Head to Head
Perricone MD Face Finishing & Firming vs Cold Plasma Plus+ Intensive Hydrating Complex: Finish or Cushion?
The two rich Perricone MD moisturizers compared: the rose scented DMAE finishing cream against the fragrance free Cold Plasma balm, on texture, scent, system and which skin each serves.
Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer 2 fl oz
The rose scented finishing cream: DMAE with a radiant finish built in
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex 1 fl oz
The balm cream of the Cold Plasma line: peptides and vitamin C ester in a rich cushion
Where They Differ
Texture and finish
The finishing cream is rich but settles to a radiant surface within minutes, which is its whole design. The Hydrating Complex is a balm, warmed between fingertips and massaged in, and it stays cushioned for hours. On the skin the difference is not subtle, and it, rather than any ingredient argument, is what owners actually report choosing on.
The system inside
Face Finishing runs on the Classics logic: DMAE, vitamin E and kukui oil, a short list aimed at firmness feel and finish. The Hydrating Complex runs on the Cold Plasma logic: peptides with vitamin C ester and a triglyceride complex, the same family as the concentrate, which is why it layers over that jar so naturally. System loyalty is a legitimate tiebreaker for anyone already running a Cold Plasma routine.
Scent and sensitivity
One is famously fragranced and the other is printed fragrance free, and in a comparison between two good creams that single line decides more purchases than any active does. Fragrance is not a flaw in the finishing cream; it is a declared feature. It is simply a feature with a constituency of exactly the people who love it.
The Specification, Side by Side
| Measure | Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer 2 fl oz | Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex 1 fl oz |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2 fl oz (59 ml) jar | 1 fl oz (30 ml) jar, also sold in 2 and 4 fl oz sizes |
| Format | Rich cream moisturizer in a jar | Ultra rich balm like moisturizing cream |
| Key ingredients | DMAE, vitamin E, kukui nut seed oil | Peptides, Vitamin C Ester, vegetable triglyceride complex |
| Use | Massage onto cleansed face and neck in an upward motion, morning and evening, after serum | Warm for a few seconds between fingertips, massage onto cleansed face and neck in an upward motion, morning and evening, after serum |
| Range | High Potency Classics | Cold Plasma Plus+ |
Choose Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer 2 fl oz if
- You want your moisturizer to double as a radiant finishing step by day
- Your skin is normal to dry and you enjoy a scented, ritual cream
- You already use DMAE products and want the Classics system completed
Choose Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex 1 fl oz if
- You avoid fragrance in face creams, full stop
- Your skin feels dry and depleted and wants a balm weight cushion, especially at night
- You run the Cold Plasma concentrate and want its matching moisturizer
Questions, Answered
Which one is better for very dry skin in winter?
The Intensive Hydrating Complex, used as directed: warmed between fingertips and massaged in, it is the richer and longer lasting of the two on very dry skin. The finishing cream remains the better morning choice under makeup for the same owner, which is why the day and night split exists.
Keep Researching
Every page in the Perricone MD edit.
- 01Perricone MD: the hubHub
- 02Best Perricone MD Products 2027: Three Signature Sciences, RankedBest of
- 03Building a Perricone MD Routine: The Cold Plasma Layering OrderGuide
- 04Perricone MD for the Look of Firmness: Neuropeptide and DMAE Lines by JobGuide
- 05Perricone MD Moisturizers Compared: Finishing, Balm and Gel CreamGuide
- 06Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Serum Concentrate Review: One Jar, Nine PromisesReview
- 07Perricone MD Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer Review: The Finish Is the ProductReview
- 08Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum Review: The Gentle Ester, Judged FairlyReview
- 09Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum vs CCC+ Ferulic Complex: Gentle Ester or 20 Percent Step-Up?Comparison
- 10Perricone MD Buying Guide: How to Build a Perricone Shelf by SystemBuying guide
- 11Perricone MD Care and Keeping: Layering, Retinol Ramps and Jar DisciplineCare
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