Review: Laboratory Formula Age Defying Essentials
Yes, after going on an un-announced hiatus from LJ for quite some time, I'm back with some reviews! Just very recently my friend introduced me to this very new skincare product called Laboratory Formula Series - Age Defying Essentials (ADE)
I got an entire set of 5 products:
1. Cell Renewal Wash
2. Cell Renewal Toner
3. Age Defying Essence
4. Hydro Infusion Moisturiser
5. Sun Protector Emulsion SPF 30
And also a box of Nutri-C capsules (That's the small box you see up there...)
That's the 5 products in the ADE set.
1. Cleanser
Introduction:
Cell Renewal Wash is a luxuriant facial cleanser that lathers away the impurities on the skin and simultaneously stimulates the cells renewal within. This silky cleanser significantly soothes and hydrates the skin, dispelling all signs of dullness after just one wash so as to prepare the skin for subsequent treatments.
It claims to:
Instantly removes signs of dryness and dullness after one wash.
Skin is significantly soothed and hydrated without any feeling of tightness
2. Toner
Introduction:
Cell Renewal Toner is a botanical lotion that provides intense moisture to replenish the skin's elasticity and smoothness after the daily cleansing routine. With rich nutrients and cell regeneration effect, it refreshes and tones the skin to help restore its natural PH balance.
It claims to:
Conditions skin after wash for better nutrients absorption
Instantly lightens complexion through gentle exfoliation of dead cell on skin surface
Natural daisy extract lightens skin by controlling melanin formation
Refreshes, Tones & Soothes skin to its natural PH
3. Essence
Introduction:
Age-Defying Essence is especially ideal for matured and wrinkled skin. Formulated with powerful active ingredients and cutting edge technology, this essence not only helps to protect the healthy human dermal cells within but also significantly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thus reduce signs of aging. Continuous application enables the skin to regenerate and regain its radiance, firmness and youthfulness.
It claims to:
Firms, lifts & plumps up facial lines, with significant improvement in skin elasticity
Stimulates collagen synthesis & helps to preserve vitality of the skin
Provides superior anti-oxidant protection against super-damaging free radicals
Brightens overall complexion & helps lighten scar marks
4. Moisturiser
Introduction:
Hydro Infusion Moisturizer is formulated with Sodium Hyaluronate to help rejuvenate and restore the moisture and suppleness in fatigue skin. Its age-defence effect strengthens the skin hydro-lipid film barrier to defend against the external environment while visibly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to reduce signs of aging. Daily application of this hydrating and ultra silky moisturizing fluid enables the skin to exude that perfect glow, delivering a firmer and fresher looking skin
It claims to:
Delightfully lightweight texture to provide instant soothing sensation
Absorbs quickly by skin to maintain optimum hydration level lastingly
Moisturizes, softens & refines skin to promote healthy-looking radiance
Restores suppleness, smoothness & firmness while exerting age-defence effects
5. Sun Protector
Introduction:
Sun Protector Emulsion is a non-greasy revitalizing fluid that provides maximum protection for your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Enriched with a powerful blend of ingredients including vitamins A, E and Aloe Vera, it facilitates the epidermal hydration of the skin while provides full continuum defence against other environmental pollutants throughout the day.
It claims to:
Double protection against noxious UVA & UVB. Helps prevent skin damage from free radicals generated by UV Rays & environmental pollutants.
Reduces oxidation of the collagen matrix under the skin
Helps restore & maintain natural skin moisture, leaving skin feeling velvety & smooth
Nutri-C Capsules
Introduction:
Nutri-C Capsules are specially formulated to help defend your skin against aging. Every preservative-free capsule contains the purest and most potent form of vitamin C and E which helps to stimulate the collagen and elastin production that facilitates the regeneration of skin's firmness and youthfulness. Besides, it deeply hydrates and replenishes the skin's moisture enabling a more radiant, unified and luminous complexion.
My review:
Honestly speaking, first week after using these products I was sold, well, nearly sold, especially to the sun protector and nutri-c.
First up, the cleanser is a gel cleanser that has got nearly NO foam. I have dehydrated and oily skin (i reckon my oiliness is due to dehydration...) and I know gel cleanser is better for my skin type but I still prefer foamy cleansers to one that doesn't lathers up any foam and doesn't give you any 'feeling'.
As for what it claims to do, well.. you can say that this product DO deliver. My skin doesn't have the tight feeling at all. In fact, it feels smooth and 'slippery', just like how your skin feels like after using Dove shower foam. But then again, that is one of the main thing I can't get used to.
Then the toner. To me, it's just like any other toners. Sorry, but I should be the last person you would want to get a review on toners from me. I don't even feel much differences between toners and astringents. =.=''
The essence is more of the concentrated semi-serum-semi-gel kind of essence. So yup, the texture is kind of sticky as you put it on your face. But the stickiness will eventually go away as it gets absorbs into your skin. For me, i'll pat my skin lightly after spreading it onto my face to quicken up the absorption process. The after feeling is truly a little tight, as though my skin is getting stretched a little. Unlike other products we find in retail stores, this essence is supposed to be able to penetrate through the epidermis layer and reach our dermis layer to stimulate active cells to produce more collagen! This essence is also infused with apple stem cells extract, plus it's actually listed in the middle (and not at the end of it, like for the toner and moisturiser) of the ingredient list so I reckon there's actually a good amount of the stem cells in the essence!
After the essence, I'll apply Nutri-C. As this product is a very concentrated potent vitamin C and E, it might be 'too strong' for some people and so I'll only use 1/3 of a capsule per night, and keep the rest in the fridge. Then after using up one capsule, I'll rest for a day or two. The effect of Nutri-C is INSTANT. Yes, INSTANT. The texture of this product is something I've never felt before. It's a very light, soft, smooth and powdery cream that instantly dissolves into your skin. Immediately after rubbing this product on, the softness seems to be 'transferred' onto your skin! I simply enjoyed touching my face after putting Nutri-C on. =)
Then it's the moisturiser. The texture is more like a runny-lotiony cream, that goes on really light on my face. It gets absorbed almost immediately and leave my face feeling fresh and hydrated. I only use this set as my night routine (minus the sun protector, of course!) and I'll wake up to relatively oil-free face, unlike other night creams gin*cough*ve*cough*ra that gave me a shiny, oily AND sticky face upon waking up in the morning.
In the day, I'll use the tinted sun protector after my day moisturiser. Reading their introduction and ingredient list, you might think that it's actually a BB cream but no. This product is definitely JUST a sunscreen that feeds your skin with goodies. Even though it's tinted, it doesn't provide any form of coverage, nor change the colour of your skin. I was instantly sold when I tried this sunscreen. Previously, I've been using the loreal one for oily/combination skin that's supposed to mattifying your skin. But of course, we all know sunscreen will always be greasy, won't it? But I was pleasantly surprised by this Sun Protector with a rather high spf of 30. It goes on rather light (as compared to the loreal one) and doesn't make my skin feel greasy and sticky at all. This is a definite must buy along with Nutri-C in this entire range of 6 products. =)
Oh yeah, and then back to why I used the phrase 'nearly sold' for the first week. Because by the end of the 2nd week, my nightmare started. breakout!
turn out that this range of product IS supposed to break you out for 2 to 4 weeks.
Why?
Because as they penetrate into the dermis layer to reach the active cells to reproduce, all those dirts/oil/clogging matters hiding in the epidermis and dermis layer will all eventually be pushed up to the epidermis layer as pimples. For me, I always have pimples here and there, and clogged pores and etc. So I kind of had it quite bad as compared to a 2 others whom I know are also trying this range out. (One of them who is of normal skin type developed ZERO pimples, how unfair!) Into the mid of the second week, I started noticing this whiteheads-like bumps along my upper chin line and lower cheeks. But unlike normal whiteheads, this bumps are very easy to squeeze out and it leaves no marks behind. (unless you pinched your skin with your own nails then... =.=") And so, I let it passed. Come the end of the 2nd week, I started getting huge pus filled pimples, and boy! I was sooooo pissed with this product and was even quite sure that I got scammed. So I immediately stopped using it and the breakouts stopped right after, unlike my experiences with other 'wrong' products bio*cough*essence*cough*serum that gave me breakouts much longer after using it and also that lasted months after I stopped using it.
And so, I decided to just continue with this range, at least until I used it up. And soon, the whitehead-ish breakouts started again. But this time, there was much less of those horrible pus-filled huge pimples. (I guess most of the clogged-bundles in my skin was already purged out in my first try?) Another week and a half into it and the whitehead-ish bumps were also decreasing in numbers. Not even that, I started noticing that my pores, especially those at the upper cheek (beside the nose, below our eyes) area have visibly shrunk! I've never seen my pores on that area of my face so small!
So in conclusion, heard of the chinese saying that literally goes: bitter first, sweetness later? These products can be the epitome of that!
Quoting my friend, "Do you want your pimples to come a little at one time for your entire lifetime, or you want to suffer for just 2 to 4 weeks and get flawless skin forever and ever?"