The main claims for this serum are lifting and volumizing, which can be supported by the numerous cosmeceutical actives such as alpha and beta hydroxy acids, stem cell extracts, minerals and peptides. This column will review the ingredient listing for claims substantiation and functionality.
This “concentrated” formula claims to be “water-free” due to an aloe leaf juice base, which is the first ingredient in the deck. However, there is water present in aloe juice, making this claim a little misleading even if there is no water added during manufacture.
This is a w/o emulsion with the emollients caprylic/capric triglyceride, safflower seed oil , dimethicone and shea butter. The humectants are butylene glycol, glycerin, sodium PCA, urea, trehalose, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid. The emulsifier system is glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-12 glyceryl dimyristate, and PEG-23 glyceryl distearate. The thickeners and stabilizers are cetyl alcohol, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, xanthan gum, silica and sodium potassium aluminum silicate. Polyvinyl alcohol is a film-former, which may be the basis of the “permeation-enhancing” technology.
The cosmeceutical or “bioactive” ingredients are two forms of vitamin E, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate, Bidens pilosa extract, Gardenia jasminoides meristem cell culture, Linum usitatissimum (linseed) oil, lactic acid/glycolic acid copolymer, glycolic acid, palmitoyl-heptapeptide, pantothenic acid-hexapeptide-cu, Elaeis guineenis (palm) oil, and Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed oil. The preservative system includes phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin and hexylene glycol.
The preservative system is boosted by chelating agent disodium EDTA. The pH of the final formula is adjusted with triethanolamine. Sodium polyphosphate is a pH buffering agent and also has chelating ability.
The fragrance components are listed out individually as Abies sibirica (Siberian fir) needle oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Salvia sclarea (clary sage) oil, Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) oil, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, Thymus vulgaris (thyme) flower/leaf oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, limonene, linalool and citral.
