DermStore Mystery Grab Bag Review: Forever Young

DermStore Grab Bags: one-time only purchase, occasionally released, $30-$45
This Bag: Forever Young
Price: $38.5 after tax, I paid, $27.5 after discount and tax

Every so often, Dermstore releases mystery grab bags with a variety of products. They can be a good value but you don’t know what you are getting.  Sometimes they are in stock for a while, so you can read reviews of them, but this time around all the grab bags sold out almost immediately. I managed to get one of he Forever Young boxes and all in all, I’m happy.

DermStore had promised that this bag would have 13 products and a $218 value.  There were 13 products, but 3 of them were small samples and one was a foil!  Still, the box did have two full size products and 7 deluxe samples, so I can’t really complain.  DermStore often inflates the value of its boxes, this one had an actual value of $130, much below the $218 they advertised.  Still, for $38 it’s not a bad deal.

I was pretty surprised about how light the box was when I picked it up, but I shouldn’t have been given that skin products often come in small containers. This time all the products came in a transparent plastic bag. Unfortunately it has one of those cheapy ziploc closures that is likely to break quickly, otherwise I’d use it for when I fly.

As advertised, all products were anti-aging and suitable for face and eyes.  In all, there were four serums, 2 eye creams, 2 exfoliators, a mask, an anti-wrinkle cream, an a pigment corrector and a moisturizer. However, as several of these products have multiple functions, these categories are not as concrete as they may seem.

This is what I got:

Medicell Labs Instant Brightening Peel, 2 oz (full size), $30

This peel is full size and has azelaic and lactic acid, but no parabens  It’s not available at Dermstore, so I wonder if it’s been discontinued  It does get great reviews.  I am covered for a while in the facial mask department, but I’m sure I’ll eventually use it. It’s made in the USA

Glytone Essentials Hydrating Eye Cream, .53 oz (full size), $38

This is another eye cream that gets great reviews; people say it helps with wrinkles and eye bags  I have lots and lots of eye creams now – and you use such a small amount of them, that I think I’m covered for years to come.  Or I could see if my mom wants one. It’s made in the USA

StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Night Treatment, deluxe sample .25 oz, value $16

This product gets pretty good reviews on Amazon, though according to Paula’s Choice it’s over-hyped and over-priced.  Fortunately I got it in this box, so the price does not affect me for now.  As someone approaching 50, I have my share of fine lines and wrinkles, so I’m looking forward to trying it. I’m also happy that as I don’t currently have any retinol products, I can start using it straight away.  What I’m not thrilled about is that the sample came in a much larger box, which is both wasteful and deceitful. Made in the USA

Update: Retinol can be harsh on skin.  Interestingly, most of my facial skin did not react to it.  My nose, however, started burning and became both inflamed and red.  Obviously I won’t be wearing it on my nose again.

Update 2: This sample has lasted me a month, though I skipped some days.  All in all I have not seen any effects vis a vis wrinkles or discoloration, but my rosacea has been under control. I don’t know if it’s due to this or another product, the combination of several or the fact that I’m taking ibuprofen daily to reduce inflamation.

Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm, .5 oz sample, value $10

I don’t have any microdermabrasion products, so I’m happy to get this sample as well.  It’s safe to use every other day.  I’ll start using it as soon as I’m done with the exfoliator I’m using now.  It’s made in Canada.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2 Percent BHA Liquid Exfoliant, 1 oz sample, value $6.5

I’ve been wanting to incorporate a BHA product into my skin care routine (why? because it’s just one more item I can add and thus prolong my “me” time at night), so I’m thrilled to get this. It’s made in the USA.

La Roche-Posay Redermic Eyes Cream, 5 ml sample, value $11

This is an eye cream with retinol. It gets very good reviews and it seems to help with the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles.  I think I may give it a try when I’m done with my present eye cream.  It’s made in France.

Vichy Idealia Life Serum, 3ml small sample, value $4

This is a facial serum which is supposed to renew your skin in 8 days, reducing the appearance of pores and hyperpigmentation.  Reviews are mixed, I rather get the idea that the people who saw results were not using any serums before.  I’ll probably use it when I travel. Made in France.

Skin Medica Dermal Repair Cream, .25 oz sample, value $14

I have a lot of facial moisturizers but this cream gets such great reviews that I plan to start using it soon. It’s a small sample, so I hope my results will be as quick as other people’s! It’s made in the USA.

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, small sample

I got this same sample in another DermStore box and I’ve been using it religiously. I actually run out of it yesterday, which means that small as it is, it’s lasted me for two months.  That said, I have not seen any difference whatsoever in the reduction of my brown spots or sun damage.  I’ll continue using it, why not?, but I don’t have much hope for it. It’s made in the USA.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, small sample

Though I have a sample of a vitamin  C+E cream, I haven’t used it yet, mostly because I haven’t yet incorporated a morning skin care routine (I don’t really feel the need for “me” time in the morning), but I now have enough products that I really should do so.  This serum gets great reviews so I may use it before the cream. It’s made in the USA.

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Moisture-Enhancing Gel, small sample

This gel is supposed to be used in conjunction with the C E Ferulic serum above. I’ll try it. It’s made in the USA.

NeoStrata Antioxidant Defense Serum, 2 ml sample

This is just a serum which I’ll try after I’m done with my other serums which is likely to be a long time from now. It’s made in the USA.

Vichy Laboratories Liftactiv Serum 10 Anti-Aging Power Serum, foil package

I personally don’t see the point of foil packages. It’s not like after a single use you’ll know whether you like a product or not.  I did apply this serum and I liked the light gel like consistency, but I don’t see how I’ll be able to tell if it does any good given how many other products  I put on my skin.

DermStore includes a free sample with every order. This is what I got this time, though be aware that not everyone gets the same sample:

Phytomer HydraContinue Moisturizing Body Milk

This lotion has a light consistency and a subtle grown up perfume. It’s pretty moisturizing and easy to apply. At 7ml the sample is really tiny for a lotion, however.