skinceuticals a g e interrupter reviews
- 4% Blueberry extract
Naturally derived and both an antioxidant and anti-glycation ingredient helps fortify skin’s matrix and prevent the appearance of wrinkles and laxity.- 30% Proxylane™
Designed to help support skin’s own G.A.G. synthesis and restore water and nutrients to skin.- 0.2% Phytosphingosine
A naturally occurring chemical that facilitates skin’s natural barrier repair process and helps protect the skin’s barrier by alleviating the discomfort associated with dry, aging skin.
A.G.E. Interrupter
FEATURES:
A.G.E. Interrupter is an advanced wrinkle treatment that fights the visible signs of aging caused by advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.), a major factor of the natural aging process. This anti-aging cream is formulated with an unprecedented 30% concentration of proxylane™, 4% blueberry extract, and 0.2% phytosphingosine (pronounced fi’to-sfing’go-sen) to improve the appearance of wrinkling and restore the loss of firmness caused by the glycation process.
- Reduces the appearance of skin creping and thinning
- Visibly improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture
- Restores water and nutrients to improve the look of skin firmness
- Comforts dry, aging skin
- Alcohol-, and dye-free
Once or twice daily, massage a thin, even layer onto the entire face, neck, and chest. If using in the morning, apply after a SkinCeuticals vitamin C antioxidant serum and before a SkinCeuticals sunscreen. If using with a retinol at night, apply after retinol application.
Intrinsic or natural aging, caused by internal factors such as hormonal shifts and changes in skin metabolism, contribute to the appearance of wrinkles, loss of firmness, and crepy skin.
Glycation, a major factor of intrinsic aging, occurs when excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibers and prompt the formation of advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.). As a result, glycated collagen and elastin fibers lose the ability to function normally, and the body cannot break them down and replace them, leading to severe wrinkling of the skin.
A.G.E. Interrupter is a uniquely-textured formulation optimized to help improve the visible signs of aging associated with glycation. This potent anti-wrinkle cream features a high-concentration combination of proxylane, blueberry extract, and phytosphingosine to improve visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, loss of firmness, and a crepy, thinning appearance.
- 4% Blueberry extract
Naturally derived and both an antioxidant and anti-glycation ingredient helps fortify skin’s matrix and prevent the appearance of wrinkles and laxity. - 30% Proxylane™
Designed to help support skin’s own G.A.G. synthesis and restore water and nutrients to skin. - 0.2% Phytosphingosine
A naturally occurring chemical that facilitates skin’s natural barrier repair process and helps protect the skin’s barrier by alleviating the discomfort associated with dry, aging skin.
aqua / water / eau, propylene glycol, dimethicone, hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol, cyclohexasiloxane, isohexadecane, glycerin, synthetic wax, dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, ci 77163 / bismuth oxychloride, phenoxyethanol, magnesium sulfate, ethylhexyl hydroxystearate, salicyloyl phytosphingosine, acrylates copolymer, methylparaben, ethylparaben, disodium edta, vaccinium myrtillus extract / vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract, parfum / fragrance, butylphenyl methylpropional, coumarin
It’s also important to note that because hydrated skin tends to look plump, moist and smooth, wrinkles can appear less obvious. That’s another reason why daily applications of a moisturizer like the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter are crucial. The formula can help restore moisture to the surface of your skin, thus helping improve its appearance.
What Is Glycation?
The A.G.E. in the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter stands for Advanced Glycation End-product. Before we discuss the benefits of the product, we think it’s important to understand what glycation is, as well as some differences between the two main types of natural skin aging. Glycation occurs when excess sugar molecules in the cells stick to collagen and elastin fibers, binding to them and causing chemical reactions, called Advanced Glycation End-products. These reactions reduce the fibers’ regenerative ability, leading to severe wrinkling of the skin. Glycation is also known to be one of the major factors of intrinsic aging.
A very common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason paraben. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon. Read more about parabens here >>
Skinceuticals a g e interrupter reviews
Good old water, aka H2O. The most common skincare ingredient of all. You can usually find it right in the very first spot of the ingredient list, meaning it’s the biggest thing out of all the stuff that makes up the product.
It’s mainly a solvent for ingredients that do not like to dissolve in oils but rather in water.
Expand to read more
Once inside the skin, it hydrates, but not from the outside – putting pure water on the skin (hello long baths!) is drying.
One more thing: the water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized (it means that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed). Like this, the products can stay more stable over time.
- It's a helper ingredient that improves the freeze-thaw stability of products
- It's also a solvent, humectant and to some extent a penetration enhancer
- It has a bad reputation among natural cosmetics advocates but cosmetic scientists and toxicology experts do not agree (read more in the geeky details section)
Probably the most common silicone of all. It is a polymer (created from repeating subunits) molecule and has different molecular weight and thus different viscosity versions from water-light to thick liquid.
As for skincare, it makes the skin silky smooth, creates a subtle gloss and forms a protective barrier (aka occlusive). Also, works well to fill in fine lines and wrinkles and give skin a plump look (of course that is only temporary, but still, it's nice). There are also scar treatment gels out there using dimethicone as their base ingredient. It helps to soften scars and increase their elasticity.
Expand to read more
As for hair care, it is a non-volatile silicone meaning that it stays on the hair rather than evaporates from it and smoothes the hair like no other thing. Depending on your hair type, it can be a bit difficult to wash out and might cause some build-up (btw, this is not true to all silicones, only the non-volatile types).
A "green chemical" developed by L'oreal in 2006. It comes from the sugar molecule, xylose that can be found in beechwood.
According to L'Oreal's claims, Pro-Xylane can boost the production of important skin-building blocks called GAGs (aka glycosaminoglycans, important NMFs) in the extracellular matrix (the goopy stuff between our skin cells) that results in better hydrated and firmer skin.
A light-feeling, volatile (meaning it does not absorb into the skin but evaporates from it) silicone that gives skin a unique, silky and non-greasy feel. It has excellent spreading properties and leaves no oily residue or build-up.
A light, velvety, unique skin feel liquid that is a good solvent and also makes the skin feel nice and smooth (aka emollient). It's often used in makeup products mixed with silicones to give shine and slip to the product. It's also great for cleansing dirt and oil from the skin as well as for taking off make-up.
- A natural moisturizer that’s also in our skin
- A super common, safe, effective and cheap molecule used for more than 50 years
- Not only a simple moisturizer but knows much more: keeps the skin lipids between our skin cells in a healthy (liquid crystal) state, protects against irritation, helps to restore barrier
- Effective from as low as 3% with even more benefits at higher concentrations up to 20-40% (around 10% is a good usability-effectiveness sweet spot)
- High-glycerin moisturizers are awesome for treating severely dry skin
We don’t have description for this ingredient yet.
A PEG-modified self-emulsifying crosslinked silicone elastomer surfactant that helps water to mix nicely with silicone oils, aka a water in silicone emulsifier. It creates highly stable micelle structures that break upon application of the product so it is ideal for “water drop” like cream formulations.
A handy helper ingredient that comes in a white powder form and works as an anti-caking and oil-absorbing agent. It also gives products good spreadability, long lasting and velvet touch characteristics. It is popular both in skincare and makeup products.
Bismuth Oxychloride has been around since the 1950s and it was one of the first synthetic materials to give a pearl-like effect in cosmetic products. It is a white powder with a fabulous sheen and a nice skin feel and it is still very popular in decorative cosmetics.
It has one major drawback: it is sensitive to light. Upon prolonged UV exposure, it can lose its sheen and become gray.
It’s pretty much the current IT-preservative. It’s safe and gentle, but even more importantly, it’s not a feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason paraben.
It’s not something new: it was introduced around 1950 and today it can be used up to 1% worldwide. It can be found in nature – in green tea – but the version used in cosmetics is synthetic.
Expand to read more
Other than having a good safety profile and being quite gentle to the skin it has some other advantages too. It can be used in many types of formulations as it has great thermal stability (can be heated up to 85°C) and works on a wide range of pH levels (ph 3-10).
It’s often used together with ethylhexylglycerin as it nicely improves the preservative activity of phenoxyethanol.
A helper ingredient that is used as a bulking and viscosity controlling agent. It is also an emulsion stabilizer in water-in-oil emulsions, where water droplets are dispersed in the continuous oil phase and not the other way round.
It can also be used as a heat generating agent in water-less formulas as it has an instant heat-generating chemical reaction with water.
A heavy-duty emollient ester that comes in the form of a pale yellow semi-solid paste. It mainly stays on the surface of the skin and gives skin protection and occlusivity.
We don’t have description for this ingredient yet.
A big polymer molecule that has a bunch of different versions and thus different uses. It can act as a film former, as a thickening agent, or it can increase the water-resistance in sunscreens. It is also used to entrap pigments/inorganic sunscreens within a micron size matrix for even coverage and easy application.
The most common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason parabens. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon.
Apart from the general controversy around parabens (we wrote about it more here), there is a 2006 in-vitro (made in the lab not on real people) research about methylparaben (MP) showing that when exposed to sunlight, MP treated skin cells suffered more harm than non-MP treated skin cells. The study was not done with real people on real skin but still – using a good sunscreen next to MP containing products is a good idea. (Well, in fact using a sunscreen is always a good idea. :))
A very common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason paraben. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon. Read more about parabens here >>
Super common little helper ingredient that helps products to remain nice and stable for a longer time. It does so by neutralizing the metal ions in the formula (that usually get into there from water) that would otherwise cause some not so nice changes.
It is typically used in tiny amounts, around 0.1% or less.
We don’t have description for this ingredient yet.
Exactly what it sounds: nice smelling stuff put into cosmetic products so that the end product also smells nice. Fragrance in the US and parfum in the EU is a generic term on the ingredient list that is made up of 30 to 50 chemicals on average (but it can have as much as 200 components!).
If you are someone who likes to know what you put on your face then fragrance is not your best friend – there's no way to know what’s really in it.
Expand to read more
Also, if your skin is sensitive, fragrance is again not your best friend. It’s the number one cause of contact allergy to cosmetics. It’s definitely a smart thing to avoid with sensitive skin (and fragrance of any type – natural is just as allergic as synthetic, if not worse!).
A common fragrance ingredient that has a nice floral scent and also goes by the name Lilial. It is a known fragrance allergen and as of 1st of March 2022, it has been banned in the EU due to animal studies showing a possible link to infertility (in rats – so no need to panic even if you used a product before with Butylphenyl Methylpropional).
A common fragrance ingredient that has a sweet, vanilla, nutty scent. When diluted it smells like freshly-mown hay.
It’s one of the “EU 26 fragrances” that has to be labelled separately (and cannot be simply included in the term “fragrance/perfume” on the label) because of allergen potential. Best to avoid if your skin is sensitive.
For more information about SkinCeuticals, call 1-800-771-9489 or visit www.skinceuticals.com.
A.G.E. Interrupter
The A.G.E. in this product’s name refers to advanced glycation end-products (AGE), which are not good for the body or the skin. AGEs are formed by the body’s major fuel source, namely glucose. This simple sugar is essential for energy, but it also binds strongly to proteins (the body’s fundamental building blocks), forming abnormal structures—AGEs—that progressively damage tissue elasticity. Once generated, AGEs begin a process that prevents many systems from behaving normally by literally causing tissue to cross-link and become hardened (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 14, 2000, pages 2809–2813).
SkinCeuticals’ theory is that by breaking these AGE bonds you can undo or stop the damage they cause. AGEs and free-radical damage may be inextricably linked (Sources: European Journal of Neuroscience, December 2001, page 1961; and Neuroscience Letters, October 2001, pages 29–32), but none of the studies indicate that there are any substances that can be included in skin-care products to affect this process.
Specific to this product, the only ingredient it contains that is known to inhibit the formation of AGEs in skin is one that L’Oreal did the research on. Because L’Oreal owns SkinCeuticals, this research can hardly be considered impartial. Surprisingly, the blueberry extract L’Oreal used in this study (and in this product) did not fare as well as aminoguanidine, another ingredient known to inhibit AGEs (Source: Experimental Gerontology, June 2008, pages 584–588). Knowing this, why would you want to purchase this SkinCeuticals product when the parent company’s own research shows that what they’re including to inhibit AGEs is not as effective as another ingredient that they didn’t include?
If anything, this product is a big step backwards for SkinCeuticals. It’s mostly slip agents, silicones, and wax, plus the questionable AGE-inhibiting blueberry extract, although even if this extract could help, it won’t remain potent for long thanks to the jar packaging (not to mention that there’s hardly any of it in this product). For $150, you have every right to expect a whole lot more than this no-better-than-average product provides.
Specifically formulated to improve the creping, thinning appearance of mature skin caused by intrinsic or internal aging processes such as glycation.
SkinCeuticals At-A-Glance
With a strong presence in the professional (meaning spa and aesthetics) skincare market, SkinCeuticals has a mostly well-deserved reputation for producing serious-minded, research-driven products, several of which are centered on L-ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C).
There are many good reasons to shop this line; it boasts a lineup up impressive vitamin C products, as well as some good retinol options and sunscreens. Even better is that the majority of its anti-aging products are packaged in containers that will protect their contents from light and air. Focusing on what Skinceuticals does best (which is serums, sunscreens, and specialty products) will be money well spent for visible results. The main drawbacks of this line are some products that contain fragrance ingredients, as well as potentially-drying alcohol, though they represent the minority of the brands offerings.
For more information about SkinCeuticals, call 1-800-771-9489 or visit www.skinceuticals.com.
About the Experts
The Beautypedia team consists of skin care and makeup experts personally trained by the original Cosmetics Cop and best-selling beauty author, Paula Begoun. We’re fascinated by skin care and makeup products and thrilled when they meet or exceed our expectations, but we’re also disappointed when they fail to perform as claimed, are wildly overpriced, or contain ingredients scientific research has proven can hurt skin.
Our mission has always been to help you find the best products for your skin, no matter your budget or preferences. Beautypedia’s thorough and insightful reviews cut through the hype and provide reliable recommendations for all ages, skin types, and skin tones.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our terms of use here.
A.G.E. Interrupter is an advanced wrinkle treatment that fights the visible signs of ageing caused by advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.), a major factor of the natural ageing process. This anti-ageing cream is formulated with 30% concentration of Proxylane™, 4% blueberry extract, and 0.2% phytosphingosine (pronounced fi’to-sfing’go-sen) to improve the appearance of wrinkling and help restore the loss of firmness caused by the glycation process.
A.G.E. Interrupter Anti-Wrinkle Cream
A.G.E. Interrupter is an advanced wrinkle treatment that fights the visible signs of ageing caused by advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.), a major factor of the natural ageing process. This anti-ageing cream is formulated with 30% concentration of Proxylane™, 4% blueberry extract, and 0.2% phytosphingosine (pronounced fi’to-sfing’go-sen) to improve the appearance of wrinkling and help restore the loss of firmness caused by the glycation process.
- Reduces the appearance of skin creping and thinning
- Visibly improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture
- Restores water and nutrients to improve the look of skin firmness
- Comforts dry, ageing skin
- Paraben, alcohol, and dye-free
In a 12-week study, A.G.E. Interrupter showed a significant improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, firmness, and skin texture.
Once or twice daily, massage a thin, even layer onto the entire face, neck, and chest.
If using in the morning, apply after a SkinCeuticals vitamin C antioxidant serum and before a SkinCeuticals sunscreen.
If using with a retinol at night, apply after retinol application.
Intrinsic or natural ageing, caused by internal factors such as hormonal shifts and changes in skin metabolism, contribute to the appearance of wrinkles, loss of firmness, and crepey skin. Glycation, a major factor of intrinsic ageing, occurs when excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibers and prompt the formation of advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.). As a result, glycated collagen and elastin fibers lose the ability to function normally, and the body cannot break them down and replace them, leading to severe wrinkling of the skin. A.G.E. Interrupter is a uniquely-textured formulation optimised to help improve the visible signs of ageing associated with glycation. This potent anti-wrinkle cream features a high-concentration combination of Proxylane, blueberry extract, and phytosphingosine to improve visible signs of ageing such as wrinkles, loss of firmness, and a crepey, thinning appearance.
- 4% Blueberry extract: Naturally derived and both an antioxidant and anti-glycation ingredient helps fortify skin’s matrix and prevent the appearance of wrinkles and laxity
- 30% Proxylane™: Designed to help support skin’s own G.A.G. synthesis and restore water and nutrients to skin
- 0.2% Phytosphingosine: A naturally occurring chemical that facilitates skin’s natural barrier repair process and helps protect the skin’s barrier associated with dry, ageing skin
740079 10 – AQUA / WATER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, HYDROXYPROPYL TETRAHYDROPYRANTRIOL, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, ISOHEXADECANE, GLYCERIN, SYNTHETIC WAX, DIMETHICONE/PEG-10/15 CROSSPOLYMER, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, CI 77163/BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, ETHYLHEXYL HYDROXYSTEARATE, SALICYLOYL PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, COUMARIN, D45751/2.
Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use.
SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter helps to preserve collagen and elastin by inhibiting the formation of AGEs. The brand claims that using this cream will help reduce the appearance of skin creping and thinning, visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture, and restore water and nutrients to improve the look of skin firmness. To see if these claims hold true, read on to learn more about the key ingredients in SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter.
SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter reviews on the brand’s website are mostly positive, with the product receiving an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars after more than 60 customer reviews. Positive reviews mention that this cream is lightweight, absorbs into the skin quickly, and doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind. One very positive SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter review says, “I bought this product several times and I’m going to order another one after I finish this review. It’s a great anti-aging cream to help firm tone and hydrate older skin. It goes on smooth and it is not the least bit greasy. Makeup goes on perfectly on top of this cream.”
Overall, we like the concept behind the SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter cream because research has shown that glycation and the resulting advanced glycation end products are one of the main causes of premature skin aging. However, you may be hesitant to try SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter because of the price of this product, or due to the potentially harmful ingredients like parabens and fragrance. If that’s the case, we have an alternative for you to consider: Formulyst’s Pro Collagen Serum.
Formulyst Pro-Collagen Serum is a lightweight, restorative serum specifically formulated for aging skin that has experienced a loss of collagen. Remember, collagen is essential when it comes to maintaining healthy, youthful skin. You can think of collagen as the scaffolding of the skin; it gives structure, support, and suppleness. But collagen production naturally slows down as we age, causing wrinkles and fine lines to appear. Formulyst’s Pro-Collagen Serum contains a highly concentrated mix of peptides and proteins, derived from seaweed, wheat, and soy, to help tackle these signs of aging. Apply a few drops of this hydrating serum to help skin look smoother and younger.
Want to know the best thing about Formulyst products? Formulyst allows you to bundle three products together for $108/shipment, so you’ll end up with three products for less than the price of just one bottle of SkinCeuticals AGE Interrupter!
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that is effective and safe. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the power of plants with cutting edge science. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals commonly found in skin care products.