Dior Capture R60/80 XP: Stem cell research to cure wrinkles? It could be true...
Late last year, I was invited to Paris by Dior for a day of pampering and sneak peek at their latest skincare development, Capture R60/80 XP. It's yet another anti-aging range, but what makes this one so different is that unlike its rivals, it doesn't promise just to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. If you believe the research, it can even cure them.
Airbrushed photographs of Sharon Stone might not be the best way to persuade us these claims are true, but the research we were presented with in Paris (see video above for the cut-down version) is definitely interesting. The products in the range (a serum, a moisturiser and an eye cream) target adult stem cells in the skin, the cells that are responsible for the growth of all new cells in the organ...
The idea is that if you can protect and nourish a stem cell, you can aid in the production of all the cells that are produced as a result of it. Wrinkles on the surface of the skin are created as surrounding cells stop producing, usually as a result of a stem (or 'mother') cell deep down that's not protected properly. Dior's products help to stop this, creating a protective barrier around stem cells that encourages them to keep producing new cells.
At first I must confess the presentation left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. Stem cell research is a very, very important scientific development, but a large part of me thinks this early research should not be benefiting the skincare industry, but instead going towards curing diseases like Parkinson's Disease. However, Dior are contributing to the The Stanford Insititute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine to ensure adult stem cell research continues outside of the skincare industry, so at least they're aware of this too.
The products themselves are incredibly rich, as you'd imagine of an anti-wrinkle range. On my young, wrinkle-free skin they weren't particularly well-targeted, and though my facial was enjoyable and my skin felt smooth for hours afterwards, I could tell the richness would result in spots if I used the range any longer. Instead, I passed them on to my mum, who will no doubt benefit much more from the science behind the brand.
If you want to give the brand a go, it should be hitting shelves in the UK over the coming week, with products retailing somewhere in the £60 - £100 bracket. US ladies can shop already at Sephora or Nordstrom. If you're going to go for one products, I'd recommend the serum, which contains the highest concentration of the active ingredients.
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