[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] I haven’t heard from Simple for ages so I thought I’d flag up their new Booster Serums – who knew! They’re all designed for sensitive skin so if you’ve wanted to add an ingredient to your routine to target something specific, I think they’re pretty good value.
This post is pretty much for information – other than a surface test, I haven’t put these to any results test. All I can say is that they’re very pleasant on the skin. I will flag up a useful description of Niacinamide from the Simple site – I mean, I forget what everything’s for because it’s a lot to keep up with and reminders are always useful. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B that’s low irritation but high benefits. Oiliness, enlarged pores, soothing and strengthening the skin barrier – it’s something of a wonder ingredient. The thing I don’t know is how much you need daily to maintain all the benefits but it seems that 10% (in the serum) is standard across the board.
I’m also interested to know if we are over mixing and matching our skin care? I don’t feel nearly as enthusiastic about dosing my own face as I used to – I really lean towards products that are all encompassing these days with the odd exception being PHA from Jenni at Willowberry (HERE) for excellent cell turnover qualities in a gentle formula and Garden of Wisdom’s Neurophroline™ Serum (HERE) for extra hydration. Although I’m (healthiliy, I hope) sceptical of these extra ingredient doses, the one that I have little time for is Vitamin C for brightening – I did a call out on Instagram specifically asking if anyone had seen noticeable results from using Vitamin C serums and with only one or two indicating the positive, nobody else really had. The Simple Serums are £5.06 on Amazon HERE which is cheaper than Superdrug or Boots.
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10 comments
I’m so glad you’ve called out vitamin c
I’ve been using TO L ascorbic acid for a while now and noticed no difference whatsoever
yes, I’ve seen the route to the studies on it and I’d say they’re unreliable at best and yet they’re used as industry standard.
I have never found a serum that did anything for me.
it’s interesting isn’t it – some swear but the majority, when I asked, said no.
I’m really interested in everyones views on this. I do use serums but I do question whether they are useful or not. There are some that I have liked, from Espa in particular, and from The Ordinary. But the only serums that I can say with total confidence that have shown noticeable results are those with Lactic Acid. Used overnight, I do think that they noticeably brighten and smooth, and they are gentle on my mature skin. The one that I like best is a cheap one from The Ordinary. I have a Vitamin C serum at the moment, from Medik8, so it’s expensive. I got it in a gift with purchase. It’s got a nice texture and I’ll use it up, but I don’t see it doing anything and I wouldn’t buy it. And don’t even get me started on Hyalaronic Acid which does absolutely nowt for me and I think it even makes me dry. I actually really dislike it.
There’s a bit of a swing away from hyaluronic I think – really depends what it’s formulated with. I’ve had lots of hyaluronic serums that dry to nothing on the skin and I really need to feel a result. To be honest I haven’t gone right back to the origin testing of hyaluronic – only so many hours in a day – but while I do think it’s a good hydrator I’m open to believing that it’s only so in certain formulations and ask myself what else is doing the lifting there.
Agree
I’ve only really noticed a difference with acids and I know they’re working because they dry out my skin
Never been impressed with HA and the caffeine eye serums I feel like they’re very drying
Still on the fence about retinol too. It’s definitely something that’s ridiculously priced because it can be.
I’ve only used retinol for any length of time two or three times.. just not sure it’s needed – I mean, what’s the goal? To have skin that’s not your skin?
Just given up on vitamin C. I’ve used it ever since Skinceuticals appeared on my radar so it must be a couple of decades. Hasn’t done anything for me at all and I went off the expense of Skinceuticals when other far less expensive serums arrived!! I just wish someone would make a really good all-rounder, then I could give up the clutter of half empty stuff in my drawers!
I think there probably are good all rounders but we are so skewed into thinking we need extra of certain things. There’s just too much information out there to be able to see straight. I’d love to see any studies showing the difference in skin from using a basic moisturiser and then skin that uses all the extras.