M LAB – Skincare from the beauty laboratory

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serum, cream and eye cream review

M LAB serum, cream and eye cream reviewphoto: we heart this

Hitting the big 4-0 last year was a shock. Suddenly, I was confronted with the specter of Middle Age and all of its requisite ramifications: fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and uneven skin tone and texture. To be honest, the fine lines and wrinkles-part isn’t so visibly relevant as I’m about to complete my forty-first year—a lifetime of overactive oil glands saw to that.

The rest is painfully apparent. My pores are large (particularly across my nose and cheeks), I have reddish splotches, brown freckles and spots, my facial labial folds are more pronounced than they used to be, and (worst of all) I’m sporting jowls these days. I exfoliate, moisturize, massage, apply sunscreen and try to sleep on my back to keep gravity working in the right direction. Not to say that this is all for naught, but M Lab has created some products so that I (and all you out there) don’t have to work quite so hard.

M Lab (short for Milbar Laboratories) is a global leader in the science of cosmeceuitical development. For 25 years Milbar has been formulating skin care for the medical community of dermatologists and plastic surgeons; this expertise is now passed to us, the aging community at large. This lab has encouraged their scientists to create—without limitation or expense—the most luxurious and effective anti-aging formulations in the world.

anti-aging treatment cream

How are M Lab products different than others? For starters all products contain an unusually high number of clinically active ingredients. Each ingredient is designed to target virtually every visual sign of aging. To top it off, all products are allergy and irritation-free, and are suitable for both men and women of all skin types. M Lab claims the effects of their anti-aging products show positive results quickly; professional clinical testing, they say, validates this claim.

Well, that’s the claim. I can’t wait to see if our wht review team of ‘beauty scientists’ finds the same results. Now here are the products received by the team…

anti-aging treatment serum (1 oz, $275) Formulated with 74% clinically active ingredients, this serum consists of a synergistic complex of advanced peptides, potent antioxidants and high performance hydrators. The rich emollients help restore the natural moisture barrier while keeping your skin soft and supple. Calming agents provide comfort by relieving stressed skin and restoring natural skin tones. The skin’s firmness is promoted and brightness is restored while areas darkened due to sun exposure are evened.

Thick and silicone-like in consistency, this serum is to be used sparingly on face, neck and chest, focusing on the areas that show the most signs of aging. M Lab also recommends this as a primer before makeup application.

This is the M Lab product I sampled and while I can’t tell you how well it works for lines and wrinkles, I can tell you that it did a great job keeping my skin calm. I am prone to temporary red patches when I get stressed (always at the same place—my neck just below my jaw on either side of my face) and have not noticed a single incident since I’ve been using this product. It also is a great moisturizer. I thought from its thick, somewhat oily feel that this would suffocate my skin and make my oil problem worse. On the contrary, my skin retained a good level of moisture all day, never getting overly oily, never breaking out. How best to describe this effect? Time-released moisture. No, not officially, but that’s how it played out on my skin. And, yes, it is nice as a primer since it makes your skin so soft and smooth (I do wish it had SPF, though).

As far as dramatically repairing sun damage on my face, I can’t give this as high a mark. My freckles and brown spots didn’t fade (noticeably, anyway), the red splotches are still there, and my pores appear no smaller. I also didn’t notice a big change in firmness of my skin. For now, my jowls are still dancing…but I will continue using the product in hope that firmness takes a little longer to achieve. And, yes, I still have plenty of my 1 oz. bottle to keep using—a little serum does go a very long way.

anti-aging treatment cream (2.4 oz jar, $260, 1.5 oz jar, $175) – Formulated with 68% clinically active ingredients, this cream claims to do all that the serum does, but has a slightly lower percentage of active ingredients. M Lab recommends this emollient-rich product for use as a night cream for your face neck and chest.

anti-aging eye cream (0.5 oz, $170) – Formulated with 59% clinically active ingredients, this is a fairly heavy cream for the eye area that has a surprisingly light feel on the skin and uses multi-functional peptides to visibly minimize age lines, puffiness and under-eye discoloration.

So, my wht testing friends on the wrong side of thirty, do M Lab’s luxurious products live up to their lofty claims (and high price tags)? Let your wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin speak!

Sherri is co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design, and of course, a wht writer!

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Author

  • sherrishera

    Sherri is a writer, dog lover, old movie fanatic, history detective, political junkie, fashion pundit and social media consumer advocate. “A fancy dinner and expensive champagne are better than writing a rent check any day of the week.” skin tone: NC 25 skin type: oily/sensitive favorite beauty product: anti-aging anything

11 Comments

  1. I’m a little in love with that packaging. It’s all science-y and important looking…

  2. OK-I am officially jealous that I didn’t get to test these M LAB treats. I would love to hear how this line stacks up against drug store lines.

  3. Well, there was no question that I was testing the serum. I am a serious serum addict. And if you get the chance to try a serum of this caliber, one must take it!

    At first, being totally honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. Fabulous sleek, black packaging aside (and the fact that the PR info included a picture of Simon le Bon at one of their events, le sigh!) Reason being the 2 that @sherrishera mentioned, it’s thick and a bit slick feeling. Most of my favorite serums are on the thin side and tend to absorb quickly. M Lab feels like a silicone gel (for lack of a better description) and once rubbed in, feels a bit tacky on your face for a few minutes while it dries. (If you were going to use this as primer, I’d say you need to put it on a good 5 minutes before you start your makeup).

    But, I worked through my initial feeling of “Hmmm, I’m not sure about this…” and I am SO glad I did.

    For the last couple of months that I’ve been using this, my skin has really looked good. I mean REALLY looked good (if I must say so myself). My wrinkles def. seem to be less prominent. And the true measure is that I have this little brown spot on one of my cheeks that I have tried EVERYTHING to lighten (and I’m talking huge high end brands). Nothing has worked, until M Lab. The spot is so light that I don’t even notice it anymore, and honestly-it used to be the first thing I’d see when I looked in the mirror.

    There is no denying that this is really expensive. But this is an item that I would start saving for. A couple less lattes a week (and maybe a few less gossip mags in your shopping cart), and you could get this in a few months. It is oh-so worth it. And well worth noting, you only need a tiny drop. I’ve been using this for 2 months and I have well over a half of bottle left.

    5 stars from me. A luxurious splurge that has shown true results.

  4. I’m getting close to the 40 mark too and it sure does feel like my skin knows it. I’m always on the hunt for new and better skincare products these days. @stef you are making me want to run out and get this serum now. My wrinkles could use a lift! Really want to hear a review on the anti-aging treatment cream. Sounds promising!

  5. Sometimes I think @Stef and I share a brain…I too at first was not bowled over with my MLAB product but eventually was wowed with the results! If Stef loves serums, I’m about to marry eye creams. I love nothing more then trying thick, luxurious creams for my fine lines, under eye circles and occasionally puffiness.

    I was uber impressed with the look and feel of the packaging of the anti-aging eye cream. The scientific slant only added fuel to my expectations.

    This thick cream has a pale blue-green hue to it which made me think medicinal and a light, creamy face cream scent that made me think lush. The overall consistency is nice and light when applied to the eye area and sinks into the thin skin nicely. It also leaves a subtle, (possibly light reflecting?) sheen behind. While I loved the texture, scent and application the first time around. I wasn’t super impressed with the fine line fillage – they were still there. The cream did however, prep the area to visibly improve the job my undereye makeup did in covering my imperfections. After a few days of use, I thought “nice, but not wow.”

    HOWEVER, a little over a month ago, when things started to get really, really hot, I was having problems with my eye creams seeping into my eyes within hours of application (and I do use them sparingly – I just have slippy skin!). So, I went back to my MLAB remembering how well the cream worked into my skin. Since that day, I’ve been using my MLAB daily and haven’t had a single itchy or watery eye.

    A victory in itself, no? But it gets better! After almost six weeks of use, I think I’m seeing some improvements in the area. In general the skin is just better moisturized and protected everyday – and since it stays in place my skin can reap the benefits longer. So the skin just looks better, and a teeny bit firmer all around. Which means, my fine lines are also just a smidge plumped in! And with the new glow to the area the under eye shadows look lighter too. Loving this eye cream!

    The one big drawback? The price. It’s a hefty tag for sure. I can say that after six weeks of sometimes twice a day use, I’ve barely made a dent in it. Possibly I’ve used a tenth or at the very most an eighth of the jar. So it should last a good 8 months. Plus, this is one eye cream (of maybe 3 in my life) that I know I will hit the bottom of the jar before it expires. So I can justify a purchase by saying one completely used $170 MLAB is better than 3 or 4 (or 5 or 6) $30 not even half used, discarded eye creams of the month. Four stars from me (a half star for price and a half star for the open jar – I have finger/germ phobia with face products)

  6. Wow…@Stef – the fact that the serum lightened your brown spot has me sold. I have a similar spot and not one thing has worked. I’ve been thinking that it might be high end laser time. I’ve been a bit hesitant – ok SCARED! – of both the price tag and the side effects. I’ll be trying this product for sure.

  7. WOW WEE! This stuff looks amazing! How I long for a great facial and eye cream product that won’t break the piggy bank! BUT, I am extremely interested in
    M Lab’s line. Great review @sherrishera! By the way, @tyna & @stef do share a brain! lol!

  8. I confess, I was almost hoping I wouldn’t love M Lab’s anti-aging treatment cream. It’s way more expensive than any skincare product splurge I’ve ever committed, and I’ve been known for a pretty big splurge or two.

    But of course I am smitten, and I’m already saving up for my next jar (I still need those gossip mags, though, @stef!). The silver lining is that you really do need only the tiniest amount, and even with daily use, I’ve barely made a dent in the jar.

    My skin gets dry in the winter, but I do have some oiliness in the summer, and at first I was concerned about the treatment cream’s richness. My first application felt oily on my face. Luckily, I quickly discovered I was using too much cream. A less generous dollop sinks right in and leaves my skin soft and smooth. The scent is lovely, too– a light, herbal smell that isn’t overpowering at all.

    And yes, I’ve seen results! I’ve been using the cream nightly on my face and neck, and I’ve noticed a major difference in the tone and firmness of my skin as well as its general brightness. I’ve been so impressed, I’m even considering investing in the eye cream, too.

    My skin seems happy this summer thanks to M Lab’s anti-aging treatment cream, a 5 star product if there ever was one! Great post, @sherrishera.

  9. I really was impressed with the serum’s ability to calm my uncalmable skin. And, since I’ve written this post, slowly but surely I see my freckles and other brown spots fade. It’s a process. So, this does work. I almost wish I had some wrinkles to see them plump out because I’m guessing that this is the serum’s greatest feat.
    BTW, I’m still out to lunch on the sagging claim. My jowls and such are still no firmer (in my hper-critical eyes). Yet still I hope…still I use.
    I give this one 4 stars…minus 1/2 star for price and 1/2 star for not getting rid of my darn jowls. I’ll rethink this rating if I start firming up…

  10. I don’t know what I did to deserve the M Lab eye cream, but I will gladly do it again! I didn’t know the line prior to this, but after reading about them, and trying the cream myself, I can proudly say I am now a big fan, and a big believer!

    At first I worried it was going to be too heavy. Eye creams I tend to lean towards are on the light side, even gels. And you notice right away how creamy this is. But it disappears instantly. It’s like it absorbs right in front of your eyes, not leaving behind any slickness. (A slight sheen like @tyna mentioned, but no greasiness at all). I don’t think I’ve ever seen my eyes look more refreshed! Wrinkles don’t look as crinkly, dark shadows seem to be kept at bay, puffiness is nowhere in sight.

    And it never creeps in my eyes. The eye cream I’m using now, no matter how careful I am I seem to end up with that filmy feeling (why does it do that?!) M Lab just stays put and does it’s job.

    I wonder if there is a reason why it’s blue? Does anyone know? I’m thinking it might have something to do with brightening, but that’s just a guess.

    I can’t even deduct a star for price. I’d gladly scrimp in some other areas to own this again. 5 stars!

  11. I was super pumped when I got the jar of Anti Aging Treatment Cream! I had heard of M Lab but could never bring myself to drop that much money on a product I wasn’t sure would actually do anything. But I think after using this cream for a while, it’s worth it.

    For me this was an interesting product to use. I’ve always had pretty good skin but I’m about to hit 30 very soon and the aging signs are inevitably coming and I can very easily tell when I’ve been neglecting my skin now. So while my skin is going through this transition, using a cream like this feels more like playing preventative defense against wrinkles, fine lines and loss in elasticity.

    Like, @turboterp, I used too much the first go around so I thought it was greasy/heavy. Then I realized I didn’t need to slather on as much when using this cream like other lotions/creams I’ve used. I use it as a night cream and it absorbs well, leaving my skin feels soft and nourished. In the morning my skin definitely looks better and has a healthy glow to it. I think this stuff is going to be PERFECT later in the year when the harsh MN winters dry out my skin.

    This is great stuff and yes, it is costly, but as others have pointed out, it’s worth saving the money for it and it will last you quite a while. 5 stars from me!

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