Overview
EMUderm is a skin care product manufactured by a Canadian company called e3 Emu Products. E3 Emu Products produces an eclectic line of skin care products, pet products, and body and bath products, many of which are based on emu oil. Emu oil is rendered from emu fat. According to the EMUderm website, e3 Emu Products and an affiliated ranch raise emus on a special feed until they are three years old. The emus are then “harvested” for their emu oil.
Product Details
The ingredients listed for EMUderm are: Distilled Water, Emu Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Oat Protein, Vegetable Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Cranberry Seed Oil, Germal Plus. This may or may not be the complete ingredient listing.
The main active ingredient in EMUderm is emu oil, harvested from the fat of emus. Including this rather exotic ingredient is a great marketing strategy and sets EMUderm apart from the mainstream pack of other anti-wrinkle and anti-aging formulations. However, it is important to ask the question why so few other well-known skin care manufacturers are including emu oil in their products if it is so effective? There is some independent evidence that emu oil, like many other oils, can have emollient properties on dry skin, but there are no clinical studies or evidence of effectiveness provided on the e3 website.
The Good
- May have moisturizing and rehydrating properties.
- Product is available directly from the manufacturer.
The Bad
- Product is harvested from emus, so not appropriate for vegans.
- May not have effective anti-aging ingredients.
- No apparent satisfaction guarantee offered.
- Product may or may not list its entire ingredients on the website.
The Bottom Line
Emu oil is certainly an effective marketing gimmick used by e3 to distinguish itself from its competitors in the skin care products arena. Unfortunately, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that emu oil has any special effects on protecting and moisturizing the skin compared to the hundreds of other products that contain vegetable sourced oils. The fact that the company does not stand behind its product with a money-back guarantee is also troubling. A company that believes in its ingredients and formulation will extend its confidence to the consumer through a satisfaction guarantee. This does not appear to be the case with EMUderm. If you are seeking a product specifically formulated to reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate skin, you may wish to research products with proven wrinkle-related ingredients, like Matrixyl 3000 or Argiriline. However, EMUderm could be an interesting choice of general moisturizer if you find the main ingredient intriguing.
