Does Alloy M4 Face Cream work? I tried the estrogen face cream for 3 months.

July 1, 2024

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Does Alloy M4 Face Cream work for skin during perimenopause and menopause?

When you’re approaching or in the thick of the collagen-sucking phase of life called menopause, buttering up your face with estrogen does wonders. At least that’s what many new meno’ brands, including pioneer Alloy, want us to believe.

But does this topical hormone, commonly used to treat vaginal dryness for GALs our age, actually work in skin care? Staying true to my beauty-editor roots, I figured there’s only one way to find out — so, I tried Alloy’s M4 Face Cream for three months.

What is Alloy M4 Face Cream?

Alloy launched M4 Face Cream in early 2023 as a “fragrance-free restorative estriol face cream to address signs of aging like decreased collagen production, increased wrinkles, and dryness.”

This goo in a little white, clinical-looking tube claims to reduce the signs of aging by targeting estrogen deficiency and loss of (again) collagen, elasticity, and moisture in peri- and menopausal women who want to reduce fine lines and improve skin’s texture. And how does it target estrogen-deficiency? With estrogen, of course.

What is estriol in menopause skincare?

One of three types of estrogen, estriol is the primary hormone produced during pregnancy, found in the mother’s blood, placenta, and fetus. Laboratory-made estriol for a topical cream has been proven to effectively increase collagen, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

While estriol is the weakest of the three estrogens — much weaker than estradiol, which has become known for its health risks — it still is not approved by the FDA for treating symptoms of menopause in any form.

What are the other ingredients in Alloy M4 Face Cream?

Yours truly, Dr. Detective over here, decided to dig a little deeper and research EVERY ingredient, albeit in an admirably short list compared to other beauty products, to see what else I’m smearing on my face. In order of concentration, M4 also includes:

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice

Juice from the aloe vera plant, proven to help skin retain moisture and integrity, and improve the quality and speed of wound healing

C12-14 Isoparaffin

A mixture of hydrocarbons (mineral oils) derived from petroleum, with a low hazard score at 1 out of 10 on EWG’s Skin Deep

Caprylic/capric triglyceride

A common emollient in beauty products, derived from coconut or palm oil and glycerin, which hydrates skin, provides antioxidants, and kills fungus

Deionized water

Purified water, free of minerals and contaminants

Laureth-7

A derivative of lauryl alcohol (a non-drying fatty alcohol derived from coconut oil) used as a cleansing agent, emulsifier, and texture enhancer in skincare

Phenoxyethanol

A preservative in beauty products to limit bacterial growth (EWG score of 2-4)

Polyacrylamide

A stabilizer and binder in lotions and other products. While not a concern itself, it’s made up of repeating molecules of acrylamide, a suspected carcinogen linked to mammary tumors (EWG score of 2-6)

Tocopheryl acetate

A synthetic, non-toxic form of vitamin E, offering antioxidant protection against pollution and stress

Triethylene glycol

A hydrator with low dermal toxicity used to improve the skin’s natural moisture retention

How do you get a prescription for Alloy M4 Face Cream?

You’ll need a “prescription” to obtain M4, but like most online wellness brands and pharmacies, the process is pretty straightforward. Here’s how it works:

Go to MyAlloy.com and click “Start now.”
Alloy asks a series of questions about your (skin) symptoms and medical history.
The site then offers its suggested treatment, in this case, M4 Face Cream.
At this point, you’re also asked to “Checkout,” which leads you to log in or start an account, including adding payment info. Note: Here you’re also asked to check the box for Alloy emails and texts, which I would recommend! (More info on that below.)
An Alloy physician then approves and prescribes your Rx, which is billed and sent straight to your home. (This step felt a little long and clunky – but that could be just my experience.)
You should receive your Rx within about a week.

How much does Alloy M4 Face Cream cost?

Alloy M4 Face Cream costs $149.97 for one bottle (45ml), which is supposed to be a three-month supply. If you’re like me with “recommended” amounts (Ben & Jerry’s, anyone?), you’ll reach your end much sooner – something to consider if you use the product with two pumps, not one, both morning and night, which I did.

M4 runs on the pricier or more prestigious side of mature skincare costs. Still, you get other perks with your Rx, including unlimited messaging to your Alloy physician while your prescription is active, along with email notifications from Alloy about their upcoming wellness webinars, support groups, and Instagram live discussions (see above) on topics surrounding menopause — all of which I really enjoy and appreciate.

What does Alloy M4 Face Cream look, feel, and smell like?

Ready for the second best part? (The best comes next!) The M4 Face Cream is pretty dang smooth. I love the way this stuff feels on my face, like a silky serum, but more moisturizing – and with zero fragrance! I press it into my face (excluding my eye area and lips) and run it down my neck every morning and night after washing. Since M4 is lightweight and barely noticeable, I layer my other skincare on top of it, including SPF and makeup in the morning, and additional night creams before bed.

Does Alloy M4 Face Cream really work?

In a nutshell, hell yes.

Before I started M4, the transition into spring had my skin looking dull and desperate for a fancy facial — which, to Alloy’s credit, would cost more than its 3-month supply of M4. But instead, I started my Face Cream treatments for an authentic review of its efficacy.

At first, it just felt good — the product feels luxurious to the touch, but lackluster in its packaging. After about three weeks, I started to notice visible improvements. To be fair, I get Botox, so reporting on how M4 reduces wrinkles wouldn’t be an accurate review. Instead, I noticed a much improved texture — with my skin feeling plump, luminous, and healthy — like it chugged a gallon of hyaluronic acid and traveled back to my complexion in 2004. Plus, M4 also very noticeably healed my acne and its immediate scarring. (No other product has done this so well for my skin other than Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Serum.)

This study shows significant improvement in skin elasticity

Alloy contracted an independent expert dermatologist investigator to conduct a double-blind, three-arm, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of M4 Estriol Face Cream and estradiol with M4 cream base. The study was reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). After 12 weeks, with check-ins at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks, the study showed statistically significant improvements in the following attributes, versus the cream base vehicle alone:

88% improvement in skin elasticity
70% improvement in hydration
57% improvement in skin texture
48% improvement in radiance
68% improvement in overall skin health

In addition to demonstrating effectiveness, the study confirmed the safety profile of M4. Results indicated no signs of inflammation or damage to the skin barrier, including issues like dryness, peeling, stinging, or itching, as well as no observed changes in serum estriol and estradiol levels. M4’s effects remain localized, without impacting the skin’s protective functions or elevating estrogen levels in the bloodstream.

Is Alloy M4 Face Cream worth the money?

Sometimes reporting on products can be a real disappointment. Not this stuff. M4 Face Cream is gold, placenta-rich, youth serum in a little plastic bottle. While the price and process might seem like an investment – it’s because it is. Your peri/menopause face deserves a little lab-made estrogen to look and feel like yourself again, and Alloy has just the right formula to make that happen.