when you are sleeping - the same time that cellular renewal is most active.  It helps correct environmental damage and aids the skin in it's self-restoration!  Smart huh?

Retails at $99.95

Ultimate Lifting Masque:

I LOVE MASQUES!!!!  I truly have not met a masque I have not loved - lol.  The Luminesce masque is light but effective.  It truly does tighten the skin.  Easy to remove.

Retails at $69.95  

Pink Ink Thoughts:  This is definitely a high-end product.  It is gentle, unscented (which is important for those of us who are sensitive to scents) and you can feel it working on your skin.  If you want tightening and thorough cleansing yet gentle for any type of skin - this is your product.  

Benefits of using Luminesce:  There is a 30 day money back guarantee.  If you use all of the product and you do not like it you can get a refund with certain conditions met (letter stating why, original invoice, original bottle with box).  The product has been known to help people with the following skin conditions: teenage acne, dehydration, sun spots, deep wrinkles, skin tags, psoriasis, excema, adult acne, large pores, uneven skin tone etc...

Packaging:  The packaging mirrors the high quality of the product. The colors used are steel grey and cobalt blue with strong but feminine fonts.  This would be appealing to both men and women.  

Price Point:  Please see chart below.                                                  

Preferred Customer:

There is a preferred customer program with Luminesce.  When you meet with your Luminesce distributor, they will give you a personalized Jeunesse web address.  You sign up, order your product and just like that, you are a Preferred Customer!!  ALSO as a Preferred customer if you decide that you want to share the product with your friends you get additional benefits.  

Products	Retail	Preferred - Purchase	Preferred - Autoship	Wholesale
Luminesce Serum	$135.95	$121.45	$107.95	$83.95
Luminesce Advance Night Serum	$99.95	$89.95	$79.95	$69.95
Luminesce Daily Moisturizing Complex	$69.95	$62.95	$55.95	$49.95
Luminesce Youth Restoring Cleanser	$44.95	$40.95	$35.95	$29.95
Luminesce Essential Body Renewal	$59.95	$53.95	$47.95	$39.95
Luminesce Ultimating Lifting Masque	$69.95	$62.95	$55.95	$49.95

So you now know about Luminesce, let's look at Arbonne!

Arbonne:

We had the pleasure of using the RE9 set for a few weeks.  You know a product works when you can see differences in your skin before the 4-6 week mark (remember we were telling you that your skin “sheds” every 4-6 weeks allowing new skin to show through.  Therefore the skin you see today is not necessarily the skin you will see in 4-6 weeks).  So here are our thoughts on the Arbonne RE9 set.

Arbonne is a company that reports that all of their products are botanically based and free from harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates and SLSs.  What are those?  Well, apparently they are not good.  Parabens are a type of preservative found in cosmetics.   Phthalates are primarily found in nail products, solvents for dyes, and a plasticizer to help keep nail polish from becoming brittle. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent found in many cleaning and cosmetic products (these chemicals, when used at high levels, have been linked to dangerous health issues.  To read more about these chemicals and how they impact our bodies please go to www.davidsuzuki.org).

The Arbonne products are formulated in Switzerland and made in Irvine Califronia.  They have been around for over 30years and their slogan is that their products are safe, pure and beneficial.  They report that they are 100% vegan and gluten free.

This is a 6 piece set consisting of Cleanser, Toner, Serum, Eye Cream, Day Cream and Night Cream.

RE9 Advanced Smoothing Facial Cleanser Crème – This product provides effective smoothing and renewing of the skin surface for soft, supple skin.  It can last up to six months.  You truly only have to use a little.  It is fragrance free but it has a citrus smell – likely from the ingredients used to formulate the product.  Trust me though, it is not overpowering at all! 

Retail:  52.00

RE9 Advanced Regenerating Toner  - this is reportedly an antioxidant rich, ph balanced mist with vitamins A, C,  and E (Dr. Oz says we must ACE our face everyday so Arbonne helps us do that!).  These vitamins help to regenerate the skin tone and firmness to deliver younger looking skin.

Retail:  $44.00

RE9 Advanced Intensive Renewal Serum – This product has collagen supporting ingredients that visibly firm and lift the skin while diminishing the appearance of fine lines.

Retail:  $69.00

RE9 Advanced Restorative Day Crème SPF 20 – Hydrates the skin and it also has ingredients that support collagen and protect and restore skin’s youthful appearance.  Arbonne also has an RE9 Advanced Extra Moisture Restorative Day Crème with SPF 20 for drier skin.

Retail:  $61.00

RE9 Advanced Night Repair Crème   - This crème is going to work while you go to sleep.  It will help to repair skin and restore a youthful appearance while it supports the collagen in your skin.  How?  It is full of a blend of botanicals and concentrated vitamin C.

Retail:  $102.00

The entire set is $395.00.  If you are a Preferred Customer, the set is $240.00.

Products	Retail	Preferred Customer
RE9 Advanced Smoothing Facial Cleanser	$52.00	$41.60
Advanced Regenerating Toner	$44.00	$35.20
Advanced Intensive Renewal Serum	$69.00	$55.20
Advanced Extra Moisture Restorative Day Creme	$61.00	$48.50
Advanced Night Repair Creme	$102.00	$81.60

Preferred Customer Program:  To become a Preferred Customer there is a $24 membership fee.  This membership allows clients to get 20% off all of their Arbonne products for a year.  With a starting order of $180+ in retail priced items, you get a $60 free product plus 20% off the retail.  There is also a Preferred Rewards Program that pays Preferred Clients in credits on their account when they shop with their PC ID.  

Packaging:  When you think Orange what do you think about?  I think about oranges.  I think about Vitamin C and therefore think about health.  When a color has a pearl like finish, what do you think about?  I think about classiness.  Well, the Arbonne colors are orange and gold with a pearl like finish.  So, I think of health and classiness.  Arbonne, from what I understand, wants to help their customers increase their awareness of what ingredients are in the products they are using and therefore advertise that they use the best of botanicals and safest of science.  Their marketing peeps, therefore, are geniuses. 

Pink Ink’s thoughts:  What it comes down to is “do the products work?”.  I would have to give them a resounding YES.  When I was testing the Arbonne line I was suffering with a bout of acne.  The Arbonne products calmed down the acne and enhanced the look, texture and health of my skin. 

From the research I've done, the ingredients are of high quality and most importantly, the products work.  

A NOTE FOR CONSUMERS:

If you want a product that is ALL NATURAL then you will need to go to the place that product grows (since skin care products don't grow anywhere, then there is no such thing as all natural.  Keep reading and let us explain).  For example, applesauce is not all natural. You cannot pick applesauce from a tree.  You can use apples that you picked outside to make applesauce.  However, if you want that applesauce to last longer than a few days you need to find a preservative don't you?  Please beware of anything that says they are "all natural", "pure", "preservative free" and do your research.  Just because a product may not be "all natural" does not mean it is full of ingredients that are bad for you.  Now because I took chemistry in University I can safely say that when you put two "natural" products together you have created an "unnatural" product - lol.  I'm just sayin.

So Luminesce or Arbonne?  Both are made with high quality ingredients and both will make  a difference in the quality of your skin.  Which do we like better?  Well, more importantly, which do you like better?  Before investing into a product line, do your own research and make sure that you are able to return the product if you see no difference in your skin within 4-6 weeks.  There should be some sort of difference no matter how big or small.  Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you so investing in your appearance (ESPECIALLY if you are in business) should not be a question.  If price is an issue, consider becoming a representative of the company and share the products you love with friends and family.  Who knows, you may end up becoming one of the top representatives of that company.  Anything is possible right?  To all the ladies out there, Pink Ink believes in you and what you can do.  Own your own business no matter how big or small.  You can do it – we know you can!!!

Our next blog will discuss the Aloette, Enjo and Nucerity skin care lines.  Until next time.

Yours in Beauty,

Jen & Rita (aka Pink Ink ladies)