Does it work? Boots Protect and Perfect Intense...miracle cream?

‘Ripoffecile rapide skin enervating action age defying serum reduces the effects of age within 4 months* (according to feedback from sample of 300 women who rubbed it into their faces at some point, somewhere). £ 26.99.’

What a lot of b*****cks! But women fall for it, in their millions. And before the gents start to feel smug at their comparative lack of dupability let’s remember that the market for creams to help male skins look less ‘tired’ is one of the fastest growing ones. What are chaps doing to their skins? Making their cheeks dance the Macarena until 2 am? Forcing their noses to work late at the office?

There are of course cheap alternatives such as Ponds which probably do as well. Although a friend pointed out that rubbing petroleum on your face might not be such a good idea. Apparently the petroleum creams may moisturize but do not protect or help your skin. The fact is anything moistening and not basically dangerous will improve the feel of your skin (olive oil, eggs, beer…hmm that might make a good batter!). What we pay for are soft smelling prettily wrapped pots of nonsense, and perhaps they have a placebo or anti depressive effect. The chemicals that do alter the skin are prescription only, have side-effects and are serious substances. Certainly not one to trust the cosmetic aka smoke and mirrors industry with, we’d all end up with purple skins and diarrhea.

In 2007 however Boots launched a skin cream, the Protect and Perfect serum, that was discussed on a Horizon documentary and was, holy grail like, shown to actually, physical and scientifically work. Some results of the research were that:

After six months twice as many of the volunteers who used the cream, 43 per cent, had improved wrinkles, compared to 20 per cent of those who used a placebo cream.

After 12 months, 70 per cent of those using the Protect and Perfect cream had "significant" improvements to their wrinkles, according to a clinical dermatologist.

The cream worked well across all the age groups tested according to the findings, published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Dermatology. 

Tests also showed that the cream was able to stimulate the production of fibrillin, or elastic tissue. It is this last aspect that is the vital thing, the cream was actually shown to alter the skin not simply puff it up by annoying it (how many lifting products work). This is not to say that other creams might not do this, just that they wouldn’t put their money where their mouths are, or risk being made to obtain a medical licence for their product. Boots were prepared to take the risk.

Queuing for P & P in 2007

Although I didn’t participate in the general scrum that ensued to get this miracle product I did start using it, and I liked it. No allergic reaction, as good as SK II serum (which costs close to a £100 a pot) and no reaction. However I used it sporadically so cannot claim to have seen any results. Although the catch is how do you know? Perhaps I would look rougher if I hadn’t used it?

The original formulation.

A newer Intense serum was launched for old skin, containing the same basic ingredients in a more intense formulation; the claim is that you can see a difference within a month. I have decided I can manage this, and I do have some, thankfully not many, deep wrinkles to test this on. I shall report back in March on whether I feel it has worked. I’ve been using it for a few days now. It is a different colour from the first serum, cream rather than white and distinctly heavier and oilier. It does sink into the skin and leaves it moist. So far no flare-ups or reactions, I found when I tried the brand’s day cream that it made my skin itch. It costs about £22.00, £2.00 more than the lighter formulation and you can opt for a more stylish looking glass dispenser. However I chose the tube as I find you lose some of the product with push pump dispensers and that they are heavier and less handbag friendly.

The bottle pump version

I shall be back in a month on this, either with a better skin or faintly disgruntled!

What creams and potions are you using? Anyone else using this? I’d love to know! xx