REVIEW | Pond’s Age Miracle Wrinkle Corrector Day Cream SPF18 PA++

Pond’s is a brand that I grew up with and it has been on the beauty shelves at supermarkets and drugstores since forever. Many of my aunties and friends use their face washes and face creams. Now that there are tonnes of beauty brands in the market, be it KBeauty or Western Beauty, Pond’s still stands strong in our Malaysian market. Recently, I tried their Age Miracle Wrinkle Corrector Day Cream SPF18 PA++ so let’s get into it!

Ingredients

Water, cyclopentasiloxane, glycerin, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, dimethicone crosspolymer, niacinamide, caprylic/capric triglyceride, titanium dioxide, PEG-10 dimethicone, potassium chloride, caprylyl methicone, mica, fragrance, disteardimonium hectorite, alumina, stearic acid, magnesium sulfate, cholesterol, methicone, DMDM Hydantoin, sucrose distearate, isomerized linoleic acid, tocopheryl acetate, disodium EDTA, acetamide MEA, ammonium lactate, aluminum Hydroxide, dimethicone, cetyl alcohol, climbazole, allatoin, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate, butylene glycol, helianthus annuus *sunflower) seed oil, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarnamate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 17200

This cream contains retinol in the form of retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate. Retinol is a superstar ingredient in skincare world and one of its most famous functions is for anti-aging. Retinol is used in various forms in formulating skincare. Retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate are both the ester form of vitamin A, they are widely used in place of retinol because they are supposed to be less intense than retinol especially for sensitive skin. Acccording to Byrdie, these are what retinyl palmitate does to skin:

Speeds cell turnover: “It causes the cells on the epidermis—the outermost layer of the skin—to rapidly turnover and die. This sounds sinister, but it makes way for new cell growth underneath,” says Solomon. This results in smoother, more radiant skin with less discoloration and overall more even tone.

Stimulates collagen production: Retinoids also hinder the breakdown of collagen and thicken the deeper layer of the skin (or the dermis) where wrinkles begin to form, says Solomon. And besides inhibiting collagen breakdown, it also stimulates new collagen. Once retinyl palmitate is converted to retinoic acid in the skin (we’ll get to that part in a minute), it binds to specific receptors in the cells that lead to increased collagen production, according to Lain.

Keeps pores clear: In speeding up cell turnover and acting as an exfoliant, it also helps unclog pores and keep them clear, which is why it’s often found in acne treatments.

However, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, you should avoid retinol including its derivative and its family. Other key ingredients in this cream are niacinamide for skin brightening, vitamin E as antioxidant, and allantoin for skin soothing. For your information, this cream also contains both chemical and physical sunscreens which are Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Titanium Dioxide but these are only at SPF18 PA++ so in this tropical country I would still need to apply proper sunscreen afterwards preferably SPF50 PA++++ or higher.

Texture and Smell

Just like most of their cleansers, this cream has a floral scent that is not too strong but not subtle either. I am not really a fan of the smell but it doesn’t irk me either. It comes in a pink texture with cream consistency that is rather viscous. It is easily spreadable and not sticky but feels quite greasy to me.

This cream has a not-so-noticeable white cast on my skin tone. Deeper skin tones than mine will be super likely to experience a slightly more apparent white cast, I think.

You need to apply it little by little and build it up so that the finish is not too heavy and filmy. It dries down to reveal a dewy skin and I feel like it leaves a “there’s something sitting on top of my skin” kinda finish that is not uncomfortable but not enjoyable either.

Experience

It seems like this Wrinkle Corrector Day Cream doesn’t really go that well with my oily combination skin. The texture itself is quite rich that it feels heavy on my skin, especially when I still need to apply sunscreen and/or makeup afterwards. My oily areas which are my nose, forehead, and my chin became so greasy an hour after application. I patch tested this cream for 3 days before fully incorporating it into my routine. During those 3 days, I didn’t experience any bad reaction other than greasiness and a bit of itchiness. However, after about a week of using, I started getting a lot of whiteheads and tiny bumps on the nose so I immediately stopped using it. I am so lucky that it didn’t break me out, like giving me a cystic acne or something.

I persuaded my husband to try this too and he did. His skin type is normal but also finds this cream to be quite oily for him. I tried putting on loose powder after using this cream and sunscreen but he said it makes his skin uncomfortable so he stopped using.

Apart from that, this cream makes my skin feels soft. It also gives my complexion a bit of a glow, despite the oiliness. I really wish this cream would work for me, what with it having retinyl palmitate and all. Sadly, not everything will suit your skin and you just have to accept that.