I'm at the age when product claims like "look up to 10 years younger in 40 seconds" make me stop in my tracks. 10 years? 40 seconds? Now that's an efficient use of time. All for only 20 bucks? I'm in. After doing a little research, I found loads of reviews on Nanoblur (which launched last year) online, and many of them are favourable. But something about the marketing of this product seems odd to me...

First, I found Nanoblur in an unlikely spot, on a lower shelf in the middle of the drug store next to dissimilar products. It was nowhere near the makeup or skincare counters.

Second, aside from the lofty product claim emblazoned across the front panel, packaging is clinical.

Third, on a later visit to the drug store, I noticed a small, 12-inch, black and white sign posted at the entrance: “Nanoblur sold here.” No logo, no flawless model handing out samples.

For something that was going to teleport me back to my early 30’s, the approach felt awfully low-key and almost covert. Weirdly, that made me want to believe in it. Where was the celebrity endorsement? The before and after shots with someone barely old enough to drive?

Nanoblur comes from a company called Indeed Labs, which appears to be a Canadian company (but if this product works, I would imagine a call from Estée or Lancôme might be around the corner). A descriptor on the company website says Nanoblur is not skincare, but rather “…high technology…a suspension of millions and millions of particles that reflect light perfectly in billions of directions to make the skin’s surface appear completely flawless. Within seconds, pores appear to disappear. Fine lines appear to vanish. The skin texture appears nearly perfect.”

We’ll just see about that. And by the way, particles of what exactly??

You can wear Nanoblur with make up or without. How to apply it depends on your skin type, but basically, if you’re not wearing it with makeup you can mix it (50/50) with moisturizer. If you’re wearing it with makeup, it depends on whether you use liquid foundation or powder. Apply Nanoblur after liquid foundation or before powder foundation.

I tried all the various possibilities and you can see the results in my before and after photos.

Bottom line:

Yes, I noticed an improvement in terms of pore size and overall evenness of skin. I did not notice a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. It seems to have something of an all over blurring effect, which makes sense since it was originally developed to help celebrities look better in high-definition’s sometimes harsh – and all too honest – effect. It’s like holding up a hazy lens in front of your face.

I definitely noticed a better result when combined with makeup. When at first I started applying it, my foundation just moved around and I started to panic, but I kept blending and eventually it worked.

Before (l) and After (r)

So do I look 10 years younger? You be the judge, but I think not.

The first time I used it, without telling my girlfriend Kara about my little experiment as we sat down for a cold glass of Chardonnay on a sunny deck, I said, “I haven’t seen you for awhile – do I look 10 years younger?” Her response? “No, but your makeup looks great.”

Alas, the search for that miracle in a bottle continues… 

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On 09 21, 2011 at 09:33:34 PM, Shayne L. said: