(Last Updated on November 9, 2022)
There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and thinking “when did I get old?”, especially when you’re only in your early 40s.
Age is creeping up on all of us, it’s something we can do very little about, a fact of life.
As we get older, we will also start to look older. It may take the form of a few gray hairs, thinning hair, sagging parts of our once taut bodies or those tell tale signs on the face.
Cellumis is the latest product on the market which claims to be a miracle cure for those laughter lines that are no joking matter or wrinkles that just can’t be smoothed over1 .
But the more research I do, the more I think Cellumis has even more imperfections than the ageing faces it’s trying to fix. Finding totally independent reviews is hard and when I finally did, there were very few positive things to say about this cream.
Any product which makes you look younger should be well received, I would have thought, so let’s take a look at exactly what is Cellumis and why people are so negative about this potentially life changing product.
What Is Cellumis?
Cellumis is a line of anti-ageing products that claim to deliver similar results to botox but without the need for expensive and often painful injections.
This product “works at the a cellular level” to reduce wrinkles, age spots and fine lines with guaranteed results and proudly wears a “Made in The USA” badge.
Only if you look at the very small print at the bottom of their adverts do you find that the efficacy and safety of Cellimus has not been scientifically substantiated by the FDA or anybody else for that matter.
The Cellumis line consists of an Age Defying Serum and an Advanced Eye Gel which both claim to have clinically tested ingredients.
The serum works, allegedly, by increasing the firmness and density of your facial skin while also reducing its roughness.
The main selling point seems to be that it is an easy to use liquid full of peptides and natural substances that nourish the skin without the need for injections.
The Advanced Eye Gel is a formula designed to have the same effects on the skin around your eyes.
For best results, which can be seen in as little as 90 days, you are encouraged to use the serum in conjunction with the eye gel. This is where the Cellumis gets complicated as it is offered as a free trial product.
I am always skeptical of products offered on a trial system, if it’s that good then surely traditional marketing and word of mouth would be enough. You don’t see Apple inviting you to a free trial of their iPhones or Sony with their latest HD Televisions.
Let’s first look at what “revolutionary combination of clinically proven ingredients” this serum and eye gel are offering before even considering the implications of a free trial and subsequent subscription.
Cellumis Ingredients
In November 2015, the company behind Cellumis skincare brand held a press conference to reveal the secret ingredients of their skincare serums and discuss how they work.
According to Ms. Laura Emerson, spokesperson for the company, the main secret ingredients of the eye gel were Dupont Glypure, Regu-Age and Syn Coll.
The website also boasts Gatuline In-Tense and GluCare to be the active ingredients of the Age Defying Serum.
Do any of those names mean anything to you? Me, neither!
Gatuline In-Tense
Further online research for this active ingredient revealed to me that this is a trademark name of a skin care product by the French company GatteFosse. The website states that Gatuline is a concentrated firming and wrinkle smoothing active ingredient that gives their product its abilities to increase skin density and firmness.
Glucare
The active ingredient that is claimed to “revitalize the skin’s own defense system”, reduce the sensitivity of the skin and enhance the natural repair of damaged skin is actually the trademark for a herbal supplement for type 2 diabetes.
Dupont Glypure
This is the name of a cosmetic-grade glycolic acid made by the large US chemical company, Dupont and Chemours. Glycolic acid is used in skincare products due to its excellent capability to penetrate the skin. It is most often used in chemical peels performed by a dermatologist with concentrations of 20 to 70 percent or in at-home kits with a concentration between 10 and 20 percent.
Regu-Age
Another chemical this time trademarked by Lotioncrafter, Regu Age is found in the eye gel(5). Regu-Age is used to reduce the dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, strengthen the connective tissues and reduce inflammation.
Syn-Coll
A small molecular synthetic peptide, this compound had been created by Centrechem to prevent the formation of wrinkles and reduce their appearance.
Trylagen PCB
Another registered trademark of the Lotioncrafter company, Trylagen® is a compound of active peptides and proteins that boost the synthesis of collagen types I, III and IV to compensate for the decreased production as we get older.
Although many of these compounds are found in other skin care products, there are no indications on the website or packaging of how much of each active ingredient is in this serum.
Most of the ingredients are available much cheaper at their source companies and without prohibitive membership schemes. Plus there is no scientific evidence on the efficiency of combining these different ingredients in one serum.
Cellumis Side Effects
- Allergic Reaction
Without any full and comprehensive listing of the ingredients it’s incredible that the company should say there are no side effects. Many of the ingredients are powerful chemicals which have the potential to cause allergic reactions if unchecked, which you can’t do without a full breakdown.
- Potential to Cause Burns
Glycolic acid used in the eye gel under the name of Dupont Glypure is more commonly used in chemical peels by qualified dermatologists.
If used incorrectly, it won’t just remove the epidermis but will also burn the skin and leave red patches. One review on Hiya by Sheridan from St Louis say:
Cellumis left me with burns on my lids and the sides of my eyes that hurt and then scabbed over.
- May Be Dangerous To The Health of Certain Individuals
For a product that the company proudly boasts no side effects, they make sure to cover themselves in the Terms & Conditions page warning that pregnant women or anybody with a medical condition should not use the product.
The company further state no refunds will be given for health reasons.
Where To Buy, Price, Refund Policy
This “revolutionary” serum isn’t available in your local retail store but must be ordered online where a “free” 14 day trial is offered with a $4.95 Shipping and Handling charge applied.
After 14 days, your credit card will automatically be charged $89.99 for your initial “free” order and enrolled into the Cellumis autoship program, receiving a fresh supply of Cellumis every 30 days with your credit card being charged $89.99 every time.
This is where I see the real problem of Cellumis, not whether it works or not but the distribution method.
In my experience, any company that only sells a product by free trial will make it nearly impossible to get out of paying full price at a later date, and autoship programs are notoriously hard to cancel without building up even more charges.
Some people have even reported being charged $89.99 for the Eye Gel and $94.99 for the Age Defying Serum.
The refund policy states that the product must be in its original packaging and unopened to qualify less shipping and handling and a $19.95 restocking fee.
How can you try something if you don’t even open it?
Cellumis Reviews & Complaints
Trying to find negative reviews can be very difficult. But when you do eventually find some comments that aren’t on an affiliate site, there’s not much positive to be said at all.
Most of the comments involve the overcomplicated autoship program and the money lost with a few comments about the product not working.
S.O’Sullivan in October 2015 commented:
I bought these two products. Zero results. These products are a scam. Don’t waste your money! I have a mirror that is magnified by 8x with lights around it so I could see if anything was changing. Nothing. Still have the same wrinkles. Still have the same lines across my forehead. I am a fair-skinned person and I never spent time sunbathing or using tanning beds. If these products can’t improve my skin it sure won’t work on someone who has deep lines and wrinkles. The woman who said she saw a difference is in denial. SCAM.
Complaints List, The Consumer’s Voice registers 37 complaints about Cellumis. One user, Truly, reported a loss of $105 and to comment that the product just made the circles under her eyes darker with the added bonus of dry patches of skin.
One respondent to the complaints even felt cancelling her credit card was necessary to avoid further charges.
Sue Webb commented on a consumer complaints website:
Omg, I am reading these NUMEROUS complaints about this company scamming people out of large sums without authorization. I just ordered a free trial and called and immediately cancelled! Do not trust this company! I may go and cancel my card tomorrow to be safe.
Many people have complained about the customer service of the company, saying they were hard to get hold of by telephone and some customers claim they were laughed at or even hung up on by customer representatives.
Sheri P, from Utah is just one of many who reports:
The customer service rep hung up on me when I asked to speak to a supervisor.
Cellumis Pros & Cons
Cellumis Review: Final Words
Until the full composition data is available along with clinical tests on each of the ingredients it is difficult to say whether Cellumis works or not. Reading the fine print reveals the product has no FDA approval or endorsement.
Although the fine print says to get in touch if you feel any of the photos or reviews may be inaccurate the address given on terms and conditions page doesn’t actually belong to the company but a natural sciences’ clinic and post office.
One area you should closely study the fine print is on the terms and conditions page before ordering.
Payment details if studied make it clear this is no “free” trial. A $19 restocking fee, shipping and handling both ways and a cancellation fee make this very far from free.
And that’s if you cancel in time, 14 days from placing the order, not receiving the products. Failure to cancel can be a very expensive mistake if you don’t wish to continue with product.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend Cellumis Age Defying Serum and Advanced Eye Gel to any of my friends.
Free trial products rarely work out to be free and there are many alternatives on the market which come from more reputable companies and are more easily available. And failing that, there’s always that dreaded botox needle!
We laid out the facts, will you buy Cellumis? Comment below and tell us what you think!