Just because a doctor recommends something, it doesn’t mean that it’s good for your skin. Case in point: St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer. A few years ago, Dr Oz urged his viewers to put away their expensive creams and turn to this drugstore “gem” instead. I totally agree with Dr Oz when he says a lot of these fancy moisturisers aren’t worth the splurge. But with all the cheaper, yet effective, alternatives on the market, why would Dr Oz recommend this? What’s so special about this? If you ask me, this formula is SO dated. So what should you do? Here’s the lowdown on this moisturiser and if it really is your skin saviour:
- Key Ingredients In St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer: What Makes It Work?
- The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
- Texture
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Packaging
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- What I Like About St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer
- What I DON’T Like About St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer
- Who Should Use This?
- Does St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer Live Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
- The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
- Dupes & Alternatives
Key Ingredients In St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer: What Makes It Work?
MINERAL OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Mineral oil has gained a bad reputation because it’s derived from oil. But cosmetic grade mineral oil (the only type allowed in skincare, FYI) is highly purified. All the nasty stuff is taken out before it gets in your cream. Phew!
But what’s it doing here? It’s an occlusive moisturiser that creates a barrier to prevents water loss. Now water stays in, it helps skin stay hydrated for longer. Before you ask, mineral oil itself isn’t comedogenic. But the barrier it creates can trap comedogenic ingredients into your skin, and those can make you breakout. Be careful what you use it with!
Related: 5 Mineral Oil Myths You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
PROPYLENE GLYCOL TO HYDRATE SKIN
Propylene Glycol is another ingredient with an undeserved bad rep. It’s true that, at 100% concentrations, it is an anti-freeze. But no one puts that much into a cream! In skincare, it’s used in tiny doses. Enough for it to do its job. What job? It’s a humectant, a fancy way of saying it attracts water from the environment into the skin, helping to keep it hydrated.
Related: 7 Skincare Ingredients With An Underserved Bad Reputation
COLLAGEN AND ELASTIN FOR… MARKETING
Collagen is the protein that keeps your skin firm. Elastin makes it elastic (the name gave it away, didn’t it?). As you get older, and your body stops making so much collagen and elastin, your skin starts to sag and wrinkle. So it makes sense that adding them back into the skin would make it firmer and more elastic again, right?
WRONG. Collagen and elastin are too big to penetrate the skin. If they can’t penetrate it, they can’t firm anything! All they do is rest on the skin’s surface and hydrate it. That’s it.
Related: 4 Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredients That DON’T Work
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Water (Aqua, Eau): The main solvent, it helps to dissolve other ingredients in the product.
- Glyceryl Stearate: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emulsifier that helps the water and oil based ingredients to blend seamlessly into your skin.
- PEG-100 Stearate: It enhances the texture of skincare products. It makes skin softer and smoother. And it helps the water and oil based ingredients to blend seamlessly into your skin.
- Stearic Acid: Another emollient and emulsifier. It makes skin softer and smoother and helps the water and oil based ingredients to blend seamlessly into your skin.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits bacteria contamination, keeping your moisturiser safer for longer.
- Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil: It creates a protective barrier on the skin that makes skin softer and smoother and protects it from environmental aggressors.
- Triethanolamine: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
- Carbomer: It helps to create a gel-like formulation.
- Cetyl Alcohol: It’s a moisturising alcohol that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Dimethicone: A silicone that makes the texture of the product velvety soft, leaves your skin softer and smoother, and plumps up fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller. Silicones get a bad rep, but they’re not toxic and they don’t cause breakouts.
- Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent. It’s a fancy way of calling ingredients that neutralise the metal ions in the water before they can spoil the formula.
- Fragrance (Parfum): The most irritating ingredient used in skincare, it makes the product smell good.
- Ethylhexylglycerin: A preservative with hydrating properties to boot.
- Linalool: A fragrance ingredient with a floral and spicy scent. It must be listed separately on the ingredient list because it’s a common allergen.
- Hexyl Cinnamal: It smells like jasmine and it’s used to give skincare products a floral scent. But it can be irritating.
- Coumarin: A fragrance ingredient with a very sweet, vanilla-like scent. And yes, it can be irritating too.
- Geraniol: Another irritating fragrant component that imparts a floral scent (roses, to be exact) to skincare products.
Texture
This moisturiser has a lightweight, gel-like texture that sinks in fairly quickly into your skin. Feels a little greasy only if you overdo it. A little goes a long way.
Fragrance
I’m not a fan of fragrance in skincare products. It can often irritate sensitive skin. But, a lot of brands use it to make their products smell good. This one is pleasant, if strong. And a little powdery. Told ya it was an old-fashioned formula – in the fragrance department too.
How To Use It
Like all moisturisers, you can use it up two twice a day. In the morning, apply it before sunscreen. At night, it’s the last step of your skincare routine. If you use an oil, either skip this or use it before the oil.
Packaging
St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturiser comes in a huge blue and green jar. It’s not the most hygienic packaging, but it’ll last you for a long time. In case you’re wondering if the jar packaging will spoil the formula, the answer is no. There are no antioxidants or anti-aging actives that go bad when exposed to light and air here.
Performance & Personal Opinion
St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer is surprisingly hydrating. I say surprisingly because the texture is very light and sinks in so quickly. If you’ve got dry skin, it’s not enough. Your skin needs something more heavy duty. But for acne-prone skin that’s a little sensitive? Works like a charm.
The cream keeps skin hydrated for a few good hours, leaving it softer and smoother. Good – but don’t expect anything more than this. That’s my gripe with this moisturiser. It moisturises indeed, but it doesn’t have any actives – think niacinamide, retinol, or antioxidants – that can slow down aging and fight wrinkles. Thirty years ago, this may have been a decent formula. Now, it leaves A LOT to be desired.
What I Like About St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
- Moisturising, makes skin softer and smoother
- Plumps up wrinkles, so they look smaller
- Big size, will last you for a long time
- Affordable
What I DON’T Like About St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer
- Texture can feel sticky if you apply too much.
- Has fragrance, which can irritate sensitive skin.
- Basic moisturiser, there’s nothing anti-aging here.
- Jar packaging isn’t hygienic.
Who Should Use This?
This gel-like moisturiser is most suitable for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin that needs a lightweight formula.
Does St Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizer Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Inspired by collagen and elastin proteins, this lotion helps renew skin’s glow. | Note how the brand doesn’t say collagen and elastin do anything. It just says the cream was inspired by them. And yes, when skin is well-moisturised, it glows a little. |
| Use morning and night for softer, visibly smoother skin. | It does make skin softer and smoother (just like any moisturiser out there). |
Price & Availability
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re still young and need a basic moisturiser that keeps your skin soft and smooth, this’ll do. But don’t expect it to do anything more than that.
Dupes & Alternatives
- CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($15.99): One of my fave moisturisers, it has ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and make every skin type soft and smooth without clogging pores. But it’s not anti-aging. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, and Ulta.
Ingredients
Water (Aqua, Eau), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum, Huile Minerale), Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum), Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Geraniol.
I love this product and love how affordable it is!!! 🙂 Such a staple for my skincare routine!! 🙂
http://anshul90.com
Anshul, glad you enjoy it. It does moisturize skin well. I just wish it did more.
Yeah, looks like it promises more than it can actually do.
Melissa, it’s a shame it does so little, doesn’t it?
Dr. Oz… he’s blacklisted haha. Not really, just on my list of opinions to disregard. Why him when I can read unbiased reviews from lovelies like you?
I haven’t tried any St. Ive’s products. I know they’re supposed to be more affordable but I don’t want to use peach rind (popular face scrub of theirs) on my skin or a moisturizer that might break me out. I have tons of body moisturizers I already love so I just never got around to try any of their products. As I’ve tried more facial skincare products, I’m more wary about trying new products. I guess with the exception of masks and lip balms.
Janessa,lol. I think if you’re looking for a basic moisturizer, this ain’t bad, but in 2014 there are much better options around that can prevent premature aging, exfoliate skin, etc.
Re skincare products, I think that once you’ve found some that work really well for you, you kind of lose the curiosity to try more in case they hurt your skin or just not work as well as your current HGs. Trying new skincare products can be risky. Unlike makeup, which can just be washed off if you don’t like it. 🙂
I bought this creme with low expectations. It is doing a great job keeping my skin moisturized. I have sunscreen and more expensive creams to do the other tasks. This is fine for pre-workout, my neck and layering over other products.
Christie, it is a good cream indeed if all you want is a basic moisturizer. I just prefer cream that have anti-aging properties too.
Which cream would you recommend that’s as natural as possible? I’m trying to find one that’s free from all nasties, not hugely expensive but still does a great anti-aging job.
Dee, I am a big fan of Mad Hippie. Their creams and serums are natural, effective, and reasonably priced.
Thanks – I’ll definitely check these out x
My pleasure!
can u also use it as a body moisturizers or lotion ty
Jenny, yes you can.
Is it suitable for oily/combination and acne prone skin?
Loyde, the texture may be too heavy for you.
I’m just saying my grandmother has used only this for as long as I can remember. She has never looked her age. Even at 80 years old barely a wrinkle. Your claims of “not enough” is a personal opinion. I’ve witnessed it working for 35 years. Even on myself.
Brandi, I know this moisturizer has been around for a long time, but are you sure it’s been 35 years already? Anyway, no cream can do the miracle you claim. Your grandmother must also be avoiding the sun, eating a healthy diet or do something else. There’s nothing in this cream that can keep wrinkles away so long. It’s not my opinion. It’s science. All my claims are always backed up by studies.
Me too I’ve started using this product in beauty college in 2002 and my skin still doesn’t have a wrinkle at 46yo. I had bad acne all my life until I started using the apricot scrub, toner with salicylic acids then the moisturizer to clear my skin. I still have the pits from the deep blackheads but the pores are smaller and the scars are minimal. The DAMAGE is done, but I have fewer breakouts as an adult now.
Hey! Thank you a good read.
So what do you recommend as anti-aging for my mamma who is having extreme dry skin ?
Rahman, the best antiaging ingredients can be drying for the skin. I recommend she treats her extreme dryness first and then think about an antiaging regime.
You can check out my post on how to treat dry skin here: http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/how-to-care-for-dry-skin/
My post on the best antiaging ingredients is here: http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/best-anti-aging-ingredients/
If you were to add anti-aging ingredients (for an example frankincense essential oil, or hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, etc.) to the moisturizer, could this add anti-aging properties, even a little? I have a tub of it at home and love the moisturizing effects, but I do want to have some anti-aging ingredients in my cream. I’d hate to throw it to the side. Thank you for your time!
Julia, that’d definitely add some anti-aging benefits to the cream. But the jar packaging wouldn’t keep them stable for too long. Especially, the pure form of vitamin C.
Maybe it also depends on the skin type? Or perhaps it isn’t made for African skin? I have used it for a few days now..my face feels super dry and has flakes everytime I wash it. Is this a normal reaction?
Liliiane, no, it’s not normal. There’s something in it that doesn’t agree with your skin. Ditch it.