Kinerase Cream Review

Overview

Kinerase Cream is, according to the official website, composed of a “plant-based extract that helps improve the appearance of age related fine lines and wrinkles.” Produced by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, a company which, since its inception in the 1960s, has maintained a focus on specialty dermatological treatments. Kinerase Cream is one of the company’s flagship products.

The primary ingredient in Kinerase Cream is kinetin, or N6-furfuryladenine, which is a plant hormone derivative that promotes cell division. Although research published in the Journal of Anti-aging Medicine in 2002 indicates that kinetin appears to be a powerful natural anti-oxidant, the same article concludes that further applications of kinetin in healthcare need to be investigated thoroughly, and that the mechanism of the hormone’s action is not fully understood. This may be reason enough for some potential users to treat this product with caution.

Product Details

Kinerase Cream is sold in 8- gram tubes and in a 0.1 percent concentration. It is marketed towards users who naturally have drier skin, the cream being a more moisturizing alternative to Kinerase Lotion. It is intended for use twice daily and claims to improve the appearance of fine wrinkles, dermal roughness, and hyperpigmentation. Kinerase Cream can also be used in conjunction with other, more invasive treatments. Some formulations of Kinerase Cream are available with SPF 15 or 30 sunscreen built into the formula.

The complete ingredients of the basic Kinerase Cream include purified water, glyceryl stearate & laureth-23, isopropyl palmitate,propylene glycol, stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, soya sterol,stearyl alcohol, dimethicone, imidazolidinyl urea, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben, soluble collagen, carbomer, N6-furfuryladenine, panthenol, propylparaben, triethanolamine, ascorbic acid, hydrolyzed elastin, and aloe barbadensis leaf juice.

The Good

• The formulation of Kinerase Cream is based on plant extracts, rather than animal-derived proteins.
• The product’s website allows for ordering directly from the manufacturer; the product is also available at high-end department stores and salons around the country.
• Scientific research supports some of the claims that this product’s manufacturer makes about some ingredients.

The Bad

• No free or low cost samples available; brief 10-day return policy on opened items.
• Relies solely on one active ingredient, kinetin, for its results; does not incorporate some of the latest developments in anti-aging technology.
• Not for use on the upper eyelids.

The Bottom Line

Kinetin, and, by extension, Kinerase Cream, is not a miracle cure. While scientific studies do support the claim that, in certain concentrations, kinetin can help promote younger and more full-bodied skin cells, the same studies also indicate that in improper concentrations, kinetin can be ineffective or can even cause premature cell death. While Kinerase Cream might be an effective product for some individuals, we were left with more questions than answers after trying to research the effectiveness of the product via official website. It is particularly unusual that there is no way to easily test the product in a low risk/low cost manner, as it certainly takes more than ten days to ascertain the usefulness of any skin care product. Other cosmeceutical companies stand behind the effectiveness of their products with much more liberal return/testing policies.