Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, from British spa brand ELEMIS, is widely lauded and the winner of 29 beauty awards.  This single product is clinically proven to: dramatically boost hydration, soften wrinkles, and firm skin– within just 15 days (ELEMIS, independent clinical trials, 2014).  For those with dry skin, the hydration is strikingly effective and lasting; within one hour of application, skin hydration is increased up to 177%, and by 24 hours, the hydration boost is up to 248% (ELEMIS, 2014).  As someone with extremely parched, prematurely aging skin, I was eager to see if my experience could match these claims.

I expected the cream to be heavy and to leave a layer of greasy residue on my face as most anti-aging creams do, but ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream has a light gel-like texture that penetrates and absorbs, leaving little behind.  Lightweight creams and gels are typically insufficient to moisturize my skin, but Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is a big exception; it seems to hydrate from within deeper
layers rather than on the surface.  In truth, I  have been very pleased with Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, particularly in regards to the deep and lasting hydration it has provided and the way, in turn, this has made my whole face appear smoother and more supple.  With just a week and half, my face looks fresher, smoother, and a little less droopy.  Pro-Collagen Marine Cream offers the results of a serum wrapped in the benefits of a great moisturizer.

How does ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream accomplish so much, so quickly?  The star ingredient is Padina Pavonica, brown algae found in the Mediterranean that helps skin cells communicate better and boosts glycosaminoglucans (GAGs). GAGs are a key
structural component of the epidermis along with collagen and elastin. They are water-binding (e.g., hyaluronic acid is a GAG and can hold 1,000 times its weight in water) and provide a water reserve for the epidermis and dermis. In addition to being key for skin
hydration, GAGs promote wound healing and help maintain and help rebuild the extracellular matrix, making them crucial for skin firmness and elasticity as well.  Knowing all this, I am convinced that boosting GAGs is a good short and long-term
anti-aging strategy, perhaps especially for individuals with chronic inflammation.

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream also contains Dermochlorella, an extract from green micro-algae known to: strengthen cohesion in the dermal-epidermal junction, stimulate collagen and elastin production, and diminish dark under eye circles.  In addition to boosting collagen and elastin, Dermochlorella also inhibits breakdown of collagen and elastin through action on Matrix MetalloProteinases (MMPs). This is a very dynamic ingredient, valuable for anyone who wants to reverse and hold off signs of skin aging.

 Other actives in Pro-Collagen Marine Cream include Ginkgo Balboa liposome molecules, which provide antioxidant protection and also encapsulate and  transfer other actives at a cellular level; Mimosa, which is thought to protect from one of the major sources of aging: glycation; and Porphrydium algae, a rich source of fatty acids and vitamins.

This is an impressive blend of ingredients, and In my own experience, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is a fantastic moisturizer that delivers on its anti-aging promises. ELEMIS has created a
moisturizer that is uniquely hydrating; the hydration is not just temporary layer of greasy residue on top of the skin, but rather a very absorbable moisturizer that leaves no residue and hydrates skin from within. Lasting, true hydration is a worthy feat, as dry skin is less able to protect and defend itself and thus more likely to suffer damage resulting in premature aging.  I recommend Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for anyone who wants lasting benefits from their moisturizer.