Brand background
Advanced Clinicals is a “problem-solving” skin care line that was originally developed by chemists who wanted to create effective formulations using advanced technology. The brand’s mission is to offer skin care solutions at attainable prices for their customers, which is why all Advanced Clinicals skin care products retail for under $20. Knowing that advanced treatments for anti-aging, general skin care, as well as niche problem areas, like stretch marks and age spots, were often associated with a high price tag, Advanced Clinicals made it a priority to combat this with cost-effective, large-sized solutions in easy-to-dispense packaging. Advanced Clinicals is formulated in their own lab and manufactured in their own FDA-inspected facility in Chicago.
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2021?
Key products
Currently, Advanced Clinicals offers 50 different skin care products, including creams, lotions, oils, serums, problem-solvers, masks, and skin care for men. In this section, we’ll discuss three of the most popular Advanced Clinicals skin care products: Collagen Skin Rescue Lotion, Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream, and Retinol Advanced Firming Cream.
Advanced Clinicals Collagen Skin Rescue Lotion is a body and face moisturizer that is said to help promote soft, plump skin with consistent use. To use, apply a sufficient amount of lotion onto cleansed face, neck, and hands. Gently massage into skin using upward circular motions, paying special attention to the wrinkles, until fully absorbed.
Advanced Clinicals Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream is a body and face moisturizer that is said to nourish and renew dull, parched skin for deep hydration. This cream absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy feeling. Apply a generous amount onto cleansed face, neck, and hands. Gently massage into skin using upward circular motions, paying special attention to wrinkles.
Advanced Clinicals Retinol Advanced Firming Cream is a body and face moisturizer that is said to reduce the visible signs of aging as it helps replenish your moisture barrier. This retinol cream is gentle enough to be used daily.
Key formulation
In order to find the formulation details for Advanced Clinicals skin care products, we had to search third party websites because the brand does not list the product ingredients on their website. Below we’ll discuss the formulation details for each of the key products mentioned above.
Advanced Clinicals Collagen Skin Rescue Lotion contains a high concentration of mineral oil. Mineral oil is a clear, odorless oil derived from a mineral source, typically a distillate of petroleum, that functions as an emollient. After application, mineral oil forms a protective film on the surface of skin that helps to prevent evaporation of the skin’s natural moisture. Another key ingredient is hydrolyzed collagen. The term “hydrolyzed” means that the collagen protein has been broken down into amino acids so that this ingredient can better penetrate the skin. Hydrolyzed collagen is thought to replenish collagen levels in the skin that become depleted with age and from exposure to free radicals that degrade collagen. The result is skin that appears more firm and plump.
As the name implies, one of the key ingredients in the Advanced Clinicals Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream is coconut oil. Coconut oil is an occlusive emollient, which means it forms a layer on the surface of skin to help lock in moisture. The fatty acids in coconut oil also help to replenish the skin’s barrier function. Lastly, the lauric acid found in coconut oil has antibacterial properties, which may be helpful for those with acne. Other beneficial ingredients in Advanced Clinicals Coconut Oil Moisturizing Cream include Aloe vera leaf juice, mineral oil, chamomile extract.
Like the other two Advanced Clinicals moisturizers, the Retinol Advanced Firming Cream contains a high concentration of mineral oil to help keep the skin soft and smooth. This anti-aging cream also includes pure retinol. Retinol has the capability of minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improving uneven skin tone, restoring skin firmness, and shrinking the appearance of enlarged pores. Retinol provides all of these benefits by first being converted to retinoic acid (its active form) after being absorbed into the skin. Retinoic acid also functions as an antioxidant and helps the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
We’d like to point out one safety issue with Advanced Clinicals products: the brand uses the preservative DMDM hydantoin in several of their products. DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative that some consider to be unsafe because of the formaldehyde. While it has been approved safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, this ingredient can cause irritation or an allergic reaction on sensitive skin.
Advanced Clinicals Reviews
It appears that Advanced Clinicals only includes a select few reviews on their website, and only positive reviews for that matter. For example, Advanced Clinicals reviews for the Retinol Advanced Firming Cream say things like “better than Neutrogena” and “Holy crap this stuff is GREAT.” Similar to their lack of transparency with the product formulations, it appears that Advanced Clinicals does not want to display all customer reviews for their products.
What are some alternatives to Advanced Clinicals?
After reviewing Advanced Clinicals product formulations, we have come to the conclusion that these products are actually pretty far from “advanced”. They use beneficial yet standard ingredients in their product formulations, and the products lack new or unique ingredients. If you are searching for truly advanced skin care treatments formulated based on ground-breaking research and cutting-edge technology, we recommend Formulyst.
All Formulyst skin care products are formulated to maximize the use of powerful ingredients that visibly benefit your skin and minimize the ingredients that might make you smell and feel nice, but don’t actually work. One example is Formulyst’s Anti-Aging Night Cream with Retinol. Rather than using standard retinol, the formula contains innovative Encapsulated Retinol Technology in order to deliver a higher concentration of retinol to your skin for intense rejuvenation. In addition, this night cream helps to lock in moisture and restore the skin’s barrier function with emollients such as squalane, macadamia seed oil, and jojoba oil.
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that is effective and safe. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the power of plants with cutting edge science. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals commonly found in skin care products.
Heather Original review: Apr 06, 2021.
I started using Advanced clinicals Vitamin c cream and some of their serums and I love them! They improve my skin but don’t break me out or dry me out. I have very sensitive skin and these products work well for me. Also they are inexpensive.