I thought I’d do a little serum round up
today and while some of these are no stranger to the blog, after revisiting
recently, I thought they were worth another mention!
This is definitely one of, if not the best
Vitamin C serum I have used! It is a powerhouse antioxidant serum that also
contains glycolic acid to exfoliate, meaning the L-ascorbic acid can penetrate
more effectively. This makes my skin feel so smooth and helps it look clearer
and more brighter and even! L-ascorbic acid is known for being the most effective
form of Vitamin C and the serum itself has a light citrus scent, absorbs
quickly and stubborn pigmentation fades impressively with consistent use! The serum
comes with a dual chamber delivery system giving extra defence to oxidation of
the Vitamin C and I haven’t experienced any irritation with the inclusion of the
glycolic acid either. This is 100% worth the money and definitely worth a try
if you struggle with Vitamin C formulas that feel oily or pill as this does neither!
Read my full review here!
Such a cult anti-aging serum and I can
see why! This recently got reformulated as well so I won’t delve too much into
the ingredients etc but this was a beautiful hydrating serum that I tended to
use overnight on non-retinol nights. It felt so repairing and firming and it smells
incredible too! I’m not exactly sure what the changes are to the formulation
but I’m sure it's just as incredible and the new packaging looks so luxe!
A beautiful, calming formula for sensitive
skin, I reached for this all through winter and am sure I will through summer
too! It contains hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts such as cucumber, olive
and thyme and mulberry to soothe the skin. It feels super hydrating and really
helps reduce redness in the skin!
This is probably one of the skincare
products I have had In my routine the longest (since 2016) and I always go back
to! CAIS3 is a copper peptide, pro-collagen, pro-repair, watery, blue liquid
with a slight scent of vinegar that dissipates very quickly! It sinks in
quickly and can be used in the morning and evening, but it is recommended to
not use with acids, Vitamin C, EUK, or strong antioxidants. Its purpose is to
maintain healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. My
skin looks and feels much healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more
even, clear and firm, and this is a must have in my routine! Read my full review here!
Finally, a gem from The Ordinary! This
makes my skin feel much smoother and also doubles up as a body serum for me as
it’s so effective on KP on the backs of my arms! It comes in a 5% formulation too but I prefer the 10% and I don’t
experience any sensitivity personally (it contains Tasmanian Pepperberry
extract to help reduce irritation and sensitivity associated with acids). The Ordinary
say this is perfect for dry skin and can be used every day! It’s also the most affordable
of the offerings I have today and one of my favourite exfoliating serums!
That’s it for my round up of serums for
any skin concern – did you see any of your favourites or any you would like to
try?
It’s DECIEM sale time again so since I
have already reviewed most of the NIOD line, I thought I would concentrate on the
copper amino isolate products today! If you are a long-time reader of my blog you
will know that the Copper Amino Isolate Serum is my absolute all-time favourite
skincare product and I’ve now had a chance to use up the Copper Amino Isolate
Lipid so here are my thoughts!
Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3)
RRP £65* is now in its third generation and it’s been a staple in my
skincare rotation in previous forms since circa 2016. A copper peptide serum, unlike
its previous incarnations, you don’t have to play scientist with this one as it
comes premixed and it’s a blue watery liquid with a slight vinegar scent (don’t
worry it dissipates very quickly!). It’s a pro-repair and pro-collagen serum
that maintains healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance.
This is easily my favourite serum in my
stash and while this one was received in PR, I have bought countles bottles of this myself and
will continue to do so! My skin really does look and feel much healthier when I
use this consistently. It’s more even, clear and firm and it really does what
it says on the tin – it’s a must have! This sinks in quickly and can be used in
the morning and evening, but it is recommended to not use with acids, Vitamin
C, EUK, or strong antioxidants. I tend to keep my routine simple when using
this serum as it does all the heavy lifting for me! After the first few bottles of
this I went through, I noticed its effects more when I stopped using it and I
always have it in my stash now!
Moving on to the Copper Amino Isolate
Lipid (CAIL) 1% RRP £72 and this one took me a while to get my hands on as
it was out of stock for so long! Nevertheless, I’m glad I finally got the
chance to try it! Like CAIS, it’s a copper peptide formula but this one is
suspended in squalane so melts into skin and takes on more of a balmy, gel,
oil-like feel and it’s designed for evening use. Again, its pro-collagen,
pro-lipid and pro-fat and aims for healthy looking skin. It also has the added
benefits of building and enhancing skin elasticity. The same products as
mentioned above should be avoided alongside this as well as resveratrol and
ferulic acid and I tend to use this as my last step in a simple evening
routine. My skin feels well supported and hydrated overnight and like with
CAIS, overall, it looks better and healthier with consistent use.
If you’ve been on the fence about trying either
of these due to their price, now is the time while NIOD have their yearly 23%
off sale! My personal favourite is the serum, it fits better into my routine as
I can use it both AM and PM and it also works out better value for me with the
30ml being £65. CAIL does go a long way and is lovely to use as a treatment (especially in winter!) but I just love the serum more!
See my other NIOD reviews here and here
if you want some more ideas for the sale! Have you tried the brand before? Let
me know your favourite product or what you are planning to pick up!
I know I never shut up about these three
serums, but they have really stood out so much to me I thought they deserved a
dedicated blogpost singing their praises!
First up, my OG old favourite, the one
and only NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) RRP £65*. This is
a long-term love and I have consistently had a bottle of this in my stash since
2016 (had to check the archives for that!). Now in its third generation, it
comes “pre-assembled” where once you had to play scientist and premix the serum
using the two bottles it came with! It hasn’t affected the efficacy of the
serum, a watery, blue liquid with a slight scent of vinegar (that dissipates
quickly) which is pro-repair and pro-collagen and works to maintain healthy
looking skin by targeting signs of ageing including textural damage, uneven
skin tone, enlarged pores and lack of radiance. My skin looks and feel much
healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more even, clear and firm - it is
an absolute wonder product for me! If you’ve been on the fence about trying it
now is the time – there is 23% off DECIEM products until the 23rd
June! See my full review of CAIS3 and some other NIOD products here!
Next up is a recent sad empty for me, the
Dermalogica Smart Response Serum RRP £129*. When I read the press release,
I was a little suspicious, how can a serum be “smart” and offer a personalised
response to your skins needs? Somehow, this does everything it claims to.
Whether my skin needs hydration, brightening, soothing, firming or help with
fine lines this responds and works! The heavyweight bottle is so luxe and the
serum itself is so rich (but not greasy) I sometimes didn’t feel the need to
follow with moisturiser. With consistent use twice a day my skin felt hydrated,
calm, brighter, soft and plump and my fine lines looked less noticeable. It is
definitely the priciest product in my routine and that’s the only negative I
would say! Look Fantastic has many 20% off codes that work on it and I think if
you are streamlining your routine or want to cut out a few steps with multiple
serums this is a one stop shop and well worth it! This also made it into my Best Beauty Discoveries of 2021!
Last but not least, and most recent to my
stash at the end of last year, the Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum RRP £74* and this has quickly become my favourite Vitamin C serum. I was
worried at first that the addition of glycolic acid along with the Vitamin C
would cause irritation but I’m happy to say it hasn’t. This is a powerhouse
antioxidant serum and after struggling with Vitamin C formulas that help
brighten but don’t do much for specific areas of pigmentation this has worked
better than I thought possible. The inclusion of glycolic acid gently
exfoliates, making my skin smoother and helping ensure effective Vitamin C
delivery. The Vitamin C in question is L-ascorbic acid, known for being the
most effective as well! The serum itself has a light citrus scent and absorbs
quickly and like I said, some stubborn pigmentation has really lifted with
consistent use! My skin is also much brighter and more even. The serum also
comes with a dual chamber delivery system giving extra defence to oxidation. I’m
so impressed and you can read more about Murad here!
So, those are three serums that have
really made a difference to my skin! I promise I’ll stop harping on about them now,
but I really can’t recommend them enough if you are in the market for a new
serum! They are all pricey but 100% worth the money and I have already or will purchase these with my own money in the future! Have you noticed a massive difference in your skin since using a
particular serum? Let me know which one!
I’m sure you all know by now what a huge
DECIEM fan I am with particular emphasis on NIOD and The Ordinary! This year
it’s Slowvember and you are encouraged to shop slowly, only buying what you
need while taking advantage of a 23% saving through the entire month.
Furthermore, on November 26, they will 'Take Back Black Friday', the DECIEM
website will be on pause and products will not be available to purchase at any
of their stores. So, to coincide with their annual sale, here is a review of
some recent additions to my routine and some old favourites! An absolute dream
PR parcel for me! You can also read my 2019 post here!
Starting with Sanskrit Saponins (SS) RRP £34*, this is a cleanser but not a makeup remover, and it’s perfect as
a second or morning cleanse and one I’ve been through multiple tubes of over
the years! Don’t be put off by the scent – it’s made with ayurvedic plant
saponins and day old coffee beans is the best way I can describe it! It’s a
thick paste and works to clean oil and dirt from my face making pores look
minimised – despite it removing oil, my skin never feels stripped! This has worked
particularly well for me in the past when my skin was more on the
oily/blemished side of things as it really removed build-up and helped clarify
my skin and even now with my skin type being more normal I am still enjoying it!
Talked about it more in this post here too!
Next up,the Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SSDM2) RRP £34*, and this one is a bit of a cult
favourite and I can now see why! Fun fact, I did have this for a while back in
2017 before I did my visa in Canada but as you can see from the packaging, it
is rather on the bulky side so I left it behind and now I know what I have been
missing out on! This is a protective mist, acting against oxidative stress,
water loss and inflammation of the skin. I love the fact it’s antioxidant and
my skin feels so calm and hydrated with every use! I already mentioned the
bulky packaging but that means I don’t feel so guilty for wasting this and I
have been spraying over my chest area too as I am starting to target early
signs of aging there too.
Moving onto serums now and starting with
a couple of my most repurchased skincare items! TheMulti-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (MMHC2) RRP £38is myone true Hyaluronic Acid
love – this to me is the gold standard and one I can see and feel immediate
results with. It contains 15 forms of hyaluronic compounds designed to plump
and hydrate the different layers of the skin and has a watery consistency - a
little goes a long way and it spreads easily over my face. My skin drinks this
up and nothing works as quickly or as long as this on my smile lines – usually
throughout the day I can see the fine lines setting in as my face dries out but
not with this, not even sitting in central heating working from home all day
with makeup on, it is magical! It also works to encourage production of
collagen and my skin just looks and feels so plump and well supported with
this!
If talking to someone new to NIOD, I
always recommend MMHC2 and the Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) RRP £60*as starting points. These are two serums I have been using for years
now (since around 2016 – see this best beauty discoveries post!) and always go
back to. CAIS is now in its third generation now and working just as well as
ever for me. It is no longer required to premix the serum yourself - good that there is less packaging but I had
gotten kind of use to playing scientist ;)! CAIS3 is a watery, blue liquid with
a slight scent of vinegar (don’t worry it dissipates very quickly!) that
maintains healthy looking skin by targeting signs of skin ageing including
textural damage, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. This
has been a constant repurchase for me over the last few years and will continue
to be – it is easily my favourite serum! My skin really does look and feel much
healthier when I use this consistently. It’s more even, clear and firm, it really
does what it says on the tin! A must have!
RE: Pigment (RP) RRP £50* is a newer NIOD
product to me. It’s a multi-pathway brightening serum and feels very
lightweight and doesn’t pill or interfere with my other serums. It is
formulated to target uneven skin tone and treat pigmentation and contains
gallic acid and white shiitake ferment to aid this. I haven’t seen any major
improvement in some targeted pigmentation I have from old acne but overall my
skin is looking bright and even so I will update once I have used the whole
bottle – it’s been about five weeks so far! I should also mention this targeted
pigmentation is only immediately noticeable to me as I am my own biggest critic
and I tend to be harsh on products designed for treating pigmentation as it’s
one of my biggest skin concerns!
Moving on to another couple of tried and
tested serums, Modulating Glucosides (MG) RRP £21*targets sensitive,
irritated skin encouraging a calmer complexion. It supports the skin barrier,
encourages hydration and repair and contains oat synthetic analogues, ceramides
and purified ginger root to help reduce redness, itching and burning. Despite
its viscous appearance, it feels lightweight and sinks in easily - I find the
scent a bit like paint though it doesn’t linger. I used this a lot while I was
on Roaccutane earlier this year and it only occurred to me after I finished my
first bottle that it was one of the reasons my skin had been so calm while on
the drug. Such a comforting, soothing serum, can’t recommended it enough if you
struggle with sensitivity!
I used Survival 0 (S0) RRP £20*alongside
MG at night and it’s another one that impressed me so much! It’s an
antioxidant, reparative serum targeting damage caused by environmental
stressors like pollution, smog and blue light. It also comes in 10, 20 and 30
which offer some SPF protection. It’s a lightweight, orange serum that absorbs
easily and has a faint herbal scent. Overtime, this reduces photo damage and I
have noticed my skin tone is healthier overall. It also feels hydrating
(includes glycerin and squalane) and layers well with other skincare! Like I mentioned
earlier when talking about SDSM2, antioxidants are something I am loving
incorporating into my routine and this one is special *heart eyes emoji*. MG
and S0 have their own dedicated blog post here and also feature in this how I repair my skin barrier post!
Another couple of newer products to
finish up this review! The Fractionated Eye-Contour Concentrate (FECC) RRP £43*
is a step up for me in terms of eye creams/serums as this one targets visible
aging whereas previously I was mostly targeting dark circles/puffiness. FECC
does that too using 28 technologies to target concerns. Despite being a serum
this is hydrating enough for me during the day and overnight. It plays well
with the rest of my skincare as well as my makeup and the biggest difference I
have noticed with aside from reduced puffiness and less visible fine lines is
the difference on my upper lids! I have hooded lids so it is a bit of a
revelation to feel like I can actually see a (small) bit of lid space and have
them look firmer! Looking forward to seeing continued results with this one!
Finally, Flavanone Mud (FM) RRP £38*,
a burnt orange, decongesting three phase “system”, this is billed as much more
than a mask. It purifies the skin, offers a barrier against external pollution
and it responds and works to improve the skins defence mechanisms. It’s advised
to only use once a week for ten minutes and this tingles while it’s on and for
a while after its washed off (though my skin doesn’t go red)! I have really
been enjoying the decongesting properties of this especially along my jaw line and
my skin always feels soft after use while looking brighter too!
Congratulations if you made it to the end
of this bumper post! DECIEM are known for their scientific explanations and I
am the first to admit a lot of the terminology goes over my head but there is
more information available on their website as well as information on what
order to use the serums in and regimen builders if you are just starting out
with a skincare routine! I honestly can’t recommend NIOD enough, I am a huge
fan of The Ordinary too but NIOD is probably my favourite skincare brand ever –
it’s well worth the money and especially now with 23% off but as DECIEM say,
don’t rush and only buy what you need!
