Cellcosmet: cellular skincare born on Lake Geneva
The Cellcosmet story begins on the shores of Lake Geneva, at the revitalization clinic run by Roland Pfister's father. There, Pfister had the idea of bringing the principles of cellular therapy into a cosmetic treatment for use at home, and that insight led to the Cellap laboratory, based in Châtel-Saint-Denis, in the canton of Fribourg. The house calls the method used to keep the cellular extracts stable CellControl. In the current generation of formulas these extracts are called CytoPep and are paired with a postbiotic complex, which the house offers to respect the skin microbiome.
Lines in our selection
Cellular creams: choosing by CI index
To choose a cream, Cellcosmet uses the cellular index (CI), a scale from 1 to 6 that shows the product's revitalizing power, meaning the protein concentration of the CytoPep extracts, and which the house links to the skin's physiological age and lifestyle.
Sensitive (CI 2) is the cream for delicate, dry skin; Preventive (CI 3) has a fine texture that also works as a makeup base and is designed to prevent the first signs of aging. Concentrated (CI 4) tones and firms, and the house recommends it when fine lines deepen and skin loses some elasticity.
Ultra Vital (CI 5) is the cream the house calls its icon, with a silky texture for demanding skin. Ultra Vital Light is the icon in emulsion form, with a light texture, which the house recommends for combination skin and for spring and summer. Ultracell Intensive (CI 6) is an intensive cellular concentrate the house offers as a 12-day program to refine skin texture and restore tone and radiance to the complexion.
CellEctive: firmness and volume
The CellEctive line is designed for skin that's sagging and losing volume. You start with the CellLift Lotion, an essence with collagen, elastin, vitamin B and aloe ferox, and continue with the CellLift Serum, a golden fluid with a tightening effect. The CellLift Cream is also suitable for sensitive skin, while the Light version is for combination to oily skin. The line is completed by the CellLift Eye Contour Cream and the CellCollagen sheet masks, for the eye area and for face and neck.
Elasto-Collagen XT serums and targeted treatments
The Elasto-Collagen XT serums, in single-dose ampoules, are dedicated to firmness. The Ultra Intensive version hydrates and firms, while the Ultra Brightening version also works on dark spots and can be used on the face, neck, décolleté and targeted areas of the body. For expression lines and the lip contour there's the Cellfiller-XT balm. For the eyes, you can choose between the Cellular Eye Contour Cream and the Cellultra Eye Serum XT, a concentrate designed for puffiness and dark circles.
The phyto line: cleansing, toner and masks
The phyto products are for cleansing, toning and exfoliating. To remove makeup there's the Gentle Cream Cleanser, a rich cream, or the Gentle Purifying Cleanser, a fresh gel-milk for combination skin. The Active Tonic completes cleansing with a mini-peel action, and the Activator Gel, rinsed off after 2-3 minutes, preps the skin for the cellular and phyto treatments that follow. The Exfoliant Dual Action combines enzymatic and mechanical exfoliation. Among the masks, the Precious Mask is designed for radiance and the Anti-Stress Mask hydrates and soothes dry skin.
How to choose
If you have sensitive skin, you can start with Sensitive as your cream and the Cellultra Eye Serum XT for the eye area, while for early prevention there's Preventive, which also works as a makeup base. If your skin is losing tone, the recommended cream is Concentrated, and for pronounced sagging the house suggests the CellLift Cream (CI 6). For combination skin or hot weather there's the CellLift Cream Light. Finally, if your complexion is dull and you have dark spots, you can use the Precious Mask together with the Elasto-Collagen Ultra Brightening XT serum.
Body, men and makeup
For the body there's the Body Cream, which hydrates and helps maintain your tan, and the Cellular Body Gel-Cream, with a light texture. CelluTotal-XT is the house's "360°" anti-cellulite cream, with a melting texture, and Cellbust-XT is a gel-cream for the bust and décolleté. The men's line is called Cellmen and includes Wash N' Shave, which cleanses and works as a shaving foam, Cellsplash for after shaving, the Cellmen Face cream and the Cellmen Ultracell Intensive concentrate. There's also CellTeint, a melting cream foundation with cellular extracts that combines color and skincare.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cellcosmet product should I choose for the eye area?
The Cellular Eye Contour Cream hydrates and smooths wrinkles and fine lines; the Cellultra Eye Serum XT targets puffiness and dark circles and is suited to sensitive eyes. The CellLift Eye Contour Cream treats wrinkles, eyelids, puffiness and dark circles together, and the CellCollagen eye sheet masks are a plumping treatment.
What are Cellcosmet CytoPep cellular extracts?
CytoPep is the name Cellcosmet gives to its stabilized cellular extracts, the core ingredient of the house's creams, which in the current formulas are paired with a postbiotic complex. Their concentration varies from product to product and is shown by the CI index printed on each cream.
What does the CI index on Cellcosmet creams mean?
The cellular index (CI) shows the revitalizing power of a Cellcosmet cream, linked to the concentration of CytoPep extracts. It starts with Sensitive (CI 2) and goes up through Preventive (CI 3), Concentrated (CI 4) and Ultra Vital (CI 5), up to the Ultracell Intensive concentrate (CI 6).
What's the difference between Ultra Vital and Ultra Vital Light?
Ultra Vital and Ultra Vital Light have the same concentration of cellular extracts (CI 5) but different textures. Ultra Vital is a silky cream for demanding skin, while Ultra Vital Light is a light emulsion the house recommends for combination skin and for spring and summer.
What is the Cellcosmet CellEctive line?
CellEctive is the Cellcosmet line dedicated to facial firmness and volume. It includes the CellLift Lotion, used first, the CellLift Serum with a tightening effect and the CellLift Cream, also in a Light version, along with an eye contour cream and the CellCollagen collagen sheet masks.
In what order should I use Cellcosmet products?
The Cellcosmet routine starts with cleansing using a Gentle Cleanser and continues with the Active Tonic or the Activator Gel. Next you apply a lotion such as the CellLift Lotion and a serum, and finally the cellular cream chosen according to its CI index.
What's the difference between Cellcosmet cellular and phyto products?
Cellcosmet cellular products contain the stabilized cellular extracts: they are the house's creams, serums and eye treatments. Phyto products are for cleansing, toning, exfoliating and, with the masks, hydrating or brightening, and the toner and the Activator Gel prep the skin for the treatments that follow.
Which Cellcosmet products are designed for men?
Cellcosmet's men's line is called Cellmen and includes Wash N' Shave, a shaving foam that purifies and is used for shaving, and the Cellsplash toner for after shaving and cleansing. Then there's the Cellmen Face cream with CytoPep (CI 3) and the Cellmen Ultracell Intensive concentrate in ampoules (CI 6).
What body treatments does Cellcosmet offer?
For the body, Cellcosmet offers the Body Cream, revitalizing and hydrating, and the Cellular Body Gel-Cream, with a light, non-greasy texture. There's also the CelluTotal-XT anti-cellulite cream, the Cellmen BodyGommage-XT exfoliating sculpting cream and Cellbust-XT, a firming gel-cream for the bust and décolleté.
What is Cellcosmet CellTeint?
CellTeint is Cellcosmet's cellular foundation, combining makeup and skincare. It contains 5% stabilized cellular extracts in a melting cream made with naturally derived waxes and plant oil, and the house offers it for a complexion that looks younger, revitalized and hydrated.
