L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18 Review
Is RevitaLift's "complete" cream really all you need to get risk of pesky wrinkles?
From L’Oreal’s RevitaLift product line comes the L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18. The manufacturers claim that this cream not only hydrates your skin to prevent wrinkles with scientifically-proven ingredients, but it also protects skin from sun damage.
Many daily moisturizers are adding some sun protection nowadays, making it easier for those on the go to complete two necessary morning steps at once. This is an excellent time saver, but can one product really be wholly effective at both tasks?
A Closer Look at L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18
Online customer response seems muted at best regarding this product, with no particular consistencies among comments other than a mildly satisfied “Meh”. There are no raving declarations of praise, and no outcries against this cream. The majority of customers seemed to have a very bland reaction, and why is understandable once you look a little deeper. There isn’t much to celebrate here, nor is there much to criticize too harshly. It is simply another anti-aging cream on a shelf of dozens.
The ingredients don’t stand out as spectacular, and the premise of adding SPF to a daily anti-ager is hardly new. While helpful, this product doesn’t quite hit the mark, as it needs a more powerful SPF to be truly effective at protecting from the harsh rays of the sun, especially all day. As it stands, this day cream would need to be reapplied several times throughout the morning for the SPF to have the full, intended effect.
It does have a loyal fan base made of mainly L’Oreal brand lovers, rather than customers who actually prefer this product specifically. L’Oreal is a time-tested, well-loved brand that is widely available and readily relied upon without much question. Being the blue-collar priced version of the more “high-end” Lancome brand, it gives the feeling of a trusted luxury brand without the associated cost.
When looking at customer reviews, we noted that a handful of comments mention a chemical odor, which is discussed in depth in the ingredients. Even pleasant fragrances can be irritating to sensitive skin. An unpleasant, chemical smell is not at all a good sign. L’Oreal answered in a few of the comments, responding that those jars were from a “bad batch”, but the incident is not isolated to one particular batch or occurrence, and seems to be a repeated mistake.
A few other comments note that it takes weeks and weeks of use to see results, even when utilizing the entire L’Oreal RevitaLift line. If you’re looking for your wrinkles to fade in a hurry, this likely isn’t the ideal product for you.
Positives
- Contains industry-leading anti-ager, Retinol
- Offers a little protection from the sun with slight SPF
- Widely available in superstores and online
Negatives
- Contains known irritants and abrasives
- Relies on only one anti-aging ingredient
- Slow working over months for results
- Uses parabens, which are known carcinogens
- Has a very long ingredient list full of synthetics
Active Ingredients
A look at the ingredients list raises concerns, despite some customer praise. The cream is full of parabens (one in particular which may be dangerous for nursing mothers), preservatives, and perfumes which are likely to cause an allergic reaction. This might not be the wrinkle cream for those customers who prefer safe, organic ingredients. However, it does contain a high concentration of one of the industry’s leading anti-agers, so that is some small silver lining on this rough ingredient list.
Retinyl Palmitate
This ever-popular vitamin A derivative does most of the heavy lifting in this cream. It is solely responsible for the firming action L’Oreal promises, and while it might be up to the task, Retinyl (or Retinol) is often best paired with additional anti-aging ingredients for the most efficacy. It helps to fight free radicals in our skin and encourages collagen production for a more youthful appearance, and can be found in most decent anti-agers on the shelves today.
PEG-100 Stearate
Palm or coconut oil (most often) make up the base of this ester. It’s combined with Stearic Acid to become dissolvable in water. It is included in tons of products worldwide despite some mistrust in the synthetic polymer. It’s function is mainly to bind with dirt and unwanted substances on the skin and then carry them away when washed with water. Based on the little information on them, the FDA does not consider PEGs to be dangerous in low doses. In high doses, there is an increased risk of encountering a particular impurity (1,4-dioxane) which is a known carcinogen.
Alumina
Also known as Aluminum, as in the foil you wrap up leftovers in when you make too much dinner. It isn’t the healthiest thing to see in a daily skin cream as it is a known abrasive and can be toxic in large quantities. Here it serves as an anti-caking agent, mostly for keeping the texture of the cream silky instead of chunky. It does accomplish that goal, though with the addition of several other ingredients that can accomplish the same, this addition feels superfluous.
Cyclopentasiloxane
This silicone is used as a delivery agent and conditioner. Like all silicones, it gives a temporary plump, plush look to the skin when included in creams and lotions. It also helps products have that desired smooth feeling. While this particular silicone doesn’t seem to have an adverse effect on the human body, it has been noted to be particularly dangerous to marine life. It is not entirely confirmed whether or not this danger correlates to potential danger in humans as well.
Limonene
This chemical is a citrus-smelling fragrance ingredient. While the scent can be pleasant, it is a known irritant and can be incredibly harsh on sensitive skin. The citrus of which is smells can be an antioxidant, but once the actual chemical compound is exposed to oxygen, it oxidises and becomes an irritant. This can leave users with an itching or burning sensation, and is often best avoided if possible. If your skin becomes red or itchy while using a product containing Limonene, stop use immediately as you may be having an allergic reaction.
Butylparaben
In order to keep products on the shelves for as long as possible, many manufacturers include preservatives like parabens. This is one such paraben, which prevents any microbial growth in the cream. While this might seem like a good thing, Butylparaben itself can be just as dangerous as the bacteria it is seeking to prevent. Parabens have been linked with increased risk of cancers, and can have ill effects on the endocrine system.
Full List of Ingredients
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Myristyl Myristate, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Ammonium Polyacrylatedimethyl Tauramide, Palmitic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, PEG 100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), PEG 20 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean Protein), Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Alumina, Polycaprolactone, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Myristyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Fragrance, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Hexylcinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citral.
Directions: How to Use L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18
First thing in the morning, wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser to remove any build-up. Pat dry with a soft towel and liberally apply L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18 all over facial skin. Allow to absorb and proceed with your usual morning routine. Include additional SPF if possible. Can be worn under casual daily makeup.
The Final Word on L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18
L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream won’t break your bank and has some satisfied customers, but it’s worth seeing how it compares to other products before making a final purchasing decision, particularly with the more questionable additives. It feels very much like the standard anti-aging superstore cream, which isn’t necessarily a terrible thing, but it isn’t a great one either. There are definitely better products on the market, as well as worse ones.
If you aren’t incredibly concerned with organic ingredients and don’t mind the wait for it to take effect, this cream will get the basic job done. If you’re looking for rapid results or want the safest cosmetics, or both, then L’Oreal RevitaLift Complete Day Cream with SPF 18 is not what you’re looking for.
For more information on skin care and anti-wrinkle creams which may work better for you, see our other articles, as well as our comparison chart below!
OUR BEST RATED PRODUCTS
- #1 recommended to support younger-looking skin.
- Clinically shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- Rescues and protects skin from damage.
- Deeply moisturizes to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- All-in-one, full spectrum anti-aging serum
- Repairs and fights damage to keep skin healthy and youthful
- Contains Ritapro 165, a next-gen moisturizer
- Helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles
