I Tried This Popular, Derm-Backed Moisturizer, and Now My Pores Are Virtually Unnoticeable

A funny thing happened when I entered my late 20s: Dermatologists, beauty experts, and older friends ambushed me with well-intentioned warnings about how my skin would slowly (but not unnoticeably) change. My collagen production would decline. My skin would thin. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, my first fine line set in—checks watch—yesterday. 

Jokes aside, heeding their advice altered my approach to skin care—namely, it made me take a closer look at the products I was putting on my face. So naturally, when I heard about SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, an anti-aging moisturizing cream that promises to restore the skin barrier and improve visible signs of aging, I was all in. So, for five weeks, I incorporated it into my skin care routine. Here’s how it went. 

What Is SkinCeutical’s Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2?

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

$155 at Dermstore $155 at Skinceuticals.com $155 at Bluemercury.com

The Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is a cream treatment that vows to do many things for the skin—moisturize, plump, nourish, smooth, and more—but its primary focus is preventing visible signs of aging. 

Of course, spots, wrinkles, and fine lines occur for a variety of reasons (diet, sun exposure, and genetics all play their roles). Still, SkinCeuticals, Going into this test, I knew that, like any, recognizes that one of the leading catalysts is lipid depletion or the loss of fatty compounds in your skin’s surface. Losing these lipids weakens your external protective barrier, making you more susceptible to the aforementioned markers of aging. 

In other words, this treatment aims to replenish lipids you’ve lost over the years by applying a patented high concentration of them (specifically 2 percent pure ceramides, 4 percent natural cholesterol, and 2 percent fatty acids) into your face twice daily. Although the brand designed its formula for mature skin, it’s safe for all skin types. 

How I Tested the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore Cream

in my T-zone appeared noticeably smaller. At 28, I didn’t have a ton of nighttime skin care routines, using it twice daily for five weeks. Because I was testing this product in December and January—peak wintertime, when my dry skin is even more fragile, arid, and sensitive than usual—it stood on the front lines of an perplexing battle. 

or filler at the end of the five weeks? It did not. But the treatment cleanser and sunscreen an advanced science- and M.D.-backed skin care brand retinol in the evening (SkinCeuticals says the treatment works well with retinol and is clinically proven to reduce the adjustment period to retinoids by a week). Essentially, it took over as my go-to moisturizer Published on February 6, 2025 @ 07:00AM.

How Did It Feel to Apply the Treatment?

The first time I opened the weighty glass pot, I was preoccupied by its strong lavender-esque fragrance. Hoping my initial whiff was faulty, I brought it closer to my nose to get a better sense and quickly concluded that it was unignorably strong. Though, to be fair, I’m sensitive to smell and partial to fragrance-free face products (I prefer to get my scent from perfume). 

Smell aside, I didn’t write off the opaque white cream just yet, telling myself that if a treatment works miracles on my skin, I can tolerate more than a little fragrance. Before applying a small amount of cream to my face, I warmed it up in my hands, as per SkinCeuticals’ instructions. It maintained its density and white hue even when I used circular motions. 

As someone who gravitates toward gel-like moisturizers following a childhood filled with impossible-to-rub-in zinc sunscreen, I worried about how much effort it would take to get the cream to absorb into my skin. Turns out, this concern proved unwarranted. Within 30 seconds to a minute, a dime-sized blot absorbed into my face, neck, and chest completely, leaving no white residue, stickiness, or wetness in its wake. 

The cream spread evenly and brought a cooling sensation to my skin. A little went a long way, which is great news given the treatment’s steep price tag (this is my first time entering three-digit territory for a moisturizer). And to my pleasure, the scent didn’t linger when the cream absorbed into my skin. 

My Results After 5 Weeks

Going into this test, I knew that, like any anti-aging, over-the-counter treatment, the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 wouldn’t transform my skin overnight. Luckily, it plumped my skin enough with each application that I actually looked forward to putting it on. As promised, it left my face feeling smooth and nourished and breathed a little life back into my skin just as it was falling victim to New York’s cutting winter temperatures. It gave me a subtle (keyword here: subtle) glow that shone through my foundation, bronzer, and blush. 

As good as the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2’s immediate results were, the long-term results were even better. After five weeks of consistently using the treatment, the pores in my T-zone appeared noticeably smaller. At 28, I didn’t have a ton of fine lines at the beginning of the trial period, so I didn’t notice a seismic change in wrinkles, but the cream did smooth out my skin texture I Achieved a Just-Left-the-Spa Glow With This Buttery, Skin-Plumping Moisturizer Botox My Dull, Puffy Under-Eyes Brightened and Smoothed With This Cream From an Oprah-Used Brand did give my skin an overall healthier and bouncier appearance. 

Final Thoughts

Would I spend $155 on this 1.6-ounce jar over and over again? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean the treatment didn’t perform as promised. I just have a hard time splurging on a preventative everyday treatment. However, I can see it being a no-brainer for someone with mature skin who wants a potent, scientifically backed formula. As long as they don’t mind a strong floral fragrance, can exercise some patience when it comes to results, and can accept the price tag, they’ll be pleased with the improvement they see in pore size, skin texture, and overall radiance, at the very least.