Ole Hendriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser

Where I got it

I got this from Sephora.nz for $61.60 while they were doing 20% off for Black tier (RRP$77.00). I have been seeing this moisturiser on the YouTube skincare community space where most of skincare gurus I follow are having rave reviews of this product. It is a very good moisturiser with peptides and ceramides for strengthening the skin barrier. Therefore this moisturiser is generally suitable for all skin types. So I decided that 20% off is a pretty sweet deal so I went for it. After about 2 weeks, I noticed the sample size is available from the rewards boutique so I added that to my cart for another order I just did. So I actually got to try the sample size before I dig into the full size product.

What I got

This is the Ole Hendriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser (50ml). A daily moisturizer that instantly doubles hydration, boosts elasticity and improves the look of fine lines and wrinkles, while also reinforcing your skin’s moisture barrier all day. This skin-strengthening moisturizer firms over time, deeply hydrates and helps skin hold onto moisture better all day. With powerful ingredients—peptides, amino acids, ceramides, collagen and hyaluronic acids—it brings bounce and resiliency back to all skin types.

• 8 Amino Acids: Helps to hydrate and support elasticity.
• 8 Peptides: Help build strength and condition.
• 3 Ceramides: Help bind moisture and fortify moisture barrier.
• Collagen: Helps to hydrate and boost elasticity.
• Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs), Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid & Sodium Lactate: Deliver instant and lasting moisture and plump skin with hydration.
• Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Moisturize and help soften.
• Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Niacinamide & Panthenol: Help support healthy-looking skin In an 8-week clinical study on 35 women.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol,Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Niacinamide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carnosine, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Collagen, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Pca, Cyanocobalamin, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Laurate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycine Soja(Soybean) Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance*, Citral, Limonene, Linalool. *Naturally Derived Fragrance Per Iso Standard 16128-1

How I find it

I was half expecting this to be a gel-cream type moisturiser that is quite lightweight on the skin. When I dig into the moisturiser (had to use a spatula), it feels more like a balm, but it does apply quite lightweight and fresh on the skin when it is spread across the skin. My skin barrier has been quite steady lately, but I have been experiencing some really bad breakouts and congestion around my chin and jaw line area (due to hormonal and diet, I assume), so I have reacted with more frequent use of AHA and BHA products. However, I am also wary that I will ruin my skin barrier so I try to compensate with a good moisturiser like this.

So far, I have been using a 2% BHA liquid every night along with blemish serum with BHA (low concentration) and serum with retinol (encapsulated and low concentration for low irritation) also pretty much every night. My congestion and breakouts have slowly improved. However, the fool in me went and got a tube of 10% benzyol peroxide acne gel to apply to the area. I went straight for the strong stuff despite not having used BP for such a long time, the area I applied the gel only once started to freak out. It started getting dry and slightly flaky. Any kind of foundation or tinted moisturise just sat on top and get caught in the dry skin. It get itchy as well and very uncomfortable. I couldn’t believe I did such a simple mistake! My skin barrier around my jawline and some of my neck is wrecked.

I immediately stopped using the BP acne gel and I started going on a skin barrier repair journey. I stopped using any acids – AHA and BHA. I also stopped using retinol serums. I used my Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, followed with a hydrating water spray and Kosho cosmetics Full Hydrating Serum, and then I will use this Ole Hendriksen Strength Trainer moisturiser during the day. Of course followed with my Biore UV Aqua Rich Lotion SPF50. At night, I would use either the Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream or Fifty7kind NADI balm on top of the Strength Trainer Moisturiser. The itchiness has calmed down significantly and I don’t seem to get any redness as well. The flakiness on the skin also reduced significantly after 2 days. After 4 days, my skin is back to normal and I can apply light layer of foundation without catching onto my flaky skin.

Overall

I ended up loving the sample size of this moisturiser and a little jar goes a long way. Using this moisturiser for only a couple of days really helped my semi-damaged skin barrier. My skin wasn’t damaged to the point of no return, but it was itchy, flaky and dry and that was very unusual for my skin to experience this. I would say this moisturise it not an emergency product that will do miracles to your skin overnight, but combined with a other changes I made, it worked great. If you have an impaired barrier, go for a gentle cleanser, and lay off the acids for a few days and focus of using products with niacinamide, peptides and ceramides. Look for something hydrating as well and make sure your moisturiser is a little occlusive so you can lock it in. If your skin is breaking out, I would suggest a fixing the skin barrier first, and then go back to your BHA and retinol serums to address the breakouts at a later stage.