Overview
DHC is a skin care product manufacturer and direct mail distributor based in Japan. According to the company’s website, DHC products are based on olive oil. In fact, one of its products is nothing but olive oil. Not all of DHC’s products contain olive oil, however. DHC Wrinkle Essence is a moisturizing serum that is to be used twice a day around the eyes, lips and forehead. The serum’s full ingredient listing is available on the DHC website, along with a description of the main active ingredient, Trehalose. DHC Wrinkle Essence can be purchased directly from the DHC website or from a few high-end retail stores in New York and California.
DHC provides product samples for all of its skin care products including the DHC Wrinkle Essence. DHC charges a $2 fee for a catalogue and four samples if you have not purchased from them before. DHC also has a 60 day money-back guarantee. In order to return product for refund, you must ship back the unused product, a copy of the original receipt, and a refund form that you fill out. The original shipping charges and the cost of shipping the product back are not covered under the guarantee.
Product Details
The main active ingredient in DHC Wrinkle Essence is Trehalose, which the company describes as a moisture-binding sugar molecule that helps desert plants to survive droughts and heat. DHC states that it believes that this ingredient will have the same effect on skin. The company does not provide any scientific proof that this ingredient has been tested or that it is effective on reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
The full ingredient list for DHC Wrinkle Essence is: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, trehalose, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed elastin, glycine soja (soybean) protein, natto gum, placental protein, allantoin, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, potassium DNA and methylparaben. This product does not appear to contain any peptides, such as Matrixyl 3000, which has scientific support on its effects on wrinkles and fine lines. DHC Wrinkle Essence also contains methylparaben, a cosmetic preservative that is a known allergen. Those with sensitivities and allergies should check the list of ingredients carefully before purchasing.
The Good
- Can purchase product on the DHC website.
- Money-back guarantee offered.
- Product samples of DHC Wrinkle Essence are available.
The Bad
- Main active ingredient has not been proven effective on fine lines and wrinkles.
- Contains parabens and is not non-allergenic.
- Does not contain peptides, proven to assist in wrinkle reduction.
- Getting money refunded requires shipping back the product.
The Bottom Line
DHC Wrinkle Essence has a relatively unique active ingredient, Trehalose, but unfortunately there is simply not enough information available to be able to assess the usefulness of this ingredient. DHC Wrinkle Essence also does not contain active ingredients that are common to higher-quality wrinkle reduction treatments, such as peptides. If you want to try this product, start with the sample first to ensure that you don’t have to go through the time-consuming and expensive refund process if you find that it doesn’t work as stated. However, you may want to seek anti-wrinkle products with scientifically-proven ingredients.
