Defy age naturally and organically with Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense Cream

A while ago, I told you about the Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial oil and how much I really liked it, and still do. I love the scent and how relaxing it is and how lovely it makes my skin feel. So, when I put the Frankincense Intense Cream to the test, I expected to fall in love with it too.

This is an anti-aging cream made of natural and organic ingredients, as with everything from Neal’s Yard Remedies and was launched late last year. Housed in a lovely deep blue glass jar, the otherwise plainly labelled Frankincense Intense cream uses as its key ingredients, Frankincense which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps even out fine lines and wrinkles, and Gardenia stem cells to help boost the production of collagen in the skin.

As the name and function implies, this one’s targeted at those who have such concerns, which would be those of a more mature skin type. It isn’t to say that you couldn’t use it in your 20’s, although you might not derive the best results from it. But how did I like it?

Well, I’m on the fence about this cream.

I love the scent. I find the warm, woody, spicy scent oddly comforting and relaxing. It is a little less intense than the scent of the facial oil but it is still fairly strong. I also like the old-fashioned printed heavy glass jar.

However, the texture of the cream takes some getting used to. I hesitate to use the word “thick” because it is, but it is also a little “goopy”. I can handle thick creams. I know how much to gauge with it. But this is a little more like a cream-liquid, a little like melted ice-cream. I suspect it’s to do with our weather, because pictures of this cream that I see online from UK blogs show a fairly solid looking product.

Mine looks like melted ice-cream so I suspect it’s a weather thing. Also, yes I know the bottle looks a bit gunky around the rim but I deliberately left it that way because this is what will happen to your tub as well. There is a thin plastic cap to cover the tub, before you screw on the silver lid. However, due to the texture of the product, it will move around and when it does, you end up with something like this. A quick wipe around the edges with a piece of tissue paper will get rid of it.

Because it feels fairly thick, you only need very very little. I have normal-dry skin and I use only a little bit, warmed up between my palms and then patted on my face. If you use too much, it can feel heavy and sticky and take a while to absorb. Oh and understandably therefore, I only use this at night. It is far too heavy for me to use in the day time.

I was using this as a night cream for a while and while I can’t vouch for lightening of fine lines and wrinkles, I can vouch for what feels like softer, smoother skin. It feels, for want of a better word, comfortable.

However, it also tends to break me out a little. I noticed that when I use this on consecutive nights for about 2 weeks or so, I’d develop some small spots around my cheek, chin and jawline area. When I stop, they go away. When I restart, they come back. Not having changed anything else in my routine, I narrowed it down to this cream. I can’t say therefore that it works that well for me so I’m a little ambivalent about it.

I still like the scent a lot, so I still use this some evenings, but as I can’t use it for too long without breaking out, I probably am not reaping the best of the benefits. Well, barring the lovely relaxing scent, that is.

In a nutshell

The Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense cream is a rather thick, heavy cream that targets skin aging and would probably suit those who have more mature skin or who are having problems with fine lines and wrinkles. It has a lovely scent of frankincense but the texture of the cream seems to be a little more liquid in our hot weather as opposed to pictures of it in cooler weather. I like how my skin feels after using this, as you only need very little each time, and my skin feels smoother and very comfortable. However, with prolonged use, I do tend to experience minor breakouts so this is just an occasional night cream for me.

Pros: Lovely relaxing scent if you like the scent of frankincense, Only very little is needed each use, Makes skin feel smooth and comfortable

Cons: I get minor breakouts with prolonged use, Pricey but you only need a tiny little bit each time, Best used for evening in our hot humid weather, Texture appears to be different in our hot and humid weather

Who will like this: Anyone who wants a natural and organic anti-aging cream to treat lines and wrinkles

The ingredient list is as follows:-

Aqua (Water), Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil*, Behenyl Olivate, Octyldodecyl Olivate, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soya) Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Gardenia Jasminoides (Gardenia) Meristem Cell Culture, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil, Boswellia Neglecta Resin Oil*, Commiphora Confusa Resin Oil*, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin) Peel Oil*, Citrus Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil Expressed*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil*, Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citral, Citronellol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool

*Organic. From essential oils. Made with 75% organic ingredients.

I’m not sure what could be the cause of my breakouts except perhaps the olive oil extract, which my skin seems to hate. The best thing I can do with olive oil is cook with it and eat it, not put it on my skin 😛

Have you tried anything from Neal’s Yard Remedies yet? Do you like the scent of frankincense?

I love the Frankincense Facial Oil so I’d happily recommend that one. I want to pick up the Wild Rose Balm some time, but I’m biding my time because these organic stuff don’t have a long shelf life, and I’m working through a lot of other products for now. Still, it’s on my radar so some day, I’ll get there! 😀

Paris B

Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense cream Price: RM350/50g Spatula included Availability: Neal’s Yard Remedies store at The Gardens, Mid Valley (next to Isetan), Isetan One Utama and Isetan KLCC