Ah, the Blushing Bride. Notice the emphasis on ‘blushing.’ Not blotchy, patchy, dry, dull, or uneven, but ‘blushing.’ A bride should be her most beautiful on her wedding day; and although those feel-good endorphins will do a lot to give you that bridal glow, wouldn’t it be nice if your skin did its part as well? After all, you should never leave it up to external situations to perfect your radiance.

With your skin being the largest and most exposed organ of your body, healthy skin is more than just the pretty wrapping on the outside. But let’s face it, the outside is what you and everyone else will notice on your big day. No matter how perfectly coiffed your hair is or how spectacular your dress fits, if you don’t see a healthy face looking back at you from the mirror, you are missing something – something that will last long after the last bobby pin is removed from your tresses.

For a few youthful brides, good skin is hereditary - for now. But for most, there are often a few areas that could use a little work. But before you go running to look up the nearest Botox injection site or schedule yourself for every facial your aesthetician can administer, we’ve got some news.

Did you know that Kentuckiana brides have access to the latest in skincare product research, right in their own backyard? Louisville is the home of skin science researcher and plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Bays Brown and his skincare line, ReVive (pronounced ray-veeve). His line is the only bio-engineered cosmetic on the market at this time. It’s the cutting edge product used by stars such as Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Naomi Campbell, Ashley Judd, Sarah Jessica Parker, and The Rock. Dr. Brown’s products have even been included in gift bags given away at the Academy Awards. But you don’t have to win an Oscar to learn more about this much sought-after product. You can get the inside scoop right here.

What is ReVive?
Dr. Brown’s skincare line was developed after his extensive research with a naturally occurring protein, Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), on damaged skin. We’re talking burned and scarred skin damage, not your everyday line or wrinkle. As a plastic surgeon, he was studying a treatment that would speed recovery time for burns, wounds and the like. When he noticed a marked difference in skin recovery time, Dr. Brown made a mental note to try this hormone out as an anti-aging treatment. In 1997, ReVive was introduced.

The ReVive line centers around a synthetic version of the EGF hormone and is designed to promote healthy skin in hopes that the need for plastic surgery will be all but eliminated. The products range from a basic skincare regimen of cleansers and creams that can be followed by anyone, to specified serums designed to address the needs of different skin types and issues. ReVive is gentle and, unlike many “renewal” products on the market, will not cause redness or irritation as the skin renews itself.

ReVive expert Scott Rogers, VP of Creative Services for the company, says of ReVive, “It’s a new way of thinking about skin: to have healthy glowing skin, which surgery can’t give you. After surgery, skin may be tighter or plumped, but not necessarily healthy and glowing.”

Dr. Brown went further in depth, explaining, “Surgical procedures cannot recreate youth. You can only do that at the molecular level.”
Summer Thompson, ReVive Skincare Specialist, adds, “When you notice someone’s healthy skin, you don’t notice wrinkles or fine lines, which everyone gets over time. It’s expression, it’s character. Do you want to see a dull matte face with no wrinkles, or a healthy face that just glows?”

So How Does It Work?
To make a long, scientifically complicated story short, the building block EGF hormone in Dr. Brown’s skincare line promotes the regeneration of skin cells. This process happens naturally in young skin at a rate of new cells every three weeks. As skin ages, that process slows down. It is the constant renewal of skin cells that gives young skin its dewy and fresh look. ReVive is formulated to recharge that otherwise stunted process, giving aging skin back the radiance of youthful skin. And not just youthful skin, but healthy skin, as even young skin can be damaged by the elements or have issues of its own.

The basic products in the ReVive line are the Moisturizing Renewal Cream and Sensitif Cellular Repair Cream. The Moisturizing Renewal Cream is designed for use twice a day or used at night when Sensitif is used as a day cream. It contains both EGF and just enough Glycolic Acid to slough off dead skin cells in preparation for new cells emerging.
This cream was the first in Dr. Brown’s line and has developed quite a following. Sensitif, developed for use during the day with an SPF of 15, has twice the amount of EGF hormone but no glycolic acid. Some people find that their skin responds so well to the acid that wearing makeup over the sloughing skin cells proves difficult. Sensitif’s absence of said organic acid takes care of that while boosting the hormone that promotes skin regeneration and protecting new skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Best of all, it has been effectively used on post-operative skin, proving that it is gentle enough to be used on the most sensitive clients.

Other products in the line include serums to plump and repair the delicate eye area, smooth the lip and perioral area, firm and protect the neck and décolletage, and rid other areas of the body of spider veins and other such blemishes. One of the most popular products, as used by The Rock during a recent movie shoot, is Intensite Cream Lustre. This high-impact cream is said to prevent sagging, plump fine lines and exfoliate without an acid. As you can see, Dr. Brown is working to address all the issues of aging and damaged skin.

Who Can Use ReVive?
Obviously with all of this talk about aging skin, you may have guessed that ReVive is a definite benefit to the 40+ crowd. Hello, Mother-of-the-bride! And experts at ReVive say that the more damaged your skin is to begin with, the more results you will see right away.

But healthy skin is a good thing at any age, especially when you are going to be sashaying down the aisle with hundreds of eyes on you. Your skin should glow with vitality, even if you haven’t seen your first fine line developing. In the words of Dr. Brown himself, “It’s like drinking water. If you wait until you are thirsty, you are already way behind.” And finding a skin regimen that will keep you beautiful as the years progress… well, let’s just say that ol’ Mr. Right won’t be disappointed on your 25th anniversary.

In fact, if your groom is so inclined, ReVive’s basic line is great for men, too. The simple creams can be applied just as easily as after-shave balm and don’t smell overly fruity or floral, so your man may be open to trying them. If the French names and sophisticated packaging are a little too metro-sexual for him, you can always take a little out of your jar and package it in something more manly – you know, something with sports figures or tools on the outside. Even men want to have good skin, free of irritation and ruddiness. Just don’t call it beauty or they will run for the hills.

But Does It Work?
Never the type of journalist to write about a highly-touted product without trying it, I first acquired some products from the ReVive boutique. I know, you can thank me later. Both Scott and Summer were eager for me to try the products before writing this feature – always a good sign. They supplied me with the basics: the Moisturizing Renewal Cream, Sensitif, Eye Renewal Cream and Lip and Perioral Cream. As I used them for a few days, I took note of the texture, aroma, ease of use, and the way my skin reacted.

The first thing I noticed was the satiny texture that the Eye and Lip Creams have. Not only do they make your skin feel smooth, but it is easy to apply make-up over them. In fact, within a day and a half my frequently dry lips were smoother and looked better with or without lipstick. And I kid you not, our VP noticed that my under-eye area looked refreshed after two days. Not bad.

I was also impressed by how quickly the Moisturizing Renewal Cream absorbs into your skin. No greasy film here. And even with the glycolic acid I did not notice any peeling or irritation to my sometimes sensitive skin. They were right about this being a gentle product, all the way down to the barely-there citrus scent that you only notice once the cream is smoothed onto your face (even then it disappears within a few seconds).

Sensitif is great moisturizing cream for the morning… as long as you don’t have a young face and live in the Ohio Valley during mid-summer. What I’m trying to say is that for those of us who might have “shine” problems during humid times, this could be a little heavy. Of course, Dr. Brown thought of that and came up with an Oil Free/Oil Control version. The original version did make my face feel smoother and more firm, though younger and less-dry skin would probably do better with the Oil Free product or sticking with just the Moisturizing Renewal Cream in the evenings.

I found the system a great fit for my usual routine – a perpetually rushed, do two things at once, make-up in the car kind of routine. It is as simple as washing your face and applying a cream. There are no three-step procedures or leave-on/wash-off products to hassle with unless you really want to get that in depth with your skincare.

The results? As good as I’ve ever seen. My skin is still young, and therefore would take more than a few days to see the kinds of miracles that ReVive and its users claim it produces. Even so, my skin did look firmer in just 3 days without any adverse reactions. I have also struggled a bit with what they call “allergy shiners” (a.k.a. dark circles) under my eyes since I was a child. With ReVive, I saw a more refreshed visage within a couple of days. I’m eager to see what a couple of months could produce.

Another co-worker, slightly older than I, got a hold of some of the Moisturizing Renewal Cream and was amazed. After applying some in the evening (and applying more within an hour because it felt so good) she noticed that her skin felt exceptionally smooth. The next morning she relayed that her makeup went on smoother than ever before. And 18 hours later she noted that her skin still felt hydrated. She’s hooked.

What about cost? On the pricey side, ReVive’s renewal creams start at $65.00 for their hand cream and go up from there. A 2 oz. pot of Moisturizing Renewal Cream will run you $135.00. It sounds a tad steep, and compared with most department store brands, it is. But I realized as I tested these products and heard the science behind them that, giving credit where credit is due, the price isn’t as high as it sounds. Don’t get me wrong, this cream is a luxury item and not worth going without food or shelter for, but… if it comes as an alternative to a multi-thousand dollar surgery? Or in lieu of several facial treatments done by a certified aesthetician (they have to be repeated, you know)? And because of the consistency of the creams and serums, one jar or vial will last 3 to 6 months. So really, we’re talking about $23-45 per month. Depending on your willingness to sacrifice for health and beauty, it could actually be a bargain.

How to Get Started, What to Expect
ReVive experts suggest that in order to see the best results on your wedding day, it’s best to start your regime at least two months before the big event, although it never hurts to have good skin going long before that. Two months allows for your skin to adjust to any new product and reap the best benefits. By the time your big day rolls around (or barrels toward you like a Mack Truck), you will be absolutely luminous!
So now that you’re intrigued, how do you get this process going? Although the line is sold in fine department stores like Neimen Marcus and Saks 5th Avenue, wouldn’t you rather go straight to the source? Downtown Louisville has its own ReVive Boutique right on Main Street, between 6th and 7th.

If a group of you want to stop in, it is always best to call and alert the boutique ahead of time. Otherwise, just pop in any time between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday. A ReVive expert will examine your skin needs and customize a regime based upon your skin type, budget, and desired level of intricacy. As I can attest to, they are more than happy to walk you through the products and answer as many questions as you can throw at them.

I, for one, am eager to see what Dr. Brown and his team will have out in the future. (And I have it on good authority that something good is coming this fall!)