Let me start by saying that syn-ake is considered a strong anti-aging ingredient, and there are adorable well-meaning people that really REALLY tried to talk me out of it. But I didn’t listen to them (yay me). I know some people who are only 21-22 years old and are already sporting washboard foreheads (not as desirable as washboard abs) full of wrinkles. I work hard to calm down my facial expressions, not raise my eyebrows too much, and not to frown, but I’m not always successful. For me, it’s very important to minimize the effects of these bad habits on the skin. I’m not as worried about my two (correction - now one) forehead wrinkles as the fact that with age they will prosper and multiply. I’m not afraid of getting old, it’s a natural process and the only way to live a long life, but I will improve what I can, especially since it’s quite simple and not expensive.
What is syn-ake?
Syn-ake is a surface-active antiaging component developed by a Swedish company Pentapharm Ltd, marketed as an alternative to invasive anti-aging procedures. It’s a synthetic equivalent to snake venom, which mimics the effects of a Walgerin 1 peptide from Temple Viper venom. Syn-ake can be used separately as a serum or added to creams and other skincare products.
How does syn-ake work?
Syn-ake reduces the amount of muscular movements in the face and reduces cellular mobility, which helps the skin smooth out. The concept behind it is the paralysis caused by snake venom (I personally don't feel paralysis, just relaxation of the muscles). The synthetic equivalent of the venom temporarily relaxes the muscles in the face, preventing the formation of new wrinkles and improving the condition of the existing ones.
Lines and wrinkles around the mouth, eyes, and on the forehead form as a result of repeated movements of the underlying muscles. With time, the skin loses elasticity and can no longer return to its initial smooth appearance. Syn-ake combats that and can be applied to the forehead, neck, and areas around the eyes and lips. The effect is cumulative and will eventually wear off, so syn-ake should be used regularly to maintain the results.
Syn-ake is present in various Korean beauty products. I already have a serum and wanted to try a cream.
Mizon S-Venom Wrinkle Tox Cream - my impressions.
I bought this cream to use in conjunction with my syn-ake serum. I apply both to the forehead in the mornings and at night, unless I’m using anything with acids that day as the two (syn-ake and acids) cancel each other out. And, sometimes I’m just plain lazy :) I used to have two horizontal lines on my forehead. Now I only have one. This remaining one used to be so deep that I could always locate it with my fingers while washing my face. These days, it’s really hard to do that. Both cream and serum take time to work (2 weeks or longer), so don’t expect to go from a raisin to a grape overnight. The cream is nice, light, absorbs well and doesn’t make my combination skin greasy. Sometimes, I apply it all over the face and not just the forehead. I did take a break from using syn-ake for 3 weeks and the second line started to pop back up. Now, I use it regularly (but not daily) to maintain the results. The good news is that syn-ake doesn’t increase photo sensitivity of the skin (the way retinol and some acids can), so it can be used in the summer (increased photo sensitivity = higher chance of sunburn).
Besides syn-ake, the cream contains adenosine (prevents new wrinkle formation and improves the look of the existing one, stimulates collagen and elastin production), shea butter (nourishing), olive oil (nourishing), hyaluronic acid (moisturizing, safe in the summer), allantoine (one of the most popular ingredients in skincare which improves the appearance of acne scars and pigmentation), vitamins E and B5.
If you have fine lines and realistic expectations of what skincare can do about them, then consider giving this cream a try. I am really enjoying it. It doesn’t take much, even for the entire face, so it’s a long-lasting product. The jar is glass, which is always a huge win in my book.
Ingredients:
