L’oreal’s latest breakthrough in anti-ageing was launched on 8th November 2011. Since the Fountain of Youth hasn’t been found, the next best thing may be L’oreal’s Youth Code, their version of Lancome’s Genefique and Biotherm’s Skin Vivo.
We all know that many factors contribute to our ageing process – stress and fatigue among the primary causes. L’oreal conducted a 10-year gene research in collaboration with Saint Louis Hospital in Paris on the study of 4.000 skin-related genes. Among these genes, scientists discovered that skin’s capacity to recuperate is linked to the function of what is known as ‘recovery genes’. These genes trigger production of the proteins involved in skin’s renewal process. These are the genes which help skin look and feel younger.
According to L’oreal’s research, when skin undergoes an aggression, recovery genes step in to recover it. In young skin, this takes just six hours after the aggression to start the recovery process. In mature skin, it only occurs 30 hours later.
Accordingly, it takes five times longer for mature skin to repair in comparison to younger skin. Okay, that’s really bad news for me since I’m in the “mature skin” category. When skin doesn’t recover as efficiently, it shows on the surface as wrinkles, signs of fatigue, sagginess and dullness.
Youth Code is backed by the new Pro-Gen™ Technology that is designed to activate recovery gene expression. It claims to:-
- increase skin’s capacity to recover and re-establish its natural code for youthfulness.
- help activate recovery genes involved in cellular regeneration to work on improving skin’s recovery capabilities like it did when it was younger.
This water-in-silicone emulsion is to be applied twice daily before essence/serum. I have been using it since the launch. I just incorporated it into my skincare regime and it’s so easy to do since it’s not like I have to switch from one serum to another. Most of the time, I just use Youth Code without any serum afterwards because I want to see its effect on my skin. If I use a serum, then I might not be able to tell you credibly that my skin’s condition has improved because of Youth Code or my serum.
Now that I’ve been using it for the past 3 weeks, I can say that my skin feels a lot smoother than before. Youth Code feels slightly sticky to the touch but once it’s been absorbed into skin, there isn’t that feeling any more. The dropper is excellent at dispensing just the right amount and a few drops is all I need.
There’s a certain refined look to my skin which is kind of hard to define exactly. You know the feeling you get when you know a product has worked on you? Well, this one has been pretty good on me. I’ve got about a quarter bottle left so I’d say it stretches to slightly more than a month’s usage if used twice daily.
The 30ml Youth Code retails at RM105.90 which can be considered pricey for a drugstore brand but if it works for you just as well as counter brands which promise the same effect, then it’s a worthwhile alternative to the counter brand versions.
