It’s been a while since I’ve posted any skin care reviews, and that’s because I like to test out skin care products over a period of time to really assess the benefits. Here’s a lovely little serum from Skin & Co that I’ve been testing for the past fortnight.
After a 3 month busy season my skin was left looking incredibly tired and dull. I had been moisturising throughout the period, but had been neglecting my serums (bad girl) and it showed. So when this serum sample popped up in my Birchbox it was like the skin fairies were sending me a message. So I gave it a go.
Price: £29
Volume: 30ml
Features: “Sicilian Light™ Serum has been formulated to offer a triple action: brighten, soften and tighten you skin while providing active ingredients to boost Collagen, minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines,as well as, even skin tone.” [from Skin & Co marketing blurb]
Ingredients: AQUA (water), COCO-CAPRYLATE (Coco-caprylate), GLYCERIN (Glycerin), GLYCERYL STEARATE (Glyceryl Stearate), CETEARYL ALCOHOL (Cetearyl Alcohol), HYDROLYZED HIBISCUS ESCULENTUS EXTRACT (Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract), SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-5 (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5), SODIUM HYALURONATE (Sodium Hyaluronate), CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT (Centella Asiatica Extract), CHONDRUS CRISPUS EXTRACT (Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), PHENOXYETHANOL (Phenoxyethanol), SODIUM POLYACRYLATE (Sodium Polyacrylate), DIMETHICONE (Dimethicone), SODIUM BENZOATE (Sodium Benzoate), POTASSIUM SORBATE (Potassium Sorbate), SORBITOL (Sorbitol), POTASSIUM PALMITOYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN (Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein), SUCROSE PALMITATE (Sucrose Palmitate), P-ANISIC ACID (P-Anisic Acid), LECITHIN (Lecithin), GLUCOSE (Glucose), XANTHAN GUM (Xanthan Gum), PARFUM (Parfum), ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN (Eethlyhexyl Glycerin), LIMONENE (Limonene), DISODIUM EDTA (Disodium EDTA), LINALOOL (Linalool), HEXYL CINNAMAL (Hexyl Cinnamal), DEXTRIN (Dextrin).
Purchased/ sample: Paid for sample from Birchbox
The good
It’s a very light serum that absorbs really fast. It looks and feels more like a moisturising cream, as it doesn’t have that oily gloopy look and residue that some serums have. I then just applied a light day moisturiser on top, and I was good to go. While testing this, I went (mostly) make-up free so that I could see how the serum was working with just a light moisturiser on top. I say mostly, as I did add a touch of concealer, and a light bronzer to perk my complexion a little.
Once absorbed I did feel and look instantly hydrated and my skin was softer to the touch. This softness increased day by day and I do think you need to look at the cumulative effect when deciding whether any skin care product is working for you.
The bad (or just not so good)
It has a very overpowering fragrance, which does fade a little once absorbed into the skin, but I suspect it might irritate those with sensitive skin. If you do have sensitive skin and are trying this for the first time, please do a patch test first to check for irritation.
The claims
- Sinks in fast – yep
- Evens the complexion – not really for me. I don’ really understand the science behind serums and creams that claim to even out complexion. I’ve never found any that actually did, without a little pigment (e.g. tinted moisturisers).
- Brightens skin – yep, but I do believe that it’s more the intense hydration that then gives the skin a healthy glow, so it’s like one aspect of the serum giving multiple benefits
- Softens skin – yep
- Tightens skin – again, it didn’t really do this for me, but I don’t have particular issues with tightness of skin, as I’m only in my early thirties and have always followed good moisturising routine
The verdict
I like it, yes, but I wouldn’t re-purchase, as the fragrance is just too strong for me. If you don’t mind the fragrance and are an oily-normal skin type struggling to find a good hydrating serum that is non-greasy, I would give it a go.