*Press sample. All research was done after I had been using this product over the course of six weeks.*
Hi friends!! You've probably heard the term "royal jelly" tossed about in one way or another, as a fabulous miracle supplement, or a placebo-ish marketing tool, or as dangerous in high doses. If you're wondering what this polarizing stuff is, it is a honey bee secretion known within the species for its nutritional and fertility enhancing properties, used to feed larvae and develop a new queen. Its popularity as a human supplement and beauty product additive have waxed and waned since the late 1950s, though per WebMD.com, amongst other sites, there is very little viable scientific information on how well royal jelly actually works in humans.
The claims on royal jelly in skincare are that the vitamins and nutrients therein aid in moisturizing, protection, and collagen production/anti aging. Those who tout the substance say it is most effective fresh and in its purest form, used topically, and should be either refrigerated or frozen to maintain potency (per royaljellyinfo.com). So how does a shelf stable, luxury skincare product that lists royal jelly as its twelfth ingredient stack up to claims scientifically dubious, at best?
The claims on royal jelly in skincare are that the vitamins and nutrients therein aid in moisturizing, protection, and collagen production/anti aging. Those who tout the substance say it is most effective fresh and in its purest form, used topically, and should be either refrigerated or frozen to maintain potency (per royaljellyinfo.com). So how does a shelf stable, luxury skincare product that lists royal jelly as its twelfth ingredient stack up to claims scientifically dubious, at best?
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| Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Facial Serum |
I was both excited and skeptical when presented with a chance to try out a treatment containing royal jelly myself. Italian luxury skincare brand Perlier's Royal Elixir Facial Serum is, per the company, "an innovative, anti-aging serum that incorporates fresh Royal Jelly from African bees known to stimulate collagen production and provide vital nutrients and anti-oxidative properties to the skin. Additionally, all the water has been replaced by extremely pure rose distillate that has moisturizing and toning properties."
The serum itself is light and lovely, a creamy gold substance with a silky feel and a soft, subtle floral scent. A dime sized dollop (about two pumps) adequately covered my face and neck. I layered this over my nightly Retin-A treatment and night moisturizer, but you can also use it by itself, if you so desire, which is actually optimal to receive whatever benefits the serum may have to offer (when it's right against your skin). It is also suitable for use during the day, as it also contains light reflective gold microbeads. My skin is combination-oily, though, and the sheen this serum gave it gave me reason to not think twice about wearing it out and about. It dried out nicely, but left a thin film acceptable at night but not during business hours.
So, after six weeks of using this serum as part of my nightly routine, how beneficial did I find it? There are definite pros to Royal Elixir-- it appears to be non-comedogenic (though the packaging doesn't state this) and it didn't cause me any eczema flares, as some products tend to. As a supplemental moisturizer, this didn't interfere with my normal routine, and in fact did leave my skin feeling supple and well hydrated in the morning. I attribute this entirely to the rose distillate, the primary ingredient in this serum, and one with more longevity (howstuffworks.com), and proven and working theories (yahoo.net). Incidentally, rosewater products are also much cheaper, topping out at $62 for luxury brand products but largely available for under $10.
Perlier Royal Elixir Facial Serum rings in at $99 for 1.6 fluid ounces. The fact that royal jelly is a third of the way into the list of ingredients, and is a shelf stable variety, leads me to believe that this is a sexy and somewhat controversial buzzword that does nothing but drive up the price of an otherwise lovely rosewater product. If you're looking to try a royal jelly product, you're better off researching the pure stuff. Steer clear of the product altogether if you're allergic to bees. This facial serum also contains honey.
If you're interested in giving Perlier Royal Elixir a shot, it can be found HERE on hsn.com.
The serum itself is light and lovely, a creamy gold substance with a silky feel and a soft, subtle floral scent. A dime sized dollop (about two pumps) adequately covered my face and neck. I layered this over my nightly Retin-A treatment and night moisturizer, but you can also use it by itself, if you so desire, which is actually optimal to receive whatever benefits the serum may have to offer (when it's right against your skin). It is also suitable for use during the day, as it also contains light reflective gold microbeads. My skin is combination-oily, though, and the sheen this serum gave it gave me reason to not think twice about wearing it out and about. It dried out nicely, but left a thin film acceptable at night but not during business hours.
 |
| Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Facial Serum |
Perlier Royal Elixir Facial Serum rings in at $99 for 1.6 fluid ounces. The fact that royal jelly is a third of the way into the list of ingredients, and is a shelf stable variety, leads me to believe that this is a sexy and somewhat controversial buzzword that does nothing but drive up the price of an otherwise lovely rosewater product. If you're looking to try a royal jelly product, you're better off researching the pure stuff. Steer clear of the product altogether if you're allergic to bees. This facial serum also contains honey.
If you're interested in giving Perlier Royal Elixir a shot, it can be found HERE on hsn.com.
Where to find Perlier
Anyone have any thoughts on or experience with royal jelly or rosewater products? I'd love to hear them :) Thank you for reading and have an amazing day!! ♥♥
*press sample
Great review on this face serum. It sounds so nice but its so expensive too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, doll :) I guess hsn.com has huge markdown sales once in a while. Sadly, I was still testing this product when the last one occurred but if you're interested, it might be worth keeping tabs on.
DeleteHi sis - what a great review and coincidentially I started pondering over those miracle substances claiming to fight age and skin damage as of late. And oddly the African Continent seems to be a preferred source of beauty companies. I currently use a skincare package that is based on a certain kind of saffron, also solely found on the beforementioned continent! Considering your observations I honestly don't think this product is worth the price and I am so with you - a clingy film at work is not pretty. I am not using any Rosewater products as I am not too keen on the smell. As for my skincare: the price I paid nearly left me broke but it clearly improved the look and feel of my skin and still comes cheaper than the methods used by my friends. As a matter of fact I am quite shocked at the amount of torture they imply to their skin with only temporary success :-o!!! Have a lovely weekend and sorry for the lenghty comment but I clearly got on a roll here ;-) <3
ReplyDeleteI used to use luxury products and match the whole set, cleanser, toner, day and night moisturizer, and I didn't think there was any other way. I totally bought into the hype of "everything working together" but slowly backed away from that mindset. I went from Shiseido to Mary Kay to Ivory soap, Cerave, and Night of Olay moisturizer, with the occasional St. Ives apricot scrub. And now that I'm in my mid-thirties, maybe I ought to be thinking about a more cohesive regimen but in the meantime, my prescription Retin-A, sunscreen, and (fairly, haha) healthy diet keep everything looking good enough for me, lol. I've become a proponent of less is more and certain things are superfluous (this aforementioned serum being one of them). Also, roll away :) (Wait, that didn't sound right) And a lovely weekend to you, as well!
DeleteMy beauty regimen biography read the same until last year - I happily mixed and matched. But somehow my skin closed-up with my age - having reached the very end of my forties, my skin became a lot drier. Mind you, I haven't bought in the whole set, just the cream and the tonic and the two of them so far did an awesome job to save me from mumie looks. Still, I am not sure, I will replace the jar once empty but venture on to different brands, I am sure, there must be a cheaper version. The steadily growing number of friends who suffer from post anti-age-surgery though terrifies me - it ranges from scars to skin color change to allergic reaction to injections (which is irreversible b.t.w. and left one friend with an irregular lip). Considering all this, I still prefer to toss my hard earned bucks into the pot of a cream ;-P
DeleteI love that packaging! But I do not think that I would buy ANY skincare product for $99 any time soon. I sometimes think that 20$ stuff is expensive, LOL. Good thing I have easy skin to deal with.
ReplyDeleteIt is great packaging-- I love the banded seal thing :) TOTALLY agree on the price, and your stance on skincare in general. My $8 Night of Olay cream is the most I'm willing to spend these days and my skin looks just fine, lol.
DeleteReally interesting, and props to you for doing your research!! I personally doubt any of the claims of royal jelly. I simply just like the sound of it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you :) I was dubious at first and I had good reason to be.
DeleteI think the only thing I'd ever spend $100 on for my face would be something hyper-magical that made my under eye circles vanish. And since that's an impossibility (not even Dermablend works...and it covers TATTOOS, for Pete's sake), a lovely banded jar of anything is a no-go for me. But like I told you earlier, Perlier's bath products are very nice. And great job on all your research. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd try La Mer, given the chance, lol. Okay, seriously, the BEST stuff I've used is that new Maybelline Dream Lumi highlighting concealer. If you have undereye circles, though, I've never noticed. You're doing something right! :D
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