-RoC

(images from RoC)

Many of you who read my blog probably already know my view on moisturizers which carry anti-aging (or anti-wrinkle) claims. (You can see some of my related posts here.) In almost all cases, I review them simply as moisturizers just like any other moisturizer (because this is simply what they are). Today, I am reviewing two of the latest products from RoC.

Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Serum (pictured above)

This is quite a heavily silicone-based serum that has a slightly thick consistency. On the ingredient list, after water, the next five ingredients are all silicones.

Some of the emollients it contains are stearyl heptanoate, strearyl caprylate, caprylyl glycol, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. It also contains retinol, which, according to Paula Begoun, is a cell-communicating agent (which is able to work at the cellular level) and an antioxidant. It is not easy to say whether there is enough retinol in this product to really bring significant benefits to the skin, but, at least, for the amount that this product does have, RoC tries to keep its efficacy by packaging the product in a opaque container with a pump dispenser. (Retinol can lose its efficacy when it is in contact with air or sunlight.)

The product is alcohol-free and paraben-free.

As with most other silicone-based serums, it leaves a silky finish on the skin. The silicones that it contains can temporarily make the skin look smoother and more even. Personally, I think it feels a little too filmy on the skin.

Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Cream

This is a relatively light-weight nighttime moisturizer that has a lighter consistency than that of the serum reviewed above. Also, it contains less silicone, and the finish is less filmy.

Some of its moisturizing ingredients are glycerin, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, butylene glycol, and hyaluronic acid. Like the serum, this product contains retinol, and the description of the product above regarding retinol applies here. Again, the opaque tube with a pump dispenser is an ideal packaging in terms of the attempt to preserve the efficacy of retinol and other skin-benefiting ingredients.

I feel that the texture and emolliency of this product do suit my Type-4 skin (oily but dry underneath). It moisturizes my skin effectively and the skin feels smooth and supple (not filmy or greasy). I think one of the reasons for this ideal level of emolliency for my particular skin type is that the product doesn’t contain many occlusive moisturizing ingredients, such as mineral oil, shea butter and other plant oils (like jojoba oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil). Even though these non-fragrant occlusive emollients are generally good for the skin and are unlikely to cause skin irritation, skin that tends to get oily doesn’t really need too much of occlusive emolliency.

The product is alcohol-free.

Overall, these two products are well-formulated and well-packaged. The serum should particularly suit those with normal or normal-to-dry skin, while the night cream should suit those with normal, normal-to-dry or normal-to-oily skin.

(The products featured in this review are provided by RoC.)

Related posts:

RoC Hydra+ Bio Active Anti-Oxidant Moisturising Cream SPF 15

Amatokin Emulsion for the Face

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

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Daily sun protection should be an indispensable part of your daily skincare routine (rain or shine) and is essential for healthy and great-looking skin. But choosing a good daytime moisturizer/sunscreen with a suitable texture for any particular skin type can be tricky. Today I am looking at a product marketed for combination skin from RoC’s new Hydra+ Bio Active range.

Generally, it is a well-formulated moisturizer for daytime. It is alcohol-free and has ingredients to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB. The anti-UVA ingredient in this product is butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, and the antioxidants are copper gluconate and Tocopherol (vitamin E). But Tocopherol is towards the end of the ingredient list and is highly doubtful that it will be of any substantial help for the skin.

It goes on quite matte so it can work for people with combination skin. However, the texture itself is richer than many moisturizers marketed for the skin type. If you happen to have quite oily T-zone, it can be a little too emollient for the area. One way to work around it is to apply the moisturizer on the cheeks first and apply only the residue on your fingers onto the rest of the face.

As a base for the foundation, I think it works well. Cyclopentasiloxane (silcone) is the second ingredient on the list and the product does give a silky finish. My powder foundation goes on very smoothly. Even though, in skincare products, silicone preserves the efficacy of antioxidants much better than water, I would personally prefer slightly less silicone in my skincare products.

Overall, I would recommend this moisturizer to those with normal or normal-to-dry skin with no issue with excessive sebum. If any part of your skin tends to be oily, you might want to go for something lighter.

(The range also includes three other moisturizers, one for normal skin, one for dry skin and a body lotion.)

Related Posts:

Olay Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Fluid

Sunscreen Basics

10 Golden Skincare Rules

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