Cold Plasma Sub-D Review

Cold Plasma Sub-D is an anti-aging neck cream by Perricone MD that is claimed to visibly lift, tighten, firm, and sculpt the neck area while reducing the appearance of a double chin and sagging skin under the jaw line. Right off the bat we noticed these claims are a big red flag since no topical skin care product can “sculpt” the skin or reduce the appearance of a double chin.

So if this neck cream won’t sculpt your skin, you may be wondering: does Cold Plasma Sub-D really work? To answer this question, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in the formulation and determine if there is any research that supports their use in skin care products. We’ll also need to take a look at Cold Plasma Sub-D reviews to see what customers really think of this product.

What is Cold Plasma Sub-D?

Cold Plasma Sub-D is a neck cream that is claimed to be superior to other neck creams due to its “revolutionary” liquid crystal delivery system that supposedly helps key ingredients penetrate into the skin deeper and faster.

Cold Plasma Sub-D is claimed to:

• Deliver noticeable firming and toning benefits
• Impart a “chiseled” appearance
• Help soothe and brighten dull, sagging skin
• Help reduce the appearance of a “double chin” and sagging skin under the jaw line
• Improves the appearance of wrinkles and redundant skin on the neck

Those claims sound like what you’d expect after getting a face lift, not using a neck cream. Like we mentioned above, these claims are extremely misleading because no topical skin care product can correct sagging skin. So can Cold Plasma Sub-D provide any benefits? Let’s dive into the key ingredients that you’ll find in this Perricone MD neck cream.

What Are The Key Ingredients in Cold Plasma Sub-D?

After water, the highest concentration ingredient in Cold Plasma Sub-D is glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). When formulated appropriately, glycolic acid should exfoliate the skin by enhancing the breakdown of dead skin cells and increasing the rate of cellular turnover. However, the pH of the formulation needs to be lower than 4. Unfortunately, the pH of Cold Plasma Sub-D is not below 4, therefore, glycolic acid cannot function as an exfoliant.

To make matters worse, there’s another ingredient in Cold Plasma Sub-D that is pH-dependent, and that’s dimethyl MEA, also referred to as DMAE. Dimethyl MEA is an analog of the B vitamin choline and is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.

When formulated appropriately, dimethyl MEA has the ability to increase skin firmness, improve underlying facial muscle tone, and provide an anti-inflammatory effect. While the mechanism by which dimethyl MEA works is unclear, these benefits were demonstrated during a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. In this randomized clinical study, 3% DMAE facial gel applied daily for 16 weeks was shown to be safe and efficacious in the reduction of forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, as well as in improving lip shape and fullness.

But here’s the problem: in order to maintain the efficacy and stability of dimethyl MEA, the product’s pH level must be at least 10. So Cold Plasma Sub-D is formulated with glycolic acid that requires a pH of less than 4 to work, and dimethyl MEA that requires a pH of greater than 10 to work. Since the pH of Cold Plasma Sub-D is not in either range, these ingredients are not going to function as they should.

While the glycolic acid and dimethyl MEA in Cold Plasma Sub-D likely won’t provide much benefit to your skin, the formula does contain a decent amount of caffeine. As a natural stimulant, caffeine causes vasoconstriction (constriction of the blood vessels). This results in a temporary tightening and firming of the skin due to the removal of excess fluids and possible stimulation of the lymphatic drainage system.

A final key ingredient in Cold Plasma Sub-D is thiotic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid. Thioctic acid is considered to be a very potent antioxidant, and is unique in that it is both water and oil soluble, unlike most antioxidants. Upon application, thioctic acid first concentrates in the cell plasma membrane, where it neutralizes free radicals. Then, it moves on to the watery interior of the cell, known as the cytosol, where it can also stop the activity of free radicals and prevent activation of other pro-inflammatory chemicals.

It sounds like thiotic acid is the one ingredient in Cold Plasma Sub-D that may actually benefit your skin, but once again this ingredient likely isn’t going to provide much benefit. Why? It’s simple: the jar packaging. Basically, opening a jar lets air in, causing this antioxidant to begin deteriorating, becoming less and less effective with each use.

Lastly, we have to point out that Cold Plasma Sub-D contains several fragrance ingredients, including limonene, linalool, and a synthetic fragrance blend. The use of synthetic fragrance ingredients can be a problem because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance, and they do not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list. A 2018 study by Women’s Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern – and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents. Fragrance ingredients also have the potential to cause skin irritation and sensitivity.

How to Use Cold Plasma Sub-D?

Cold Plasma Sub-D is designed to be used twice a day, and can be applied on the chin, jawline, neck and décolletage. The company suggests massaging the product into the skin with a circular motion and it can also be used on the back of the neck.

Where to Buy Cold Plasma Sub-D?

Cold Plasma Sub-D is available on the Perricone MD website, and is also sold on its own website (subd.com). On the subd.com website, Cold Plasma Sub-D can only be purchased in one of two available skin care kits.

One kit is called the Face & Neck Firming Duo, which contains Cold Plasma Sub-D as well as High Potency Amine Face Lift, a serum.

The more comprehensive kit — called the Face, Eye & Neck System — contains the same two products along with three additional products: Face Finishing Moisturizer, High Potency Eye Lift, and High Potency Evening Repair. As with all Guthy-Renker products, once a product is purchased, a buyer is also signing up to receive the product on auto delivery every three months.

Cold Plasma Sub-D can also be found on Amazon from various third party retailers.

How Much Does Cold Plasma Sub-D Cost?

On the Perricone MD website, Cold Plasma Sub-D costs $135 USD for 2 fl oz.

One the subd.com website, you can buy Cold Plasma Sub-D as part of the Face & Neck Firming Duo kit for $49.95, or as part of the Face, Eye & Neck System for $79.95.

Is Perricone MD Cruelty Free?

Perricone MD is cruelty free.

Cold Plasma Sub-D Reviews

Cold Plasma Sub-D reviews on the product’s website are both positive and negative, with the product earning an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars after more than 1,400 customer reviews.

There are many positive Cold Plasma Sub-D reviews from customers who did notice that the skin on their neck started to look firmer and smoother after continued use.

Our Verdict

Overall, we don’t recommend Cold Plasma Sub-D for many reasons, and we do not believe it is worth the high cost.

Pros

• Contains a few moisturizing ingredients
• Many positive Cold Plasma Sub-D reviews

Cons

• High cost ($135 for 2 fl oz) unless purchased in a kit
• Formulated with one ingredient that requires acidic pH (glycolic acid) and another ingredient that requires alkaline pH (dimethyl MEA)
• Contains fragrance
• Jar packaging means delicate ingredients will degrade over time due to exposure to light and air

References:
1. Am J Clin Dermatol 2005;6(1):39-47.
2. Women’s Voices for the Earth “Unpacking The Fragrance Industry” 2018