On September 29 I wrote about a slippery, hard-sell website called caracol-cream.com. The site sells an anti-aging cream (made of snail extract), and I detailed its connections to a dubious entity called the American Anti-Aging Association, which happened to really, really recommend Caracol’s product. Now the company has responded with an email—basically ‘fessing up—and remade its site in part to address the criticisms.
But not much of substance, in my view, has changed, and the company’s naive explanation offers a peek behind the curtains of websites that try to lend legitimacy to products that are hawked like snake oil.
Before we get to the response, here are some of the key points from my original blog.
- There was little evidence that the American Anti-Aging Association—purporting to be an impartial tester of anti-aging products—even existed in the way the AAAA site claimed.
- There was evidence that the AAAA was commercially connected to caracol-cream.com.
- The so-called president of Caracol Cream, Pam Estel, who popped up in a video showing cleavage, is not the president at all.
- The site engaged in repeat-billing practices that had produced a growing number of complaints on complaintsboard.com.
- The site used “countdown clocks” to suggest limited product stock and availability—but those clocks reset every time you visited.
I concluded by pointing out that many of these practices echo those that the National Institute on Aging—part of the National Institutes of Health—lists as key in “spotting health scams.”
Next page: Caracol-cream.com responds
Comments (23)
“LifeCell Anti Aging Cream Review LifeCell Skin Cream is a product that I initially tried with a lot of hesitation. anti aging cream
Hi There,
I’ve been using a fantastic product by Elizabeth Arden Skin Simple, I’ve been using it for over 4 months and my skin feels revitalised and even in tone and texture.
I found the product on a site called http://www.makemelookyoung.co.uk
I am using Tonique’s all natural skin whitening cream to help with the dark circles around my eyes. It helps to refresh me and make me look and feel younger, in my opinion that is always a good thing.:)
Oh the website is http://www.toniqueskincare.com. It really helps to get rid of the dark circles around my eyes and the texture of my skin feels much better.
Lisa I have tried Tonique’s products they do make your skin look and feel good. I use it for my freckles and it works great. I use the 10x Intense Cream what do you use?
Mona & Lisa I dare to differ my experience with http://www.toniqueskincare.com 10x intense gel & cream was horrible, the products burn my eyes and face face so badly i ended in the emergency room. The fragrance was so strong it seem this cream is nothing but a bunch of cheap products from the beauty supply masked with fragrance and with a VERY VERY HIGH PRICE TAG. My eye are still swollen even aftEr a strong dose antibotic and the discoloration on my face is 10x worse. Tonque 10x intensse – 10 time spot intensity. I will keep you all updated on my recovery.
Yes, there are a lot of creams that don’t make sense in the way they work, and often, they don’t. As with all anti aging or skin care product, you have to use some caution, some common sense, some skepticism when looking at a product to decide if it could be work or that it probably won’t. There’s a summary here of wyas to tell if a product works at http://www.wrinklecreamsreview.com/best-wrinkle-cream/ Products are all around, buy use your own judgement and opinion!
I agree – I went to the Toniqueskincare site and there were a ton of red flags that screamed ” SCAM” I did a bit if researching on the product and came to the conclusion that they are not a real company. Claire I’m so sorry about what happened to your face. I have copied and posted your post in a lot other message boards to prevent this from happening to others who may fall for this scam product.
Did you check if this product is insured? or FDA approved?
Here’s some useful information I came upon. The website was recently launched on April 3,2009. It is registered to a
” Simone Drummond”
4815 Bayonne Ave
Apt CN
Baltimore MD 21206.
This explains it all??? When you call the the toll free number on the site your call is forwarded to a sprint pcs cell phone number 443.768.5024 scarry????
Pm me for the rest of info I found on this company.
Thank you. I just sent you message.
Thank you sooo very much again!!!
I am sorry for your experience. Wow! I have been using it for nearly 3 months and my mom has been using it for much longer and both of our complexions have been improved dramatically. The smell isn’t strong at all so I am not sure what fumes you are talking about. I will say this there is another product named Tonique out there that is not by the company that makes the skin whitening products. Either way my experience has been great!
I used the 10x gel for my skin and it worked really well. I am making the transition from a man to a woman and it cleared all my razor bumps. It definitely wasn’t strong at all so, I agree with Lisa you must’ve used something else or you have something personal against the company. You sound like you have an ax to grind. LOL!! What they didn’t give you any free samples with your order?
Claire I have used Tonique too and I tend to agree with Lisa and Delano. These products work and don’t have a strong smell but, you know what not everything works for everybody. I ended up in the hospital after using Fair and Flawless to be honest. My face turned red after 2 applications and started peeling really badly. I went to the hospital and the doctor said that whatever chemicals they used in the products burned me really badly. These products were supposed to be all natural and I ended up about 3 shades darker after I healed! I cried day and night about it because my face looked worse than when I had started. I called the company and tried to get my money back and some lady named Allison was really rude to me and refused to give me a refund. I live in NY and went to where they say they are located and it was just an empty lot. My face still isn’t all I want it to be but, Tonique is helping.
I am currently using Tonique. It is definitely a bit expensive but, worth every penny. I had really bad scars from acne and it got rid of them all. Great product!
Testing…
Can I post here?
LOL!!!
If you take a close look around you’ll notice the Tonique site is even modeled after the Fair and Flawless website. It’s no coincidence that whenever Tonique is mentioned so is Fair and Flawless.
Renee used Fair and Flawless then used Tonique with no problems??
Hard to believe, both creams are practically the same.
among the anti aging medicine resveratroll pills are the best..
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Face Anti Wrinkle Wrinkle Reviews
I am currently using Tonique and this is the first skin lightener that has lightened me so many shades. My skin is almost glowing! I would recommend to any and everyone it is gentle and really does work!
Then shift to, call the transfer?Styles and colors, great about these.Have only very, of any given.Right Thats the anti aging face creams, can be profitable the prospects for.Answer One of, watched on a.,