When I moved out to Los Angeles back in, (ahem!) 1988, it was the first big risk I’d taken in my life. College had only been two hours from home; but LA? LA was a world away.

And it was a dream come true! As a kid, I dreamt of doing two things when I grew up — seeing the world and moving to California. Senior year of high school, I fulfilled that first wish (at least in part!) with the school trip to France and Italy.

It was ten surreal days away from home — the longest I’d ever been away from my family. I remember the day I got home from Europe. My parents and brother had created a banner in the kitchen that said,

WELCOME HOME CARMINE!

It was nice to see them, but I was anxious to get out and see more of the world. Because it was my first time traveling for any real length of time, I wasn’t exactly adept at packing. On top of the million or so tees, pants and sneakers I took, I also lugged six glass bottles of Perrier with me.

(In one of the greatest ironies of my life, yes, I brought a six-pack of Perrier back to France!)

I was the first in my immediate family to travel outside the United States, so my parents were naturally concerned about my well-being. “Watch out for strangers and don’t drink the water! You’ll get sick,” my mother cautioned me. So, before I left, she bought me a six-pack of sparkling water in heavy, glass bottles. I was supposed to drink that, and only that, the entire trip. I was even instructed to brush my teeth with it! To this day, I detest sparkling water.

Four years after that seminal trip, soon after graduating college, I followed my college roommate to LA. Thirty-seven years later, he’s still one of the greatest friends of my life. And he still lives in Los Angeles. He, as California itself, will always hold a special place in my heart. Memories of California bring me joy. And, as Marie Kondo espouses, what brings you joy, you can and should hold onto.

So, I was thrilled to recently discover a new, natural, clinical skincare brand born and raised in California — The Glow Maker!

We’re a match made in heaven…

Meet The Glow Maker

The Glow Maker is a range of remarkably well-formulated clinical skin care. Many of the products are the kind of active-powered serums that I prefer in my routines. Serums tend to penetrate the skin more readily and, thus, deliver greater efficacy.

True to the Skincarma philosophy, a pro-skin health skincare routine should be comprised of three vitamin treatments — Vitamin A (either Retinol or Bakuchiol), Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) and Vitamin C. They’re among the essential ingredients for maintaining optimum skin health. Add in a good cleanser, hydrating toner, humectant serum (e.g. Beta Glucan, Hyaluronic Acid) and oil-based moisturizer with a facial oil or cream (SPF in the AM) and you’re good. Those seven products are Skincarma essentials!

The Glow Maker’s new Multivitamin Facial Moisturizer is packed with goodness!

I’ve talked quite a bit about my most notable brand discoveries of 2019 — Herbivore, Codex Beauty, Solara Suncare among them. But right at the end, like a horse pulling even in the last lap around the track, was indie brand The Glow Maker.

The brand was founded in sunny California on the premise that great skincare shouldn’t be restricted to the elite. The Glow Maker’s founders wanted to “alleviate the injustice of quality skincare products not being accessible to the average” person.

You know that fits perfectly with the Skincarma credo that great skin care should be available to everyone. I call it the democratization of skin care. There are often tradeoffs, of course — like carton-free packaging and cheap skin irritants. These democratically priced products aren’t always well-formulated and are rarely clean.

Not only are The Glow Maker’s products well-formulated and clean, they’re also natural and cruelty-free — with a significant amount of organic actives in each. Oh, and they’re affordably priced, too!

Have a look at my three faves from the brand…

Two of my faves from The Glow Maker are the brand’s Niacinamide and Bakuchiol serums.

Niacinamide Booster Serum

Of all the Glow Maker products I’ve been testing, the Niacinamide Booster Serum was my fave from the brand. The Glow Maker formula has a 10% concentration of the multi-benefit active — up there with the 10% Niacinamide serum booster from Paula’s Choice. That one’s the OG, hands down.

The Glow Maker product is more than just a Niacinamide treatment. Niacinamide Booster Serum is a powerhouse, pro-skin health blend of antioxidants botanicals, humectants, amino acids, minerals and vitamins — including vitamins C, E, B5 and, of course, B3.

Oddly enough, and I’ve called this out before — it’s got so much more going for it that it’s kind of odd to define it strictly as a Niacinamide treatment. Like the magnificent Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C, defining it so narrowly sells the product short. Most people aren’t going to turn it around and closely examine what’s in it.

So I’m here to tell you, as a Niacinamide treatment, The Glow Maker got it right — and some!

Every time I talk about Niacinamide, I feel the duty to impress upon Skincarma readers the indispensable qualities of Niacinamide and the remarkable benefits that Vitamin B3 can have for the skin.

And, of course, nobody knows more than my skincare muse Paula Begoun.

Also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, niacinamide is a very effective skin-restoring ingredient that offers multiple benefits for aging and blemish-prone skin. Among these benefits is the ability to visibly improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, dullness, and a weakened skin surface. Niacinamide can also mitigate and to some extent help visibly repair damage from UV light and offset other sources of environmental attack, including the negative impact of various types of airborne pollutants. Unlike many beneficial ingredients, niacinamide is stable in the presence of heat and light.

The Glow Maker Niacinamide Booster Serum is made of 53% organic ingredients and has a slightly thicker texture than Paula’s Niacinamide serum — with a milky, creamy consistency. It’s not so thick, though, that it isn’t easily layered; it melts right into skin.

Because it’s so packed with pro-skin health goodness, it’s one of the more expensive of The Glow Maker products at $45 for one ounce.

**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF THE GLOW MAKER’S ANTIOXIDANT SERUMS AND ANTI-AGING FACIAL SKINCARE ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

20% Vitamin C Facial Serum

Of course, no brand review would be complete without taking a peek at their Vitamin C offering! The Glow Maker’s 20% Vitamin C Facial Serum is top shelf. The fact that it’s such a well-formulated Vitamin C treatment for just $25 puts it at the top of my list of recommendations — along with The Ordinary’s Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution, the Garden of Wisdom Vitamin C 23% Serum & Ferulic Acid and, of course, the Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10%.

If you missed my article on my top Vitamin C picks, you can check it out here.

Similar to the brand’s Niacinamide serum, the 63% organic 20% Vitamin C Facial Serum is a veritable treasure trove of beneficial actives beyond just power-brightening Vitamin C — including humectant Sodium Hyaluronate, moisturizing Vitamin E and numerous antioxidant botanicals.

I always know a brand’s chemists know what they’re doing when they pair Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid. Not only is Ferulic Acid a terrific antioxidant in its own right, but it’s considered Vitamin C’s BFF — it keeps that crazy ingredient grounded.

Like a bestie would.

The particular form of Vitamin C in The Glow Maker formula, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, is an intriguing choice. (In a good way!) Not only is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate a stable, water-soluble form of Vitamin C with all the antioxidant and skin-brightening goodness of the active, but research has shown that concentrations of 5% or more can help mitigate the occurrence of acne blemishes on the skin.

One of the things I love about science driven brands like The Glow Maker and Deciem’s NIOD, is the product messaging always skews a bit wonky, nerdy — and smart!

Right there on The Glow Maker’s product page for the 20% Vitamin C Facial Serum is this:

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is an active stabilized derivative of Vitamin C. It is soluble in water and does not degrade in aqueous formulas and is effective at a neutral pH, plus it is stable in the presence of air exposure.
It is produced by direct phosphorylation of ascorbic acid sodium salt, where L-ascorbic acid is suspended in an oxygenated “non-hydroxylic” solvent together with sodium and then treated with a phosphorylating agent. It is easily bio-converted to Vitamin C by skin enzymes. We estimate that Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate has approximately 2.5 times the bioavailability of L-ascorbic acid to the skin. It stays in the skin for up to 72 hours and cannot be washed off once it soaks into the skin.

Good job on this one, Glow Maker! And for $25, welcome to the top of my Vitamin C list!

EXCLUSIVE FOR SKINCARMA FOLLOWERS

SAVE 15% ON ALL PRODUCTS FROM THE GLOW MAKER ON THE BRAND’S WEBSITE. SIMPLY ENTER SKINCARMA15 AT CHECK-OUT. ENDS 2/29/2020

SHOP FOR MY FAVES AT THE GLOW MAKER

1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil

Okay, you know what a big fan of Bakuchiol I am. After all, I named a Bakuchiol serum the Skincarma Product of the Year! If you didn’t catch that article, feel free to read it here.

As I’ve said 87 times before, Bakuchiol is a proven alternative to Retinol. And, if you’re not a Retinol lover (I’m not!), but want the anti-aging benefits of Retinol, then Bakuchiol is your knight in shining armor. Not only is it a legit replacement for a Retinol treatment, but if you’re accustomed to the potent Vitamin A extract, you know it’s best to use it on alternating nights, rather than daily. So, if you love your Retinol, consider a Bakuchiol serum on those off-nights.

And The Glow Maker’s 1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil is one of the best options available today!

Bakuchiol products come in many forms. There are pulpy serums like Herbivore’s Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Serum. There are creams like the Bakuchiol moisturizer from one of my fave indie brands, The Inkey List. And, there are facial oils as with the BYBI Beauty Bakuchiol Booster and The Glow Maker’s 1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil. The 96% organic formula is an antioxidant powerhouse with Astaxanthin, Coenzyme Q10, Ginger Root Extract and Curcumin (Turmeric Root).

In addition to the antioxidant extracts, there are numerous non-fragrant plant oils that deeply nourish, moisturize, replenish and soothe the skin. Among them, the anti-aging stars Rosehip Seed Oil, Prickly Pear Seed Oil, and Grape Seed Oil.

All of those oils give it a super nourishing, rich and silky texture that makes the perfect final facial treatment to round off a PM regimen. It’s particularly valuable in the colder winter months here in New York. Instead of waking up looking dry and dehydrated, my complexion appears healthy, vibrant and not the least bit beaten down by the winter cold.

Reflecting back on my initial deep dive into Bakuchiol, were I to perform a fresh assessment of the Bakuchiol options on the market currently, I would consider The Glow Maker’s 1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil among the best available. And at just $30, it’s not just the real deal, but a good deal.

For a limited time, you can save 15% off all Glow Maker products — including my favorites, on the brand’s website. Just enter code SKINCARMA15 at checkout.

That’s it guys! I hope you’ll check out The Glow Maker and get your glow going…

🖤 SKINCARMA

**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF THE GLOW MAKER’S ANTIOXIDANT SERUMS AND ANTI-AGING FACIAL SKINCARE ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**

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The Glow Maker Niacinamide Booster Serum

The Glow Maker 20% Vitamin C Facial Serum

The Glow Maker 1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil

The Ingredient List of the Niacinamide Booster Serum :

53% Organic / Cold Processed (Silicone free)

KEY INGREDIENTS: 10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3),2% N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG),1% Zinc PCA,Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C),Panthenol (Provitamin B5),MSM (Organic Sulfur),Organic Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) / Triple Molecular Weights,Amino Acid Complex (7 skin benefiting amino acids), VitaminE, BetaGlucan, Phytoceramides, Adenosine, Bisabolol, Carnosine. Other Key Ingredients:Allantoin (Not used as an "Active" to maintain non-medicated formulation status). BASE: Organic Aloe Vera Juice,Organic Bulgarian Rose Distillate,Organic Witch Hazel Extract. BOTANICAL EXTRACTS: Organic Green Tea,Organic Roman Chamomile,Organic Tamarind Seed,Organic Comfrey Root,Organic Holy Basil,Organic Dandelion Root. NATURAL OILS:Organic Rosehip Seed Oil,Organic Squalane (Vegetable Derived),
Scent: Geranium Essential Oil,Clary Sage Essential Oil.

The Ingredient List of the 20% Vitamin C Facial Serum:

63% ORGANIC / COLD PROCESSED (Silicone free)

KEY INGREDIENTS: 8% Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (estimated 20% Vitamin C bioavailability*),Vitamin E (Natural, Non-GMO),Ferulic Acid,Organic Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) / Triple Molecular Weights,MSM (Organic Sulfur).
BASE: Organic Aloe Vera Juice,Organic Bulgarian Rose Distillate,Organic Witch Hazel Extract. BOTANICAL EXTRACTS: Kakadu Plum (Wild Harvested),Organic Green Tea,Organic Roman Chamomile,Organic Gotu Kola. NATURAL OILS: Organic Rosehip Seed Oil,Organic Squalane (Vegetable Derived). Scent:Clementine Essential Oil.

The Ingredient List of the 1% Bakuchiol Facial Night Oil:

96% Organic / Cold Processed

Key Ingredients: 1% Bakuchiol (Plant-Base) Retinol Alternative, 1% Alpha Lipoic Acid, Astaxanthin, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E (Natural, Non-GMO), Vitamin K2,
Botanical Extracts: Organic Ginger, Organic Curcumin (Standardized to 95%), Rosemary Oleoresin
Natural Oils: Organic, Cold Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil, Organic, Cold Pressed Prickly Pear Seed Oil, Organic, Cold Pressed Blackberry Seed Oil, Organic, Cold Pressed Apricot Kernel Oil, Organic, Cold Pressed Grape Seed Oil, Organic, Cold Pressed Borage Seed Oil (Standardized to 18% Gamma Linolenic Acid), Organic, Cold Pressed Evening Primrose Seed Oil (Standardized to 10% Gamma Linolenic Acid), Organic, Cold Pressed Sunflower Seed Oil (high linoleic variety)