MY BDAY PICKS – THE BEST ANTI-AGING CREAM, BRIGHTENING SERUM, SOOTHING SERUM AND MORE!
Yes, I’m a Leo. So it should come as no surprise, really, that I think of Orpheus as my soul mate. We’re both cats after all!
And, it’s my birthday week. I was born at 11:20 a.m. on July 28th in New Haven, CT. At the very moment of my birth, the sun, the moon and the planet Mercury were all in the sign of Leo.
I’m a Leo through and through, with all the classic characteristics of a Leo. I’m creative, I’m passionate and I do, admittedly, enjoy the spotlight.
At the time of my birth, Venus happened to be in Virgo and Mars was in Libra — so I’m also quite romantic and a bit of a free spirit. Okay, not a bit. I’m a total free spirit!
And so, since it’s my birthday week I thought, as a great Leo would, that I would celebrate it in an exceptional way — with skin care! Skin care is, after all, about taking care of yourself. It’s a form of self love.
From the very moment Skincarma came into being, I’ve made it my mission to share what I know and what I learn every day about skin care and the skin. And to demystify what is a very complex game.
Much of what we know and think we know about skincare has been told to us by big beauty marketers with a very big, well-funded megaphone. Take the idea of anti-aging, for instance. Whenever people ask me about my “favorite anti-aging product” or “the best anti-aging cream,” they’re always taken aback by my answer. As if I’m being smarmy.
“That’s easy! The best anti-aging cream is sunscreen. And my favorite anti-aging product is the Solara Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen!”
I always get some sort of side eye — and a response along these lines: “Come on. Be serious. Yeah, sunscreen is important. I wear sunscreen every day. I’m talking about an anti-aging cream. Like what’s the best anti-aging cream in your opinion?”
I assume they want me to respond with something like the La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizer — because it’s $180 for one ounce. It’s an anti-aging cream, right? And it’s $180 so it must work.
But what does any of that mean? It’s an anti-aging cream because La Mer says it is. That’s why it’s an anti-aging cream. La Mer spends millions and millions of dollars to promote a story about how it healed burn wounds and how it can somehow treat wrinkles. All to make us believe that it’s the best anti-aging moisturizer ever created.
If you see past all those advertising dollars and actually look at the ingredient list of La Mer’s iconic moisturizer, you will discover the cold, hard truth. Ingredient number one is, in fact, a rather basic seaweed followed immediately by mineral oil and petrolatum — the star and only ingredient in Vaseline.
If you've been following me for a while, you may recall my article titled The Skincarma Challenge: Vaseline vs. Creme De La Mer. I literally compared Crème de la Mer and Vaseline by applying each nightly — one on the left side of my face, the other on the right.
I then used the Wayskin Skin Analyzer, high-tech moisture meter, to measure the moisture levels on both sides of my face each morning. The results surprised even me. (Psst…you can still catch it here.)
Look, the whole concept of “anti-aging” is itself a story. It’s a term and a skincare category created by marketers; a beast fed daily by the massive marketing dollars of beauty conglomerates like L’Oreal, Estée Lauder, Coty, Shiseido, and more.
So, aside from sunscreen, what does anti-aging mean?
It means taking proper care of your skin in order to promote the healthiest functions possible. When your skin is healthy, it fights signs of aging on its own. Wearing a daily sunscreen prevents wrinkles. Maintaining proper moisture and hydration levels prevents dryness and dehydration — which, in turn, prevents wrinkles. Antioxidants, lots and lots of antioxidants, help the skin to defend against environmental damage which, as a consequence, prevents wrinkles.
How do I know all of this is the case? That all of this is the real truth behind anti-aging — and not what La Mer says is anti-aging?
Because I’ve lived it; because today I turned 55 years old. And I don’t look (or act!) anything near that, do I?
So, I thought in celebration of being fifty-five years young, I’d share a few of my favorite pro-skin health products from the Skincarma Vault — my eight-shelf medicine cabinet that stores the skin care in rotation — what I’m testing and what I use.
Many of the products in the Skincarma Vault are my go-to’s — what I consider some of the best facial oils, the best Hyaluronic Acid serums, the best Niacinamide serums, the best sunscreens for face. In the vault, you’ll find some of the best Vitamin C serums, the best anti-aging eye creams — and certainly the best anti-oxidant serums for helping me defend against daily environmental aggressors.
In celebration, I thought it would be cool to give away a few of them, too. More than a few. Seven! Of course, the products in the giveaway are all fresh and new, drawn out of my backstock closet — not the vault! (You’ll find the giveaway instructions at the bottom of the article.)
So let’s take a look at some of my favorite skin care — some of the anti-aging serums, creams, lotions and potions that keep me looking and feeling youthful…
Biophile | Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum
If you’re not yet familiar with Biophile, let me introduce you to what I believe is the most innovative new skincare brand of the past year. Based right here with me in Brooklyn, Biophile is the brainchild of Alison Cutlan — a brilliant biologist and former colleague of mine from Kiehl’s.
Alison developed what she terms biotic broths — fermented concoctions that consist of a blend of probiotic bacteria and plant extracts.
Each of the three products in the Biophile range is a powerful nutritional formula that works synergistically with the skin to nourish and promote optimum skin health. And, each of the formulas is self-preserving — an extra-ordinary feat that raises the Biophile formulas to what I believe to be the next level of clean skin care.
Biophile’s award-winning Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum is perhaps the star of the three-product range. There’s just something that seems so otherworldly about this serum! And that’s precisely the reason it was awarded the 2019 Indie Beauty Expo “best in show serum”.
Ninety-percent fermentation-derived, the Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum is powered by one of the brand’s unique, proprietary broths — the SHROOM BioticBroth™.
In this case, the broth is a blend of mushroom extracts derived from chaga, reishi and tremella (also known as snow mushroom) that “are bio-processed with multi-strain probiotic bacteria to create a unique fermentation broth rich in adaptogens, antioxidants, lactic acid and hydrating fungal polysaccharides to feed the skin while supporting the barrier and biome.”
You see what I mean! How much more pro-skin health can you get?
The Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum has a slightly pulpy, amber formula that feels like liquid silk on the skin. It’s intended to calm reactive skin and protect against environmental stress.
The serum is infused with protective antioxidant vitamins, including both Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and Ethyl Ascorbic Acid — a relatively stable form of Vitamin C that’s close in molecular weight to pure Vitamin C and has a visible brightening benefit on the skin.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing actives in Biophile’s Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum formula is Acetyl-Glucosamine (NAG) — a component of polysaccharides found in our cells that helps to stimulate the production of Hyaluronic Acid in the skin.
I have rarely come across a brand or skincare product that talks about stimulating skin’s own Hyaluronic Acid.
Also included in the serum concoction is Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, a smaller molecular anti-aging peptide that can penetrate the skin barrier more easily and is believed to have the unique ability to enhance skin firmness. Biophile says it “can activate the body’s own Tissue Growth Factor (TGF-B) and stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblast cells.” I love dope science.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Biophile Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum for $148.00 here.
KPS Essentials | Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum
One of the very first brand reviews I ever wrote was about one of my favorite skincare brands, KPS Essentials. For the article, titled Brands I Love and Believe in: KPS Essentials Science-Based Facial Skin Care and published in January 2019, I had the distinct honor of speaking with the founding scientist Ron Webb and co-founder, Natalie Novak-Bauss — an oncology aesthetician.
Skin care isn’t rocket science, but Ron just happens to be one. IRL! I love scientists of all kinds — and I love talking about skin care with scientists — particularly those who know how ingredients work in the skin.
The KPS formulas are smart because they’re really well-formulated and they make sense for the skin — from the perspective of a scientist, not of a marketer.
“What do you get when you cross a foodie, master gardener, organic farmer and certified oncology aesthetician with a rocket scientist that thrives on finding the root causes to problems using unconventional thinking?
PERFORMANCE-BASED, CLINICALLY VALIDATED, ORGANIC SKINCARE.”
- KPS Essentials
Over the last year and a half, I’ve come to appreciate the exceptional quality of the KPS formulas and, in particular, the brand’s Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum.
The eye area is comprised of the most delicate skin anywhere on your face. That’s why I’m a proponent of not only a well-formulated moisturizer around your eyes, but the use of a sunscreen in the eye area each morning.
But finding an eye cream with sunscreen that you actually like to use isn’t easy. Trust me, I’ve tried them all!
As I’ve shared previously, my favorite eye cream with SPF is my longtime go-to, the SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50.
It has a slight tint to it that helps conceal dark circles, and its light, paste-like consistency means it stays put.
Honestly, it’s the best eye cream with SPF that I’ve ever come across, hands down. I’ve recently grown fond of the Supergoop! Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40 which I reviewed on my blog here.
Honestly, there’s no compelling reason to use a separate moisturizer around your eyes — unless you have a particular concern for dark circles and puffiness. If it’s good enough for the rest of your face, it’s good enough for your eye area. Skin is skin.
That said, I can appreciate a well-formulated eye treatment and know most people are conditioned to want a dedicated eye cream. And the KPS Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum gets me all fired up. I love everything about it.
KPS’s Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum contains a host of antioxidants and antioxidant-rich extracts including Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract (Green Tea Extract).
Because it’s super lightweight — somewhat like a thicker, opaque serum — it’s very easily absorbed by the skin. It’s also 96.4% organic and made with natural, organic, and food-grade ingredients like pomegranate, rosehip, coconut and argan oils — as well as plant-derived hyaluronic acid.
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 10% on all KPS skincare. Purchase the Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum for $117 (reg. $130). Follow this link and enter code SKINCARMA at checkout.
The Glow Maker | Niacinamide Booster Serum
Of all the Glow Maker products I’ve come to appreciate in the last year, the Niacinamide Booster Serum is hands-down my fave from the brand. The Glow Maker formula has a 10% concentration of the multi-benefit active — up there with the 10% Niacinamide Booster serum from Paula’s Choice. That one’s the OG, hands down.
The Glow Maker product is more than just a Niacinamide treatment, though.
In fact, it’s so well-rounded that I declared it one of Three of the Best Facial Skincare Products I Want with Me in the Skinpocalypse!
If I suddenly had to grab Orpheus and get out of town for a while, I’d want The Glow Maker’s Niacinamide Booster Serum with me.
It’s that good. The 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.
**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF SOME OF THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT SERUMS AND THE BEST ANTI-AGING CREAMS FROM THE GLOW MAKER ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**
It’s got so much more going for it that it doesn’t do it justice 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!
What is Niacinamide?
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 the experts of the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
“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.
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 20% off all skin care from The Glow Maker. Purchase The Glow Maker Niacinamide Booster Serum for $36 (reg. $45) here. Just enter code SKINCARMA20 at checkout!
**SKINCARMA EXCLUSIVE**
SAVE 20% OFF ALL SKINCARE FROM THE GLOW MAKER! CLICK HERE AND ENTER CODE SKINCARMA20 AT CHECKOUT.
The Ordinary | Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution
It’s no secret that The Ordinary is one of my go-to brands for some of the best antioxidant serums, nourishing creams and unique anti-aging treatments like the Argireline Solution 10% peptide serum and Pycnogenol 5% serum which I recently reviewed on my blog.
Both of those targeted serums, while sounding complex and a bit out there are relatively simply formulas.
For example, the Pycnogenol 5% serum contains just two ingredients, Propanediol and Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract — a potent antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of a maritime pine. It’s weird, but it works.
Sometimes, less is more. As is the case with The Ordinary’s Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution. Like the Pycnogenol 5%, it’s formulated with a mere two ingredients: Propanediol and Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a stable form of Vitamin C.
When it comes to the best Vitamin C serums, The Ordinary has the market cornered. At last count, there were eight distinct Vitamin C treatments in the brand’s offerings, including a long-time favorite, the Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F. (Check out the brand’s Vitamin C Guide here.)
But I graduated; or at least my preference changed when I tried the brand’s Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution. It’s a lighter, silkier, and more easily layered formula.
The form of Vitamin C in the Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% serum, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, acts similarly to Ascorbic Acid and is nearly identical in molecular weight to pure Vitamin C — for quick, visible brightening of the complexion that makes it one of the best Vitamin C serums for face that I’ve come across.
It’s stabilized, too, in the absence of water and suspended instead in Propanediol as The Ordinary has done. Propanediol is a commonly used, well-tolerated glycol that enhances the absorption of actives like Vitamin C and Pycnogenol. Propanediol also possesses hydrating properties that leave skin feeling soft and velvety.
Deciem distinguishes its Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution this way:
“Unlike other Vitamin C derivatives, this ethylated form acts directly like Vitamin C, is closer in molecular weight to actual Vitamin C which allows for faster visible results, and offers a much better stability profile than any known direct-acting form of Vitamin C.”
The texture of the Ethylated Ascorbic Acid treatment is really cool; it’s what got me hooked the first time I tried it. It feels only slightly oily on the skin for about ten seconds; then it’s gone. It absorbs right into the skin surface.
But it isn’t the Vitamin C that makes that happen. It’s that Propanediol which, again, enhances the absorption of the vitamin into the skin’s upper layers where it’s most beneficial.
Perhaps more than any of my top Vitamin C picks, I love the texture of the Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution. I love, too, that it’s stabilized for the long run, and that it’s packaged in an opaque glass bottle with a dropper. It’s simple, it’s clean, it lasts, and it’s affordable — at just $18. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with this one.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution for $18 here.
Herbivore | Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil
I just have to get this one rather shallow observation out of the way. My favorite thing about the Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil is its remarkably mouth-watering aroma. There, I said it. And I’d be mortified to admit that if fellow skincare blogger Caroline Hirons didn’t feel the exact same way.
“What’s good about it? Well the smell for starters, although it shouldn’t be important, it’s the reason I bought it when I already have 4270 oils.”
- Caroline Hirons in her review of Herbivore’s Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil
It’s simply intoxicating. And every time I apply it before bed, Orpheus sniffs my face and licks his lips. So I know I’m not crazy!
Like all of Herbivore’s products, it feels like a high-end spa pampering gem. And the brand’s Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil is right up there with the best facial oils for dry skin — the crème de la crème.
But interestingly, I wasn’t all that fond of it at first.
In fact, when I initially reviewed several Herbivore products in my article titled, Brands I Love: Herbivore Botanicals' Clean Facial Skincare - Best Facial Oils, Serums and More! I intentionally left it out.
I didn’t quite understand the Lapis facial oil or appreciate it like I do Herbivore’s Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil — admittedly my favorite facial oil of all time. Phoenix I totally get. No scent, powerful anti-aging oils like Rosehip Seed Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil. Honestly, it’s just more for my skin type — rather middle-of-the-road normal, dry in winter, oily in summer.
The Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil is targeted more for acne prone and irritated skin. So I kind of didn’t bother much with it. Plus, it has that scent which makes me feel like it’s too fragrant for my skin. After all, fragrance isn’t skin care.
The 100% natural, clean Lapis facial oil has a rather tight ingredient list with eight ingredients in all. The first of which is good ole Squalane Oil, a bio-compatible, superbly moisturizing non-fragrant plant oil that skin loves.
It’s followed by common Jojoba Seed Oil and Coconut Oil, Kukui Nut Oil and Vitamin E before we get to the Tanacetum Annuum Leaf Oil, or Blue Tansy itself. And that begs the question…
What is Blue Tansy?
Originally a wild-harvested Mediterranean plant, blue tansy — which is actually yellow in color — is now cultivated mainly in Morocco. When the flower’s popularity in beauty products surged, it was harvested almost out of existence in the wild. Today, supplies are steadily increasing, but it’s still one of the more expensive essential oils. A 2-ounce bottle may cost more than $100.
The blooms of Tanacetum annuum are yellow. Its slender leaves are covered with a fine white “fur.” The oil has a sweet, herbal fragrance due to its high camphor content.
Source for this information: Healthline
If you have blemish-prone skin and are hesitant to use a facial oil, Herbivore’s Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil may just be the best facial oil for blemish prone skin — including yours.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil for $72 here.
The Inkey List | Bakuchiol Cream
I’ve tested and reviewed probably every single product that The Inkey List has ever made (except their new hair products for obvious reasons!). Many of them have become personal favorites, products I use every single day, including Inkey’s Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner — which I use as my daily deodorant. I know, I know. If that’s news to you, have a look here.
About a year ago, I wrote about the handful of Bakuchiol products on the market at the time in a piece titled, Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Anti-Aging Serums from The Inkey List, Herbivore & More!
Literally, there were less that a dozen or so. Today, I’ve lost count; there must be hundreds.
One of my favorites to this day is The Inkey List’s Bakuchiol moisturizer. It’s simply one of the best anti-aging moisturizers with Bakuchiol, the kinder, gentler alternative to Retinol, that I’ve come across.
What is Bakuchiol?
For the answer, let’s go straight to my skincare muse, Paula Begoun, and the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
“Bakuchiol is a natural antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient found in the seeds and leaves of the plant Psoralea corylifolia [babchi plant] Ongoing in vitro (Petri dish) and in vivo (on skin) research has shown that bakuchiol seems to have skin-restoring ability when applied twice daily, and that it may also have a brightening effect on skin. Research has also shown this plant ingredient has soothing and anti-wrinkle properties as well as helping to visibly improve skin color and tone.
“Science has revealed that bakuchiol interacts with many of the same areas in skin as retinol, sometimes by taking the same pathway, other times by going a different route but still leading to the same results, such as diminished wrinkles, improved elasticity, and smoother skin. In either case, we’re confident that bakuchiol is a promising, beneficial ingredient whose actions can complement and enhance what retinol does for skin.”
The Bakuchiol level in Inkey’s vegan Bakuchiol Cream formula is at 1% — the industry standard. It’s light, silky and quite comfortable on the skin. In addition, the clean, pleasurable cream is formulated with a high level of Squalane at ingredient number two, making it a relatively skin nourishing cream for all skin types.
There’s even an intriguing botanical active called Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, or Sacha Inchi oil. Sacha inchi nut oil is extracted from the seeds and fruit of the Plukenetia volubilis, or pracaxi — a tree native to the Amazon region. This oddly sounding oil is purported to fight depression, reduce cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease and aid in diabetes management. Rich in Omega 3, I imagine it functions like so many non-fragrant plant oils — oils like Argan, Marula, Jojoba and Almond — nourishing the skin with perhaps some antioxidant benefits tossed in for good measure.
Inkey’s Bakuchiol Cream is one of my favorite moisturizers and I recommend it often. In fact, I always suggest it when people ask me about Inkey and where to begin exploring the brand. For just $9.99, it’s a true anti-aging gem. In fact, by my math, you can buy 18 tubes of it for the price of one nonsensical jar of La Mer. Isn’t life grand!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the The Inkey List Bakuchiol Cream for $9.99 here.
Balm Labs | Clear Balm Serum Hydrator
I only recently discovered Balm Labs and their system of CBD-powered skincare, which includes a cleansing foam, AHA exfoliating treatment and the Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum Hydrator. I first reviewed the brand in an article titled, CBD Skincare and the Best CBD Serums for Face from Paula's Choice, Balm Labs, Josie Maran & More!
If you haven’t yet explored skincare infused with CBD, or Cannabidiol, now is the time. There are some fantastic CBD facial skincare products in the marketplace today — and more very likely on the way!
Over the last 18 months, established brands like Paula’s Choice, Herbivore, and Josie Maran began to offer CBD facial skin care.
Last spring, the beauty gurus at Allure published an article titled, The 17 Best CBD Skin-Care Products to Try Right Now.
Right at the top of Allure’s list? The Herbivore Botanicals Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil — which I reviewed on my blog here.
Beyond the established brands, new entrants founded entirely around CBD products emerged — among them Saint Jane Beauty, Balm Labs and relative newcomer, Prima.
What does CBD in skincare do?
Of course, for the answer, I have to turn to the trusted experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, as I so often do. I wanted to see what they have to say about CBD in facial skincare — and whether or not all the hype is real.
According to the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
“Cannabidiol has been shown to offer numerous benefits related to calming skin. Skin has specific receptor sites for cannabinoids (referred to as its endocannabinoid system). It seems CBD can “talk” to these receptor sites on skin, sending unique signals to stop firing the wrong messages, which in turn leads to healthier, better-looking skin. This benefit makes cannabidiol an intriguing ingredient for interrupting the progression of damage within skin’s uppermost layers that can lead to visible problems; however, more research needs to be done to gain a greater understanding of how CBD works on skin.
Research has also shown, though isn’t entirely clear on how this works, that CBD seems to visibly reduce oily skin. It’s also a very good antioxidant, on par with vitamins C and E.”
I immersed myself in the Balm Labs trio and was immediately struck by how this unique skincare routine with CBD instantly lit up my complexion.
If you missed my IGTV video for that particular #selfcaresunday, you can catch it here. I featured the entire Balm Labs regimen — a collection of 100% plant-based skin care powered by naturally derived AHAs.
Both the Clear Balm Serum Hydrator and Power Elixir contain 300mg of CBD to help sooth irritation and restore skin’s equilibrium.
Personally, I really noticed a difference. The Serum Hydrator, in particular, is a wonderful formula with a terrific blend of antioxidant botanical extracts, non-fragrant plant oils and brightening Niacinamide.
Balm Labs’ Serum Hydrator has a light, milky texture and it’s natural, deeply nourishing and such a pleasure to use. As a great serum should be, it’s also easily layered into any skincare routine in place of your humectant or Hyaluronic Acid step, immediately following the application a hydrating toner.
Such good stuff! And, that #balmlabsbombglow is legit!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Balm Labs Clear Balm Serum Hydrator for $84 here.
That’s it guys! Thank you for all your support and motivation. It keeps me going. And remember, next time someone asks you for a recommendation on a good anti-aging cream, look them straight in the eye and scream, “SUNSCREEN!”
And, be sure to enter the giveaway to win my seven picks from the Skincarma Vault! For details, see just below…
🖤 SKINCARMA
SKINCARMA….
GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win the entire collection of 7 favorites from the Skincarma Vault and featured in today’s blog — including the Biophile Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum, KPS Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum, The Glow Maker Niacinamide Booster Serum, The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution, Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil, The Inkey List Bakuchiol Cream and the Balm Labs Serum Hydrator. ($465 value)
Share why you want to win in the comments below. Then, return to the Skincarma IG page and comment “Done”. Giveaway ends Sunday 08/01/2020.
The Ingredient List of the Biophile Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum:
so|h, Propanediol solv|h, Niacinamide 
cci|sb|aacne|h, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid aox|sb, Betaine h, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate buff|h, Acetyl Glucosamine sii|sb, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 cci, Inulin , Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide surf, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Sodium Polyglutamate h, Maltodextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1 so|h, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment amic|pres, DL-Panthenol so|h 0 0, L-Arginine sii, Aqua solv, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Phytic Acid sb|chel, Sclerotium Gum vc, Glucomannan* hThe Ingredient List of the KPS Essentials Antioxidant Eye Repair Serum:
Water, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, *Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, *Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) *Argania Spinosa (Argan) Nut Oil, Kernel Oil, Steric Acid, Sodium, Hyaluronic Acid, Lupinus Albus Extract, *Tocopherol (Vitamin E), CoEnzyme Q10, * Ilex paraguariensis Leaf (Yerba Mate) Extract, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl *Proprietary Blend of Essential Oils *Organic Ingredients
The Ingredient List of the The Glow Maker 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 The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution:
The Ingredient List of the Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil:
sii|emo 0 1, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emo 0 0-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil so|emo, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Flower Extract perf, Rosa Damascena Flower ExtractThe Ingredient List of The Inkey List Bakuchiol Cream:
sii|emo 0 1, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Propanediol solv|h, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil (Sacha Inchi Oil) aox|emo|h, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Bakuchiol cci|amic|aox|emo, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Caproyl Prolinate h|surf, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer vc, Carbomer vc 0 1, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate emu|surf, Polysorbate 60 emu|surf, Phytic Acid sb|chel, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate emu 0 1-2, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3The Ingredient List of the Balm Labs Serum Hydrator:
Water (Aqua), Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Yeast Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Cannabidiol, Caprylyl Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid.
