Health and beauty giant Boots has carried out an independent test to prove its No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum has long-term anti-ageing benefits.

The study, carried out by the University of Manchester Department of Dermatology, found the cream stimulated production of fibrillin in the skin. Over a 12-month period, these structural effects in the skin are sustained.

Boots’ No7 Protect & Perfect created hysteria among women desperate to stave off the ageing process when it launched. The stores’ shelves were cleaned within hours of it going on sale after it featured on BBC show Horizon.

Professor Chris Griffiths, Foundation Professor of Dermatology at the University of Manchester, led the year long clinical trial which reveals that the product produced a clinically significant improvement in facial wrinkles after 12 months of use. 70 per cent of the volunteers using the product showed a marked improvement in the appearance of photo-aged skin over the test period.

Griffiths said: “This trial was conducted to the very highest of scientific standards. The results show that, when used long term, the product produces a clinically discernible improvement in wrinkles in photo-aged skin. This test paves the way for larger studies with more statistical power.”

Stewart Long, Boots skincare scientific advisor said: “This study sets the bar for all beauty companies to test their products as rigorously as possible and make the results public.”

The new No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum goes on sale today, priced at £19.75 for 30ml.