All Photos By Gail

I like to think of myself as a low-maintenance babe. I’m not a slave to an elaborate make-up routine, so I want my skin to look good, even if I’m leaving the house with just a dusting of powder on my face. In NYC especially, the colder months mean harsh weather conditions combined with the drying effects of indoor heat that can wreak havoc on your complexion. To keep your skin looking as young as possible, it’s definitely worth investing in quality skincare products that will cleanse, moisturize and protect your face, so that you look fresh and youthful, with or without make up. Recently, I was given the opportunity to review a new, female-founded skincare product line called James Anthony. After a few weeks of use, these fine products have become part of my daily routine.

Jennifer Hayes, founder and CEO of James Anthony Skincare, is an industry veteran with 20 years of experience. Based on her own issues with sensitive skin, rosacea, breakouts and aging, and her frustration with a full range of products — from OTC to prescription treatments — Jennifer developed James Anthony based on a whole new way of treating, repairing and protecting the skin. Using unique Peptides and enzyme-release technology, James Anthony offers a results-driven skincare line unlike any other on the market. The dramatic effect of the peptides on the complexion offers visible results, increasing daily skin repair without irritation, while the enzyme-release technology allows for deeper penetration into the skin, ultimately better results, and less irritation than other topical skincare treatments.

These claims are impressive, sure, but I know that the only way to prove that the products really deliver the results promised is to try them. I started using the James Anthony skincare line at the beginning of October, just as the changing weather was making my complexion noticeably dry and flaky.  Below, I’ll show you each product I’m using, explain what it does, and offer my own experience. Here we go.

The fist step in basic skincare is cleansing. Come Undone ($28) is gentle pH-neutral cleanser formulated to remove makeup and impurities without stripping away skin’s natural oils. Come Undone contains a probiotic and peptide complex that acts as an antimicrobial agent and an anti-inflammatory, and helps regulate defenses in the skin.

The photo above shows how Come Undone looks when you pump one application into your palm: light and foamy.  I was skeptical that this lightweight foam was substantial enough to clean the days worth of ‘NYC atmosphere’ and make-up off of my face, because I’d been using a cleanser with a creamier, thicker consistency, but I was soon won over. The foam lathers well as you circulate it around your face with your finger tips,  and it rinses clean with just a few splashes of water. There is no need to ‘scrub’ your face, or use a washcloth, although I suppose you could use one if desired. I like the way my face feels fresh and smooth after washing it with Come Undone.

After cleansing, you want to tone and moisturize your skin. T.L.C. toner ($28, above right) is formulated with multiple acids that work to treat and clarify skin, and probiotics that help balance skin resulting in a healthy, glowing skin tone, T.L.C (stand for Treat, Level, Clarify) is formulated to be gentle enough for daily use, but effective enough to deliver maximum results. Offering antioxidant protection, T.L.C. prepares the skin to accept skincare products that follow its application.

I’d like to point out here that since all of the James Anthony products come in well-designed packaging that employs with a “pump” delivery system (as opposed to unscrewing a cap and squeezing or pouring the product) each one dispenses just enough product to do its job, and there is no waste. I apply two to three light sprays of the T.L.C. toner on a cotton square, and it is enough to tone my entire face. I can also tell that the Come Undone cleanser has worked well because I see virtually no make-up residue on the puff after applying the toner to my skin. T.L.C. toner is non-drying and makes my skin feel tingly fresh.

Next, you want to treat and moisturize. In the evening before bed, I use Resurrect P.M. Cream ($88) — a true age-reversal treatment. Resurrect is designed to treat serious aging signs with the most advanced skin technology, resulting in rejuvenated skin, even skin tone, and stimulation of the skin’s daily repair via a pro-active peptide complex. I spread one application of this lightweight serum over my face and throat, and it dries almost instantly. There is greasy feel at all and you can next apply additional moisturizer, if desired.

Vivify ($68) is a lightweight hydrating day cream formulated to repair, replenish and provide the perfect balance of moisture for healthy, glowing skin. Vivify combines key vitamins, nutrients, collagen-stimulating peptides and more for an increase in elasticity and softer, smoother, and more even skin tone. I enjoy the creamy feel of this moisturizer on my skin, and it absorbs quickly. Vivify helped to heal my flaky skin issue within a couple of days after I started using these products, and my face feels soothed after use. This is a terrific moisturizer for all skin types.

Holy Veil Primer, SPF 35($48) is my favorite product in the line! This broad-spectrum chemical-free self-adjusting tinted sunscreen provides skin with antioxidants and essential vitamins while protecting it from the sun’s harmful rays. Used as a primer under makeup or alone, Holy Veil evens skin tone, smooths the skin, helps with flawless makeup application and helps retain the skin’s moisture for a lasting healthy glow.

I absolutely love this primer! I’ve been wearing it alone, without any added foundation, on the weekends and my skin looks amazing. Holy Veil goes on smooth like velvet, distributes evenly and seems to have an oil absorbing property because there is no shine on my face for hours after I apply it. I would compare this product to Clinique Super City Block (SPF 40) except I like Holy Veil much better.

The Genie in a Bottle ($98) is your secret weapon for combating extreme dryness. This maximum moisture-boosting serum instantly transforms dull, dry, damaged, and unbalanced skin into soft, radiant, balanced, beautiful and healthy skin. A multi functional serum that goes beyond basic beauty oil, Genie in a Bottle can be used whenever a nourishing moisture boost is needed and it offers rapid and deep penetration of actives for cellular regeneration, making it perfect for use on the face, neck, and hands. It can also be used on the ends of your hair, or (my favorite) massaged into dry cuticles and fingertips. You can even add a few drops to your favorite creams or lotions to boost its moisturizing benefits. Just a drop or two goes along way, and you can achieve truly miraculous results.

Smooth Move Mask ($58) is your once  a week go-to for exfoliating and revitalizing your skin.  Packed with ingredients such as papaya, cucumber and aloe vera, this mask instantly moisturizes and calms the face. Grapefruit and pineapple combine to remove dead skin cells, leaving the face with a hydrated glow and allowing other James Anthony Skincare products to penetrate even deeper into the skin. Smooth Move is unlike any other mask on the market.

Smooth Move, as you can see,  is a lovely shade of green, and its light fragrance recalls all of its natural ingredients. I like that this mask is a gently exfoliating, wash off mask, rather than one that needs to be left to dry on the face, and then peeled or washed off. If you have sensitive skin, this mask is especially ideal.

I have enjoyed discovering the benefits of using the James Anthony Skincare line and I have honestly seen benefits from each product even in a short amount of time.  I would even say that they are fun to  use, and I look forward to taking better care of my skin with these products. The entire James Anthony Skincare product line in now available online via James Anthony Skincare Dot Com. Get 20% Off your first order and check out a few sales going on right now!