September 2008 - Anew (Avon) Clinical Thermafirm
Face Lifting Cream, $32.00 online
(prices may vary)

Touted as Avon’s "most effective lifting treatment ever," Anew Thermafirm Face Lifting Creme is available online and from Avon representatives.

When I came across a jar of the creme at a ridiculously low price, I was willing to try it to see if I could "erase" the "concentration creases" that were appearing between my 40 year-old eyebrows.

Thermafirm is created using "Triple Sonic Technology" which is Avon’s exclusive ultrasonic stressed yeast and other natural extracts combine to help tighten the connections between skin's layers.

The cream is also formulated with hydrolyzed plant protein and other natural tightening agents to form a "3-D matrix" on your skin.

Natural extracts in the product include: carrot extract, apple extract, wheat extract, sweet almond extract, soybean seed extract, corn kernel extract, shea butter, licorice extract, plankton extract and others. Of course, there are several ingredients that cannot be easily pronounced as well.

On the product page at www.avon.com,  twenty of twenty-four product reviewers noted they would recommend the Thermafirm creme. There were concerns that the creme contains no SPF for sun protection, and one review noted that the Anew Wrinkle Corrector was more effective. One reviewer noticed no improvement. However, most reviews raved about the results.

One reviewer noted, ""I have used two jars of this to date and I need to get more. I scraped the last out of the jar this morning. I have noticed a difference in the fine lines I have....they are less noticeable. I have noticed less blotchiness in my skin color, less redness. Now, if I use anything else my face gets blotchy and red and dry and saggy. I sure don't like that. So, I will continue to use Thermafirm for as long as I can. Thanks."

I applied the cream under make-up in the morning, and after washing my face before bed.

Not a fan of heavily fragranced face creams, I was pleased that the creme was not thick with perfume. Also, the non-greasy formula absorbed quickly, something that other "age-defying" moisturizers seem to have a problem with.

Avon claims that Thermafirm is effective on fine wrinkles and lines, which I found to be true within two weeks. However, my concentration creases were, by no means, "fine."

After a month of use, the two crevices between my eyebrows, once quite noticeable, had faded. They have not completely disappeared, but they are no longer obvious.

Thrilled with my own results, but concerned about the regular price tag, I set the creme aside and returned to my regular moisturizer for a week. Perhaps I concentrated too much that week, because after seven days, the creases were more defined again.

I returned to the Thermafirm creme. Avon recommends using this product with other Anew cleansers and treatments, however, my budget may not allow that luxury. However, the creme alone works well.

Although $32 for one ounce of creme seems steep; not looking at those creases? Priceless. I have noticed that a little bit goes a long way. After seven weeks of use, I have barely made a dent in the contents of the jar. I hope to make the jar last at least six months, because when it’s gone, I’ll have to get some more.