Chemical sunscreen that seeps into skin and potentially contains harmful ingredients is so last decade. The sun protection of the future is a physical sunscreen that literally sits on top of your skin to create a barrier, which reflects and deflects the sun. Dermagenics Sun Savvy Solar Shield, $45 uses a cutting edge "reverse emulsion process which suspends the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on the skin�s surface" to provide a 95 percent UVA/UVB protection while remaining water resistant. Being so that it lies on the skin, the ingredients prevent most of the sun�s rays from reaching the skin, rather than absorbing a limited spectrum, like chemical sunscreens do.
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Ultrasound facelift
In an attempt to render the scalpel obsolete, a company called Ulthera has manufactured the first "energy-based device for aesthetics cleared by the FDA." It uses non-invasive ultrasonic imaging to lift and tighten skin on your face and neck.
Ultherapy directs sound waves into the skin at the muscular level and heats the underlying tissue, which causes it to contract while aiding in the production of collagen. The procedure takes up to an hour with minimal downtime and costs $2,000 on average. And as with any novel cosmetic procedure, there are always risks that come with the benefits, so consult your doctor.
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Chameleon foundation
Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation, $42 is Argan Oil-infused makeup which uses "chameleon pigments," to create a "color-match technology." Basically, it goes on white and instantly adjusts to match your unique skin tone. The serum foundation not only becomes a magic, flawless second skin, it also helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
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Transforming scrub
This won't be found in a Michael Bay film, but it's a new formula that starts as a gel scrub and transforms into a milky lotion that hydrates the skin. L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator, $36 contains pure organic immortelle essential oil, which is extracted from the flower that grows on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and has been shown through in vitro tests to naturally boost collagen synthesis and cell renewal for younger, more luminous looking skin.
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Double-duty texturizer
The Bumble and bumble Texture Hair (Un)dressing Creme, $26 is a hybrid of gel and cream that creates the ultimate in tousled hair. It creates the chic, I-just-rolled-out-of-bed look women have been lusting after since Giselle walked her first runway. The creme adds texture and lift to air dried hair while helping you keep the electricity bill down -- so the price might just even things out in the long run.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." And while the first lady may not have been alluding to the aesthetic beauty you dream of for your future self, we believe the quote to be open for artistic interpretation. Especially since it is so applicable to today's beauty-minded woman.
Women nowadays are making winners (read: money makers) of the health and beauty brands that are making their dreams of youth and beauty a reality by producing inventive products and treatments that enhance their looks in totally new ways.
And why is it so important that the beauty industry continue to reinvent the wheel? Because in the future, in times where science is continuing to progress and more innovation is possible, if there is one thing besides a hefty price tag that sets beauty products apart from one another, it's their uniqueness.
Products and procedures can't just be run of the mill anymore, they have to change the game to get noticed and especially to get you to spend big bucks on them. And unfortunately, innovation doesn't always come cheap. So whether you are a woman of means, the type who occasionally treats yourself to beauty indulgences, or someone who only likes to window shop, these high-ticket beauty products and procedure breakthroughs are worth knowing about as they are paving the way to a more beautiful future.
