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March 21, 2011
An anti-aging facial care line
Godiva's Fruitonique Re-Youth
Product Category:
Anti-aging facial care line
Price:
Php450 for a 15ml serum
Php250 for a 20g cream
Php90 for a 100mg soap
Available at:
Watson's
Tester:
Vivi, writer
I've made peace with the fact that I have to act my age, it just doesn't mean I have to look the part and wave the white flag against those telltale fine lines. To that end, I was curious to try the latest to come from Godiva is its Fruitonique Re-Youth facial care line, which claims to treat the onset of aging signs like wrinkle depth and environmental damage. The label didn't care to elaborate further, so I had to do my own digging until I come across studies whose results suggest that stem cell-based skin products may actually increase the body's own skin cell production by as much as 57 per cent, stats that kept me optimistic about the products.
In the aesthetics department, Godiva's Fruitonique products is hard to miss: Much like the youthfulness it's trying to advocate, it's visuals are vibrant and colorful, making it stand out among its cosmetics kin on the shelves. I hadn't even opened any of them before catching a whiff of the decidedly apple aroma that floated right through the packaging—no doubt evidence of Fruitonique's claims to have harnessed the anti-aging properties of rare Swiss apple-derived extracts, it's active ingredient. While the tangy fragrance was something I found refreshing—especially stepping fresh out of a bath-—three whole layers of the stuff might seem overpowering to anyone else who's not a fan of its long-lasting fruity scent.
The three-step regimen begins with Friuitonique's soap. Immediately I could appreciate it for its hardiness, a welcome change from other fast-melting bars that shrink down to half after a few days' worth of washes. Two weeks in and it's still largely retained its shape, and in that time it worked up a fine lather. It washes off well with no residual oiliness as I'd expected, so it was gentle enough for daily use.
Next up was Fruitonique's serum, one that a Watson's saleslady assured me was a revamped cousin to their much sought-after vitamin C serum's formula. Now normally I'm not a fan of the messy pump dispenser, but I admit it's clear, watery consistency calls for it. While it initially feels slick and sticky like that of thinned-out glue upon application, the serum certainly drinks into my skin much quicker than a creamier alternative would. And when used separately, there's no risk of it resurfacing as an oily film on my face after time spent outdoors.
Similarly, the cream treatment glides on smooth, if not a little on the heavy side. If it has any drawbacks, it's that the greasy after-feel never entirely dissipates as I go about my day, and it wasn't long before the continuous blotting eventually compelled me to shift to just a morning application instead ot the ideal twice a day. To its credit, the cream does come in a handy, pocket-friendly 20g squeeze tube with a pointed tip, clever packaging on Godiva's part that made it easy for me to approximate just the right pea-sized amount.
The instructions also recommended the serum for use as a make-up base—and in this respect, it definitely delivers. It's since lent my face some much-needed suppleness and firmness, so the liquid-based half of my beauty routine spreads evenly across the surface, whether I'm feeling partial to BB cream, sunblock or some tinted moisturizer. Here, the distinct apple scent isn't nearly as strong as with the other two in Fruitonique's roster, which saw me free to pair it with other cosmetics without worrying about clashing fragrances. It's also relatively pricier, but considering how it's lightweight enough for everyday application I'd still say it would be money well spent.
The labelling on all three products led me to anticipate some residual itching, but the worst of my anxieties were shortchanged by some mild tingling around my nose and chin areas after the first few applications of the cream that lasted no longer than a few minutes. After repeated use, there was no itchiness at all. If I had to guess, the warning largely has to do with how individual skin types react to the Fruitonique formula. That said, between the cream and serum, Fruitonique may be a bit too concentrated for oily complexions, so I eventually decided to use the two alternately to keep my combination skin from breaking out.
Abating the early signs of forehead wrinkles topped my list of concerns, so I zeroed in on those potential problem area in the incoming weeks. Their effects were gradual, but when it comes down to it I wouldn't necessarily equate Godiva's Fruitonique range to bottled youth: the soap and cream proved their capabilities as decent moisturizers, and it's worth mentioning that the serum did somewhat render my increasinly noticable eyebags a few shades lighter. But collectively they pulled in an otherwise middling performance, coming up short on their promise to exfoliate and even out my skin tone.
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