Promises, Promises… Beauty Products That Actually Live Up to Their Claims 

Beauty and Style Expert Jamie Krell Unveils Top-Tier Cosmetics That Actually Deliver on Their Promises

October 18, 2011- When it comes to beauty products, there’s a whole lot of hype out there.  But as consumers spend millions of dollars a year in the beauty space, it would be nice to know which products actually live up to their claims.  

Jamie Krell is a fashion and beauty expert who cut her teeth as the costume designer on the iconic television show Friends. Today, her opinions and knowledge on style trends has been featured everywhere from The Today Show to E!’s Live Countdown to the Red Carpet.  

Jamie helps to cut through the haze of beauty products and shows us exactly which products live up to the promises they make: 

The promise: Hair free from frizz for three days, or until your next shampooing

The product: JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ-EASE® 3-DAY STRAIGHT™

The verdict: I really couldn’t believe that a product could keep your hair straight for three days but it worked beautifully.  John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight™ is an at-home alternative to salon keratin treatments so it’s super affordable at $9.99 and it’s very easy to use..  You just spray it throughout damp hair and comb it through to distribute evenly and then blow dry it straight. You can also finish it with a flatirion and the semi-permanent styling spray, which is heat-activated and works like a charm.  John Frieda® Hair Care’s proprietary blend of polymers with keratin protein wraps each strand, sealing in straight style as it smoothens. It’s ideal for women with coarse, unmanageable curls or waves who struggle to achieve, and maintain a straight style.  It’s available at mass retailers nationwide. For more, visit www.johnfrieda.com

The promise:  Relief from dry skin with a healing formula that softens and smoothens

The product: JERGENS® ULTRA HEALING® EXTRA DRY SKIN MOISTURIZER 

The verdict: As dry skin sufferers know, healing dry skin is about more than surface smoothing—truly hydrating means addressing dryness at the source. Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer instantly doubles hydration, infusing skin with a powerful blend of vitamins C, E and B5 to intensely moisturize. I was impressed with that the replenishing formula not only helped heal extra dry skin, but also softened and smoothed skin as well. It actually triples skin’s moisture content and provides skin with an instant visible difference which makes skin look healthier and more beautiful.  It’s only $3.99 for 10 fl. Oz and is available at drugstores nationwide. For more, visit www.jergens.com

The promise: An anti-aging formula that works…actually activating youth on a genetic level. 

The product: LANCÔME GÉNIFIQUE YOUTH ACTIVATING CONCENTRATE

The verdict: I’ve always loved Lancôme products but there are so many anti-aging products out there, that I was curious to see if Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate really worked.  In fact, it worked beautifully!  Lancôme has dedicated almost a decade to developing the gene technology behind this product and it’s the first product actually inspired by your genes. Gene activity slows with age so it can’t regenerate as fast as it used to, leading to a loss of skin radiance. Génifique is a powerhouse when it comes to counteract this. It contains a complex that has been shown in vitro to stimulate the expression of genes so after seven days your skin’s youthful quality returns and skin is soft and velvety to the touch, and your skin tone and texture improve as well. It’s perfect for women of all ages and can be used day or night. Celebrity fans include “Mad Men” actress Christina Hendricks, Lancôme ambassador Julia Roberts, British songbird Lily Allen, supermodel Veronica Webb and star makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury.  Another reason why I love this product is in celebration of the beauty of scientific research, Lancôme is supporting an organization that uses genetic research to save lives every day: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. On October 21st, 2011, Lancôme invites customers to join them and experience the “Beauty of Giving” by celebrating Genes Day—a one-day national event Lancôme began in 2010 to support St. Jude, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. On that day, Lancôme will donate $7 from the sale of every bottle of Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate to St. Jude.  Dillard’s is going a step further by extending the celebration of Lancôme Genes Day for three whole weeks (October 2—October 23). During that time, Dillard’s stores across the country will make a an additional donation for every Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate sold. Together Dillard’s and Lancôme will donate $7 and give away an exclusive gift with purchase (with a qualifying purchase) ensuring that everyone experiences the beauty of giving. Lancome’s Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate is available for $58 - $125 at all Dillard’s locations as well as other fine cosmetic counters nationwide. For more, visit www.lancome.com 

About the Talent: Jamie Krell began her career in the fashion and beauty world working with the costume designer behind Friends, one of the longest running television sitcoms of all time. She studied fashion design and illustration in London and now frequently travels the country, appearing on camera as a regular fashion, beauty and lifestyle expert for shows and networks including news and morning television programming, including Access Hollywood Live, The TODAY show, The CBS Early Show, EXTRA, E! News, E!’s Live Countdown to the Red Carpet, TV Guide’s The Fashion Team, Lifetime, BETTER TV, Style Network, Good Day LA, Good Day New York, Movie and a Makeover on TBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, CW and CBS in all major markets.