Melissa Meisel, Associate Editor08.02.11
Antioxidants are said to be one of the skin’s best defenses against the aging process. Therefore, one of the top trends right now in skin care is infusing antioxidant-rich ingredients into the formulations—and sisters duo Liz and Rachel Edlich saw an opportunity to create a product line that capitalized on this concept.
Billed at “the intelligent woman’s skin care,” Radical Skincare was feted to a small batch of beauty editors on the 54th floor of a high-rise overlooking Central Park last month. The intimate gathering offered an inside look at this burgeoning brand—which recently launched its products at Barneys as well as amassing a following on its website, www.radicalskincare.com
No strangers to enterprise—the Edlichs’ father, Richard is a world-renowned surgeon who pioneered the development of treatments at his University of Virginia burn unit, and both women have experience in finance and marketing—the team set out to create products that rejuvenate from the outside in. Sparing no expense, they sourced a variety of high-end ingredients and developed a proprietary, patent-pending technology, Trylacel, which suspends and preserves potency, according to the company.
Radical Skincare’s Rachel Edlich gives beauty editors an inside look at the new brand during a recent press conference. |
Radical Skincare formulations feature heady antioxidants such as resveratrol, coffee arabica, açai, grapeseed, pomegranate, cranberries and prunes, to name a few. With a bowl of fresh fruit on hand to visualize the nourishing ingredients of Radical products, Liz Edlich delivered a presentation on the full range of offerings.
“Youthful skin requires extreme measures,” she noted, touting the line’s cornerstone SKU, the Radical Skincare High Potency Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum ($145). Sized generously and featuring an airless pump, this unique, thick-textured serum contains a bronze tint, which showcases its ingredients.
Radical Skincare founders Liz and Rachel Edlich. |
“In fact, you can actually see the antioxidant richness in this beautiful bronze serum, which leaves your skin luminous and naturally glowing,” said Edlich. “Did you ever notice that all of the natural fruits that are the highest in antioxidant value are, red, blue or purple?”
In the accompanying video, Edlich talks about the Hydrating Cleanser ($38), which is a cleanser and toner “all-in-one” product. Other top selling SKUs are the Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads ($65), which tap into the “pore-cleansing power” of glycolic acid, chamomile, alpha and beta hydroxy acids and combine them with fruit acids to “smooth and soothe.” According to Edlich, the pads reduce crow’s feet by 50% in just two weeks.
The Radical Skincare lineup. |
Jim Wilmott, chief technology officer and principal investor of Leading Edge Innovations, LLC, was also on hand to discuss the leading ingredients in Radical Skincare products. No stranger to the personal care industry, he has more than 36 years of experience in the development of new products with past positions at Lever Brothers, Bristol-Myers, Avon and Dow Brands. He was also the vice president of product development for Mary Kay and the executive director of global skin care at Chanel.
Wilmott spoke about the benefits of Belides, derived from daisy flower blossoms (bellis perennis). It contains, among other ingredients, saponins, polyphenols and polysaccharides to replenish and lighten aging skin. Other familiar ingredients that were mentioned included Osilift from Silab and PhytoCellTec Malus Domestica by Mibelle Biochemistry.
“’Because I know better’ has become somewhat of a mantra for us,” said Edlich. “The brand’s tagline is ‘no excuses, no regrets.’ This is a powerful product line destined to change the way women experience their skin…it’s for women looking to make a radical difference.”
More info: www.radicalskincare.com