PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY PYCNOGENOL 5% SERUM – ONE OF THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT SERUMS
THE ORDINARY | PYCNOGENOL 5% SERUM
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Three Hot Facial Serums from The Ordinary That I'm Crushing On, Too! You can catch the full piece here.
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So you know I’m always on the lookout for new, potent and intriguing antioxidant serums. You can’t have enough antioxidants in your skin care — and in your skin.
When I first began my copywriting career in skin care, antioxidants were considered something only targeted at younger customers — generally women in their 20s. At Kiehl’s, we created an antioxidant-rich serum infused with Yerba Mate extract as part of a collection for a younger female customer. (It flopped!)
Antioxidants are all about prevention. Marketers believe older adults need correction, not prevention. How insane is that? As if preventing aging skin damage is something you should stop doing when you hit 30. Just give up, the damage is done. In your 40s? It’s time to focus on reversing the damage. That’s all marketing spin. Everyone’s skin needs antioxidants, every day, every year — no matter their age!
So, I was more than intrigued by The Ordinary’s latest antioxidant serum — the Pycnogenol 5% Serum.
First, how the heck do you pronounce it?
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, what is Pycnogenol?
Well, Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract derived from the pine bark of French maritime pine trees. As whack as that may sound, it’s actually not all that crazy. A staple of traditional “Hanbang” Korean medicine, fermented pine needles deliver a potent antioxidant and anti-aging benefit to the skin.
The Ordinary’s Pycnogenol 5% contains bioflavonoids and organic acids that the brand says help to enhance hydration and elasticity in the skin.
This innovative ingredient also has the ability to protect against collagen and elastin degradation — something that’s particularly important for people in their 40s and up. (You see, everyone needs antioxidants!)
But perhaps the most important benefit of Pycnogenol is that it is able to restore the activity of oxidized Vitamin C in the skin. That sounds like serious stuff! Like taking an anti-venom after a snake bite. The last thing you want is oxidized Vitamin C wreaking havoc in your skin cells.
Of the Pycnogenol 5% formula, The Ordinary says,
“With the ability to selectively bind to collagen and elastin, Pycnogenol® protects these proteins from degradation, helping to nourish the skin from the inside out. Being a unique and powerful antioxidant, Pycnogenol® scavenges for free radicals before they cause damage by oxidative stress. It can also recycle oxidized Vitamin C to restore its activity.
You see why I’m intrigued by this impossible-to-say antioxidant serum? A word of caution, from Deciem, though: “After application, please wash hands and avoid product contact with light coloured fabric as it may stain.”
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% Serum for $9.40 here.
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**WATCH VIDEO REVIEW OF THREE HOT FACIAL SERUMS FROM THE ORDINARY THAT I'M CRUSHING ON, TOO, ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**
