When we were teenagers, acne was the main villain of skin care issues. We’d coat on anti-acne creams, serums, scrubs with hopes that those big red bumps would shrivel up before anyone noticed. As we grow older, acne clears up to make way for the next big skincare villain: wrinkles.
Just as we did when we were young, we suddenly find ourselves frantically looking for the miracle cure that will keep our skin flawless. We’re willing to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive skin care products and treatments to hide the wrinkles that start to form with age. What if I told you there’s a drugstore product that can reduce the look of fine lines just as well as the more expensive anti-wrinkle treatments? This is where Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream comes in.
Neutrogena is a well-known skin care brand that offers clinical level products at over the counter prices. They specialize in making products that cater to specific skin problems such as acne, dryness, and, of course, wrinkle care. The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair skin care line features active ingredients that are proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, including retinol and hyaluronic acid.
For the purposes of this review, we’re going to take a closer look at the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream. It’s the newest product in the Rapid Wrinkle Repair line, released in January 2018.
The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is equal parts anti-wrinkle treatment and rich moisturizer. The creamy moisturizer ingredients leave the skin feeling smooth and supple, and help offset the harshness of the retinol solution. When combined together, you’re left with an anti-aging product that will reduce the look of wrinkles without drying out your skin.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream at a Glance
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Texture
The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream has a silky, creamy texture. It has a thicker texture than other wrinkle creams we’ve tried, but still applies smoothly and evenly across the skin.
The product starts absorbing into the skin right away, so you’re not left feeling like you have a layer of greasy lotion on your face. The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream dries relatively quickly, leaving you with supple skin that’s smooth to the touch.
Fragrance
There is a light fragrance mixed into the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream. Some have described it as a gentle floral scent, while others note hints of citrus. The overall consensus is that the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream has a very clean smell that is not too overpowering.
However, we noticed the smell tends to linger for a while even after the cream has soaked in. This may cause issues for people with sensitive noses. There is a fragrance free version of this product for customers with sensitive skin.
Packaging
The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream comes in a small 1.7 oz glass jar. While the packaging is attractive, there are a few issues that can be found with skin care products stored in a jar.
Jars expose the product to the air and light every time you use it, which can cause faster oxidation. Oxidation can reduce the potency of a product, and oxidized products often cause more harm than good. Retinol is a product that is known to oxidize quickly, so putting a retinol product such as the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream in a jar may cause some issues.
There is also the problem of bacterial contamination, which can happen when you stick your fingers into the product. Even if we wash our hands thoroughly, our fingers can be covered in microscopic bacteria. When mixed into a skin care products such as the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream, bacteria can cause outbreaks of acne, irritation, or infection.
Ingredients
There are a few active ingredients in Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream that help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and give skin a more youthful appearance. Neutrogena refers to the combination of these ingredients as Accelerated Retinol SA, which they claim to be the fastest Retinol formula on the market.
Retinol SA
Retinol is a form of a prescription-strength drug known as Retin-A, which is derived from vitamin A. Retin-A was originally created to treat acne, but dermatologists soon learned that it also had wonderful anti-aging properties. When applied to the skin, Retin-A can speed up cell turnover so that new skin cells can emerge. This results in smoother skin, and reduces the appearance of dark spots and other imperfections. It also helps slow the breakdown of collagen, which helps maintain skin elasticity.
Retinol SA (sustained action) is a highly concentrated form of retinol that is engineered to work faster than normal retinols. This type of Retinol is only used in Neutrogena’s line of anti-aging products.
Glucose Complex
The glucose complex found in the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream was designed to work with the Retional SA to accelerate skin surface activity. Glucose complex helps keep the Retinol SA working to actively diminish wrinkles. It also works to help plump up the skin, which can help get rid of fine lines and crows feet.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a natural compound from the skin that has the ability to soak up and store moisture. It releases that moisture over time to replenish the skin and give it a healthy glow. As we age, our skin slowly loses its ability to hold moisture, resulting in sagging and the formation of wrinkles. Many anti-aging products use hyaluronic acid to help replenish moisture and plump up the skin.
Application
Application of the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is a fairly simple process. The first step is to clean your face, which will ensure there’s no leftover oil or bacteria that might react to the product. Scoop out about a pearl sized amount of the product using a spatula or your finger and gently dab it along your T-zone. Use your palms and fingertips to evenly spread the cream across your face, focusing on your problem areas. The product will dry about 15 seconds after application.
Since retinol can cause inflammation, Neutrogena suggests that you start by using the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream once every other day. If it seems that your skin is taking to the product well, you can begin using it twice a day. We recommend you apply the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream once in the morning after waking up, and once at night before bed.
Immediate Results
Neutrogena claims that you can see reduction in wrinkles after the first 7 days of using their Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream. After the first week of using the product, we didn’t notice any substantial reduction of wrinkles or fine lines. However, we did take note of the reduction of splotches and dark spots and the smoothness of skin after use.
Long Term Results
We didn’t start to see any real wrinkle reduction until about two weeks of using the product every day. Through continued application, we found that the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream does a great job at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It works particularly well on deep wrinkles found on the forehead and near the eyes.
We have no doubt that you will notice a reduction of even the deepest wrinkles with continuous use of the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream. However, as with any Retinol product you may notice some inflammation and dryness with frequent use. This can be especially true if you have a sensitive skin type that’s prone to peeling and dryness.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Pricing
You can find the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream on the Neutrogena online store. It is also on Amazon with Prime shipping. You can also pick up the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream at just about any convenience store, grocery store, or wherever skin care products are sold.
Other Similar Products
FineVine Natural Retinol Skin Moisturizing Cream
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The FineVine Natural Retinol Skin Moisturizing Cream is another anti-aging product that combines Retinol and hyaluronic acid. It also mixes in some other natural skin care ingredients such as vitamin E, B5, jojoba oil and green tea extracts. This product is known to repair outer skin layers, refine wrinkles and fine like, firm up complexion, and smooth skin.
Somaluxe Rapid Facial Line Filler
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The Somaluxe Rapid Facial Line Filler is a powerful wrinkle filler made with Retinol and hyaluronic acid to add fullness and moisture. This product only uses ingredients that are meant to actively fight signs of ages, so there’s no added parabens, sulfates, or fragrances.
Baebody Retinol Moisturizer Cream
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Popular on Amazon, the Baebody Retinol Moisturizer Cream is a great product for reducing the look of wrinkles, acne, sun damage, or discoloration. It’s made with over 70% organic ingredients, including plant-derived hyaluronic acid, green tea, shea butter, and more.
Final Verdict on Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream
We find the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream to be a great product for reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Although it may take some time for the results to show up, we think that this product does more than what it says it can do for an incredibly fair price. While we wish that it was packaged in something other than a jar, we don’t believe that to be a deal breaker by any means. This cream is gentle enough for everyday use, and will leave your skin feeling soft and supple.
