Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream is one of those skincare products that seems like it has been around forever, just like Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Nivea Creme. Created in 1930, your mother and perhaps even grandmother likely used Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream as a multi-purpose skin protectant to treat everything from chapped lips to cuts and scrapes to dry skin and more.
As for the name ‘8 Hour Cream’, that was coined by a devoted Elizabeth Arden client who used the cream on her child’s grazed knee, and ‘eight hours later’, it was magically better.
What’s so special about this cream? We’re glad you asked because that’s exactly what we’ll discuss below in our Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream review.
We’ll give you all the details on the key ingredients in this formula, as well as the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skin care.
We’ll also share some Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of this product.
Is Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Right For You?
Before we get into the details, here’s the TL;DR if you just want to know whether or not Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream is right for you.
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- Key ingredients? Petrolatum, Lanolin, Mineral Oil
- Skin type? All
- Texture? Thick balm
- Fragrance? Yes
- Parabens? Yes
- Cruelty free? No
- Cost? $24 USD for 1.7 oz
What Are The Key Ingredients in Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream?
In order to determine how well Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream performs, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula. Let’s get started.
Petrolatum: A Thick, Occlusive Skin Protectant
Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly or Vaseline, is the highest concentration ingredient in Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream at a concentration of 56.8 percent. It functions as an occlusive agent and skin protectant.
As an occlusive agent, petrolatum reduces the rate of water loss through skin. Since petrolatum has a melting point that is close to body temperature, it softens upon application and forms a water-repellant film around the applied area.
According to a publication in the journal Clinical Medicine & Research, this film prevents evaporation of the skin’s natural moisture and increases skin hydration by causing buildup of water in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin).
Petrolatum also functions as a skin protectant. It protects the skin after an injury by replicating the occlusive properties of the stratum corneum.
When a wound is healing, the new, underdeveloped stratum corneum allows abnormally high levels of water loss. If too much water is lost, the area can become dehydrated. The state of dehydration signals to various cells in the epidermis to synthesize and release collagen. When the body produces too much collagen, scarring can result.
Applying petrolatum to a skin injury provides the newly formed stratum corneum with improved occlusion and aids in retaining optimum water levels. When the skin is properly hydrated, the risk of scar formation decreases.
This is why the American Academy of Dermatology recommends keeping skin injuries moist with petrolatum — or products with petrolatum as the active ingredient, like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream — to reduce scarring.
Occlusives: Create a Physical Barrier to Lock in Moisture
Additional ingredients used in the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream formula include lanolin, mineral oil, and castor oil.
These ingredients can be categorized as occlusive agents because they create a physical barrier on top of the skin that helps prevent trans-epidermal water, similar to petrolatum. These ingredients feel thick and heavy after application since they are not absorbed into the skin.
Problematic Ingredients: Fragrance and Propylparaben
Unfortunately, there’s a couple problematic ingredients in Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, including a synthetic fragrance blend and propylparaben.
The use of synthetic fragrance ingredients can be a problem because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance. On average, this consists of 30 to 50 chemicals (but it can have as much as 200 components).
Want to know the worst part? The brand does not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list.
Furthermore, a 2018 study by Women’s Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern – and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents.
Fragrance ingredients also have the potential to cause skin irritation and sensitivity.
Then, the brand chose to use propylparaben as the preservative in Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream.
The use of parabens in cosmetics and skin care products is controversial because there is conflicting research on the potential health consequences of long term exposure to parabens.
According to the EWG, parabens can act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning, reproductive development, fertility, and birth outcomes.
How to Use Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream?
Unlike most skin care products, Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream can be used for dozens of purposes. Below we’ll briefly describe some of the best ways to use Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream:
- Moisturizer for dry, rough, chapped skin on elbows, hands, feet, or anywhere on the body
- Nighttime facial moisturizer
- Shine Factor – adds shine to eyelids, cheeks, lips and legs
- Eye Opener – All it takes is a dab to smooth eyebrows and create a perfectly defined arch that will stay in place all day
- Cuticle Conditioner – Soften rough, dry cuticles to keep them smooth, supple and beautifully manicured
- Smooth rough heels and soften soles of feet
- Use to relieve minor sunburn and calm dry, irritated sun-exposed skin
- Treating cuts or scrapes
- Softening and moisturizing lips
- Healing relatively recent scars and skin discolorations
Where to Buy Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream?
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream and other Elizabeth Arden skin care products are sold on the brand’s website (elizabetharden.com), as well as numerous online retailers such as HSN, Ulta, Amazon, and more.
Elizabeth Arden skincare products are also sold in department stores across the United States, such as Macy’s, Dillards, and more. There is a store locator on the brand’s website so that you can find a location near you that sells Elizabeth Arden skincare.
How Much is Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream?
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream costs $24 USD for 1.7 oz on the brand’s website.
What is The Elizabeth Arden Return Policy?
The Elizabeth Arden return policy states that returns must be made within 30 days, and that products must be unused and in good condition with all packaging attached.
Is Elizabeth Arden Cruelty-Free?
Elizabeth Arden is not cruelty-free because Elizabeth Arden skincare products are sold in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law.
Is Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Vegan?
No, Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream is not vegan because the formula contains lanolin, an ingredient derived from sheep’s wool.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Reviews
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Reviews are a mix of positive and negative, with the product receiving an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars after nearly 500 customer reviews.
There are many 5-star reviews for Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream from customers who love that it softens and moisturizes skin, and that it can be used for a variety of purposes.
However, there are a handful of negative Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream reviews, which are mostly from customers who comment that the consistency is too greasy.
Others comment that the scent is unpleasant, and other negative reviews mention how it’s no different than using Vaseline (except more expensive).
Our Verdict
Overall, we don’t recommend Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream since the formula contains synthetic fragrance ingredients and a paraben as the preservative. There are similar moisturizers on the market without these potentially harmful ingredients, such as Aquaphor Healing Ointment and just plain ole’ Vaseline.
Pros
- Occlusive ingredients help the skin retain moisture
- Many positive Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream reviews
Cons
- Elizabeth Arden is not cruelty free
- Formula contains propylparaben
- Formula contains synthetic fragrance ingredients
References:
Clin Med Res. 2017 Dec; 15(3-4): 75–87.
American Academy of Dermatology
Women’s Voices for the Earth “Unpacking The Fragrance Industry” 2018
