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Distinction® Firmalift® |
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Introduction & Overview |
Firmalift® from DISTINCTION® Skin Care is advertised as “an advanced serum” that may lift and firm the skin. According to the advertisement, the formula contains a patented ingredient that could be considered “the secret to reducing wrinkles.” The product may be purchased separately, and is also part of the DISTINCTION® Daily Skin Care System.
Women currently have numerous options for improving the appearance of mature skin, and many of the formulas are quite similar to one another. Once in awhile, however, we come across one that stands out. We will take a closer look at the formula below to see what may set it apart from others on the market.
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| Ingredients at a Glance |
Firmalift® contains several natural extracts, such as Aloe; several botanical oils to soothe the skin; and White Willow Extract to stimulate the production of anti-stress proteins. One of the main active ingredients contained in the formula is a patented proprietary blend called elastisome®, apparently shown to firm the skin and reduce wrinkles.
Additionally, the formula contains Red 40 and Yellow 5 to give the product some color, and Methylparaben and Propylparaben for their preservative properties. We will look more closely at some of the active ingredients below.
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| Ingredients in Focus |
According to the website, elastisome® is a blend of Butylene Glycol, Hydrocotyl Extract and Coneflower Extract that has undergone an independent clinical study that lasted for four weeks. Butylene Glycol is a clear, syrupy liquid that is supposedly meant to enhance the effectiveness of the ingredients in the formula, and may hydrate the skin. Hydrocotyl has been used to aid in wound healing, and has been used in traditional medicine in India and China for centuries. Coneflower has been used traditionally to stimulate the immune system and fight infections.
White Willow contains the same active compound found in aspirin, and is often used as a natural pain reliever, when ingested. The advertisement for this product claims that this extract may stimulate the production of anti-stress proteins, but it is not clear to us how it may do this.
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| Lifestyle |
One of the common factors of aging is loss of elasticity in the skin, causing the skin to wrinkle and sag. Use of a formula like Firmalift® to firm and tone the skin may be appealing to women looking for a simple, inexpensive solution, and the product has apparently been shown to be effective.
Many products are available on the market that aim to decrease the visible signs of aging; we find the most effective are those that both protect the skin from further damage and repair the skin cells on a deeper level. One popular ingredient for repairing damaged cells is Matrixyl 3000®, which firms and strengthens the skin by increasing Collagen production. It has undergone several studies, and has been clinically proven to decrease the depth, density and volume of wrinkles, and is often combined with other natural and effective ingredients. This may be preferable for those seeking a proven method for attaining younger looking skin.
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| Positives |
• Ingredients are listed and described
• Product contains simple extracts
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| Negatives |
• Science behind ingredients does not seem strong for intended purpose
• Company suggests using product in conjunction with others
• Several artificial ingredients are contained in the formula
• Does not contain Matrixyl 3000®
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| Final Thoughts |
We appreciate that Firmalift® contains some simple extracts in its formula for promoting younger-looking skin. We appreciate that the active ingredient has been clinically tested, but still, only one study has been done, and it only lasted four weeks. Since the individual ingredients included in the elastisome® blend have not all been shown to improve skin health, we feel that further testing may be necessary.
As mentioned, some products contain Matrixyl 3000® to restore Collagen and increase the strength of the skin. No side effects have been associated with its use, and this clinically proven ingredient is available in top quality products that often include other tested ingredients for the most powerful blend to reduce the visible signs of aging.
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