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You know those claims from skin-care products that you’ll see visible results after one use? Well, I’ve never believed them, because the idea that something could “instantly” diminish the appearance of wrinkles seemed too good to be true. But then, I came across Sanitas’ new Collagen and Elastin Recovery products, which actually deliver on that promise.
The line, which debuted in September, includes a mask ($70) and a serum ($120). Together, they are truly the dynamic duo of skin care. Not only do they deliver visible results, but applying them makes you feel like you just stepped out of a spa. They’re so luxuriant, that I’ve begun to think of them as my own personal facial in a jar.
Sanitas Collagen + Elastin Recovery Duo — $182.00
While you can purchase the products individually, when you buy them as a set they come to you in a white, round box. The message on the top reads, “A skin-care innovation that belongs on a pedestal.” Lift the lid and there they are, perched on their elevated throne. I half expected a bugle to begin playing to announce their arrival. The packaging states that while the mask and serum can be used independently, the results will come more quickly and dramatically when used together.
And what results should you expect? The products are meant to permeate the skin’s surface to ease redness, volumize depleted skin, and fill in wrinkles. They are the result of a decade of research, with custom formulations containing vegan micro-collagen, vegan elastin, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and peptides. The molecular weight of these ingredients is 20 times smaller than traditional forms, allowing the product to penetrate the skin and rebuild the collagen we lose as we age. Not only do the products “flash fill” your wrinkles immediately after you apply them, but they’ll also help smooth their appearance over time.
Eager to see results, I slathered my skin with the mask, which, by the way, looks nothing like a mask. It feels like a transparent jelly, but smooths over your skin like butter, filling in all of your lines and wrinkles. When it dries, it doesn’t harden or turn white, and doesn’t restrict any movement in your face. Despite its clear texture, it has a certain richness that makes it feel like you’ve just had the best product in the spa applied to your face.
The formula is intensely moisturizing, which you can feel immediately. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid, an ingredient derms often recommend for aging skin thanks to the fact that it binds with water beneath the surface of your complexion to offer hydrating and plumping benefits. Post-application, my face tingled a little bit, but not unpleasantly. The mask was cool and comfortable, so much so that I forgot I had it on. The directions recommend leaving it on for 15 minutes or up to overnight—but after 15 minutes, it was still tacky, so sleeping in it wasn’t an option.
A quick rinse easily washed away the mask, and when I looked in the mirror, I did a double take. Did my redness seem diminished? Did my face look more supple? Yes, on both fronts.
A few days later, I applied the mask again, this time for an hour. No doubt about it, after my rinse I noticed the redness was almost entirely gone. My mature skin looked younger and more vibrant. A couple of days after that, I tried it again, this time for almost three hours. Bam! I was left with a beautiful complexion I haven’t seen in a long time.
The accompanying serum, which I applied every morning, is also a winner and I’m sure played a part in my rapid results. It has the same skin-firming ingredients as the mask, but supplements them with gently-exfoliating caviar lime extract to clear pores, diminish the appearance of dark spots, and leave skin with a mirror finish. Its pump delivery system yields the perfect amount, and the serum itself is lush and creamy, unlike some serums that settle and need to be shaken before use. For its packaging, consistency, and results in combination with the mask, this has become my new favorite serum.
In my opinion, this line deserves a standing ovation. No wonder it’s on a pedestal.
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