Medix 5.5’s Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment Gave Me Hydrated Skin

Medix 5.5 Retinol Cream + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment

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We put Medix 5.5’s Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

The skin below our chin deserves just as much attention as the skin on our faces, and upgrading your regular body lotion to one that does more than just moisturize is a great way to stave off signs of premature aging like hyperpigmentation, lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. As someone who once, long ago, worshipped the sun, preventative body care has now become a priority for me—so naturally, I was excited to take Medix 5.5’s Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment for a spin.

Already a HQ favorite, this lotion promises not only to address your immediate hydration needs but also to improve the look and feel of your skin over time by strengthening the skin’s barrier and helping it maintain a healthy pH of 5.5. Plus, it’s also packed with anti-aging powerhouses retinol and ferulic acid, as well as a slew of other skin-loving ingredients. Would it earn a permanent place in my daily body care routine?

Read on to find out.

Medix 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment

• Best for: All skin types, especially dry and mature
• Uses: Hydration, minimizing the look of sun damage, improving the appearance of wrinkles and crepey skin
• Potential allergens: Fragrance
• Active ingredients:Retinol, ferulic acid
• Cruelty-free?: Yes
• Price: $15
• About the brand: Medix 5.5 created its skin and body care line with sensitive skin in mind, making them suitable to be used by all. Based on the idea that the skin’s natural pH should be slightly acidic at a level of 5.5, the brand formulated its creams and lotions at this same pH level in order to maintain optimal skin health.

About My Skin: Relatively healthy, but I worry about future signs of damage

When it comes to my body, I’d say my skin is relatively healthy. I’m admittedly pretty bad at taking the time to moisturize daily, but I tend to be much better about it during the summer when my skin is more exposed, so dryness isn’t too much of an issue at the moment. I have subtle keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms, so I make sure to exfoliate with a hydrating scrub at least once a week. I also apply (and reapply) sunscreen religiously every time I step outside to ensure my skin is properly protected from the sun.

However, I wasn’t always so kind to my skin. Growing up by the Jersey Shore, I worshipped both the sun and the tanning salon, spending most of my youth baking myself to be as tan as possible year-round. At 31, I *thankfully* haven’t seen much damage crop up from how badly I treated my skin as a teen, but I live in constant fear of the day that sunspots and photodamage begin to rear their ugly heads.

That said, I’ve been pretty keen to incorporate an anti-aging body treatment like the Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment into my daily routine to help stave off any aforementioned signs of damage. Over two weeks, I slathered in twice daily in the morning after showering and in the evening before hopping into bed.

Ingredients: Powered by anti-aging retinol and ferulic acid

As the name implies, the key ingredients in the Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment are retinol and ferulic acid. Retinol is essentially the best anti-aging skincare ingredient due to its ability to reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation while smoothing out rough and uneven textures.1When used on the body, it can be excellent for reducing (and preventing) loss of firmness, sagging, and crepey skin. Ferulic acid is another powerhouse antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors such as UV rays and pollution, all of which can speed up the aging process of our skin.2Both of these appear towards the top of the ingredient list, implying that they’re present in effective concentrations.

In addition to retinol and ferulic acid, the formula also includes soothing chamomile and aloe vera, polyphenol-rich black tea, and Botanimoist AMS (aka apple moisturizing saccharide). While not listed as a key ingredient, the formula also contains shea butter, which we know is deeply nourishing and moisturizing.

The cruelty-free and vegan formula is free from parabens, alcohol, PEGs, formaldehyde, sulfates, dyes, triclosan, propylene glycol, mineral oil, and talc. However, it’s not considered clean by our standards due to the fragrance containing small amounts of phthalates, something the brand confirmed with us via email that it’s working on removing in the coming months.

The Feel: Creamy and soothing, but doesn’t absorb very well

Straight out of the bottle, this lotion is super creamy and feels soothing on the skin. Once it dries down, the skin is left feeling soft and smooth without much of a residue. However, even though it’s not greasy under normal conditions, I noticed that it doesn’t absorb very well. Every time I sweated or took a shower, I would feel the lotion sitting on top of my skin as it would melt or wash off.

The Scent: A powdery, floral fragrance

Before I even got the product in my hands, I read several online reviews complaining about the scent, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, even as someone who isn’t a fan of added fragrance in any of my skincare products, I quite like it. It has a powdery, floral scent which I find pretty and refreshing. However, it is on the stronger side and smells like perfume, which may be a turn-off for some, especially for anyone looking to wear another fragrance on top of it.

The Results: Hydrated, smooth skin

Immediately upon applying this lotion for the first time, my skin felt instantly quenched. My legs, arms, and torso were left soft and supple, and the lotion dried down to a nice smooth finish.

While it didn’t leave behind any greasy residue that some lotions are notorious for, I didn’t feel like the product was fully sinking in. Sweltering heat waves are currently hitting New York, and I felt that anytime I sweated even slightly (which, in this heat, doesn’t take much), I would notice the product sitting on top of my skin—and things would get pretty slimy depending on my level of sweatiness. Even when I’d shower the next day, I’d feel it washing off, which left me skeptical of just how much of the ingredients are absorbing into my skin and getting to work.

Sliminess aside, I noticed a major improvement in terms of hydration levels by the end of the two-week testing period. Since I don’t have visible sun damage on my body or sagging or crepey skin, I can’t speak to any improvements in those areas—however, from my experience with ingredients like retinol and ferulic acid, I know that it would take weeks to months to see any visible results.

The Value: Super affordable

At $15 for a large, 15 oz. bottle of lotion packed with plenty of natural, skin-loving ingredients, I’d say it’s a steal. I won’t say it’s the greatest body lotion I’ve ever used in terms of texture and feel, but it’s a pretty solid product for the price. It’s also much more affordable than most retinol body lotions on the market, which, I’ll admit, did make me a bit skeptical at first.

Similar Products: You’ve got options

Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment ($29): This we favorite is luxurious on the skin and easy on the wallet. In addition to anti-aging retinol, the formula is ultra-hydrating, thanks to evening primrose and grape oils. Plus, it contains vitamins C and E for powerful antioxidant protection. You can count on this one to leave the skin soft, smooth, even-toned, and firm.

I Tried Paulas Choices Retinol Body Treatment and It Ended My Dry Skin Woes

iS Clinical Body Complex ($75): If you’re dealing with extra dry skin, consider this option from iS Clinical. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, but it’s packed with moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, calming aloe, and exfoliating fruit acids to quench dry skin and leave it soft and smooth. Plus, it’s formulated with retinyl palmitate, a gentle precursor to retinol, so that you can get the same anti-aging benefits with less potential irritation.

Final Verdict

Overall, I think the Medix 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment is a pretty solid body lotion. It’s hydrating, softening, and smoothing, albeit not the best in terms of absorption. As someone whose skin hasn’t yet shown any serious signs of aging, I can’t speak to its anti-sagging and firming benefits, but slathering on daily antioxidants is certainly a healthy preventative measure to take. Plus, retinol and other antioxidants also take time to provide visible results—but I’m excited to see how this lotion fares over the next few months.

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Specs

• Product Name Retinol Cream + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment
• Product Brand Medix 5.5 UPC 819265009259
• Price $15.00
• Weight 15 oz.
• Ingredients Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinol, Ferulic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide