After my success with Hydropeptide’s Lumapro-C Lotion for my acne scars, I was very much looking forward to trying their Nimni Cream, a patened collagen support complex cream. It’s also got retinol as a main ingredient. I have always found it very hard to get excited bout retinol, but when I read that it’s a time-release retinol, my antennas went up!
My skin type
Oily, damaged pores on cheeks, acne scarring; crows feet and fine line forming on forehead, likely from frowning or eye-rolling 😒
What it’s supposed to do
The cream is basically an anti-aging cream that’s supposed to boost collagen production through amino acids and time-release retinol. It claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I understand “time-release” in the pharmaceutical industry as meaning something that is effective over certain period of time, and that’s how I understand the retinol in this cream to work. I have only ever heard of pills you ingest having that characteristic and did not know that topical agents also had that ability.
Collagen is important in the health of your skin, as far as anti-aging, for numerous reasons. I was able to find an abstract that seems relevant to this cream and how it works, from the doctor that partnered with Hydropeptide to create the cream, if you’d like to skim it.
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Unsaponifiables, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolized Oat Protein, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Fragrance, Sclerotium Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Sulfone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glyceryl Oleate, Squalane, Benzyl Alcohol, Retinol, Polysorbate-20, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Carnosine, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Cetyl Palmitate, Polysorbate-60, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Valine, Lysine HCl, Threonine, Arginine HCl, Leuicine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Methionine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate.
How I use it
I applied this cream to my entire face for most of the duration of testing, but then realized I was running out very quickly so focused it on my forehead and around my nose and mouth where smile lines form. I only used this cream at night because of retinol’s sensitivity to the sun. It’s got a unique smell and is a pretty thick cream that absorbs very well into the skin fairly quickly.
How long I used it
I used this cream for about a month.
What I like about it
I love the way my skin feels directly after using the cream; it’s generally the last step for me before a sleeping mask, if needed. Now that it’s really hot, I find myself skipping sleeping masks. My face feels tightened and supple after use.
I also like that the product is backed up by science, and I’m convinced that it works in the long-term based on the literature.
What could be better
This is a tiny jar for such little product and it’s expensive ($110.00 for 0.5 oz). I used it at least twice a week for a month and ran out in a month.
Retinol is like getting the electricity in your house rewired to prevent an accidental fire, getting a new HVAC (any HGTV fans out there?), or getting your walls insulated. While it’s absolutely essential in skin care, you don’t see the effects of it right away. While you will continually reap the benefits, the long-term effects that you may not actually see right away are what’s important here, and it can be hard to focus on that if you’re a person that likes instant results.
Joy Factor
On a scale of 1-10, this cream is a 6. In order to keep track of the results, I suggest getting the larger 1.7 fl. oz. container. It’s twice as expensive, but a better deal.
Where to indulge
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*The products in this post were provided by the brand. All opinions, as always, are my own.