FutureDerm

Product I Love: Apothederm Firming Serum

Share Article

One of my favorite products is Apothederm Firming Serum ($75.00, FutureDerm.com/Shop). Formulated with two patented peptides, hydrators, and a fermentation by-product (Thermus ferment), Apothederm Firming Serum is a great addition to your existing skin care regimen. Its light texture makes it great as a step between your favorite retinoid and moisturizer, or alone.

What the Company Says

Apothederm Firming Serum is formulated with powerful botanicals and other advanced ingredients to help refine skin. We have added two of our exclusive patented SmartPeptides™ to help firm skin and reduce the signs of aging.

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 & Heptapeptide-7
These SmartPeptides work together deep to stimulate the skin’s own natural repair and regeneration systems.  Tests have shown that these peptides boost collagen production and promote keratinocyte proliferation and migration, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also increasing firmness of the skin.

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 is a gentle and non-irritating natural bioactive SmartPeptide shown to stimulate fibroblasts, increase collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even skin tone.

Heptapeptide-7 is shown to support skin structure, and promote keratinocyte proliferation and migration to fill in lines and wrinkles and reduce their appearance.

Glycerin
This humectant relieves dehydration by drawing essential moisture into the skin.

Trehalose
This naturally occurring saccharide protects the skin from dehydration and helps to restore its natural moisture balance.

Thermus Ferment
This inhibits damage from reactive oxygen species, protects natural defense enzymes, shields skin from UV damage, and restores barrier lipids.

Palmaria Palmata
This brightens the skin for a more luminous complexion.

FutureDerm Analysis

Apothederm Firming Serum has lots of ingredients that make it a superb product.

Peptides: Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 and Heptapeptide-7 May Decrease the Appearance of Wrinkles

How Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 & Heptapeptide-7 Work FutureDerm

Patented by Helix BioMedix Inc., palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 is a relatively new and rare compound in skin care and cosmetics. Designed to mimic an innate immunity peptide, palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 has been shown in preliminary studies to stimulate cell migration, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast proliferation and scaffolding (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2009).

What does this mean for your skin?  It is proposed that palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 is gentle, non-irritating and may increase collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even skin tone. Preliminary studies show that it may have efficacy similar to prescription Renova, though the sample size was small:

A 12-week split-face, double-blind study comparing the efficacy of a palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 gel with Renova® cream 0.05% in the correction of fine lines and wrinkles. Renova® cream is PDA approved for use in the mitigation of fine facial wrinkles. All of the five investigators rated the peptide equal to or more effective than Renova® cream in regard to therapy for fine lines and wrinkles of the periorbital region.”  According to Helix BioMedix, Inc., the data is on my file for this particular study.

Thermus Ferment: Natural Hydrating Agent

Thermus ferment is an ingredient that is a natural water-binding agent. Biologically-derived and true to its name, Thermus ferment is stimulated upon exposure to heat, such as the heat rising from your skin. Thermus ferment may have promise in the treatment of dry skin in retaining skin’s moisture and binding to additional moisture from the environment (Clinics in Dermatology, 2009).

Personal Use and Opinions

Apothederm Firming Serum

Apothederm Firming Serum has a lightweight formulation that feels cooling and non-greasy on the skin.  The serum spreads evenly and smoothly, and a little goes a long way: two squirts was enough for my face, neck, and decolletage. It was slightly hydrating on my normal skin, and the hydration is enough for those with normal to oily skin to forego moisturizer, whereas those with normal to oily dry skin may still wish to apply a moisturizer over top. The consistency is light-medium in weight, slightly creamy for a serum, with glycerin (a natural humectant) drawing in moisture from the environment.

How to Incorporate Into Your Skin Care Regimen

Apothederm Firming Serum Review

Apothederm Firming Serum is great in the morning with an antioxidant serum and before sunscreen. I say “with” due to the consistency: If the antioxidant serum of your choice is thinner than Apothederm Firming Serum, apply the antioxidant serum first. Conversely, if the antioxidant serum of your choice is thicker than Apothederm Firming Serum, apply Apothederm Firming Serum first.

Apothederm Firming Serum would be great after a concentrated retinoid or alpha hydroxy acid treatment at night. This would grant the benefits of peptides, without overloading the skin with a thick, heavy moisturizer.

For peptides like palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 to demonstrate full efficacy, I recommend using the product religiously, at least once per day, for 30 consecutive days. This is because the skin cell life cycle is about 21 days. In order to demonstrate effects that may occur from stimulated collagen production, it is essential to use for at least this long to see results.

Bottom Line

Apothederm Firming Serum is a superb addition to your existing skin care regimen. Replete with skin-firming peptides, hydrating Thermus ferment, and soothing Palmaria Palmata extract,  Apothederm Firming Serum is perfect for fighting fine lines and wrinkles when applied in the morning in conjunction with another antioxidant serum, and at night following a retinoid or alpha hydroxy acid treatment.

What are your thoughts on Apothederm Firming Serum? Let me know in Comments below!

All Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Heptapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Thermus Ferment, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acrylates/ Acrylonitrogens Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate.

 

You might also like

Product Review: Relastin Eye Silk

Accredited in [easyazon_link identifier=”0553383302″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]The Skin Type Solution[/easyazon_link] by one of my idols, Dr. Leslie Baumann (director, Division of Cosmetic Dermatology and Assistant Professor of

About Myself

Nicki Zevola is the founder and editor-in-chief of FutureDerm.com. Named one of the top 30 beauty bloggers in the world by Konector.com since 2009, Nicki

#Mindey

@mindey