What is StriVectin?

Strivectin is a topical cream that is meant to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  However, it was not originally intended for this purpose.  When this treatment first came out on the market, it was designed to treat stretch marks that many people get from gaining or losing weight quickly when their skin can't stretch fast enough to keep up.  There were clinical studies done and the manufacturers thought they had an effective treatment for stretch marks.  As the story goes, Klein-Becker, the company who manufactures Strivectin, handed out samples of the cream to employees and customers in an effort to contribute to their market research.  The tubes of product were not marked with the term “stretch mark cream”, the labels simply read “topical cream”.  The tubes were passed around from employees to friends and family without explanation of what the product was actually designed to treat.  Some people assume that they topical cream was a facial moisturizer and started to use it on their faces.  They reported back to Klein-Becker that they had great results and reduction in wrinkles from using their product.

How does Strivectin work?

This is a question that the manufacturers did not know how to answer at first.  Although the Strivectin stretch mark cream had been tested for results, the makers of Strivectin had no scientific basis to explain the effectiveness of the cream for treating wrinkles.  Then, a series of studies were released about the effective wrinkle-reducing properties of an oligo-peptide called Pal-KTTKS.  The study was created to compare creams that contained the Pal-KTTKS to other creams with retinol, Vitamin C or a placebo.  Participants applied the Pal-KTTKS to one side of their faces and one of the other types of creams to the other side.  The study lasted for four months, total, and by the end of the study it was evident that the Pal-KTTKS was more effective in treating lines and wrinkles than any of the alternatives.  The study found that retinol was still an effective treatment, eventually.  However, Pal-KTTKS works much faster to give results and does not pose such a high risk of irritation for sensitive skin as retinol.

Why was this study important to understanding the effectiveness of Strivectin?  Because Pal-KTTKS is the main active ingredient in Strivectin.  This treatment appeals to many people who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but are not keen on the idea of getting botox injections.  Botox is effective on frown lines that are located along the brow and forehead, but it does not do much to help crow’s feet and other fine lines.  Many people who get botox also use a product like Strivectin to make the results last longer and to treat the few lines and wrinkles that botox can leave behind.  Another benefit of a cream like Strivectin is that it gives users effective results over time and continues to deliver treatment every day.  Treatments such as botox, dermabrasion or chemical peels are much more expensive and the results will wear off after a few weeks or months, causing patients to return for another painful, invasive treatment.

How do I use Strivectin?

After seeing the results that Strivectin could have on wrinkles and fine lines, Klein-Becker continued to develop an entire line of wrinkle treatments.  The original product that was developed in the beginning to be a stretch mark cream is now called Strivectin-SD.  To use this product, you can simply massage the cream into your face and neck twice a day like you would any other moisturizer or cream.

In addition to the basic Strivectin-SD, Klein-Becker also offers Strivectin HS, which is a special serum for extra deep wrinkles.  This is a liquid rather than a cream and is meant to be applied only to the areas of your face where wrinkles are present.  Then you wait a few minutes until the product has dried on your face and hold a washcloth that has been soaked in hot water to your face for 30 seconds to remove the product.  You should notice results right away.

Next, there is the Strivectin-SD eye cream, which is designed specially for the eye area.  The original Strivectin cream contains peppermint oil to create a pleasant fragrance for those who use the cream to enjoy.  However, when it was applied around the eye area, the fragrance was so strong that it caused some users' eyes to water or become irritated.  The eye cream is the same anti-wrinkle formula as Strivectin-SD but lacks peppermint oil and other aromatic components.  To apply, you simply pat a small amount of the cream around your eye area each day.

There are several more products in the line including one just for the neck and décolletage area.  There is also Strivectin-WF, which is a deep wrinkle filler, but very little explanation is given on the website about how it works.  Strivectin offers an antioxidant cream to protect your skin against pollution and harmful chemicals in the air.  Lastly, there is a special hand cream that you can use to keep your hands looking young.

My Likes

Call me a sucker for great marketing, but I truly enjoy the story of how Strivectin went from a stretch mark cream to a wrinkle treatment purely by accident.  I am a little skeptical that it all went down the way the website claims, but I like the story anyway.  The whole line of Strivectin products offers a money back guarantee if you return the product within 30 days.  I always like to see some sort of guarantee on a product like this, because it creates just a little more credibility.

My Dislikes

Yes, there is a money back guarantee, and I do appreciate that fact.  However, the guarantee is only for 30 days.  These products claim that you will see results quickly, but it is hard to know for sure if a treatment is going to work for you in only 30 days.  If the guarantee were for 60 days it would be much more beneficial to potential customers.

Also, I am skeptical about the line of wrinkle treating products that are available from Strivectin.  In addition to the original cream there are special treatments for deep wrinkles, neck, hands, eyes and then a wrinkle filler and antioxidant cream.  These seem a little unnecessary to me.  If the Strivectin cream is so great, why don't you just use that on your entire body and be done with it?  It looks like these extra products were an effort by Klein-Becker to market more products to consumers. 

My Conclusion

Strivectin has an active ingredient that has been proven to be effective in clinical studies.  This gives it a big step up over many other anti-wrinkle creams.  However, it is a pretty expensive product and only offers a 30-day money back guarantee.  Even wrinkle treatments that have been proven to be effective don't work 100% of the time for 100% of users.  This is why I still like Athena 7 Minute Lift the most.  It does not have any harsh chemicals that can irritate my skin; it is made with botanicals and essential oils.  It is much less expensive than Strivectin and offers a 60-day money back guarantee if I am not satisfied with the results.  Strivectin does not give any information about how long it should take for you to notice a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, but Athena 7 Minute Lift claims that you will see a difference in just 7 minutes.  And if you don't, you can get your money back within 60 days.  This is why Athena 7 Minute Lift remains my favorite product.

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