Just when you think you’ve heard it all, along comes Nuxe Nuxellence Detox…
“I’m like an expresso shot for tired skin! I boost your skin’s energy so it always has enough to function well.”
WTH does that even mean?!
Are you gonna get rid of my wrinkles, moisturise my skin, or just talk rubbish?
“Well, skin cells need energy to detox, exfoliate… you know, do all the things they do everyday. But as you get older, it has less energy so nothing works as well. My cocktail of passionflower, anchusa and poppy gives your skin the extra energy to function optimally.”
Talk rubbish it is, then… Let’s see what the science says:
What’s In Nuxe Nuxellence Detox?
SAFFLOWER OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Nuxe Nuxellence Detox IS moisturising. It has a big dollop of safflower oil, a vegetable oil high in linoleic acid.
I’ve sung the praises of this oil many times on this blog, so here’s a little recap:
- Moisturising: It creates a barrier on the skin that prevents moisture loss.
- Soothing: It has anti-inflammatory properties that help calm down irritations.
- Anti-acne: Acne patients are low in linoleic acid. Adding it back in can help reduce mini pimples.
Related: 3 Ways Linoleic Acid Helps Fight Acne
SILICONES TO FILL IN FINE LINES AND WRINKLES
A lot of people say they put on Nuxe Nuxellence Detox at night and wake up in the morning with softer, fresh skin.
They think it’s down to the passionflower + anchusa + poppy cocktail. 🙄 You have silicones to thank for that.
Silicones are like makeup for the skin: they fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller; they make skin silky soft to the touch; and they help it better reflect light so it looks like it’s glowing from within.
But, just like makeup, the results don’t last. Wash them off and your skin goes back to how it was before.
FYI, silicones DON’T suffocate skin. They have a particular molecular structure made up of wide molecules with big gaps between them. This allows them to create a protective barrier that helps prevent water loss while still allowing skin to perspire.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
PASSIONFLOWER + ANCHUSA + POPPY
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, shall we?
Nuxe Nuxellence Detox claims the cocktail of passionflower, anchusa and poppy can boost skin’s energy, which, in turn, helps skin detoxy itself at night.
Now, I don’t doubt that these extracts have antioxidants properties that can fight free radicals (pretty much all plants have), but boost skin’s energy?
I don’t see how these extracts can do that. For one, there’s only a sprinkle of them here – that’s so low they can barely kill off a few free radicals.
But then, that little shot would have to go so deep into the skin to penetrate the “energy centers” of skin cells and do some hocus pocus to amp up their energy levels.
Call me cynic, but I can’t see that happening…
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and flakiness? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it includes product recommendations + right application order):
Texture
A light yellow in colour, Nuxe Nuxellence Detox has a lightweight, non-sticky texture that sinks in quickly without leaving an oily residue behind.
Fragrance
Subtle and floral.
How To Use It
It’s the last step of your skincare routine at night.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I use Nuxe Nuxellence Detox every night before I go to sleep.
When I wake up in the morning, my skin looks fresher. It’s softer, too, and my fine lines look a little smaller. So yeah, it works.
But any serum/moisturizer with silicones will do this. If you want something basic that makes you look fresh and awake in the morning, you’ll appreciate this way more than me.
Me, I’m sticking to fragrance-free, antioxidants-rich serums that go that extra mile. That’s what you really need after you’ve turned the big 3-0.
Related: What Are The Best Antioxidant Serums?
Who Is This For?
Dry, young skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
- Acne-prone skin
- Mature skin
- Sensitive skin
Packaging
A purple tube with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical.
Does Nuxe Nuxellence Detox Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This anti-aging skincare product with 10 patents, containing passionflower and silk tree, is the first night cream that works deep in the skin’s cells to improve cutaneous detoxification(1) and cell renewal(1), helping the skin’s cells to maintain an optimal energy level(1). | All jargon that doesn’t mean anything. Skincare products can’t detoxify skin and help it maintain optimal energy levels. Cellular renewal? Only exfoliants do that. |
| When you wake up, your skin is brighter and radiates freshness as if you had slept two hours longer(2). | Skin is brighter and fresher after sleep. |
| Night after night, skin is regenerated and detoxified, appearing rejuvenated. | Pay attention to how this claim is worded. They say that skin is regenerated and detoxified, NOT that this cream regenerates and detoxifies skin. They can’t say that because it’s not true. They also say that skin appears rejuvenated, not that it’s rejuvenated. Again, big difference there. |
Price & Availability
£44.50 at Feel Unique
Do You Need It?
Nope. It’s a nice moisturiser for dry skin, but it can’t detoxify skin like it claims.
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, C10-18 Triglycerides, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Parfum/Fragrance, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Allantoin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Citric Acid, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Petal Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Anchusa Arvensis Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Leaf Cell Extract, Araucaria Angustifolia Seed Extract, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone [N2402/C].
