Founded in 1984, Nu Skin is a multilevel-marketing company that distributes more than 200 anti-aging products in both the personal care and nutritional supplements categories.
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- Nu Skin
Nu Skin is a brand that leads with science, which is demonstrated through their comprehensive product portfolio and the scientific research that has been conducted on their products and published in scientific journals.
We also lead with science here at The Derm Review, which is why we’ve evaluated the Nu Skin product formulations through a scientific lens. Below we’ll discuss the research that supports (or doesn’t support) the ingredients that you’ll find in these products.
We’ll also share Nu Skin reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of these products.
Is Nu Skin Products Worth The Money?
A common question about this brand is if the products are worth the cost. Nu Skin products are expensive, for example, the Nu Skin Facial Spa is $403.
In our opinion, Nu Skin products aren’t worth the money, simply because there are other skincare brands that offer similar products that are less expensive.
One brand is Carrot & Stick, a clean skincare brand that perfectly balances the gentle nurturing of plants with the powerful results of innovative science.
Carrot & Stick intro bundles deliver great value for money because you can bundle 3 full-size products worth up to $240 for $88.
What’s Inside Nu Skin Products?
After evaluating the best Nu Skin products, we noticed that the formulations include evidence-based ingredients, such as vitamin C and peptides, as well as proprietary ingredients. Let’s take a closer look at how these ingredients can improve your skin.
Vitamin C
We’ve been hearing for years that Vitamin C is the best anti-aging ingredient. Vitamin C is 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.
It’s in Nu Skin 180 Face Wash. This rich, creamy face wash features 10% pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as the key ingredient. It’s said to target age spots and discoloration while also helping to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and firm the skin.
While vitamin C can provide these benefits, it’s better to use this ingredient in a leave-on product, such as a vitamin C serum. Using a face wash with vitamin C doesn’t give this ingredient much time to work before you rinse it off.
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.
Nu Skin ageLOC Dermatic Effects contains palmitoyl oligopeptide as one of the key ingredients to help visibly smooth the appearance of fat and cellulite and visibly firm skin.
If you’re looking for a peptide serum for your face, we recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to promote plumper and smoother-looking skin.
Everything Else
ageLOC Proprietary Blend and Tru Face FirmPlex
In addition to vitamin C and peptides, the Nu Skin products contain proprietary blends. For example, the Nu Skin ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra contains the “ageLOC Proprietary Blend” and “Tru Face FirmPlex”. The brand does not disclose the ingredients that make up these blends, so we cannot comment on how the ingredients will affect your skin.
While we don’t know the exact ingredients used to formulate the ageLOC proprietary blend, we did discover that the ingredients are able to influence your genes. Dr. Joseph Chang, Chief Scientific Officer & Executive Vice President of Product Development at Nu Skin told Forbes, “Nu Skin scientists are able to identify the gene expression that influences ageing and select the ingredients that can affect the genes, so that these genes can start to behave like young genes again. This is our proprietary ageLOC Science that forms the basis of our skin care and nutritional products.”
Silicones and Emollients
We noticed that many of the Nu Skin products contain high concentrations of silicones and emollients. For example, the top 6 ingredients in the Nu Skin ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra include two silicones (cyclopentasiloxane, dimethiconol), squalane, caprylic/capric triglyceride, olive oil, and safflower oil.
Silicones give the products a silky, smooth skin feel while also improving the product’s spreadability. An emollient is an oily substance that fills in the spaces between dead skin cells, thus creating a smooth skin surface. Basically, an emollient is a film forming substance that makes the skin feel and look smooth. The inclusion of silicones and emollients in Nu Skin products will help to keep your skin soft and smooth.
What Are The Top 10 Best Nu Skin Products?
Nu Skin offers an extensive collection of skin care products, including facial cleansers, moisturizers, serums, exfoliators, body care, skin care devices, and more. Interestingly, the Nu Skin Tanner is the brand’s most popular product. We’ll give you the details on this self tanner and the other best selling Nu Skin products below.
Nu Skin Tanner
- The Nu Skin Tanner is called Sunright Insta Glow Tinted Self-Tanning Gel
- This self-tanning gel is said to help you achieve a luxurious bronze finish while providing moisturizing benefits
- Formulated for face and body
- Key ingredient is dihydroxyacetone
- Fragrance free
Nu Skin ageLOC Dermatic Effects
- This Nu Skin cellulite cream is said to help visibly smooth the appearance of fat and cellulite and visibly firm skin
- Key ingredients include honey, silicones, hibiscus extract, chia seed extract, palmitoyl oligopeptide, echinacea extract, and algae extract
- Contains a synthetic fragrance blend
Nu Skin 180 Face Wash
- A rich, creamy face wash with 10% vitamin C that is said to target age spots and discoloration while also helping to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and firm the skin
- Key ingredients include 10% ascorbic acid, sesame seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and surfactants
- Contains a synthetic fragrance blend
Nu Skin Face Lift
- Nu Skin Face Lift is said to work immediately to temporarily lift and tighten the face and neck for a firmer, more youthful appearance
- The key ingredient is albumen, derived from egg whites, which is said to tighten and firm the skin
- Fragrance free
- Formula contains methylparaben as the preservative
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 peptides for smoother, firmer looking skin.
Nu Skin ageLOC Future Serum
- An anti-aging facial serum that is said to reveal younger looking skin in eight ways, combining the benefits of many different anti-aging products into a single product
- Key ingredients include humectants (glycerin, butylene glycol, etc.), silicones (cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, etc.), glucosamine, lemon peel extract, lysolecithin, pea extract, and daffodil extract
- Contains a synthetic fragrance blend
ALTERNATIVES: 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.
Nu Skin ageLOC Body Shaping Gel
- This Nu Skin cellulite cream is said to target the appearance of fat and cellulite to smooth, refresh, and purify while reducing the visible signs of aging
- Key ingredients include butylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, laminaria digitata extract, chamomile extract, and cocoa extract
- Contains a synthetic fragrance blend
Nu Skin Intensive Eye Complex
- This Nu Skin eye cream is said to boost the skin’s moisture barrier for a brighter under eye while forming a light, protective barrier to stop pollution, free radicals, and stress damage
- Key ingredients include aloe vera leaf juice, emollients, and glycerin
- Also includes a “Bioadaptive Botanical Blend” (Rhodiola, Maral Root, Siberian Ginseng, Chaga Mushroom, and Resurrection Plant)—a blend of botanical extracts from plants that thrive in extreme climates and can help your skin bounce back from stressors
- Fragrance free
ALTERNATIVES: If you are concerned about aging around the eyes including bags, one product we recommend is Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream.
Nu Skin ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra
- An anti-aging face cream that is said to deliver visibly firmer, more contoured, lifted, and defined skin
- Key ingredients include silicones, squalane, olive oil, safflower seed oil, dunaliella salina extract, jojoba seed extract, vitamin C, and retinyl palmitate
- Fragrance free
Nu Skin ageLOC Power Mask
- A biocellulose mask that is said to give you instantly refreshed, plumped, and visibly renewed skin
- Key ingredients include humectants and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil
- The rest of the “key” ingredients — like daffodil extract, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine, etc. — are all used in concentrations of less than 1%. We know this because they are all listed after xanthan gum on the ingredient list (which is in order of descending concentrations). Xanthan gum is a thickener that is generally used at a concentration of 1%, but as little as 0.1% can be used in many applications. This means you’re getting less than 1% of the key ingredients!
- Contains a synthetic fragrance blend
Nu Skin 180 AHA Facial Peel and Neutralizer
- A two-step facial peel that is said to reduce the appearance of aging and sun damage without the recovery time required by aggressive clinical peels
- Step 1 AHA Facial peel contains 10% lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that promotes youthful skin cell turnover and breaks apart dead cell buildup. Chemical exfoliation works to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, improve texture, and reduce the appearance of pores
- Step 2 AHA Facial Peel Neutralizer contains oat kernel extract, which exhibits exceptional calming properties that soothe the skin and reduce topical sensitivity
How Does The Nu Skin Tanner Work?
The brand’s most popular product is the Nu Skin Tanner, which is able to give you a bronze tan thanks to dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
DHA reacts chemically with the amino acids in the skin’s main protein keratin to produce a brown color change.
Nu Skin Tanner also contains coloring ingredients (Caramel, CI 77891, CI 77491) that give you that “sun-kissed glow” in as little as 15 minutes.
Where to Buy Nu Skin Products?
You can buy Nu Skin products on the brand’s website, as well as through its network of sales consultants. In addition, you can find Nu Skin products on various third party online retailers, such as Walmart, Amazon, eBay, and others.
What is The Nu Skin Return Policy?
The Nu Skin return policy states, “Nu Skin will provide the retail customer with a 100% refund on the returned product (i) if the product is returned within 30 days from the purchase date, and (ii) regardless of whether the product has been used, is re-stockable or resalable. The customer is responsible for the cost of returning the product.”
Is Nu Skin Cruelty Free?
No, Nu Skin is not cruelty free because they conduct pre-clinical studies of their ingredients on animals to assess a product’s safety.
The brand’s animal testing policy states, “Nu Skin does not test its cosmetic products on animals, nor do we request others to test on our behalf, except when mandated by law and regulatory agencies.”
Nu Skin Reviews
Unfortunately, the brand does not display Nu Skin reviews on their website. Thus, we had to look on Amazon.com for Nu Skin reviews so that we could get a better idea of what customers really think of these products.
One product that has plenty of reviews is the Nu Skin tanner, which has earned an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars after more than 2,500 customer reviews.
The positive Nu Skin reviews for the self tanner comment on the nice bronze color and mention that the product has no smell. For example, one very positive review says, “It goes really clean and smooth. It doesn’t have an odor and one application lasts 6-7 days. It gives your legs and arms a pretty bronze color that makes you look like you have been in the sun for a few days. Highly recommended!!!”
Another Nu Skin review for the self tanner says, “Best product I have ever used! Natural looking and no streaks! You can use this on your face and it just looks like you have been in the sun. Definitely try this for a natural look!”
The negative Nu Skin reviews for the self tanner are mostly from customers who saw no change in the color of their skin after applying the Nu Skin tanner. For example, one review says, “With pale skin, I’m no stranger to self-tanners (and most turn my skin orange). After two applications on clean, exfoliated skin there was no tan, no color, no effect whatsoever. Completely useless product.”
And another Nu Skin self tanner review says, “It just doesn’t work!! I applied it and it wouldn’t dry even after an hour. And when I pay it dry with a paper towel it just came off and left nothing. I look no different than what I did before!!! So disappointed… I was very excited toooo…”
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that Nu Skin products are formulated well but if you have sensitivity you may want to be mindful.
Pros
- Nu Skin products contain evidence-based ingredients (AHAs, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate, etc.) along with proprietary ingredients
- Many positive Nu Skin reviews
Cons
- High cost (i.e. Nu Skin ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra is $191 USD)
- Many Nu Skin products contain synthetic fragrance blends
- Nu Skin products are tested on animals
What Are Some Alternatives to Nu Skin Products?
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 Repair Serum, followed by The Moisturizer.
FURTHER QUESTIONS
References:
Forbes “The Science of Staying Younger for Longer” July 2020
Papakonstantinou, E, Roth, M & Karakiulakis, G, 2012. ‘Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging’, Dermato Endocrinology, vol. 4, is. 3, pp. 253-258.
Gupta, R, Lall, R, Srivastava, A & Sinha, A, 2019. ‘Hyaluronic Acid: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Trajectory’, Frontiers, vol. 6.
Dougados, M, Nguyen, M, Listrat, V & Amor, B, 1993. ‘High molecular weight sodium hyaluronate (hyalectan) in osteoarthritis of the knee: a 1 year placebo- controlled trial’, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, vol. 1, is. 2, pp. 97-103.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2009. ‘Final report of the safety assessment of hyaluronic acid, potassium hyaluronate, and sodium hyaluronate’, International Journal of Toxicology, vol. 28, is. 4, pp. 5-67.
Tang SC, Yang JH. Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4):863. Published 2018 Apr 10.
Moghimipour E. Hydroxy Acids, the Most Widely Used Anti-aging Agents. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2012;7(1):9-10.
Kornhauser A, Coelho SG, Hearing VJ. Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivity. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2010;3:135-142. Published 2010 Nov 24.
Lee Original review: Nov 11, 2022.
Very bad experience with Nuskin. Their Tru Face Essence Ultra Pump leaks a lot and they refused to exchange!! They were making excuses by saying because of temperature abuse and also blaming customers for not storing the product properly!! Terrible products and customer services!! Never trust nuskin!!