Stress is cruel and, at times, sneaky. There are so many factors that trigger stress; sometimes we are exposed to it without even knowing. Though humans are resilient, it’s difficult to combat stress when it lurks in places you never think of uncovering. For instance, our skin is exposed to external stresses such as oxidation and UV rays. On a day-to-day basis, you wouldn’t think that your skin was being stressed out by that since it’s not as noticeable as someone cutting you off in rush hour traffic. Granted, these are somewhat minor stresses compared to, say, an illness, but they exist nonetheless and when added up, they can strain our daily lives.
That’s why when I was introduced to Awake’s Sign Revolution skin care line after tossing aside my quest for the best, I was hooked. The line tackles my main concern about aging and also addresses the consequences of external stresses. Bingo! The two matters that claim the bulk of my mental energy: aging and stress.
Generally, one can gauge a tree’s age with a quick glance but to determine its true age, you’d have to see what the growth rings inside the trunk show. Rings are thick during youth and thin out during maturity through lack of water or sunlight. The same goes for our skin  you can see part of the skin’s history on the surface but more proof is embedded down deep. External environmental factors usually affect the inner skin which contains the growth rings. Essentially, external stresses accelerate aging and Awake’s Sign Revolution combats the negative effects on the hidden growth rings while also acting on visible skin damage.
That is music to my ears, and magic to my face. Leave it up to the Japanese to concoct a blend of miraculous ingredients to seize the situation and wrestle down skin damage. With complete faith in Japanese technology (since all my electronics which I love so dearly were born there), I went all-out with the Awake line.
Not to bore you with techie data but a peptide combining five kinds of amino acids supports the production of collagen. A soybean peptide maintains healthy elasticity of the skin, Sasa Veitchii suppresses generation of oxygen from external stresses while a yeast energy extract supports activation of damaged basal cells. These four core active ingredients pave the way for a complete Sign Revolution line coupled with other groundbreaking ingredients for specific products.
I’m a particular fan of the Sign Revolution cleanser which effortlessly removes makeup, debris and oxidized sebum off my visage. Once the fragrance-free gel that spreads so evenly across my face turns to oil, I know the job has been completed. The tube it comes in makes it easy to pop in your bag without worrying about spills. For those who prefer a foaming cleanser, the Skin Revolution wash lathers up beautifully while lightly scrubbing away dirt and grime. Never to be one without toner, the Sign Revolution lotion concentrate is a step not to be missed. By forming a protective film over the skin and moisturizing as deep as the bottom part of the horny layer, it firms up the skin and makes it less prone to dehydration, acting as a toner and serum in one. Products such as these are as fun to use as they are easy, light and effective. Only halfway there and I already felt a change in the texture of my skin.
After your face has been properly cleansed and toned, the Sign Revolution fluid can be applied to soften hardened and damaged skin from within before applying the Sign Revolution cream on which I am hooked. If people seek comfort in therapists to cope with stress then this is my therapeutic beauty equivalent. A tiny scoop of this rich, dense cream works wonders while it conquers several issues. Promoting a firmer, more radiant complexion, this glorious cream enhances the skin’s ability to retain moisture and helps skin become resistant to external stresses that affect the skin negatively. My skin felt soft, supple and hydrated after a few uses and now the cream has a nice resting spot in my medicine cabinet for easy access. Awake’s eye cream acts like a mini eye lift, firming up fine lines around the eyes and pushing up from within while also fighting off those darn external stresses.
With so many life stresses out there, taking care of your appearance should be as stress-free as possible. I have Awake to thank for providing me with my youthful glow this Valentine’s Day. Now my main stress is which present to get for my husband…