FutureDerm

Product Review: Korres Brightening and Anti-Aging Rose Collection

Share Article

The popularity of natural and organic skin care is still on the rise in the U.S., so it’s no surprise that Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection ($54.00, Amazon.com) has been on the Sephora best-seller list for weeks.  The collection, which retails at $54, contains six products for the savvy recessionista (a reported $133 value):  moisturizer, mask, serum, lip butter, body butter, and shower gel.  Pretty good deal!  Now, does it work?  FutureDerm investigates…

Rose Extract:  Rich in Vitamin C

As you would most likely expect from the product name, the main ingredient in Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection is rose fruit oil, i.e., Rose Canina Fruit Oil.   In 2000, it was affirmed in the Journal of Food Engineering that Rose Canina Fruit Oil is in fact rich in vitamin C, although a 2007 study in Journal of Food Composition and Analysis found that vitamin C stability greatly varied depending on whether or not the rose plant was intact at the time of extraction.

According to the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vitamin C has many favorable aspects for the skin, including:

  • scavenging of free radicals;
  • suppressing pigmentation of the skin by inhibition of tyrosinase;
  • decomposing melanin;
  • triggering collagen production and thereby increasing skin firmness.

An additional study in the British Journal of Dermatology demonstrates that regular topical application of vitamin C also protects skin from UVB-induced damage.  However, before you get too excited, keep in mind that other ingredients have been found to have a higher antioxidant content than vitamin C, including idebenone, kinetin, and ubiquinone; and other ingredients have also been found to be better at brightening the skin than vitamin C, most notably 4% hydroquinone.

Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate:  Soothing to the Skin

Perhaps my favorite product in the Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection is the Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose Serum ($41.00, Amazon.com), and for good reason:  It contains Hamamelis Virginiana distillate (AKA witch hazel), an excellent natural skin soothing agent.  According to research in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Hamamelis Virginiana acts as an anti-inflammatory agent following induced erythema to the skin; however, hydrocortisone was still more effective.  Further, it is worthy to note that a four-fold increase in the concentration of Hamamelis Virginiana in the study did not increase its effectiveness on the skin.

Personal Use and Opinions

I have to admit, I haven’t tried the Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection (new lab, been hanging out with the boyfriend a lot, etc.)!  However, currently, six individuals at Total Beauty have given the Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection a “fair” overall rating of 6.8, citing the collection is “sweet-smelling,” making skin “smooth” and “bright,” and one reviewer even said the products helped with hyperpigmentation.  Interesting, and right in line with what the ingredients would indicate:  best for preventing, rather than treating, signs of aging, with minor short-term benefits.

Overall:  A Solid “Preventative” Skin Care Regimen, Needs Rated-SPF Sunscreen

There’s absolutely no doubt that Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection is an excellent value, featuring over $130 worth of products for slightly over $50.  For a “natural” skin care brand, Korres uses a multitude of ingredients in its products, perhaps stemming back to the brands’ roots in a homeopathic pharmacy.   Instead, Korres is a bit selective with its ingredients, choosing not to include such ingredients as certain amines, which can be irritating to the skin, and excluding some ingredients many dermatologists believe to be safe (i.e., mineral oil, silicones).  This makes Korres a unique natural brand not necessarily designed for those with sensitive skin (for whom fewer ingredients are generally preferred) nor the cosmetically-minded (for whom silicones are often recommended) nor the pure organic skin care lover (for whom no synthetic elements, such as artificial colorants, are desired).  Rather, this is a better brand for those with “normal” skin who are looking to dabble into the natural skin care movement without being all-out strict about it.

As for the Korres Brightening & Anti-Aging Rose collection, it seems to be a solid preventative line, with a multitude of antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, grape seed extract) and sunscreen in the moisturizer (though the exact SPF is not provided).   However, if you are looking to treat existing fine lines/wrinkles or hyperpigmentation, there are more proven options available, such as retinoids/AHAs or hydroquinone, respectively, and of course a multitude of in-house treatments.  As always, consult with a trusted dermatologist.

Product Rating:  8/10 (High concentration of proven ingredients: 2/3.  Unique formulation or new technology: 2/3.  Value for the money: 3/3.  Sunscreen: 1/1).

Korres Brightening and Anti-Aging Rose Collection Ingredients

Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturizer: Titanium Dioxide Other Ingredients: Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Myristyl Olive Esters, PEG-20 Methyl, Glucose Sesquistearate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Methyl Glucose, Sesquistearate, Olive Oil (Olea Europea) Unsaponifiables, Aluminium Oxide, Aluminium Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Isodecyl Salicylate, Fragrance, PEG-8, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid, Poly Hydroxystearic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum.

Wild Rose Mask: Water, CI77891, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit (Shea Butter), C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Rosa Canina Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Mannitol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Dextrin, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Isohexadecane, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Panthenol, PEG-8, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate-80, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Phytate, Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract.

Wild Rose Serum: Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate, Pentylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Mannan, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Extract, Glycerin, Glycine, Glycine Soja Protein, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-32, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8, Phospholipids, Phytic Acid, Rosa Canina Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum.

Wild Rose Lip Butter: Polybutene, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydroxystearic Acid, Polyethylene, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene
Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Tocopherol, Aroma (Flavor), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Cera (Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Geraniol, CI 15850 ( Red 7 Lake ), CI 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake).

Rose Body Butter: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Oil (Hybrid Sunflower), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond), Dicaprylyl Ether, Squalane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii, Persea Gratissima Citral, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Grape Seed Extract (Vitis Vinifera), Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Parfume, PEG 8, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum.

Rose Showergel: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum (Fragrance), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arginine, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Castoryl Maleate, Coco-Glucoside, Geraniol, Glyceryl Oleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-7, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol.

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