NEW & NOTEWORTHY SKINCARE #7

 

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Today we're talking new skincare launches that I thought you'd be interested in. I've been testing out this trio over the past few weeks and I'm ready to return a verdict on the latest launches from Skin Rocks, the Ordinary and Ilia...

First up, we have the Eye Cream by Skin Rocks* | £65. Look, I'm an eye cream sceptic, so I have to be upfront about that! So, £65 for this kind of product was always going to be a pretty hard sell with me. This product has a really nice creamy-lotion texture that melts down really nicely onto my skin and doesn't feel too rich or heavy, so it doesn't cause me milia or feel greasy underneath my makeup. It's formulated with a tripeptides and algae extract to protect the skin against free radical damage stemming from our environment, to hydrate the eye area and also to possibly help increase collagen production in the skin to keep it healthy and plump (as it loses volume over the years). There's diamond powder in the mix to have a light-reflecting quality so the eye area appears brighter, plant extracts that are rich in minerals and vitamins to help contribute towards skin health and strength and non-fragrant plant oils to soften and moisturise. Then there's hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and glycerin to draw hydration into the skin, panthenol to help it retain moisture and remain calm and caffeine, which acts as a vasoconstrictor (which can help reduce the visibility of blood vessels under the thin skin around the eyes, which contribute towards a darker eye look). 

This is a nice eye cream; it hydrates my eye area, I like the texture and the skin around my eyes is looking hydrated and less crepey. Would I pay £65 for it? Whilst my dark eye area and some of the creases around my eyes can be improved a little with topical products; I'm fully aware that there's no miracle cure. And, for me, I see a similar effect when I'm using much more affordable products than this. Therefore, I just don't think it's worth the money based on my own experience. 

Next, we have a product that's much more affordable than other similar options in this category: the Ordinary's GF 15% Solution* | £13.50. This is essentially a Growth Factor serum; I think the Ordinary possibly didn't want to use that terminology because it does sound a little c-word-adjacent. However, growth factors naturally occur in our skin already and the types used in skincare products are made to match those occurring in our skin cells that perform functions like producing collagen at the natural levels younger skin does (they also do not enter the bloodstream, according to testing; they might not even get into the skin, which we will get into shortly...) These types of products have long been very expensive and not very well-supported by evidence, so they felt like something that existed for celebrities in LA with the cash to splash on every new 'innovation'. The Ordinary have once again done what they do extremely well and taken a buzzy ingredient and brought it down to a 'worth a go' price-point. When it comes to well-ageing; I have a tier of ingredients with sunscreen and retinoids at the top of the pile and exfoliants, antioxidants (including Vitamin C) and peptides a little further down on the ranking. Everything else might be nice to have but I wouldn't personally recommend spending a lot of money on them because they're not that proven. 

Growth Factors fall into this category; there just isn't the history supporting their efficacy that we have with something like retinoids (or even in comparison to peptides). They're purported to work by signalling our skin cells to activate their repair mechanisms, and in turn help our skin regenerate and look younger. However, it is questionable whether these large proteins can actually penetrate the skin and give these benefits. This serum contains three growth factors designed to smooth the skin, reduce fine lines, increase elasticity and improve skin firmness. It's a water-light serum that can be used AM or PM; it's not irritating and can be used alongside your other skincare products. Personally, I found that my skin felt a little plumper and more hydrated whilst using this serum. Is this because my skin cells are producing more collagen? I doubt it, based on the evidence I've seen; it's more likely that it's just hydrating my skin. Is it any better than any other hydrating serum? I'm not convinced, however if you've been interested in trying Growth Factors but they were just too expensive; this is your opportunity!

Finally, I recently also tried the Ilia Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream* | £64. This is a lightweight lotion cream designed by a predominantly makeup-focused brand, designed to compliment makeup. It's formulated with shea butter to nourish the skin, oat extract to soothe and calm, glycerin to draw in hydration, squalane as a skin-similar plant oil, lactic acid (which can work as an exfoliant but in this context it's acting as a Natural Moisturising Factor) and ceramides, a fundamental component of the lipid barrier which keeps our skin strong and free from dryness and irritation. It's right up my street in terms of ingredients, it's fragrance-free for sensitive skin types and the texture makes it easy for just about any skin type to get along with. This does still work as a night cream for my skin, but I personally enjoy this best as a day cream; it's not that common to find these sorts of skin barrier maintenance ingredients in such a lightweight and breathable package, so that's what makes this product stand out. As you'd expect from this brand, the product sits really nicely under sunscreen and makeup; it doesn't pill, it isn't heavy or greasy and it just leaves a soft, moisturised base for whatever you want to put on over it. You don't have to spend this much on this type of moisturiser, but I have to admit that I have a soft spot for this product...

 

Have you tried any of these new launches?

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Read more posts from this series here!