Elemis Skincare Review

Founded in 1989, British skincare brand Elemis was one of the first pioneers of a holistic approach to beauty. The idea for this luxury line of skincare products came from entrepreneur and investor Linda Steiner. Linda’s goal was to create a line of products “as near to nature as possible” with “no expense spared.” She was soon joined by co-founders Noella Gabriel, Sean Harrington, and Oriele Frank, who helped turn Elemis into a sought-after brand that is now available in over 45 countries around the world. 

What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2021?

The brand’s focus is delivering proven results with feel-good skincare products combined with cutting-edge patented technology. But do Elemis skincare products really deliver results? To answer this question, we’ll have to evaluate the Elemis product formulations through a scientific lens. That means we’ll dive into the research that supports (or doesn’t support) the ingredients used in these products. We’ll also share some Elemis reviews so that you can get a better idea of what customers think of these products.  

What Are The Top 10 Best Elemis Skincare Products?

Elemis sells a comprehensive range of skincare products, including moisturizers, cleansing balms, eye creams, serums, face oils, and more. Below we’ll give you a breakdown of the top 10 best Elemis skincare products.

Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

• A nourishing cleansing balm that is said to melt away makeup, daily pollutants, and impurities for a soft and glowing complexion
• Elemis Cleansing Balm is the brand’s #1 best seller
• Key ingredients include sweet almond oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, elderberry seed oil, oat kernel oil, wheat germ oil, and shea butter
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream

• An anti-wrinkle moisturiser with a gel-cream texture that is said to improve hydration, leaving skin looking and feeling firmer and more radiant
• Key ingredients include glycerin, synthetic emollients, wheat germ oil, shea butter, chlorella, Padina pavonica thallus extract, Acacia decurrens (mimosa) flower extract, and Rosa centifolia (rose) flower extract
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask

• A rinse-off moisturizing mask that is said to lock in moisture and maintain balance in the skin’s microflora for a bright, healthy-looking glow
• Recommended to be used only twice weekly
• Key ingredients include aloe vera leaf juice, kaolin clay, glycerin, and synthetic emollients
• The brand claims that passion fruit extract, avocado oil, and broccoli seed oil are “key” ingredients. However, these ingredients are used in very low concentrations (less than 1%)
• Contains fragrance 

Elemis Superfood Night Cream 

• A nighttime moisturiser that is said to nourish the skin with intense nutrition whilst you sleep so you wake up to a healthy glow
• Key ingredients include coco-caprylate, flaxseed oil, glycerin, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, black seed oil, rice bran oil, and chia seed oil
• Contains fragrance 

Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask

• A rinse-off mask that is said to deeply purify and help absorb excess oil to reveal a balanced, mattified complexion
• Recommended to be used only twice weekly
• Key ingredients include kaolin clay, synthetic emollients, oat kernel meal, and glycerin
• The brand claims that grape seed extract and nordic bilberry extract are “key” ingredients. However, these ingredients are used in very low concentrations (less than 1%)
• Contains fragrance. In fact, there’s more fragrance in this Elemis mask than the “key” ingredients

Elemis Superfood Kefir Tea Mist

• A refreshing facial mist that is said to hydrate, tone, prime, and set makeup for a complexion that looks healthy and glowing all day
• 99% of this formula consists of water, glycerin, and aloe vera leaf juice
• The rest of the ingredients are used in concentrations of less than 1%. We know this by looking at the ingredient list (which is in order of descending concentrations). The rest of the ingredients in this formula are listed after the preservative phenoxyethanol, which cannot be used in concentrations more than 1%
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice

• A gel moisturizer that is said to deliver cooling hydration while helping to soothe and protect dehydrated or sensitive skin
• Key ingredients include aloe vera leaf juice, glycerin, urea, synthetic emollients, and alpha-glucan oligosaccharide
• Contains less than 1% of “key” ingredients (cica, cucumber extract, kiwi fruit extract)
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturizer

• A silicone-free moisturizer that is said to prime and hydrate to reveal a smooth and radiant complexion
• Key ingredients include glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, vegetable oil, and mica
• Mica reflects light from the face, creating the illusion of a smoother, softer, and more radiant skin tone
• Contains less than 1% of “key” ingredients (kombucha, fermented ginger, and fermented green tea seed oil)
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil

• A nourishing facial oil that is light, non-greasy, and easily absorbed
• It is said to minimize the look of dullness and enhance skin radiance for a glowing complexion
• Key ingredients include sweet almond oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, meadowfoam seed oil, flaxseed oil, macadamia seed oil, and rice bran oil
• Contains fragrance 

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads

• Textured exfoliating facial pads that are said to help reduce the look of dark spots, pores and uneven skin texture
• Key ingredients include lactococcus ferment lysate and lactic acid
• Contains fragrance

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

• A rinse-off exfoliator that gently dissolves dead skin cells without abrasion, leaving skin looking and feeling smooth, revitalised, and radiant.
• Key ingredients include glycerin, sunflower seed oil, and niacinamide
• Contains less than 1% pineapple and papaya extracts
• Contains fragrance

What Are The Key Ingredients in Elemis Skincare Products?

After evaluating the best Elemis skincare products, we noticed that the brand uses low concentrations of key ingredients in their formulations. If you take a look at the ingredient lists for Elemis skincare products — which are in order of descending concentrations — you’ll notice that all of the “key” ingredients are typically listed after the preservative phenoxyethanol, which cannot be used in concentrations more than 1%. That means you’re getting less than 1% of those key beneficial ingredients. 

In fact, many of the Elemis skincare products contain more fragrance than key ingredients! One example is the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. If you look at the ingredient list, Fragrance (Parfum) comes before papain (the enzyme derived from papaya extract) and pineapple extract. 

One reason this is problematic is because the low concentrations of key ingredients mean that there’s a low chance they will provide benefits to your skin. Don’t get us wrong, more doesn’t always equal better. This is true with the ingredient retinol, which is effective even at low concentrations. However, the brand could definitely use higher concentrations of ingredients like cucumber extract, avocado oil, and the other botanical extracts that they claim are key ingredients. 

Another problem with the fragrance in Elemis skincare products is that all fragrance ingredients (whether natural or synthetic) impart scent through a volatile reaction, and this natural reaction almost always causes a sensitizing reaction on skin. In fact, according to a 2016 publication in the scholarly journal Dermatitis, nearly 80 essential oils have caused contact allergy.

Even if you don’t have a full blown reaction to the ingredient, the damage may still be occurring every day. Ultimately, this can cause mild problems for your skin in the short term and worse problems in the long term. This is something to keep in mind before purchasing Elemis skincare products, especially if you have sensitive skin. 

Fortunately, the brand does keep out most other potentially harmful ingredients that can cause unnecessary irritation and dryness. For example, Elemis skincare products are free from Aluminium, Artificial dyes, Coal Tar, DEA, Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone, Methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mineral oils, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Phthalates, Retinyl Palmitate, SLS/ SLES, Talc, Triclocarban and Triclosan.

Where to Buy Elemis Skincare Products?

You can buy Elemis skincare products on the brand’s website, as well as third party online sellers such as Ulta, Dermstore, Amazon, and more. Elemis skincare products are also sold in department stores, beauty stores, spas, and salons. You can go on the brand’s website and enter your zip code to find a location that sells Elemis skincare products near you. 

What is The Elemis Return Policy?

The Elemis return policy allows you to return a product for a refund within 30 days of your purchase date.

Is Elemis Cruelty Free?

Elemis is cruelty free. However, Elemis is owned by L’Occitane, a company that does test on animals. 

Elemis Reviews

Elemis reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive, with most products receiving 4 or 5 star reviews. The product with the most ratings is the Elemis Cleansing Balm, which has earned an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars after more than 1,200 customer reviews.

Many of the positive reviews for the Elemis Cleansing Balm mention that it really does help to easily remove makeup while keeping skin moisturized, soft, and clear. 

For example, one Elemis review says, “I bought a mini jar to try a few years ago after suffering with bad outbreaks on my chin, I have never looked back since! This applies so easily and feels really beneficial to my skin, also clearing up all of my outbreaks. I now use other pro-collagen products & Elemis is my skincare brand but if I had to choose one product I couldn’t be without it would be this, and I can tell if I’ve skipped an evening of using this! Amazing balm and make up remover, the smell also makes it feel such a treat to use it.”

There aren’t many negative Elemis reviews for the Cleansing Balm, but those that we did read were from customers who experienced breakouts after using this balm. 

For example, one Elemis review says, “I was really excited to use this product due to so many great reviews, but was so disappointed. It irritated my skin and I started to breakout immediately with little tiny irritation bumps all over my face. This was a huge bummer because I generally have very clear skin. The consistency is weird, it doesn’t really lather like a cleanser it melts into more of a milky watery substance. The smell of eucalyptus is also overwhelming. I really wanted to like this product but yea no. Never again.”

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream has also received many 5-star ratings, giving this product an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars after more than 800 reviews. 

Most of the positive reviews for this cream comment on how it goes on smoothly, doesn’t feel greasy, and keeps the skin soft and hydrated. For example, one positive review says, “I love how lightweight this cream is. It is perfect for daytime use as it soaks into your skin quickly. I love the way this makes my skin feel and look.”

However, there are quite a few negative Elemis reviews for the Pro Collagen Marine Cream that comment on this product’s strong smell, which many find to be unpleasant. For example, one reviewer shares this experience after using the Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream, “I used this product once at night and was shocked at how heavily fragranced it was for a face cream. I was willing to look past that until I woke up the next morning with multiple new tiny whiteheads (pimples) all over my face! I never used it again and I actually gave it away so I can’t say if this product actually works. The zits all over the face was it for me.”

Our Verdict

Overall, we don’t recommend Elemis skincare products since the brand uses low concentrations of key ingredients, and they include fragrance in all product formulations.

Pros

• Many positive Elemis reviews
• The brand does use beneficial ingredients in some products (e.g. sweet almond oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, meadowfoam seed oil, glycerin, niacinamide, lactic acid, etc)

Cons

• Most products contain low concentrations of key ingredients
• All Elemis skincare products contain fragrance
• High price point (e.g. Elemis Cleansing Balm is $64 for 100 grams)

What Are Some Alternatives to Elemis Skincare Products?

Since we don’t recommend Elemis skincare products due to the fragrance ingredients in these products, we wanted to recommend a couple alternatives for you to consider.

One brand we recommend is Formulyst because, unlike most skin care brands, Formulyst maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones. The result is clinically advanced skincare solutions that help to promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin.

For example, Formulyst Pro-Collagen Serum is specifically formulated for aging skin that has experienced a loss of collagen. The formula contains a highly concentrated mix of peptides and proteins, derived from seaweed, wheat, and soy, to help tackle signs of aging. 

Another brand that balances the power of plants with cutting edge science is Carrot & Stick. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals as well as the preservatives, emulsifiers, and thickeners commonly found in skin care products.

References:
de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Essential Oils, Part IV: Contact Allergy. Dermatitis. 2016;27(4):170-175. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000197