Relaxaderm Overview
Relaxaderm is an anti-aging cream that claims to not only smooth existing fine lines and wrinkles in mature skin, but also to delay the onset of aging for younger skin. It works by using Argireline, a peptide complex that “relaxes” the skin’s complexion.
The cream is manufactured by Skin Doctors, an Australia-based company, which has a UK site (with more info than the Australian one) but no US site. Across the two sites, the product information is essentially the same, but with a before/after photo on the UK one. This photo shows a dramatic improvement in skin texture and smoothness (absolutely no wrinkles or crow’s feet), but it’s not stated how soon after use these results were observed. Given that the site’s copy state the cream is their “tried and tested injection-free facial relaxer”, it could be safely assumed that the results are probably instantaneous.
The AU site offers some brief info on clinical trials, stating that after 30 days wrinkles and fine lines are reduced by up to 50%, with an average level of 30%. Aside from this, there are no real scientific facts on offer and most of the AU site’s (very long) sales blurb just mentions basic info on skincare and what to do if you’ve used too much/too little/used it for too long (essentially telling you to do nothing).
Relaxaderm – Product Description
The cream’s main active ingredient is Argireline, the common name for Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, a series of amino acids that inhibit facial muscle movements in the same way as surgical cosmetic injections. This reduces the depth of wrinkles by smoothing them out, and helps to temporarily prevent the appearance of new fine lines. The site states that after 30 days of use, fine lines are reduced on average by 30% (up to 50%), but clinical trials from the laboratory Advancell stated that wrinkles were reduced by 16% after 4 weeks, and 27% after 30 days.
There is a complete list of ingredients on the AU site, listing a series of peptides, dimethicone (a skin-smoothing silicone) and a lot of parabens, which are an unfashionable use of preservatives given recent research linking them to cancer.
A single 50ml jar costs approximately $65, but there appears to be no US-based sites selling it. You can buy from international sites, though, but for an increased shipping cost.
Relaxaderm Advantage
- Cheaper alternative to Botox
- Instant results
- Moderate cost
- Positive reviews
Relaxaderm – Drawbacks
- Not available in the US
- Conflicting clinical trial results
- Little to no hard scientific facts to back up product claims
- Excessive use of parabens
Relaxaderm – The Bottomline
While Relaxaderm appears to be a cheaper, safer alternative to anti-aging facial injections, its biggest problem is that it’s not yet available worldwide, let alone in the US. As such, it’s impossible to buy and/or try/return the cream without being stuck with losing $99 if it doesn’t work. Yes, the cream does have mostly positive reviews, but there are only a handful of independent online reviews to begin with. The only selling point of Relaxaderm is that it is one of a small amount of creams that offer a surgical alternative using the same technology, but it’s not enough to go out of your way to buy internationally when there are still some domestic alternatives available.
