The $42 'facelift in a jar' anti-aging cream

Shoppers are raving about this $42 anti-aging face cream that touts itself as a ‘facelift in a jar’.

Professional Retinol Moisturiser by organic and cruelty-free skincare brand Maritime Naturals, has thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon, and while its largely undiscovered in Australia, it regularly makes it onto the best seller list in the brand’s home country of Canada.

It contains 2.5% retinol, which is the active ingredient that helps skin turn back the clock and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinol, and other retinoids, are the most commonly used anti-aging compounds on the market, and while they can cause irritation and dryness when you first start using them, they’re popular because of their ability to increase collagen production, fade dark spots and improve skin brightness.

They help your skin to increase cell turnover and regeneration, but you need to use them regularly over at least three to six months, ideally a year, to see real results.

Maritime Naturals combines retinol with plant-based hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and a variety of natural and vegetable based oils.

One devoted shopper shared her before and after photos in her Amazon review, saying a divorce left her with “the ugliest, deepest under eye wrinkles” that she unsuccessfully tried to rid herself of using “needling, microdermabrasion, expensive eye creams and highly rated eye creams”.

“I used (Maritime Naturals Retinol Moisturiser) everyday in my daily routine and after 4 weeks my fiancee, who never notices small things, mentioned I looked less tired lately,” she said, “That night I had a hard look at my face. My eye lines had softened. I did look less tired and my skin looked less dull. The only change was this moisturiser.”

Another fan of the product wrote, “After going through this tub of moisturiser, I'm hooked on this company's products. I've never gotten so many compliments on my skin.”

“I slather it on at night and the next day my skin is always so soft. I didn't see drastic results right away but read online that 1% retinol (aka not a clinical dosage) can take a few months to start working, so I stuck with it. Sure enough, a couple months in and I started hearing a lot of comments about how great my skin looked. It really does work, if you keep with it.”

Meanwhile a third shopper said, “Fantastic product would say best on market. I have tried a number of retinol creams and this surpasses them all.”

“I am 62 and have some deep wrinkles due to love of sun tan when younger this cream definitely made my skin look better and for first time in years people have commented how good my skin looks. Highly recommend. No fancy packaging adding to extra cost just good product.”

We tried it

With so much hype online, Yahoo Lifestyle’s Elizabeth Di Filippo decided to put the cream to the test herself, and this was her verdict:

As someone comfortably in their 30s, I’m caught somewhere between embracing the inevitability of ageing and willing to sell my soul in exchange for eternal youth and a portrait I will gladly keep hidden in my attic. Which is why when I came across Maritime Naturals Retinol Moisturiser on Amazon, my curiosity got the better of me.

It’s been three weeks of using the retinol cream at night, and while I haven’t noticed a drastic change to the fine lines around my eyes, I have noticed that my skin tone has improved, making the discolouration under my eyes and appearance of pores around my nose less noticeable when I’m not wearing makeup.

Although I didn’t experience the effect of a 'facelift in a jar,' I do think that the Maritime Naturals Retinol Moisturiser is a great option for anyone looking for a vegan, cruelty-free skincare product that won’t break the bank.

My skin feels hydrated, soft and the improved skin tone was an unexpected but welcome result that was enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

However, if you’re looking to really turn back the clock on your skin, my advice would be to explore your options with a dermatologist and develop a routine that matches your skincare goals and your budget.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Di Filippo.

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