Genucel

OUR TOP SKINCARE PICKS

Many skincare companies are built around a single hero ingredient, such as the seaweed founds in La Mer and Sea Calm Skin, or the Pitera mix that is at the heart of SK-II products. The skincare company Genucel is based on the power of antioxidants and makes a point to let customers know what they don’t use, including petroleum based products. Here’s a closer look at this skincare company, what Genucel sells and are the products right for you?

Is Genucel Skincare Worth The Money?

A common question about this brand is if the products are worth the cost.

In our opinion, Genucel Skincare products deliver value for money, but take a look at other brands that don’t require you to sacrifice your precious money.

We recommend brands that are committed to developing clean yet effective products.

One brand is Carrot & Stick, a clean skincare brand that perfectly balances the gentle nurturing of plants with the powerful results of innovative science.

What’s Inside Genucel Skin Care?

Here’s a closer look at the active ingredients commonly used in Genucel skincare products. Vitamin C, peptides, and retinol make up the core ingredients for the Genucel skincare line. These ingredients should all be part of your skincare routine.

Vitamin C
We’ve been hearing for years that Vitamin C is the best anti-aging ingredient. It’s a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.

Vitamin C also helps fade dark spots, evens out skin tone, and increases radiance. As if that wasn’t enough, research suggests that when vitamin C is applied to the skin, it significantly reverses aging-related structural changes by influencing collagen and elastin synthesis.

It’s in Genucel Deep Firming Serum. 

But our favorite Vitamin C serum is Carrot & Stick The Defence Serum. It contains 3 distinct types of Vitamin C that work together to help fight free radical damage. We recommend using it every morning.

Peptides
As you age, your body’s production of collagen and elastin slows down. These two proteins are responsible for your skin’s structural support. As a result, the skin loses its natural plumpness and smoothness. 

While collagen is necessary for maintaining youthful-looking skin, the collagen protein is too large to absorb into the skin topically. That’s why applying skin care products that contain collagen won’t provide the anti-aging benefits you’re looking for.

This is where peptides come into action. Peptides are the building blocks of protein, and they are easily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin due to their smaller size. 

Genucel XV Anti Wrinkle Treatment contains peptides and antioxidants like coenzyme Q10. 

If you’re looking for a peptide serum, we recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to promote plumper and smoother-looking skin. It also has skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Retinol
Retinol is the go-to anti-aging ingredient recommended by dermatologists and skin experts. It’s clinically proven to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores.

The only downside? Retinol can often lead to side effects like skin dryness, peeling, and irritation. 

It’s in Genucel Ultra Retinol. 

Use retinoids at night. We recommend this retinoid oil serum.  It contains Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, an ingredient that provides similar benefits with less irritation.

What Is Genucel?

Genucel is a direct-to-consumer skincare company founded by the pharmacist George Faltaous. According to the company, in 1999 a customer asked Faltaous to create a wrinkle cream for her skin that would actually work, and he agreed to help. Faltaous created a cream based on antioxidants and collagen builders using a base of calendula flower extract. According to Chamonix, “The results were sensational. Word quickly spread among the customer’s friends and acquaintances, which were eager to try the miraculous antioxidant skin care product for themselves.” The company says that the turning point happened when a dermatologist was “astounded” by the results. Faltaous quit his day job and launched his skincare company, Chamonix. The brand’s two key products are the Eye Bag Treatment, and Jaw Line Treatment.

What Is the Concept Behind Genucel?

Genucel and Chamonix products are based on the power of antioxidants, including grape seed oil, vitamin E, vitamin A and Ester-C to help fight free radicals, boost collagen production, nourish and moisturize. The company says it uses clinical concentrations of antioxidants in combination with a calendula base. Chamonix says that its products are free of mineral oil, petroleum by-products, pharmaceutical preservatives and coloring agents.

What Does Genucel Sell?

Genucel sells anti-aging skincare products that are sold individually as well as in packages. Here’s a breakdown.

Genucel Packages

Genucel Essentials –  This package includes two tubes of  Jaw Line Treatment along with a jar of Immediate Effects moisturizer, which uses “relaxoderm technology” to help relax facial muscles.

Genucel Promotional Package – This combination includes the moisturizer Genucel XV, as well as

Genucel Eyelid Treatment which is meant to help lift and firm the eyelids with peptides, and

the two tubes of Jaw Line treatment and Immediate Effects cream.

Genucel Complete Package –  Consisting of eight products, the Complete Package includes the Jaw Line Treatment, Immediate Effects, Genucel XV, the Eyelid Treatment, Gen 90 cream to target fine lines and bags, L’essence Night Treatment with green tea extract and Vitamin C and Cristalles Microdermabrasion.

Genucel Rare Mineral Spa Package –  Designed for smoother, brighter looking skin, the Rare Mineral Spa Package includes ristalles Microdermabrasion cream, Estotique Dead Sea Mineral Masque, Deep Sea Cleanser with green tea extract and a Skin Refining Toner, which is formulated with  Vitamin C, green tea oil and extracts of blackberry, blueberry and peach.

Genucel Individual Products

Genucel Jawline Treatment with MDL Technology – Powered by meadowlactones, derived from meadowfoam seed oil, this cream is meant to help firm up the jaw area, even out tone and texture, as well as soften the look of wrinkles.

Genucel2 – Triple Action Technology – The key ingredients in this depuffing eye cream are Beautifeye, a mix of rare botanicals, moisturizing meadowlactone as well as caffeine and green tea extract.

Genucel Sun Spot Corrector – Alpha-Arbutin and vitamin C help to fade the appearance of dark spots and leave skin looking brighter.

How Much Do Genucel Products Cost?

Genucel products are priced at a prestige level, at around $100 and above. The Genucel Immediate Effects package, a two month supply, is currently $155 while the Promotional Package is $164. The eight piece Complete Package is $230, and the four piece Rare Minerals Spa package is $49.95. The Genucel website offers customers free products with the purchase of some packages.

The website Better Skin Today also sells Genucel products individually as well as in packages.  Genucel Deep Firming Serum is $93 and the Immediate Effects cream is $79.

Is Genucel Cruelty Free?

Genucel states on its website, “We never test on animals, and all of our products are manufactured and packaged in the U.S.

Where Can I Buy Genucel Products?

Genucel products are available from its own website and Better Skin Today, and some products are for sale on Amazon.

Our Top Skincare Picks

Do Genucel Products Work?

When deciding if a skincare product may work for you, it’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s skin can react differently to the same product. A little trial and error is always necessary, and it’s helpful to look at customer reviews and editorial write ups as a starting point.   

Genucel products have not been covered recently by the mainstream media, and the vast majority of customer reviews are on Genucel’s own website and Better Skin Today. Genucel‘s Jawline Treatment with MDL Technology, one of its best known products, gets a 3.6 out of 4 star rating based on 21 reviews. Elisa wrote, “This area of the face is a tough one. I’m 49 with very saggy cheeks and neck. It is helping quite a bit. I’ve been using it for 2 weeks and my skin appears tighter and is visibly smoother and bit plumper.” Bmhharryh had positive feedback – “My wife has begun her treatments with Genucel Jawline Treatment, and she is thrilled with the initial results.”

Customers who gave it low feedback said that it did nothing for them. “I specifically ordered the Jawline Cream and to do there is absolutely no change,” according to Jon Rivers while  Marietta wrote, “Don’t look at that picture because it does not work.” Some customers also complained about having trouble canceling their product subscriptions.

The Genucel XV Cream gets 4.6 out of 5 stars on the company website, based on 59 reviews. A customer named Wendy wrote, “I’ve just started using this product and already my skin feels softer and smoother. I like the feel and texture of the cream and will enjoy using it.” Martha Cassell was also a fan- I just got this for Christmas I totally love it. You really see results right away. It visibly takes away the appearance of puffiness under my eyes and gives me a refreshing look!” A user named Frank didn’t have such a positive experience. “After using Immediate Effects, Genucel and Esotique for nearly a month I can barely tell any difference in my puffiness and bags.”

Customers posting on TrustPilot.com give it a four star rating from 1,702 reviews. Fans liked that it was “straightforward” and “easy to order” while those that didn’t love it complained about the auto renewal process or said it didn’t work for them.

Genucel has 34 complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. Most of them have to do with customers having trouble cancelling their automatic subscriptions.

What Are Some Alternatives to Genucel?

If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend The Defence Serum, followed by The Moisturizer.