Does Plexaderm Work? I Tried It and Here’s What I Learned

Have you seen the TV ads for Plexaderm? A person applies a pea-sized amount of the serum and it obliterates lines and wrinkles as you watch. But does Plexaderm really work in real life?   I tried Plexaderm and here’s what I discovered:

Plexaderm Advertises That It Can:

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles

• Visibly smooths and flattens under-eye bags

• Minimizes the appearance of dark circles and pores

• See results in minutes, not weeks or months

• PlexEffect® lasts up to 10 hours

The Ingredients In Plexaderm:

If there’s really a miracle in a bottle, you aren’t going to know it from these ingredients, most of which are fairly common. The red and yellow coloring agents raised my eyebrows, but they are considered safe for skin care in small doses. There’s nothing wrong with these ingredients, but I’m not sure that all of these together make a radical difference you can immediately see. 

• Water (Aqua)
• Sodium Silicate: A pH adjuster and buffering agent used to make detergents. It is used in a number of “anti-wrinkle” and anti-aging skincare products. As it dries on the skin, there is a mild contraction, causing the skin to appear tauter. Some studies show that it can be an eye irritant (avoid applying it to the eye area).
• Magnesium Aluminum Silicate: A mineral extracted from clay and typically used as a thickening agent. It has been shown to be a minor eye irritant in rabbits but is safe in cosmetic products.
• Cellulose Gum: A thickening agent derived from plants.
• Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: A synthetic, anti-wrinkling agent. This water-binding ingredient works by decreasing facial muscle contractions.
• Yellow 5 (CI 19140) and Red 40 (CI 16035): Coloring agents.
• Phenoxyethanol: Preservative used in a number of cosmetic products. 
• Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative with antimicrobial properties.
• Hydrolyzed rice protein: A substance rich in amino acids.
• Shale clay: Minerals that tighten your skin.

How to Use Plexaderm:

It’s not rocket science but follow the instructions! The basics are to use a very small amount and only around the eye area and stay a bit below your water line. Then you have to stay quiet and not make any facial movements for 10 minutes. If you move your face, you are just setting in the wrinkles! Do it correctly if you want to see the results you expect. 

My Test of Plexaderm:

I have very sensitive skin, so instead of racing to put this on my sensitive eye and face area, I took a before photo and tried it on my left hand. In all fairness, the skin on your hand isn’t quite the same as that on your face, but a patch test is always a good idea when you are trying something you’re not sure of.

I felt a little bit of stinging but nothing major. I waited about 15 minutes and took an after. These selfies were taken by me at my desk and although the light looks different, they are unretouched. I didn’t realize how dry my hands were, and the Plexaderm did seem to brighten, smooth out the dry spots and plump up my skin. So I have to say it did some good! But as I always say, your skin and your results will differ and be better, or not better. 

Should You Buy Plexaderm?

There is nothing miraculous about any skincare product that is topical, no matter the ingredients or the price. However, everyone’s skin is different. If you want to know more about how I test products I encourage you to read the advice sisters Our Reviews and Safety/

Pleaderm is a bit pricey (1-Month Supply ǀ 30 Applications – $59.95, 3-Month Supply ǀ 90 Applications – $119.90). On the other hand, you probably won’t use it daily to go to the store or on a regular day at home. One good thing is that even the company suggests trying their 6-application trial pack for $15. I think that’s a fair and honest way to let someone try your product that you stand behind.  The trial package has push-open buttons for the product for single use, You can also get the one-month supply with twist-off plastic ampules, or a full bottle. The choices are up to you.

So Does It Work?

If you want a temporary tightening of your eye area for a party and this makes you feel more confident, Plexadern delivers it. and if you’re scared of fillers and needles but want to up your image temporarily, Plexaderm might deliver that as well. But you have to keep your expectations reasonable. 

Another thing to note is that Plexaderm seems to be available in lots of places besides the Plexaderm official website and the prices vary widely. There may be gray market or diverted goods on some of the other sites. Be wary if the price seems too good to be true. This is a good rule of thumb for any product you purchase. 

The Bottom Line:

As with any product, some will be happy with the results and some won’t. The product may temporarily reduce some lines and add some smoothing, but the results will vary. personally, I don’t believe that infomercials are well crafted to entice you but don’t tell the entire story. If you want to try Plexaderm, try the $15 trial pack first. If you are happy with the results, buy it from the Plexaderm website.