Analysis of Lifting Serum Formula and Claims

Asked by: aerie_aerie On: November 04, 2013 Product Type: Cosmetics

Question

I have a formula for a Lifting Serum and would like to know if the ingredients are sufficient to achieve the claims of "face slimming and wrinkle reduction within 5 minutes". I also want to confirm my understanding that applying Hyaluronic Acid topically does not directly increase its levels under the skin.

The formula ingredients are:

  • Water
  • Betaine
  • Aloe Barbadensis Extract
  • Cucumis Sativus Extract
  • Raffinose
  • Ascorbyl Glucoside
  • Carbomer
  • Triethanolamine
  • Allantoin
  • DMDM Hydantoin
  • Hyaluronic Acid

Answer

Subject: Analysis of Lifting Serum Formula

Regarding the Lifting Serum formula you provided:

Based on the list of ingredients and the additional information received:

Ingredients and Their Primary Functions:

  • Water: Solvent
  • Betaine: Provides moisture, reduces irritation.
  • Aloe Barbadensis Extract: Provides moisture, soothes skin.
  • Cucumis Sativus Extract: Provides moisture, soothes skin.
  • Raffinose: Sugar, provides moisture.
  • Ascorbyl Glucoside: Vitamin C derivative, helps with brightening (Whitening).
  • Carbomer: Gelling agent/thickener.
  • Triethanolamine: pH adjuster.
  • Allantoin: Reduces irritation, soothes skin.
  • DMDM Hydantoin: Preservative.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Provides high moisture, helps skin appear temporarily plump, which can smooth fine lines due to hydration.

Analysis of Lifting/Tightening and Claims:

Based on the provided list of ingredients, there are no ingredients that significantly lift or tighten the skin or possess properties that would genuinely result in "face slimming" or "lifting" according to cosmetic science mechanisms.

  • Hyaluronic Acid, while excellent for hydration and temporarily plumping the skin (which might make small wrinkles appear less visible due to moisture), does not have skin tightening properties or cause face slimming. As you correctly understood and as the Staff explained, applying Hyaluronic Acid topically does not directly increase Hyaluronic Acid levels under the skin.
  • Other ingredients in the formula primarily focus on hydration, reducing irritation, and include a brightening ingredient (Vitamin C) and thickeners/preservatives.

Conclusion on the Claim "Face Slimming and Wrinkle Reduction within 5 Minutes":

This claim is highly improbable for a formula with the listed ingredients. Most cosmetic products that address wrinkles or firmness typically require continuous use to stimulate collagen production or improve skin structure, which takes several weeks or months. Seeing "face slimming" or "wrinkle reduction" within 5 minutes is very unlikely for a standard cosmetic product and might be due to other factors like massage during application or a temporary feeling of skin tightness from certain product textures, which is not true lifting.

Therefore, your analysis that most ingredients focus on hydration, reducing irritation, and include Vitamin C is correct. Based on this ingredient list, there are no ingredients known to provide a true skin lifting effect. The claims regarding face slimming and wrinkle reduction in 5 minutes are inconsistent with the formula's ingredients.

Tags

Claim Ingredient Analysis Serum Skin Tightening Wrinkle Reduction