Day 36 (02.16.12) of Clarins Men Ab Firming Gel. Finished up with researching on the last five ingredients and have provided a full recap below. Of all the ingredients in the gel, it seems that Lauroyl Proline and Sorbitan Laurate has the strongest connection with love handle reduction. Although I haven’t seen significant evidence or scientific papers that touts its effectiveness. As of this post, the gel does seem to have components that will help with getting rid of your love handles or help you develop a “six pack” but the extent of the effectiveness is inconclusive.
Ingredients that could be “Active” Ingredients
Bocoa Prouacensis Extract – extract for a type of tree in Amazonian forest. It is patented by Clarins for its uses in consumer products. Traditionally was used by natives in the Amazonian forest to energize their bodies. According to some cosmetics databases, the ingredient has skin protecting and moisturizing properties
Ascorbic Acid – Vitamin C that acts as a anti-oxidant agent, which helps to combat damage to our skin cells from our environment
Lauroyl Proline – Sorbitan Laurate & Lauroyl Proline make up Adiposlim, a patented SEPPIC slimming active ingredient. Sorbitan Laurate has been researched before in previous posts and it is used to reduce the surface tension of the gel. Adiposlim seems to be in a lot of anti-cellulite gels / creams, so from the surface, it seems to be a trusted ingredient. Source: http://bit.ly/yxgil0
Phospholipids – helps regulate cell life. It is an organic substance. As natural components of cell membranes, they have a high affinity to skin and therefore penetrate skin easily. They are an important source of essential fatty acids to keep the skin soft.
Escin – not a lot of information out there, but it seems like people use this ingredient to improve blood circulation
Caffeine – No substantial research that proves caffeine does anything regarding cellulite when applied to your skin. Reason why it’s in so many fat/cellulite reducing products is because of its distant relationship to aminophylline (a pharmaceutical once thought to reduce cellulite, but now dis-proven regarding it’s effectiveness), which is a modified form of theophylline, and caffeine contains theophylline.
Atractyloides Lancea Root Extract – an herb used in Chinese medicine that acts primarily on the digestive system. Couldn’t find information on how this ingredient might be effective when applied to the skin.
Related to Texture or Appearance of the Gel
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate – Emulsifying agent (helps with binding the other ingredients in the gel) and acts as a skin moisturizing agent
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone – emulsifying agent
Trideceth-6 – emulsifying agent – used to bind solids and oils together / hold components of the gel together
Sodium Polyacrylate – thickening agent
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer – another thickening agent
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside – keeps the water and oil components mixed together.
Sorbitan Laurate – reduces the surface tension of water / gel
Octyldodecanol – Prevents the gel from separating into the oil and liquid components. Has lubricating properties
C14-22 alcohols – Prevents the gel from separating into the oil and liquid components.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer – a thickening agent that makes gel feel substantial and helps it to glide on your skin smoothly.
Butylene Glycol – Controls the thickness of the gel
Menthol – creates the cooling sensation when you apply the gel to your skin
Moisturizing
Hierochloe Odorata Extract – Used to mask the smell of the gel as well as has moisturizing properties
Diphenyl Dimethicone - anti-foaming agent as well as helps to lubricate the skin
Dicaprylyl Carbonate – it smooths the skin, leaving a velvety sensation
Glycerin – it draws moisture up through skin layers and slows or prevents excessive drying and evaporation
Dimethicone – helps to moisturize the skin
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene – skin moisturizer and prevents water loss
Base
Potassium Sorbate – preservative
CI 42090/Blue1 – gives a bluish color to the gel
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil – Oil that is likely to act as one of the base oils of the gel. Also it acts as a moisturizer.
Sodium Benzoate – preservative
Phenoxyethanol – preservative
Sodium Hydroxide – very strong base that might be used to neutralize the acids in the gel. This ingredient is also included in products such as drain cleaners and is also used to bleach pulp white.
Cyclopentasiloxane – a thin silicone that makes the gel feel slippery and acts as a base fluid
Water – No need to explain
Alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol) – My guess is that it is used as a preservative or as a solvent to dissolve components of herbs or other plants.
Stats
Age: 29
Height: 5’7″
Measurements
Weight: 145 lb
Waist: 31″ (measured from belly button)
Application of Ab Gel
When: (2) Morning and Night
Other Factors
Net Calorie Intake: 2887
Exercise: None
Lifestyle: Sedentary
Michael is the Fashion and Style Editor for Urban Cargo, a men’s e-commerce site focused on helping men improve their looks so they feel more confident at work and in their love lives. At Urban Cargo, members have the ability to sample body care products from premium brands such as Malin + Goetz, Kyoku For Men, and Baxter of California on a monthly basis. For $12 / month, men get a themed box that focus on one particular area, whether it be Shaving, Face, Body or Hair. We serve the modern man who is too busy to take care of himself, so we do it for him. Our blog provides men advice, products suggestions and tips on areas related to grooming, fashion and fitness. 
