Almay Review

Overview

Almay is a mainstay in women's beauty products, spanning more than 75 years and producing numerous skin care and cosmetic products. The company began when chemist Alfred Woititz teamed up with dermatologist Dr. Marion Sulzberger to create cosmetics for the extremely sensitive skin of Woititz's wife, Fanny May. This company has been first on the block to produce hypoallergenic and fragrance free products, and was also the first to provide a complete ingredient list to consumers. It is these firsts that has made consumers with sensitive skin flock to Almay for products that can cleanse and enhance the skin without causing irritation.

The anti-aging line of Almay consists of a boosting serum, daily cream, daily lotion, eye cream and night concentrate. We are pleased to see that the daily lotion and cream include an SPF 15, since sun protection is a key factor in preventing the early signs of aging on the skin and for preventing skin cancer. The rest of the ingredients in this line will be explored in the next section of this review. While Almay has a comprehensive website and a strong online presence, we were unable to find customer testimonials or offers of a money back guarantee on the website. The products are sold through many drugstores and department stores, and at many online retailers.

Product Details

The full line of Almay anti-aging products boasts a single key ingredient in the formulas. This substance is known as moringa, which comes from the moringa tree in northern India. Moringa has been found to have outstanding antioxidant properties and to contain a cytokinin known as zeatin. Zeatin has been found in studies to promote small cell size, which can result in more youthful looking skin. It can be highly effective in countering the effect of free radicals in the environment that can lead to aging skin. In addition to moringa, the Almay anti-aging line contains aloe, milk thistle, licorice, soybean and rose hips. It appears that most of these ingredients were either chosen for their antioxidants or their moisturizing ability, or for both.

While there is no doubt that antioxidants in skin care can help protect the skin from free radicals that are lurking in air pollution and the sun's rays, there is no hard evidence to suggest that these substances will do much to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. We prefer to see ingredients like argireline, matrixyl and collagen that are proven to reduce lines and wrinkles and provide smoother, younger looking skin.

The Good

• Almay is readily available and offered at a reasonable price.
• The natural ingredients in this line of skin care can be beneficial for sensitive skin, and it also contains natural moisturizers.

The Bad

• The Almay anti-aging line does not contain proven anti-aging ingredients like argireline, matrixyl or collagen.
• We could not locate a money back guarantee or customer testimonials on the company website.
• All of the products appear to contain nearly identical formulas.

The Bottom Line

Loyal Almay users may enjoy this established brand’s anti-aging products made with all natural ingredients. However, we prefer tried and true formulas that have been shown to be effective in the battle against wrinkles. There are several promising products on the market that currently contain more patented, proven wrinkle fighters than Almay’s anti-wrinkle offering.