SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/03/06 -- "In a market known to be one of the most developed and discerning in the world -- the French spend more per head on cosmetic products than any other country -- the country's most revered consumer magazine has given the 'stretch-mark cream turned anti-wrinkle' treatment the highest votes in a comprehensive testing that involved a panel of 264 French women," reports Cosmeticsdesign-europe.com, Europe's foremost online cosmetic news web site.

In the latest edition of 60 Millions De Consommateur, StriVectin-SD ("the stretch-mark cream turned anti-wrinkle phenomenon") was rated as the best, most effective anti-wrinkle face cream... beating the likes of Dior, Chanel, ROC, L'Oreal, Lancôme and other high-end (and French made) products costing as much as 142 Euros (about $185) per ounce.

Launched in Aug. 2004 at Sephora's flagship location on the fabled Champs-Elysées, StriVectin took the French capital by storm, receiving rave reviews from the media and savvy French consumers... and quickly becoming the best-selling skin-care product in French Sephora stores.

"StriVectin had already set sales records in the United States so we expected great results in France," said Gina Gay, spokesperson for Klein-Becker, distributor of StriVectin. "But let's face it, French women have access to the most sophisticated cosmetics in the world and they're extremely skeptical about products from America. Yet when it comes to reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crows' feet, they prefer a formula from, of all places, Salt Lake City, Utah. That's an incredible story."

According to the article in 60 Million magazine, which is published by France's principal consumer organization, a panel of 264 women (ranging in age from 30-70) said StriVectin was "best" and most effective.

"We were taken by surprise," said Ms. Gay, "because the testing was done without our knowledge, and in the same objective way as Consumer Reports judges products here in America. The testing was unbiased -- although we assume French women are going to like French products best. Imagine, they chose our StriVectin over 11 famous formulations, most of which are made in France. We're thrilled... and so is Sephora."

For Those Who Don't Know the StriVectin Story

In a remarkable turn of events, arguably one of the strangest in the history of cosmetics, women across the country are putting a stretch-mark cream called StriVectin-SD on their face to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crows' feet. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product's effectiveness, StriVectin-SD is nothing short of a miracle. Women, as well as a growing number of "Boomer" men, are buying so much StriVectin-SD that finding a tube at your local cosmetic counter has become just about impossible. Did everyone go mad? Well... not really.

Although StriVectin-SD's functional components were already backed by clinical trials documenting their ability to visibly reduce the appearance of existing stretch-marks (prominent because of their depth, length, discoloration and texture)... the success of StriVectin-SD as an anti-wrinkle cream was "dumb luck," said Ms. Gay.

"When we first handed out samples of the StriVectin formula to employees and customers as part of our market research, the sample tubes were simply marked 'topical cream' with the lot number underneath," Ms. Gay explained. "As the samples were passed to friends and family, the message became a little muddled and some people used this 'topical cream' as a facial moisturizer. As we began to receive feedback from users, like 'I look 10 years younger' and 'I can't even notice my crows' feet,' we knew we had something more than America's most effective stretch-mark cream. The point was driven home as store owners began reporting that almost as many people were purchasing StriVectin as an anti-wrinkle cream as were buying it to reduce stretch-marks."

Dr. Daniel B. Mowrey, PhD, Klein-Becker's Director of Scientific Affairs, says, "Clearly, people were seeing results, but we didn't have a scientific explanation as to why this wrinkle-reduction was occurring." "Based on the incredibly positive reports from users and the Paris reports," Mowrey continues, "I started using StriVectin myself... as an aftershave in the morning and before I go to bed at night. And let me tell you -- no one has ever accused me of being handsome, but now I'm happy to say that I look young and ugly rather than old and ugly. For me, that's a big improvement."

Dumb Luck Strikes Again!

Then, at a meeting of the 20th World Congress of Dermatology in Paris, France, a series of studies detailing the superior wrinkle-reducing properties of a patented oligo-peptide called "Pal-KTTKS" versus retinol, vitamin C, and placebo on "photo-aged skin" was presented. "As luck would have it," Dr. Mowrey states, "the anti-wrinkle oligo-peptide tested in the breakthrough clinical trials turned out to be a key ingredient in the StriVectin cream."

In the trials, subjects applied the patented peptide solution to the crows' feet area on one side of the face, and a cream containing either retinol, vitamin C, or a placebo to the other side.

Subjects in the Pal-KTTKS/retinol study applied the cream once a day for 2 months and then twice a day for the next 2 months. Using special image analysis, the study's authors reported "significant improvement" in both the overall appearance of skin tone and wrinkles for those women using the peptide solution.

Better yet, at the 2-month halfway point, the peptide solution worked nearly 1.5 times faster than retinol "in measured parameters," and without the inflammation retinol often causes in sensitive skin. As was expected, the results of the remaining studies confirmed that the Pal-KTTKS solution's effectiveness at reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles far exceeded both vitamin C and placebo.

A smoother, younger complexion, with less irritation and faster results -- all without expensive (and painful) peels, implants or injections.

Better than Retinol and Vitamin C, But Is StriVectin-SD Better than Botox®*?

Dr. Nathalie Chevreau, PhD, RD, Director of Women's Health at Salt Lake City-based Basic Research®, exclusive distributor for Klein-Becker, explains, "Leading dermatologists agree that Botox is the preferred treatment for glabellar lines, that tiny little space of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. But ever since it was discovered that StriVectin could reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crows' feet... the kind of fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet that can add 10-15 years to your appearance and which costly medical treatments often leave behind... skin-care professionals have been recommending, and using, StriVectin."

In fact, researchers believe non-invasive alternatives are better because, Dr. Chevreau continues, "Topical creams and gels offer gradual, continual results, while the effects of injections, facial peels, and dermabrasions are rougher on the skin and wear off." In other words, StriVectin-SD helps give you a youthful, healthy, glowing complexion faster than retinol, far superior to vitamin C, and without irritation, needles, or surgery. Even better, many dermatologists and plastic surgeons recommend StriVectin in conjunction with cosmetic procedures, including Botox.

So, if you see someone applying an anti-stretch-mark cream to their face, don't think they've gone off the deep end... they may be smarter than you think.

NOTE: StriVectin is a growing international sensation, shattering records in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, Portugal and the Czech Republic. In the United States, StriVectin is available in Sephora, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's, as well as dermatology and plastic surgeon offices around the country. For more information, visit www.strivectin.com.

(*Botox® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.)

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Contact:
Heather Hurst
Majestic Media
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