These A-List Skincare Stars are Guaranteed to Give Your Skin a Red Carpet Worthy Glow
In my professional career as an Esthetician, I have come to realize that most of my clients and most women, in general, do not understand quite how important serums are. Most women follow the 3 step process of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing and think it is enough to deliver the skin they long for. I'm here to tell you, that unfortunately, those 3 steps just ain't enough. This will merely treat the surface layers of the skin. To truly target and treat the root of your skin concerns we must dive deeper into the sub-layers of the skin.
Let me put it this way, imagine that your skin was a rock concert. Your cleanser, toner, and moisturizer would be your supporting acts and your serums are your rockstar headliners. I can't stress this enough ladies, serums are by far the most important and powerful of skincare weapons. Let's talk about why. We all have concerns, most often multiple, pertaining to our skin which is why we use skincare products in the first place, right? These concerns range from wrinkles to acne and sunspots to uneven texture. So how do we treat these as far as skincare is concerned? Serums, serums, and more serums. These super-concentrated formulations are meant to deliver the most active ingredients deeper into the skin thus delivering a swift and powerful ass-kicking to those skin wrecking assailants. The active ingredients in a skincare product are the ones that pack the most punch as far as treating those concerns in the most effective and efficient way possible. So if you are not using a serum or serums, yes you can and in many cases should use multiple products to target multiple concerns, start using one and start NOW! The difference you will see in your skin will be nothing short of astonishing.
I have written about my Mother Suzanne in various other articles. Her skin was, and I'm not exaggerating, FLAWLESS. As an Esthetician herself, she was enviably consistent with her skincare routine, which never lacked an arsenal of multiple concentrated serums. She was of Swedish descent and had the porcelain doll-like skin to prove it. She taught me from a young age about the importance of skincare and especially serums. I have experimented on my visage with copious amounts of serums and after a literal lifetime in the beauty industry, I have discovered several that I absolutely adore and that are on constant rotation in my daily routine. It is important to switch your products up every once in a while as they all address different concerns and contain different active ingredients. I use at least two different serums on my skin daily, either layered or a different one for morning and night. I get so much satisfaction out of helping women better their skin so please girls, try incorporating a few of these serums into your skincare regime. You and your precious face will thank me later.
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid Vitamin C Serum for Face
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid Vitamin C Serum for Face $166 www.skinceuticals.com
Skin Concerns: Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Sunspots, Hyperpigmentation, Acne
Skin Types: Normal, Oily, and Combination
Active Ingredients: 2% Phloretin - An antioxidant derived from apples and the root bark of apple, pear, and grapefruit trees, neutralizes damaging free radicals, improves cell turnover, and diminishes the appearance of discoloration.
10% L-ascorbic Acid - A highly potent form of pure vitamin C well-known for its superior antioxidant benefits, this highly potent form of pure vitamin C provides visible anti-aging benefits while protecting against oxidative stress and damaging free radicals.
.5% Ferulic Acid - This plant-based antioxidant, amplifies the benefits of phloretin and vitamins C and E.
This serum has been a part of my skincare routine for as long as I can remember. I began using this serum due to the recommendation of a fellow Esthetician. I noticed one day that her skin looked different, it looked amazing, it was bright and firm looking. I immediately asked her what she was doing to produce these noticeable results. She told me that she had started using this serum by Skinceuticals and that it had dramatically changed the appearance of her skin. So, in true skincare junkie fashion, I left work that day and headed straight to buy this serum. I began using it and noticed that my skin was brighter, smoother, and firmer in just a few weeks of using this product at night. Aside from its ability to dramatically reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, this is a great serum for anyone suffering from visible sun damage and hyperpigmentation like melasma. It's also one of my go-to's if I am experiencing a breakout. It'll clear it up before you can blink an eye. This serum is unique as it contains a triple antioxidant blend. Antioxidants=anti-aging, and combining antioxidants has been proven to enhance the benefits of each, versus just using a single antioxidant by itself. Vitamin C is one of the most effective anti-aging antioxidants but it is very hard to get it to penetrate into the skin. One reason why this product is so effective is that the high percentage of potent vitamin C it contains is effectively delivered to the skin via a patented formulation. As a self-professed skin care nerd, I find this to be so interesting and exciting. If you want a brighter, clearer, firmer look to your skin this serum will give it to you, and fast. I like to use it at night after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Just apply a few drops to the face, neck, and chest. It absorbs beautifully with no tacky residue. Bonus: this can also be used on the back of the hands to reduce the look of age spots.
OSEA Hyaluronic Sea Serum
OSEA Hyaluronic Sea Serum $88 www.oseamalibu.com
Skin Concerns: Anti-aging, hydrating, plumping, firming, brightening
Skin Types: All skin types
Active Ingredients: Gigartina Seaweed - A red algae rich in polysaccharides, vitamins, and minerals that deeply hydrates. Provides collagen protection and optimal anti-aging benefits.
Undaria Seaweed - A brown marine algae rich in iodine, iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12. Composed of Fucoidan, bioactive molecules that play a unique role in maintaining the skin's overall health. Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while minimizing surface redness.
Macroacrocystis Seaweed - A bioactive algae abundant in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Evens skin texture, decongests pores, plumps skin, anti-aging, and redness relieving.
Hyaluronic Acid - Plant-derived molecule that delivers intense moisture without clogging pores. Instantly plumps up fine lines and wrinkles.
Sodium Hyaluronate - A fermented vegan form of Hyaluronic Acid. Due to its smaller molecular size, penetrates deep into the skin to restore the moisture barrier.
I began using this serum during a time when my skin was going through a particularly sensitive time. I was suffering from breakouts and redness and felt seriously down in the dumps about my skin. This serum reversed all of those issues very quickly and left my skin glowing and so healthy looking. This gentle yet effective all-natural serum is a favorite of mine for overall firming and plumping of the skin. It absorbs quickly leaving no sticky residue and is formulated without oil, so it won't clog your pores. It seriously makes my skin soft, smooth, and bouncy with a gorgeous glow to boot. I love the fact that it is all-natural. It is great to use pre-makeup application to create a perfectly smooth canvas. This is one I use a lot to layer with other serums. The multiple different types of seaweeds used in this serum, seaweed is well known to be a highly potent natural anti-aging powerhouse, by the way, create a barrier on top of the skin to hold the product in. So it is great to use as a sealer, if you will, to trap in all of the active ingredients of this and all of your other serums. I like this one for day and night. It's definitely a bang for your buck, the price tag is lower than many other serums out there. So if you're looking for a product to amplify your other anti-aging products this is the one for you. I can't recommend this serum enough, anyone can use it and everyone will benefit from it.
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Night Concentrate
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Night Concentrate $110 www.tatcha.com
Skin Concerns: Dry dull skin in need of hydration, fine lines, and wrinkles
Skin Types: Normal and Dry
Active Ingredients: Uji Green Tea - A powerful antioxidant-rich Japanese botanical known to possess detoxifying and antiaging benefits.
Mozuku Algae - A sea algae rich in polysaccharides, essential for water retention and renewal.
Akita Rice - Known as the finest rice in Japan. Rich in proteins and nourishing moisturizers.
I have used Tatcha's line of Japanese skincare products for over 5 years and love them all. I find the entire line to be nourishing and gentle on the skin. I began using this particular night time serum a few months before my wedding to boost my skin's firmness and hydration and wow, did it do the job. It's a really cool jelly-like texture that melts into the skin imparting extreme dewiness and hydration. It will leave an oily type residue on your skin so only use it at night. By the time you wake up in the morning, you'll look like sleeping beauty with super hydrated dewy skin. I love this serum and would describe it as a straight-forward overall hydrating product to achieve dewy skin. The combination of Mozuku algae and Uju green tea yields potent anti-aging effects as well. If you suffer from dry skin or simply feel like your skin is looking dull, try this one out.
Zo Skin Health Rozatrol
Zo Skin Health Rozatrol Treatment Serum $88 www.zoskinhealth.com
Skin Concerns: Redness relieving, hydrating, anti-aging
Skin Types: Sensitive, Rosacea
Active Ingredients: Lactose, milk protein, brassica oleracea italica extract - Minimizes the appearance of redness, soothes, and hydrates.
Farnesyl acetate, farnesol, panthenyl triacetate - Reduces oil production.
Papaya Enzymes - Gently exfoliates to improve texture and tone.
Plant Stem Cell Complex - Provides antioxidant protection.
Glycerin - Hydrates the skin.
As I mentioned earlier in this article, I went through a period of time when my skin was ultra-sensitive and redness was a major issue. An Esthetician friend of mine recommended I try this serum by Zo Skin Health. Well, it did wonders for me. I used it consistently day and night and slowly but surely my redness diminished and my skin became less sensitive. It also contains active ingredients that very gently exfoliate your skin and introduce antioxidants into the skin which provide hydration and anti-aging benefits as well. I felt the need to include this serum here because I know a lot of women who suffer from sensitive, rosacea, and acne rosacea skin types feel like there is next to nothing as far as skincare products out there that will benefit their skin without making things worse. Well, this one is for you ladies! The combo of antiaging and redness relieving benefits is extremely unique and will work wonders for soothing angry red skin.
SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum
SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum $281 www.skinmedica.com
Skin Concerns: Fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, skin tone
Skin Types: All skin types
Active Ingredients: Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media - A naturally stabilized growth factor blend that improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and skin texture.
Coenzyme Q10 - A potent antioxidant that works together with vitamin E to minimize damage caused by free radicals.
Green Tea Leaf Extract - A natural polyphenol-rich antioxidant.
Alpha-Arbutin - Brightens the look of skin.
Hyaluronic Filling Spheres - Help trap water on the surface of the skin to hydrate and plump.
I heard of the amazing results of this serum for many years before actually trying it myself, mainly due to the hefty price tag. All I can say is that I wish I had tried it sooner because it definitely works. It is actually two formulas in one bottle that are separated from each other in two different chambers. You'll apply one pump to the back of your hand and mix the two together to activate. This serum contains a very unique and effective ingredient, human growth factor. This may sound completely weird and futuristic but there is nothing quite like it out there that will encourage the growth of new cells, which in turn minimizes wrinkles and evens skin tone and texture in a mind-blowing way. The addition of antioxidants like green tea and coenzyme Q10 helps protect skin from environmental aggressors. I noticed right away a smoothing in my fine lines and an overall improvement in texture and tone. I recommend this mostly to my clients with more mature skin and who are concerned with deeper lines and wrinkles.
Yonka Paris Cellular Code Long-Life Infusion Serum
Yonka Paris Cellular Code Long-Life Infusion Serum $138 www.yonkaparis.com
Skin Concerns: Fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, dull uneven texture, hydration
Skin Types: All Skin Types
Active Ingredients: Baicalin - Preserves and protects the fibroblasts of the skin promoting youthfulness and vitality.
Garden Nasturtium - Provide oxygen to skin cells improving radiance.
Lipoamino Acids - Boost the longevity of cellular proteins providing structure to the skin and defending against damaging free radicals.
This all-natural plant-based serum by luxury French skincare brand Yonka is nourishing and uber effective in reversing damaged aging cells. First of all, I love that it is an all-natural line that actually yields results. This is very hard to find in the skincare world. I found this product over a decade ago when it was used on me during a facial at a high-end spa. I couldn't believe how radiant my skin looked. The Esthetician who performed my facial couldn't stop talking about this particular serum and its anti-aging effects on the skin. So, of course, I bought it. Within a few weeks, my skin was transformed. Seriously, the firmness and tone of my skin were insane and my little fine lines had vanished. Overall hydration of my skin was present and my pores were visibly reduced. I buy a bottle of this about once a year and use every single drop. I like to use it at night as it is a little heavier than a gel textured serum.
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Serum
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Serum $80 www.jurlique.com
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