Hope in a bottle

By Good Magazine

June 2, 2017

Do anti-wrinkle creams actually work? The Good panel has spoken! Read our reviews of serums, night creams and facial oils to see if they really made a difference.

Do anti-wrinkle creams actually work? The Good panel has spoken! Read our reviews of serums, night creams and facial oils to see if they really made a difference.

In Good #17, we look at common ingredients of anti-wrinkle creams and find out how good they really are for your skin.

As part of our investigation, our panel of reviewers tested a range of natural anti-ageing products over a period of four to six weeks to see if their skin felt the difference.

Here’s what they said:

Lynda, 31, olive/combination skin
Products: Snowberry Bright Defence Face Serum and Snowberry Smoothing Eye Serum

How did the product feel on your skin? Light, not at all greasy.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I’m lucky I don’t really have wrinkles yet – but it makes it tougher to really compare the before and after. It has helped smooth out some small under-eye lines. My skin does look brighter and has an overall smoother feel to it.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? Actually, this was one part I wasn’t really fond of. The smell of both is hard to describe, sort of an earthy, wet plant matter smell. It’s not an offensive smell, in fact it’s probably a very natural smell, and it didn’t deter me from using the product but let’s just say I looked forward to following it up with my night cream.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Yes, it was packaged simply in cardboard without a lot of extras and waste. The pump action of the bottles allowed me to use a really small amount at a time – which is all you need and also helps it last a lot longer.

Kirsten, 31, fair/sensitive skin
Product: Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

How did the product feel on your skin? Initially a bit oily, but absorbs well and then leaves skin feeling moisturised and soft.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? Definitely softer.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? No aroma as the product is fragrance free.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Yes, I liked the convenience of travelling (especially over Christmas) with a small bottle rather than a large tube or tub of moisturiser.

Other comments: I was surprised that an oil could work just as well as a moisturiser without leaving my skin oily and heavy.

Cathy, 40s, normal/combination skin
Product: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Night Cream

How did the product feel on your skin? Extremely hydrating without being sticky or oily. My skin still felt hydrated the next morning.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I have slightly older skin and I definitely noticed an increase in hydration and improvement in softness. I didn’t notice any difference in smoothing lines.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? Weleda’s trademark fragrance is beautiful upon application and retains its pleasant aroma for a while.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Simple but effective. Good sized tube, easy to squeeze.

Other comments: I use a far more expensive night cream but after a couple of weeks of trialling this night cream, I am converted and will buy again. I also think it makes a lovely day cream after being exposed to sun and seawater when your skin is feeling tight and dry.

Cathy, 40s, normal/combination skin
Product: Evolu Soothing Eye Gel

How did the product feel on your skin? It felt nice and cooling on application, but it did not appear to penetrate into the skin, instead sitting on the surface of the skin, and made make up application immediately after difficult.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I noticed no difference (however I’m used to using a good eyecream). It did however hydrate the eye area, and it’s very gentle and caused no irritation even when applied before vigorous exercise which can often promote sensitivity if it sweats into the eye area.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? No aroma.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? The tube itself is attractive, but the pump dispenses too much product for the use on two eyes, therefore there is wastage with every application.

Other comments: Apart from being soothing upon application due to the coolness of the gel, I didn’t notice any long term cooling. The gel remained on the surface of the skin and did not appear to penetrate.

Cathy, 40s, normal/combination skin
Avene Hydrance Optimale Creme Hydratante

How did the product feel on your skin? Really easy to apply, easily absorbed, non-greasy and non-oily.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I found the biggest benefit was a hydration boost – great everyday moisturiser and great for sensitive skin. I didn’t notice any difference to wrinkles.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? Minimal aroma but pleasant.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Very simple. Good tube size.

Other comments:I would purchase this again to replace my current neck cream. It was light but really hydrating. I think it’s also very good for highly sensitive skins as it didn’t irritate my young daughter who has very irritable skin.

Miriam, 36, fair/freckly combination skin
Products: Evolu eye and lip serum

How did the product feel on your skin? Felt cool and refreshing on my skin at end of day.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer?I liked how this product had no nasty petrochemicals, parabens, phthalatesa, sulfates, artificial colours or fragrances. It felt good to be putting something so natural on my skin. I like using N.Z products also.

Describe the aroma. Did you like it? No aroma (which is good cos husdand doesn’t like fragrant creams!)

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Tasteful packaging without the unnecessary outside plastic layer.

Anna, olive/slightly dry skin
Products: Weleda Pomegranate Serum and Day Cream

How did the product feel on your skin? Lovely – Very light and fresh

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? Yes, skin feels soft and I think there is an improvement in skin texture.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? Yes, mild perfume

Deborah, 46, fair/average skin
Product: Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Eye Cream

How did the product feel on your skin? Nice, comfortable and not oily, sticky or tight.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I think the lines were less visible.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? Smelled subtly like soap and licorice with hint of floral. It was pleasant, which was a relief as I find many products far too scenty.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? Yes, very good. Simple, minimal packaging and bottle design. Pump type dispenser made for quick and easy access too.

Other comments: I didn’t seem to need much and it seemed to smooth around nicely. Can I have some more?

Rebekah, 23, fair/dry skin
Product: Nada Organic Rosehip Oil

How did the product feel on your skin? Oily, easy to spread over the face. I only use it at night and it feels like applying a special skin treatment every evening.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? It definitely leave my skin feeling softer. I have extremely dry skin (despite being in my 20s) and rosehip oil is the only product I’ve found where I can use it overnight and wake up with smooth, supple, clean-feeling skin. The oil just sinks right in.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? The aroma is neutral and gentle.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? I like the eyedropper – made it easy to apply to particular areas.

Other comments: I don’t need to use a lot at a time, so it’s lasted me a while.

Ali, 46, fair/combination skin
Product: Natralia Nourish Skin Oil

How did the product feel on your skin? The texture is light and oily but it soaked into my skin quickly and didn’t feel oily afterwards.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer?> I really liked this product – it was especially effective moisturising the dry skin on my hands.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? The ingredients list contains eight different oils including rosehip, evening primrose and avocado. Lavender is the main fragrance though so it’s lovely to put on before bed.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? A little goes a long way so the small spray nozzle was really effective.

Sarah, 41, fair/freckly, sensitive/dry skin
Product: Trilogy Energising Face Lotion

How did the product feel on your skin? This is a light and creamy lotion. It’s quickly absorbed into dry skin leaving it feeling refreshed.

id it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I used it every day as a moisturiser and I’d like to think my face looks better for it – it certainly leaves my skin feeling nice!

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? The face lotion doesn’t have a strong smell – which is good. It has a light and pleasantly floral aroma.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? I really like the pump bottle – great for high speed applications!

Sarah, 41, fair/freckly, sensitive/dry skin
Product: Trilogy Age Proof Nutrient Plus Firming Serum

How did the product feel on your skin? The serum is a little thicker and more gel-like than the Trilogy Energising Face Lotion. You only need to use a little bit spread thinly if it is going to be absorbed easily. Putting too much at once can leave your cheeks and neck feeling a bit gunky. I have used it every day for the last month together with the Trilogy Energising Face Lotion and my skin has never felt better. I think that used over time, it has made my skin feeling softer – even with the pounding my skin has received over summer. I haven’t noticed any new wrinkles appearing in that time – so that has to be good.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? The serum has a light botanical smell which is not unpleasant.

Did you like the way the product was packaged? I really like the pump bottle – great for high speed applications as well as being re-usable.

Helen, 50, medium/dry skin
Product: Apicare Manuka Natural Rich Day Creme

How did the product feel on your skin? The moisturiser is creamy and leaves the skin feeling refreshed, soft and elastic. For a natural product, it is competitively priced.

Did it help smooth lines or leave your skin feeling softer? I like using it though it does leave the skin looking a little shiny/greasy after application. I do think it is better than the moisturiser I was previously using and considering how much swimming I did over the summer, my skin is actually feeling quite soft so perhaps that points to its effectiveness.

Describe the product’s aroma. Did you like it? The aroma is warm and relaxing.

Other comments: Would I buy it myself? It would be a strong contender.

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