It caused quite a stir when it first hit the market, so it's no wonder people are clamoring to find out more about the ingredients in Strivectin. The veritable wonder product of the skin care world has had a startling and visible impact on wrinkles, fine lines and crow's feet - despite being marketed as a product for stretch marks!
About Strivectin
Strivectin, or Stri-Vectin-SD as it is officially known, is a skin care product with a lengthy resume. Its distributor, Klein-Becker, describes the product as an "intensive concentrate for existing stretch marks." Clinical trials have shown, according to the company, that the concentrate makes a visible difference in the reduction of the appearance of stretch marks. Obviously, the company marketed the product with these clinical findings at the forefront of its marketing campaign.
However, there's more to the story than the growth of another stretch mark cream. As so many beauty product manufacturers do, Klein-Becker doled out samples of Strivectin to employees and customers during the market research phase. Since the samples were not specifically marked with directions and included only a small "topical cream" statement on the tube, some individuals were unclear as to the product's actual purpose and began using it as a facial moisturizer. Time passed and suddenly the feedback came pouring in.
Individuals touted the product's remarkable ability to make the face look 10 years younger, diminish crow's feet and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The company realized that Strivectin was more than just a stretch mark fading product, and the rest, as they say, is marketing history.
The Active Ingredients in Strivectin
The key ingredient that makes Strivectin a purported powerhouse against wrinkles is the oligo-peptide. Found in a series of studies at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology in 2002 to be more effective than retinol and vitamin C in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, oligo-peptides are said to do the job in a shorter period of time and with less irritation. Of course, as Strivectin is, first and foremost, a stretch mark treatment, it has also been shown, according to the company, to visibly reduce their appearance.
Strivectin's peptides include palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 and palmitoyl oligopeptide. The former has been shown to increase production of collagen and fibronectin (which bind collagen and elastin), while the latter, in its lower concentration, stimulates the production of human skin collagen, according to a 2007 study in Dermalogic Therapy.
Other Ingredients
Strivectin is also rich in moisturizing ingredients, such as sweet almond oil, shea butter, mango butter, sesame oil and urea. In this regard, it is outstanding for dry skin types. Additionally, it contains a small percentage of antioxidants and vitamin A.
Individuals with sensitive skin may be bothered by the inclusion of peppermint oil. Critics of Strivectin, which has not been the subject of any independent studies not associated with Klein-Becker itself, question whether the oil, which produces a tingly sensation on the skin, is meant to give consumers the illusion that the product is "working."
Other ingredients include:
- Hyaluronic Acid: A powerful moisturizer, it keeps the skin hydrated and moisturizes the skin's elastin fibers with water.
- Siegesbeckia Orientalis Extract: Said to help diminish the appearance of scars, soothe inflammation, encourage wound healing and aid in the correction of discolored skin.
- Retinyl Palmitate: A form of vitamin A, it is said to rejuvenate and stimulate the skin cells, and is thought to be less irritating than other variations of the vitamin.
- Phyllanthus Emblica: This herbal extract is a powerful antixoidant, and its positive traits are many: It helps correct discolored skin, protects the skin from UV damage (note, though, that it is not an actual sunscreen) and stimulates the production of collagen.
- Shea Butter: An extremely gentle, rich moisturizer that is helpful in soothing the skin and may be helpful in stimulating collagen production.
The Bottom Line
The ingredients in Strivectin may serve some purpose, but whether or not they do what the company claims is entirely up to individual experience. Some consumers report success, while others claim it has no effect on stretch marks or wrinkles.
