Product Review: Lancome’s Genifique Skin Activator

Lancome’s latest anti-aging skin care product Genifique’s tagline is “Active the skin you were born with”. In traditional Bionic Beauty form, I’m here to analyze the marketing claims, ingredients, and performance of this new skin care breakthrough.

Bionic Beauty analyzes Lancome's Genifique

This is what the Lancome marketing materials state-

Youth is in your genes. Reactivate it.
Discover the skin you were born to have.
Lancôme invents our first skincare that boosts the activity of genes.
At the very origin of your skin’s youth: your genes.
Genes produce specific proteins. With age, their presence diminishes.

What??? I do agree that Genifique (early Lancome marketing spelled it Genefique) worked well to reduce my signs of wrinkles, but there is no way a yeast based activator (which is the consistency of a serum) is going to reactivate or alter your genes.

Bionic’s analysis of the main ingredients:

• Bio-Lysat (bifida ferment lysate) – This ingredient is pretty common in probiotic supplements. It’s a gram-positive bacteria that is naturally found in our digestive tract. However, there’s no scientific studies to show effects on the skin (yet). Claims are that it helps maintain the microbial status of your skin cells.
• Hepes (hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid) - This ingredient will help brighten dark patches, melasma, or other pigmentation issues. (For further reference: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090192124)
• Phystosphingosine-SLC (Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine) - “Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine is a derivative of the naturally occurring skin-identical phytosphingosine (PS) which itself has been shown to be an active ingredient with marked skin soothing properties that acts to balance the skin’s microflora in a wide variety of skincare application.” (source: Cosmolara.com). Bionic Beauty says: Lancome’s Genifique Phystosphingosine-SLC formula basically combines Phytosphingosine with a Salicylic Acid derivative to help balance skin and improve texture. I’m not sure of the concentrate of Phystosphingosine-SLC in Genifique, but to be effective it needs to be over 0.05% (my bottle doesn’t have an ingredients listing).
• Denatured alcohol - This is probably what is causing some reports of dryness and acne after using Genifique. Alcohol dries your skin, plain and simple. Be sure to moisturize after using any product with alcohol as one of the top ingredients.

Genefique is certainly functional, nothing stellar, as a wrinkle reducer. It applies nicely and sinks right into the skin. I did have to use about a dime-size amount which is a little larger than a more concentrated potion such as YBF Skincare’s line (where I use a pea-size amount daily). Remember to apply a moisturizer after about 10 minutes. You should see fine lines start to diminish in seven-ten days. And if you are like me, your skin will feel softer immediately.

Basically, since I am a big fan of research, I want my readers to know the ins and outs of what you may consider buying. Long term with Genifique, who knows? Maybe if you use it for 2 years, you’ll start reversing like Benjamin Button. But then again, you could just end up with nice smooth skin.

But ladies, please do your research before dishing out $78 for 1 ounce of product.

Genifique is available at Lancome counters or Lancome-USA.com.

Since I believe everyone needs a few view points, here are links to other reviews of Lancome’s Genefique activator serum:
Wrinkle Cream Doctor – Lancome Genifique Review: Does It Work?
Hey Dollface – Reports with her 7 day Lancome Genifique Checkin
Daily Cookie – Gorgeous skin when it counts with Lancome’s Genefique