Brittasbits asks…I just read an article on mail online that states a new device called Lift Away the Years wand and serum by Crystal Clear is the new scientific breakthrough of the year! Claiming to erase saggy skin and wrinkles – so my question is does this device actually work ? Or is it yet another gimmick?
The Beauty Brains respond:
Here are the basic claims for this product according to their website:
- The dual action technology in the Lift Away the Years wand forms the perfect combination in reducing the appearance of ageing skin.
- The wand uses gentle vibrations to stimulate the muscles in the face while Crystal Clear’s Intense Anti Ageing serum is massaged deeply into the skin.
- Lift Away the Years produces an instant anti-ageing effect. Used morning and night as part of your daily moisturising routine, the results will get better and better.
- The Lift Away the Years wand has been designed to create skin that appears younger, firmer and more toned. In a recent study with 30 women, consumers reported a 27% reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and a 45% increase in skin firmness.
We’re not sure how stimulating muscles in the face will help since the cause of wrinkles has less to do with muscles and more to do with collapse of collagen and other skin supportive tissues. If vibrational muscle stimulation really was a cure for wrinkles, every dermatologist would be offering this as an in office treatment!
The claims regarding reduction in appearance of wrinkles and increased skin firmness are very standard claims and can be achieved with “regular” lotions and supported by consumer testing. It’s also less than impressive to note that this is apparently based on a single study with a very small base size (n = 30.)
What’s in the Crystal Serum
They don’t fully disclose ingredients on their website but they do call out the following special ingredients:
- Matrixyl 3000
- Biopeptide CL
- Oxygen Complex
- Sy-Nake
- Camelia Vegetal oil
- Argan Vegetal oil
While, as with many other anti-aging ingredients, there is some data on in vitro cell cultures which indicate these are functional, there is little or no data proving they work when applied topically to skin.
The Beauty Brain bottom line
Without a lot more disclosure on their formula and test data, we’d have to call this a gimmick. It’s certainly not the scientific breakthrough of the year!