topic Re: Serums....do they work? in Beauty

Serums....do they work?

tegrace — Sat, 03 May 2014 12:42:29 GMT

I received a sample of a sample of a Clinique serum recently. I used it this week and had a breakout. Has this happened to anyone else? Is a serum necessary? What has your experience been?

Re: Serums....do they work?

CalminHeart — Sat, 03 May 2014 12:54:53 GMT

I think it depends on the serum...what's in it? I always look for one with a hyaluronic acid base as that's critical for skin, collagen, etc. But there are lots of good ingredients and combinations.

I love my Isomers serum.

Re: Serums....do they work?

Harpa — Sat, 03 May 2014 13:29:20 GMT

Only 2 serums that are the most beneficial for me: a vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) serum (Devita) for building collagen & for antioxidant protection, and a hylauronic acid serum (HA occurs naturally in the body) for moisture and keeping the plumpness.

Re: Serums....do they work?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 03 May 2014 13:43:52 GMT

I also believe it depends on the actual serum, the ingredients, and the user's skin, sensitivities, etc. Unfortunately with a lot of this stuff it comes down to trial and error. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Re: Serums....do they work?

Tigriss — Sat, 03 May 2014 13:52:31 GMT

Paula's Choice has a whole line of antioxidant serums that are formulated for your skin type. I get her Skin Balancing Antioxidant Serum with Retinol for combo and oily skin. It hasn't caused break out in my prone skin. She does sell samples as well.

Re: Serums....do they work?

BellaCarro — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:07:56 GMT

It is not serum per se but what the ingredients are in the particular serum. There is probably a filler in the Clinique serum that is causing you trouble.

Re: Serums....do they work?

gonnab — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:17:07 GMT

Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

Re: Serums....do they work?

BellaCarro — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:19:40 GMT

On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I don't think those two ingredients in their truest forms play well together in a bottle. IMO, you need one of each. For C I like NCN. I've been using PC's and I like it a lot but I don't like her delivery packaging. For an HA serum, I found a very nice one at Whole Foods.

Re: Serums....do they work?

pattypeep — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:25:52 GMT

Since I began using a serum several years ago, I have noticed how helpful it has been to my skin. If I get lazy or in a hurry and skip that particular step, I can notice a difference ~ and not for the best. I think the key is, as the above posters indicated, to find one that works for you. I've been using Argon Oil for perhaps a year in lieu of the traditional serum.

Re: Serums....do they work?

Jooj_1 — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:46:39 GMT

On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I've been using a serum from Amara Organics that contains both ingredients. Go to Amazon and search for Vitamin C serum Amara Organics - it has great reviews. Cost is $23.95.

Re: Serums....do they work?

myshell624 — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:49:07 GMT

For me, YES serums work. It sounds like the serum you tried just wasn't for your skin. My must haves are a vitamin c serum in the AM (Mad Hippie), a retinol in the PM (Paula's Choice Intensive Retinol Serum), and an AHA also in the PM (Paula's Choice Daily 5% AHA). I do alternate the Retinol serum and the AHA at night. I am also considering the Exfoliating Serum from Mad Hippie when I run out of the one from Paula's Choice. It seems to have more ingredients that may help lighten my brown spots.

My advice would be to figure out what you are wanting to target with your skincare and look for ingredients that will help. Only try new products one at a time. If your skin is really sensitive you may only want to use a moisturizer or an oil. A lot of oils are available and there is a lot of information online about what each oil will help with. Good luck! My skin is a little sensitive and I know how aggravating breakouts and skin reactions can be.

Re: Serums....do they work?

BlingQueen022 — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:50:40 GMT

Yes, they do work. The new Bare Minerals and Skinn's works for me because I use the Skinn Orchid Gel as primer.

Re: Serums....do they work?

Lori64 — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:51:02 GMT

On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I got a Vitamin C serum that has hylauronic acid from amazon that is from OUI Skincare and I've been using it a few weeks and love it. It has made a noticable difference in my skin. It was $19.95 and I will definitely re-order this product and that's saying a lot for me.

Re: Serums....do they work?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 03 May 2014 14:53:44 GMT

On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I highly recommend Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. I've been using it for several months and like it very much.

Re: Serums....do they work?

KateChopin — Sat, 03 May 2014 15:20:06 GMT

I don't know what is in them, but when I have them I use and love the PTR PM Fusion and the Bare Minerals ACTIVE. They never broke me out. I had the Algenist once and liked it, even though I didn't like the rest of the line.

Re: Serums....do they work?

KateChopin — Sat, 03 May 2014 15:20:50 GMT

On 5/3/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I highly recommend Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. I've been using it for several months and like it very much.

Scout, where do you get that?

Re: Serums....do they work?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 03 May 2014 15:30:20 GMT

On 5/3/2014 KateChopin said:
On 5/3/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I highly recommend Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. I've been using it for several months and like it very much.

Scout, where do you get that?

You'll spend too much, buying directly from the MH site or the drugstore sites. I've gotten the best prices from Vitacost, Amazon, and iHerb. Where I ultimately purchase depends on what else I might be ordering, it I have a coupon code, etc.

Re: Serums....do they work?

River Song — Sat, 03 May 2014 16:00:29 GMT

On 5/3/2014 BellaCarro said:
On 5/3/2014 gonnab said:
Is there a good serum out there that has a good balance of Vit C and hylauronic acid?

I don't think those two ingredients in their truest forms play well together in a bottle. IMO, you need one of each. For C I like NCN. I've been using PC's and I like it a lot but I don't like her delivery packaging. For an HA serum, I found a very nice one at Whole Foods.

I am another one that likes the NCN Pro Skin Care Vit. C serum. It does have hyaluronic acid in the formulation. My skin feels soft like natural skin with this serum, not sticky or greasy feeling, and I have an oily T-zone. I have not experienced any kind of reaction to this serum, a miracle. Here's the ingredient list, it's a pretty simple formulation that is not filled with a bunch of junk or silicones:

INGREDIENTS: Water, L-Ascorbic Acid & MAP (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Sea Kelp Bioferment, Oat Beta Glucan, Vitamin E (mixture of Tocopherols & Tocotrienols), Ferulic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Optiphen.

Re: Serums....do they work?

Daysdee — Sat, 03 May 2014 16:05:55 GMT

I think they work.

Re: Serums....do they work?

stevieb — Sat, 03 May 2014 16:06:20 GMT

I think it depends on what you mean, OP, by "work"... Serums have different issues they supposedly address. I do think those that target hydration help, but I'm not sure any of the many cosmetics sold as stopping or turning back the hands of time really "work".

As for breakouts, I often find things I add new to my regimen, particularly anything aiding hydration, can cause a temporary problem, but once acclimated, it generally goes away.

Personally, I've never been a fan of Clinique products. but that's me.