For years, Revale Skin has been one of my favorite lines, as it features the potent antioxidant coffeeberry. Derived from the coffee cherry of the Coffea arabica when it is still green and “sub-ripe”, coffeeberry contains an extremely high concentration of polyphenols, most particularly chlorogenic acid, condensed proanthrocyanidins, quinic acid, and ferrulic acid. In fact, according to research from renowned dermatologist Dr. David McDaniel, M.D., CoffeeBerry Extract currently has the highest antioxidant potential of any ingredient, based on its Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Score (ORAC) — a method developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the standard to measure the antioxidant capacity of natural substances. This means coffeeberry is a better antioxidant than green tea, white tea, vitamin C, vitamin E, grape seed extract or idebenone. In fact, CoffeeBerry Extract has ten times the antioxidant power of green tea (Cosmetic Dermatology, Baumann).
What I particularly love about Revale Skin Intense Recovery Treatment ($84.00, Amazon.com; $130.00 retail) is the product’s high concentration of coffeeberry extract – 1.5% – the highest available on the beauty market today. The effects of coffeeberry are both ameliorative and preventative, aiding dry skin and hyperpigmentation, and preventing future free radical-induced lines, wrinkles, and sagging from collagen degradation. According to company-affiliated research, the texture and tone of the skin treated with 1% coffeeberry extract showed 46 percent improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, 64 percent in overall skin smoothness, and 79 percent in skin hydration. In my own personal experience, I find Revale Skin to aid hyperpigmentation similar to 2% kojic acid (and not quite as well as 15% vitamin C or 4% hydroquinone), to aid fine lines and wrinkles similar to 4% niacinamide (and not as well as 0.9% retinol or Retin-A), and to also relieve dry skin as well as 4% niacinamide. However, this is just my own personal experience, and I do not have scientific data to back up these comparisons.
Coffeeberry may be so effective partially because of its mechanism of action in the cell: Unlike other antioxidants, CoffeeBerry combats free radicals throughout the entire skin cell, unlike many other antioxidants, which are limited to specific areas of the cell. Further, coffeeberry contains exfoliating polyhydroxy acids, which help the user see almost immediate improvement.
I currently am using a nightly retinol treatment, followed by Revale Skin Intense Recovery Treatment , and I have found that it makes my skin look smoother and softer. However, I really like the use of coffeeberry as a preventative antioxidant as well as a treatment, and for that reason, I think it will be in my anti-aging arsenal for a long, long time.
What are your experiences with Revale Skin, coffeeberry, and other antioxidants? Share below!
Also don’t forget to enter the FutureDerm.com and Skinmedix.com giveaway! One lucky winner will receive samples of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Phloretin CF and a Derma Roller!
Ingredients in Revale Skin Intensive Recovery Treatment
Purified Water, Glycerin, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cyclopentasiloxane, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Coffea Arabica, Fruit Extract, C 18-21 Alkane, Polyisobutene, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sericin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethythexylglycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Oxido Reductases, Phospholipids, Glycosphingolipids, Cholesterol.