AMALA: ADVANCED FIRMING CONCENTRATE REVIEW

By: Skin Care Ox

Written By: Diane Elizabeth K. // First Published: 05/19/2020

Amala skin care products can be found on the shelves of some of the world’s most exclusive spas and resorts. Amala’s signature bestsellers include their Advanced Firming Complex moisturizer and its companion serum, the Advanced Firming Concentrate. These products have been prized by elite estheticians and skin care experts across the globe as their “well kept secret” for real skin care results. Outside of these circles, it can be find to find information on Amala and their incredible products. Now that Amala products are available to the general public, skin care addicts are starting to ask about the Advanced Firming Concentrate serum and if it really is as good as described?  Is the formula actually used by elite spas? Does it really reduce the appearance wrinkles and fine lines? Is the Advanced Firming Concentrate truly all natural, organic, and non-toxic? Is it suitable for sensitive skin types? To learn about this organic serum first hand, our reviewers tried the Advanced Firming Concentrate for two months, thoroughly researched every ingredient, and analyzed the few reviews that we could find for the product.

At the end of our trial, the Advanced Firming Concentrate outperformed every organic serum we’ve tested. No other organic serum has come close to the striking performance of this anti-aging powerhouse. If you are truly serious about combating the signs of aging (dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles) and have sought the care of spas, facials, and premium skin care solutions—then Amala is the brand for you. The Advanced Firming Concentrate actually softens wrinkles, actually smooths skin, and actually brightens dark spots—actually! There are many serums that do an OK job over a long period of time, but the Advanced Firming Concentrate works fast (as little as 7 days fast). When combined with other Amala products (like the Advanced Firming Complex moisturizer and Corrective Vitamin C Concentrate), the change in your skin is even more dramatic.

Below, you’ll find a complete summary of our in-depth six week review of Amala’s Advanced Firming Concentrate serum. Our reviews are organized into three categories: The Clean Ingredient Score (is the product made with clean ingredients?), Product Design & Effectiveness Score (does it actually work?), and the Online Customer Review Score (what is everyone else saying?). Combined, this review should provide everything you need to decide if the Advanced Firming Concentrate is right for you. Enjoy!

AMALA ADVANCED FIRMING CONCENTRATE REVIEW

Product Name: Advanced Firming Concentrate

Product Description: A luxurious anti-aging serum clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles in as little as 7 days. Size: 1.35 oz Packaging: Bottle with pump dispenser Consistency: Creamy serum Scent: Mild Cocoa Bean Samples Available: No

Price: 298

Currency: USD

Availability: InStock

Overall
4.9
  • Clean Ingredient Score
  • Product Design & Effectiveness Score
  • Online Customer Review Score

Where to Buy?

CLEAN INGREDIENT SCORE
a_plus_score_icon-min

Amala’s Advanced Firming Concentrate serum has earned a Clean Ingredient Score of an “A+” for its 100% certified natural, organic, and luxurious spa-grade anti-aging formula. The Advanced Firming Concentrate formula contains 52 ingredients of which 12 are organically sourced (including macadamia seed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, maca root, sunflower oil, lemon peel oil, styrax benzoin resin extract, vanilla, ylang ylang, tonka beans, rose oil, and bergamot peel oil) and all ingredients are certified natural by the European organic certifying organization, NATRUE. The formula is also gluten free, vegan, and gmo-free. For its preservative system, the Advanced Firming Complex uses a combination of all natural pentylene glycol (derived from non-gmo corn and sugar cane), radish root ferment, lactobacillus ferment, and an airless packaging/dispensing system.

Clean Ingredient Summary

| 100% NATURAL | VEGAN | NON-GMO | CRUELTY FREE | GLUTEN FREE

Top Clean Ingredients

  • Living Beauty Complex: Amala’s signature concentrated blend of “living” bio-active and bio-available nutrients which includes a fermented blend of peony (brightening), rose gold (anti-inflammatory), amla (vitamin C), and spirulina (detoxifying | antioxidant). This “living” fermented probiotic blend adjusts to your skin’s unique terrain to provide more of what your skin needs.
  • Cocoa Pre+Probiotic Infusion: A blend of cocoa bean vegan probiotics along with tonka bean and chicory root prebiotics designed to replenish collagen, firm skin, and minimize inflammation.
  • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate /Vitamin C: A derivative of Absorbic Acid thought to be more stable and effective than natural L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C combats the free radical damage that happens with age and helps to promote collagen production.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Derived from yeast extract, this powerful humectant can hold more than 1,000 times its weight in water and dramatically boosts moisture retention. The low molecular weight hyaluronic acid in the Advanced Firming Concentrate easily absorbs into skin to help plump the look of lines from within.
  • Beta Glucans: Essential sugars (derived from yeast) which stimulate cell turnover helping to reduce the signs of aging and restore hydration and elasticity.
  • Olive Squalane: Protects skin from moisture loss.

Preservatives Used:

  • Pentylene Glycol: Natural | Derived from Non-GMO Corn & Sugar Cane | Preservative | EWG Score: 1
  • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: Natural | Preservative | EWG Score: 1
  • Lactobacillus Ferment: Natural | Preservative | EWG Score: 1

Concerning Ingredients
  • Pentylene Glycol: Pentylene glycol is used in skin care for its preservative qualities. Pentylene Glycol can either be derived from petroleum or naturally derived from non-GMO sugar cane and corn. (Amala products use non-gmo, natural pentylene glycol). Natural pentylene glycol is thought to act as an emollient with a moisturizing effect similar to vegetable glycerin. (source | source)
  • Limonene: A natural compound of certain essential oils. While natural versions of limonene have some benefits, synthetic versions can possibly lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions (hence the EWG rating range of 4-5). Due to a change in labeling regulations in the EU, manufacturers are required to list limonene on ingredient labels even if it only exists in the product as a natural constituent of essential oils contained within the product. (source | source)
  • Linalool: Linalool is a natural component of essential oil. Synthetic versions can possibly lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions (hence the EWG rating range of 3). Due to a change in labeling regulations, manufacturers are required to list linalool on ingredient labels even if only naturally present in essential oils and not isolated chemicals added to the formulation. (source | source)
  • Citral: A naturally occurring scent ingredient derived from plants such as verbena and citronella. While natural versions of citral have some benefits, synthetic versions can lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions (hence the EWG rating range of 3). Due to a change in labeling regulations in the EU, manufacturers are required to list citral on ingredient labels even if it only exists in the product as a natural constituent of essential oils contained within the product. (source | source)
  • Benzyl Benzoate: A naturally occurring scent compound derived from plants such as ylang ylang, jasmine, rosewood, and cinnamon. While natural versions of benzyl benzoate have some benefits, synthetic versions can possibly lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions (hence the EWG rating range of 4). Due to a change in labeling regulations in the EU, manufacturers are required to list benzyl benzoate on ingredient labels even if it only exists in the product as a natural constituent of essential oils contained within the product. (source | source | source)
All Ingredients

Ingredients as of: 05/18/2020

water, macadamia seed oil*, squalane, phenethyl alcohol Natural | Plant Derived | Preservative | Fragrance | | EWG Score: 1 , isoamyl cocoate Natural or Synthetic | Conditioning Agent | EWG Score: 1 , jojoba seed oil*, cellulose, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate Natural | Stable Vitamin C | Derived from Absorbic Acid | EWG Score: 1 , glyceryl stearate citrate Natural | Skin Conditioning Agent | EWG Score: 1 , polyglyceryl-3 stearate Natural | Derived from Palm or Rapeseed | Emulsifier | EWG Score: 1 , avocado oil*, hydrolyzed maca root*, acai fruit extract, lactobacillus/cocoa fruit ferment filtrate, indian gooseberry extract, chinese peony extract, spirulina extract, alpha glucan oligosaccharide Natural | Derived from Sugar | Skin Conditioning Agent | EWG Score: 1 , sodium hyaluronate Natural | Humectant | EWG Score: 1 , yeast beta-glucan, inulin, lactobacillus, sunflower seed oil*, pullulan Natural | Antioxidant | Binder | EWG Score: 1 , colloidal gold, lactobacillus ferment, avocado fruit extract, zinc PCA Natural | Anti-Acne | Skin Conditioning | Humectant | EWG Score: 1-3 , arginine Natural | Amino Acid | Conditioning Agent | EWG Score: 1 , hydrogenated lecithin, fragrance+, lemon peel oil*, styrax benzoin resin extract*, vanilla fruit extract*, ylang ylang flower oil*, tonka bean seed extract*, rosa damascena flower oil*, jasmine, bergamot peel oil*, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate Natural | Preservative | EWG Score 1 , sclerotium gum Natural | Emulsion Stabilizing | Skin Conditioning | EWG Score: 1 , maltodextrin Natural | Plant Sugar from corn, potato, or rice | Binder | EWG Score: 1 , sodium steroyl glutamate Natural | Skin Conditioning Agent | Surfactant | EWG Score: 1 , lysolecithin Natural | Surfactant | EWG Score: 1 , tocopherol/vitamin E, xanthan gum Natural | Binder | Stabilizer | EWG Score: 1 , silica, phenethyl alcohol Natural | Plant Derived | Preservative | Fragrance | | EWG Score: 1 , limonene Natural | Fragrance | EWG Score: 4-5 +, linalool Natural | Fragrance | EWG Score: 3 +, citral Natural | Component of Essential Oils | EWG Score: 3 +, benzyl benzoate Natural | Component of Essential Oils | EWG Score: 4 + *indicates organic ingredient + indicates natural component of essential oils

PRODUCT DESIGN & EFFECTIVENESS
a_plus_score_icon-min

Amala’s Advanced Firming Concentrate has earned our highest Product Design & Effectiveness Score of an “A+”. Our review trial of the Advanced Firming Concentrate lasted eight weeks. Our team trialed this serum alongside Amala’s Silky Cream Moisture Cleanser, Advanced Firming Complex, and their Age Defense Anti-Pollution Toning Mist.

Like all Amala products, the Advanced Firming Concentrate earns high scores for its beautiful and thoughtful packaging. The serum comes beautifully packaged in an ornate, rose gold hard-shelled box and an easy-to-dispense airless pump tube. It’comes in a travel-friendly 1.35 oz bottle and it is also available in a deluxe-mini size for even easier traveling. The pump bottle dispenses the perfect amount of product without waste or cross contamination. The scent of the Advanced Firming Concentrate is quite mild and reminiscent of a blend of vanilla and cocoa bean.

Where the Advanced Firming Concentrate really shines is in its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In third party clinical trials, the majority of participants saw significant improvement in their skin’s firmness, wrinkle depth, and the smoothness. During our eight week trial of the Advanced Firming Concentrate, our reviewers experienced very similar results. It’s important to note that the Advanced Firming Concentrate is not a moisturizing serum–in fact, it leaves skin looking matte and ready to absorb another serum or moisturizer. For those with drier skin types, this serum should not replace your hydrating serum or moisturizer. With that said,  the highest scores for the Advanced Firming Concentrate came from our mature skin reviewers (age 55+). This group of reviewers are generally hard to please with skin care because they are experiencing visible signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging skin. The Advanced Firming Concentrate earned near perfect review scores from this group. Mature skin reviewers reported that the serum “really improved the look of my wrinkles,” “faded dark spots,” and “firmed skin around the neck area.” Our dry skin reviewers also rated the Advanced Firming Concentrate very highly. The serum worked well to brighten skin (due to the high concentration of vitamin C) and smooth wrinkles for combo, normal, and sensitive skin types as well.

Using the Advanced Firming Concentrate serum was like having a high-end spa in our homes. The serum is truly “concentrated” and works wonders within just a few days of continuous use. When combined with other Amala skin care products, in our experience, the Advanced Firming Concentrate has the ability to totally transform mature skin into much more youthful looking skin.

Product Effectiveness Summary

Works Best For: All Skin | Mature Skin

Official Usage Instructions: Warm a pearl-sized dose in the palms of your hands to activate the bio-nutrients. Inhale as you press into clean skin from the center of your face outwards, then to your jawline, neck and collarbone. May be worn alone or under Advanced Firming Complex.

Ease of Use: Easy to incorporate into an existing routine as a serum. Packaging allows for easy dispensing of the right amount of product and protects against cross-contamination. Layers well over other skin care products (like serums, facial oils, and moisturizers) and works great under makeup. 

Most Notable Results

  • Mild cocoa bean vanilla scent
  • Non-greasy formula
  • Absorbs quickly with a matte finish
  • Greatly reduces appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
  • Greatly reduced wrinkle depth
  • Brightened dark spots & overall skin tone

Claims Not Met

  • None: This product made no claims of effectiveness which our team did not experience during our trial.

ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEW SCORE
a_plus_score_icon-min

For many years, Amala products were only available exclusively to their luxury spa partners across the globe. If you wanted to try Amala, you had to purchase their products from on of these spa retail partners. Recently, Amala has created a customer-facing website to offer their previously “professional use only” products to the general public. Because of this, there isn’t a rich history of online customer reviews for Amala products. Our team was able to find 2 online customer reviews for the Advanced Firming Concentrate on the Amala site directly (both were 5 stars). As such, Advanced Firming Concentrate has earned an average customer review of 5.0/5 stars–earning a grade of “A+” for our Online Customer Review Score. See Pros & Cons for more details.

Customer Review Summary

Reviews last evaluated: 05/18/2020

  • *Amala: 2 Reviews | Average Score: 5.0 Stars

Pros

  • Significantly reduces appearance of wrinkles
  • Significantly smooths fine lines
  • Absorbs easily

Cons

  • None
ABOUT THE BRAND
amala-beauty_certified-natural-luxury-organic-skin-care

This Product Was Made By...

AMALA

website: Shop Amala | year founded: 2008

Amala is an ultra-luxury brand used by some of the world’s best spas in locations like Germany, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, and many more.  Amala means “the most pure” in Sanskrit and that sentiment is reflected in the quality of their products. Amala’s entire skin care collection is 100% certified natural by NATRUE, clinically evaluated by third parties, and made with some of the highest-end ingredients we’ve ever encountered. Their unique and incredibly effective formulas are all based around the concept of “Living Skincare for Living Skin.” Crafted from ingredients in their activated, living, and natural states—Amala skin care products actually adjust to your skin’s natural biochemistry.  This means that no two Amala Beauty experiences are alike. In each Amala product, you’ll discover ingredients like real colloidal gold, bio-fermented actives, probiotics+prebiotics, and natural mineral complexes. Amala is truly one luxury organic skin care brand that you simply have to experience for yourself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

about-author_diane-elizabeth125

This Article Was Written By...

Diane Elizabeth K., Founder at SkinCareOx.com

Diane Elizabeth founded Skin Care Ox in 2016 after her personal struggle to find truly clean, natural, and organic products. Leveraging her background in biomedical engineering, scientific research + analytics, and entrepreneurship, she created Skin Care Ox to be an easy-to-use resource to find real clean beauty options. Since then, her articles have been read by over 3 Million people and have helped millions choose cleaner alternatives. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and growing family.
Review Standards & Process

Skin Care Ox product reviews are 100% brand neutral. Skin Care Ox does not accept compensation in exchange for reviews. Additionally, there are no paid advertisements on Skin Care Ox. From time to time, brands will submit products to our team for review. Whether we procure the products ourselves or they are submitted to our team for review---our reviews remain honest and neutral.

Skin Care Ox is primarily funded through affiliate commissions. Meaning, when you purchase a product via a link from our website, we earn a small commission on the sale from the retailer (at no additional cost to you). Skin Care Ox is a member of numerous affiliate networks representing hundreds of cleans beauty brands and retailers. Because of this, no single brand or company has control over our review decisions.

Finally, every product we review undergoes our Research and Review Process. This includes faithfully trialing the products for a minimum of two weeks, rigorously researching each ingredient, and consolidating real user reviews from across the web.

PRODUCT BADGES LEGEND
100% NATURAL

100% NATURAL

The product contains only natural ingredients (non-synthetic or lab created). It does not contain anything artificial or synthetic.

100% ORGANIC

100% ORGANIC

The product has been formulated with 100% organically sourced and/or certified organic ingredients.

GMO FREE

GMO FREE

This product does not contain ingredients which have been genetically modified.

GLUTEN FREE

GLUTEN FREE

All of the ingredients contained in the product are free from gluten, wheat, and ingredients which are commonly contaminated with gluten.

VEGAN

VEGAN

The product is made without animal products or byproducts such as beeswax, honey, milk, eggs, etc.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

The product has received an official organic certification from a third party organization such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Certified Organic), ECOCERT, Australian Certified Organic, and others.

MORE AMALA PRODUCTS

*Amala – Advanced Firming Complex Cream ($248)

OK--I apologize in advance for recommending a $248 moisturizer, but this is truly a miracle cream. Luckily, you don't just have to take my word for it---they have legit third party clinical trials to prove it. Amala is a German organic skin care brand used by five star spas all over the world. Whatever my skin is going through each day, this moisturizer seems to fix. Blemishes? Gone. Dull complexion? Poof, brightened. Dry skin? Softened like butter. Best of all, it does all of this without being greasy or heavy. I can't put this stuff down. Truly worth every penny.

SIMILAR PRODUCTS FROM OTHER BRANDS

ARTICLES FEATURING AMALA

22 Best Organic & Natural Night Creams for 2021

As you age, a night cream is an essential part of a night time skin care routine. But navigating the vast world of night creams can be a daunting task, especially when you’re searching for a night cream with only the best ingredients. Luckily for you, we’ve done all the research for you, so you can simply sift through our list of best organic night creams.