The four LR Mega Patches at a glance: Biomagnetic, Cannapur, Longevity, Menolivia

The Mega Patches come in four variants. They are built the same way, see LR Mega Patches: structure and technology, and differ in what is in the active ingredient matrix and in the ritual the manufacturer intends them for. This text sets them side by side. One rule applies: we describe the ingredients, not the effect. What LR says about the effect is labelled in each case as a manufacturer's statement.

The four at a glance

All four are cosmetic products for the inside of the forearm, one patch per day, 30 patches per pouch.

Biomagnetic

Biomagnetic is the only patch with a physical component: a copper foil is built into the patch. The manufacturer describes it as a “highly conductive component” that “influences the physical properties between patch and skin”, and speaks of “biomagnetic technology” and “mechanical trigger impulses”. It adds that the immediate sensation after the patch is applied is reinforced by an absorption of the plant extracts that sets in later. The documents do not explain in more detail what exactly the copper does; we therefore reproduce it only as stated.

The care ingredients are four familiar names: zinc picolinate, a zinc compound; glucosamine, an amino sugar that occurs in the body in cartilage and connective tissue; turmeric, the yellow root with its pigment curcumin; and boswellia extract, an extract from the resin of the frankincense tree. Glucosamine and frankincense are common in food supplements; here they are applied to the skin for care and are not taken by mouth.

Manufacturer's statement: “Vitalising, balancing care for an active lifestyle.”

Cannapur

Cannapur contains 20 mg of cannabidiol, CBD for short. CBD is a component of the hemp plant that does not intoxicate; in cosmetics it is permitted and widely used as a care ingredient. The manufacturer justifies the choice by saying that receptors to which CBD binds occur not only in the nervous system but also in the skin, and describes CBD as “skin-soothing, balancing and stabilising” for the skin cells. That is the manufacturer's statement; we do not claim anything beyond it here.

Manufacturer's statement: “Skin-soothing and balancing care that helps to reduce oxidative stress.”

Longevity

Longevity is the patch whose name sums up what the collaboration stands for. It combines four substances that are classed as antioxidants in skin care:

• Resveratrol, a plant compound found in grapes, among other sources.
• Alpha-lipoic acid, a sulphur-containing fatty acid.
• Vitamin A, in cosmetics usually in the form of retinol or one of its derivatives.
• Nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3. The manufacturer calls it a “precursor of NAD+”, a molecule that cells need for their energy metabolism.

LR adds a footnote on vitamin A, which we reproduce: “The recommended daily requirement of vitamin A must be taken into account before use.” Anyone who takes vitamin A preparations or uses skin care containing retinol should factor this in.

Manufacturer's statement: “Slowing of skin ageing and highly effective cell protection through antioxidants.” That is the wording from the brochure, not ours. What a cosmetic may do under the EU Cosmetics Regulation is to care for and protect the skin; we say nothing here about the ageing of cells.

Menolivia

Menolivia is the evening patch. The manufacturer intends it for women “before, during and after the menopause”, as part of a conscious evening routine, applied and worn overnight. It contains three botanical extracts:

• Centella asiatica, the plant extract known as tiger grass or gotu kola, which is common in skin care.
• Damiana, a shrub from Central America whose leaves are used traditionally.
• Black cohosh, botanically Actaea racemosa, a plant known from preparations for the menopause; here it is a cosmetic ingredient and is not taken by mouth.

Manufacturer's statement: “Accompanies your relaxation ritual in the evening and gives a pleasant feeling of calm and relaxation.” The documents say nothing about menopausal symptoms, and neither do we. Anyone who has symptoms should talk to a doctor; a cosmetic is no substitute for that.

What we do not claim here

The advertising language around the patches uses big words: energy, balance, longevity, menopause. In this text we have deliberately left it where it belongs, in the labelled statements of the manufacturer. What we can say is this: the patches are cosmetics, they care for the skin at the spot where they are stuck, and they contain the substances named. Whether one of them suits your everyday life is best decided by asking which ritual you can imagine: in the morning before exercise, during the day at the office or in the evening before going to sleep.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear two different patches on the same day?

Yes, according to the manufacturer the variants can be combined with one another as needed and worn at the same time. How this works in practice is explained in the text on applying the patches.

Does Cannapur contain THC?

The documents state 20 mg of “purest cannabidiol”. THC, the intoxicating substance of the hemp plant, is not mentioned, and it does not belong in a cosmetic either.

Is Menolivia only for women?

The manufacturer aims it at women around the time of the menopause. Nobody else is prohibited from using it; it is a cosmetic with three plant extracts.

Which patch goes with which LR product?

In its sales guide, LR suggests pairs, such as Biomagnetic with Active Freedom, Longevity with the 5in1 Beauty Elixir, Cannapur with the Cannaloe capsules and Menolivia with Woman Phyto. The list is in the text on applying the patches.