As a longtime beauty writer, I’ve been a big fan of retinol products for my face for several years. Retinol seems almost magical at times; an ingredient that fights signs of aging, helps with sun damage and pigmentation, and provides deep moisture to dry skin.
But dry skin, and unfortunately, wrinkles and crepey skin, don’t just emerge on your face. As a woman over 40, I’m always looking for products that will keep my entire body feeling soft and moisturized all day long. Unfortunately, as we age, we see less cell renewal and that leads to dry skin.
Enter Medix 5.5 Age Rewind Body Cream, which has become my (soft and moisturized!) hands-down favorite daily body cream. Plus, it's a recent winner of the Shop TODAY Beauty Awards, in the category "Best for crepey skin," and 23,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon seem to agree.
What is Medix 5.5 Retinol Body Firming cream?
Medix 5.5 Age Rewind Body Cream is a skin care product designed to hydrate and improve the appearance of your skin’s texture. One of the key ingredients in this made-in-the-U.S. moisturizer is retinol, which experts say is known for its potential to support skin renewal and firmness. The lotion also includes nourishing ingredients that help maintain moisture levels. Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly, making it suitable for daily use, according to the brand.
Why I Like Medix 5.5 Retinol Body Firming Cream?
I’ve been using a body moisturizer every morning since I was a young teen (thanks, Mom!), and I’ve become a bit of a fanatic about keeping my skin soft and dewy. Besides staying well hydrated, one of my main tools is post-shower softening with a cream, and this lotion is one of the best products I’ve tried in ages. Since using this product, I’ve noticed the sun damage on my arms has faded slightly, and my skin’s texture is soft and supple.
And believe me, I’ve tried them all, from drugstore to high-end luxury brands, and Medix 5.5 really stands out. I love a big pump bottle, as it avoids getting lotion-covered hands all over a tube or squeeze bottle, and allows me to dispense exactly the amount I need.
I also like the subtle powdery scent that doesn’t clash with my perfume, but sticks to my skin just a little bit. The lotion itself comes out thick but goes on smooth, and doesn’t feel sticky on my skin at all. I use this every morning after my shower, and it keeps my skin feeling soft all day without having to reapply.
What about the ingredients?
This retinol cream contains a blend of ingredients designed to hydrate the skin, improve texture, and promote firmness.
The top active ingredient in the lotion's formulation is retinol. What’s retinol? “Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin derivative A that has many important functions in the body," says board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Brauer. "When it comes to skin, retinol helps to improve skin texture and appearance. It can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging, as well as help with hyperpigmentation and dry skin."
If one of your concerns is crepey skin, Brauer says this ingredient can help. “Retinol can help with crepey skin by increasing collagen and elastin production, which can restore skin’s elasticity and firmness," he says. "Retinol slows down the breakdown of collagen, a protein that keeps skin elastic and firm, while increasing elastin production, which gives skin its stretch.”
Another active ingredient in the cream is one that you may not have heard of, ferulic acid. Brauer explains that this plant-based ingredient offers many skincare benefits.
“Ferulic acid is a natural antioxidant found in plants that has many potential health benefits,” says Brauer. “When it comes to skin, it can help reduce inflammation, fade sunspots, and prevent wrinkles. Ferulic acid is a common ingredient in anti-aging skincare products, like serums and moisturizers, to provide these benefits.”
Also, this active is excellent for combatting and minimizing sun damage, explains Brauer. "Ferulic acid can help reduce sun damage to your skin primarily as an antioxidant. It also has indirect sun protective benefits, as it can increase or enhance the protection offered by other antioxidants and sunscreens. Ferulic acid can also help prevent and fade dark spots caused by sun exposure,” he says.
What to consider
If you’re new to retinol, be sure to do a patch test before using it, as retinol can irritate sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to react to new products and ingredients, try a small spot on the inside of your arm before using it all over.
Before using this, or any product, evaluate your skincare goals. This product aims to firm and hydrate, so ensure these benefits align with what you want.
The vitamin E in this moisturizer is also an anti-inflammatory, so it can soothe and calm redness and irritation, and also has hydrating properties that can help improve skin texture and smoothness.
My skin type
My skin type is normal, with a tendency to dry out in the winter, and I have mild psoriasis. I’m always looking for products that will keep me moisturized, won’t irritate, and don’t feel heavy on my skin. That's how this body cream has become my new go-to in my daily routine.
More retinol body lotions to shop
“I also love this one for its gentle exfoliation. My skin feels nourished afterward thanks to the added cocoa butter in it,” says commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto.
One Shop TODAY writer said she noticed smoother and more hydrated skin within just three weeks of use.
Commerce editor Vivien Moon likes this lotion for its lightweight formula, which she says won't leave your skin feeling greasy.
Meet our expert
Dr. Jeremy Brauer is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Spectrum Skin and Laser in Purchase, New York
Why trust Shop TODAY
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Tanya Edwards is a Shop TODAY contributor, as well as a writer and editor with two decades of experience in lifestyle categories. You can find her writing on Yahoo, Eater, Real Simple, Refinery29, the Infatuation and many more.
