Hypothetically  Speaking: Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream

I've decided to start a new series of reviews of the products I haven't bought per se, but I've looked into ingredient lists and do want to talk about those products. Mostly that would be "not worth buying" type of reviews, that I really want to get out there.

This review features a new Garnier anti-aging anti-fatigue night cream. I've come across this sample in a magazine. I am saying right away, this is not a good product, and I do not recommend wasting your money on it.

Ingredients:

WATER, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL DIMER DILINOLEATE, PROPANEDIOL, ALCOHOL DENAT., CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, CETYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, OCTYLDODECANOL, ADENOSINE, ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN BARK EXTRACT, BENZYL ALCOHOL, BENZYL SALICYLATE, CAPRYLOYL SALICYLIC ACID, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CI 16035/RED 40, CI 19140/YELLOW 5, CITRONELLOL, DARUTOSIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, GERANIOL, LAVANDULA HYBRIDA OIL, LIMONEN, LINALOOL, METHYLPARABEN, POLOXAMER 338, POLYSORBATE 60, RUSCUS ACULEATUS EXTRACT/RUSCUS ACULEATUS ROOT EXTRACT, SILICA, SODIUM ACETATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM NITRATE, XANTHAN GUM, PARFUM.

Excellent (only beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (mostly beneficial, not extensive research or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary, but not a skincare per se) 

Bad (irritants and anything bad that shouldn't be in skincare, usually fragrance)

 

Discussion:

Well, this night cream promises a lot: overnight miracle, wrinkle reduction, anti-fatigue (whatever that means in skin care), rare plant extracts and so on. Unfortunately it delivers little. It is an emollient cream due to high amount of glycerin and jojoba oil. In my opinion, if you want a very emollient product, just buy pure jojoba oil. It would be cheaper, and also pure oil wouldn't have so many irritants as this cream does. This product has very little in regards to anti-aging. The only real antioxidant is adenosine, which also serves as cell-communicating ingredient. Three "rare plant extracts" Garnier included here, have little to no research to support anti-aging claims (plus they are not very high on the list anyways). I assume the anti-fatigue effect should come from derivative of salicylic acid, which by exfoliating action gives skin more radiant (less tired) look. Unfortunately, exfoliant is not present in high concentration, so you are not likely to see much results. And I am not even starting on whether the cream is formulated at a correct pH to exfoliate or not and that it has jar packaging. Lastly, amount or irritating ingredients is beyond acceptable amount even for not sensitive skin. Alcohol and essential oil of lavender being the worst here. Very poorly formulated product.

Verdict:

0 out of 5