PRODUCT REVIEW: BELLFLOWER IDEBENONE BRIGHTENING SERUM – ONE OF THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT SERUMS
BELLFLOWER | IDEBENONE BRIGHTENING SERUM
Back in my beauty days working for Kiehl’s and L’Oreal, we always talked about antioxidants in terms of age prevention. Product messaging about antioxidants was always targeted to women in their 20s.
Wow have things changed.
Truthfully, it was always absurd to look at antioxidants through the lens of anti-aging. “Anti-aging” is such a big beauty marketing term. Anything that’s pro-skin health is anti-aging!
When you look at skincare through the lens of skin health, you can focus on what your skin really needs to looks its healthy, youthful best. Like the rest the body, skin needs multiple substances to stay healthy — among them sunscreen, vitamins, water-binding humectants, oil-based moisture and, yes, ANTIOXIDANTS. That goes for everyone at every age, not just girls in their 20s!
Some of the most powerful antioxidants come in the form of vitamins; among the most potent are Vitamin C, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) and Vitamin E. Substances like CoQ10, Astaxanthin, Ferulic Acid and Resveratrol are also excellent antioxidants that defend skin against aging free radical damage.
Have you ever heard of Idebenone, a synthetic antioxidant similar to CoQ10?
According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, Idebenone is one of the best substances used in skincare.
What is Idebenone?
A synthetic antioxidant similar to coenzyme Q10. Research for idebenone has not compared its effects to many of the hundreds of other potent antioxidants that commonly appear in other skincare products, nor did it compare the effects of idebenone with the effects of a combination of antioxidants. Perhaps a cocktail of antioxidants would far surpass idebenone—we don’t know. Other published studies compared the red grape antioxidant compound reseveratrol and L-ergothioneine to idebenone and found both superior to idebenone.
To date, there are still no published, peer-reviewed studies that support idebenone’s alleged superiority. This does not mean idebenone is not a valid antioxidant for skin. Given what we know about how ubiquinone performs in the body, it is definitely not a throwaway ingredient. What is fairly certain, however, is that it is neither the best nor most potent antioxidant around.
While they believe more research is needed to gauge its antioxidant potency to other more common antioxidants, I did find some limited research studying whether “Idebenone is more powerful in preventing cell damage than Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, Kinetin, and Alpha Lipoic Acid.”
The Paula’s Choice team recommends cocktailing Idebenone with Vitamin C and other proven antioxidants — which indie K-beauty brand Bellflower has done with their Idebenone Brightening Serum. The formula contains a healthy complex of Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Idebenone to defend skin against aging environmental aggressors.
The thick, silky serum is a treasure trove of pro-skin health goodness including preventative antioxidants, replenishing amino acids and soothing botanicals. It’s a wonderful, natural treatment with superior skin health benefits — one of the best natural anti-aging serums for face.
I’m glad it’s the first product from Bellflower I’ve tried! More is certainly to come…
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, purchase the Bellflower Idebenone Brightening Serum for $18.91 here.
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The Ingredient List of the the Bellflower Idebenone Brightening Serum:
Water, Xanthan gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene glycol, Butylene glycol, Niacinamide, Propolis extract, Lonicera japonica (Honeysuckle) flower extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) flower extract, Rosa damascena flower extract, Chrysanthemum indicum flower extract, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) flower extract, Nelumbo nucifera flower extract, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) flower extract, Inula britannica flower extract, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Oryza sativa (Rice) extract, Glycosyl trehalose, Hydrogenated lecithin, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, Arginine, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium hyaluronate, Tremella fuciformis (Mushroom) extract, Panthenol, Acorus calamus root extract, Perilla ocymoides leaf extract, Ascorbic acid, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis (Orange) oil, Citrus limon (Lemon) fruit oil, Aniba rosaeodora (Rosewood) wood oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil, Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) oil.
