My Mom and I spent the day shopping this past Sunday – a ritual that we are trying to do every few months. While I was in another store, she popped into Bath & Body and purchased the Anti-Aging Starter Kit by Patricia Wexler, M.D. I wish I could have been there to tell her to ‘wait’ until I show her the facts. But, I promised her I would give her the review from Paula Begoun on this. So far Mom loves the products and like I always say, if you enjoy a product then by all means keep using it.

 

 

Paula Begoun is co-author of Don’t Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition by Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron [Publisher: Beginning Press] [www.cosmeticscop.com]). Here is Paula’s review of my Mom’s products.

 

I HIGHLY recommend that you read Paula’s review on this entire product line and the background of Patricia Wexler, M.D.

 

At-A-Glance
Strengths: Good selection of well-formulated moisturizers and serums; two highly recommended cleansers; good topical disinfectant with benzoyl peroxide.

Weaknesses: Moderately expensive; at-home AHA peel provides more irritation than help for skin; all lip products contain potent irritants; one sunscreen lacks UVA-protecting ingredients; no non-irritating salicylic acid products for acne-prone skin; skin-lightening product is alcohol-based; jar packaging.

 

🙂 $$$ – Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser ($18.00/3.4 oz)
Claims: This all-in-one cleanser gently cleans without over-doing it. The ideal first step to a skin-changing regimen.
Review:  Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser is a standard, but very good, cleanser for normal to dry skin. It’s reminiscent of Neutrogena’s Extra Gentle Cleanser, except for the price, of course, which is about twice that of Neutrogena’s. While nothing in this product has anything to do with fighting aging, the claim will get the attention of many. For removing makeup, you will need to use a washcloth to be sure you’ve gotten everything off. It does contain fragrance. By the way, if by “universal” Wexler means “all skin types” that’s a mistake, because someone with oily to very oily skin won’t be happy with this product. This contains fragrance in the form of methyldihydrojasmonate.

 

😐 $$$ – Resurfacing Microbrasion System (Step 1: 1 fl oz; Step 2: .5 fl oz) ($60.00)

Claims: Clinical skin-resurfacing results. Brightens skin, combating signs of uneven pigmentation with botanical extracts.
Review: Resurfacing Microbrasion System is a two-step system. Step 1 is the Skin Resurfacing Cream with MMPi, which is nothing more than a scrub in an emollient base with alumina as the abrasive agent. It can be gritty, so use it carefully. As far as scrubs go, this is OK, but the claim that it can inhibit collagen breakdown is wishful thinking because the ingredients are washed away before they can be of much use to the skin. Step 2 is the Intensive Hydrator with MMPi, a well-formulated moisturizer with ingredients that mimic the structure of skin, cell-communicating ingredients, and some unique antioxidants. The combination of these two products doesn’t hold any special benefit and more to the point, there are better, less expensive scrubs available, and there are other Wexler moisturizers more interesting than this one.

Note: A reappraisal of published literature concerning multiple professional microdermabrasion treatments indicates that its overall level of improvement is marginal, at best (Source: Dermatologic Surgery, June 2006, pages 809–814).

 

😐 $$$ – Skin Brightening Daily Moisturizer ($39.50/1.7 oz)
Claims: Brightens and evens out skin tone, improves the appearance of age spots and discoloration, repairs visible signs of aging, strengthens skin with Niacyl.
Review: Skin Brightening Daily Moisturizer SPF 30+ has what the Oil Free Hydrator SPF 30+ sunscreen lacks, thanks to its in-part avobenzone sunscreen and some very interesting state-of-the-art ingredients. How foolish to package it in a jar, which leaves the efficacious antioxidants subject to deterioration on exposure to air and light.

😐 $$$ – Intensive Night Reversal and Repair Cream (.5 fl oz) ($42.50/1.7 oz)
Claims: This cream takes Dr. Wexler’s exclusive anti-aging technologies to the next level. Speeds recovery from daily environmental damage. Targets deep expression lines and slackened skin structure.
Review: Intensive Night Reversal and Repair Cream features a state-of-the-art formula, but much of what makes it an exciting option for normal to dry skin will be lost once this jar-packaged product is opened. The amount of cypress oil is potentially cause for concern; although not much is known about this plant, two of its components are camphor and d-pinene, both of which can irritate skin.

😐 $$$ – MMPi.20™ Skin Regenerating Serum (.5 fl oz) ($55.00/1 ounce)
Claims: Visibly repairs and improves skin inside and out, and is clinically shown to firm the skin. Boosts skin’s own regenerative powers to diminish the visible signs of aging. Visibly reverses the lines, sink and sag. Helps maintain a youthful complexion.
Review: MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum does have a wonderful silky-smooth texture, but it lacks the impressive state-of-the-art ingredients in Wexler’s other products, plus the jar packaging won’t help keep the few good ingredients in here stable.

 

😐 $$$ – Deep Wrinkle Eye Repair (.25 fl oz) ($$29.50/.5 oz)
Claims: Visibly reduces expression lines and other deep wrinkles, smoothes lines, restores lost firmness builds and binds moisture with Dermaxyl peptides.
Review: Deep Wrinkle Eye Repair with MMPi is a fairly state-of-the-art formulation, but the jar packaging leaves much to be desired because none of the exciting ingredients fare well when routinely exposed to air.

 

Long story short, all the products above except for the cleanser are rated “average & expensive” which means: “An ordinary, boring product whose excessive price makes it ludicrous to consider.”