Anti-Aging Rating: 3 out of 5 Overall Impression: Fair
Review
Prevage is a joint skin care venture between Elizabeth Arden and Allergan Corporation that became popular as the first line to begin using Idebenone, a synethtic, long-chain form of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), as the headline ingredient. Idebenone has been shown in a small number of studies to be a very effective antioxidant, though because it is a newly created synethetic analog of Coenzyme Q10 it is uncertain exactly how effective it will be over time until more clinical studies come out and more people have used it over the long run. Coenzyme Q10 is the skin and body�s natural antioxidant that is used as a cofactor in mitochondrial energy production on top of its antioxidant abilities. It is uncertain if Idebenone can also be fully utilized by the mitochondria in this manner or if it is just an antioxidant.
It is very important to be aware that recently many reports are coming out about people developing severe allergies to products that contain Idebenone. A number of people have been reporting to the FDA and media outlets that after use of Prevage and other products that contain Idebenone they have developed severe rashes and large red bumps on their skin that take weeks to clear up. This can appear immediately if one is allergic to Idebenone from the start, but most reports are from those that have been using the line for a few weeks to a few months and have developed an allergy to it. While this may be a minority of cases, it is something very important to be aware of and another reason this synthetic ingredient needs more research before we fully know how it will work in the skin. The severity of the reaction seems to be dependent on the concentration of Idebenone in the product.
Prevage has state in numerous press releases that the 0.5% Idebenone concentration has been shown to be just as effective as higher concentrations of this same ingredient in other products. In fact, they have their retailers put the following quote in the product description: "Clinical tests of idebenone at 0.5% and 1% show no significant difference in results. The difference between 0.5% and 1% is only a point of difference for marketing purposes." The reason for this statement is that other companies have been coming out with 1% and 1.5% Idebenone products since the ingredient isn�t limited by patents to Prevage specifically (or Elizabeth Arden and Allergan that own the line). But, ironically, Elizabeth Arden/Allergen have just come out with Prevage-MD that has a 1% concentration of Idebenone, even though they still state that there is no different between the 0.5% concentration and the 1% concentration in older press releases. So it makes the consumer wonder exactly what information is correct and what is just affirming to their line?
Prevage does not seem to contain much else in the way of active ingredients besides Idebenone. There are no other antioxidants (besides Green Tea Extract), no other vitamins/nutrients, and no collagen-stimulating compounds such as amino acid peptides. And even though Idebenone and its chemical relative Coenzyme Q10 are very expensive ingredients to include in skin care products, it is doubtful that they expensive enough to warrant $150 for a face product and $95 for an eye-area product.
Typical Price Range
Up to $150 for a face product and up to $95 for an eye product.
Website
www.prevageskin.com
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