serums – sarah fynn

All about Serums: the main star of a routine

So you have a routine but how to pick a serum?! The serum will be the main attraction to your routine, it is this product that would target any issues you want to address. They say if you are going to splurge on any part of your routine, it should be a serum ( and SPF).

The key to success is picking one for YOUR skin concerns instead of what your fav tiktoker uses. What works for them, may not work for you. There are general ingredients everyone can benefit from, but if you have more specific concerns please choose a serum especially for that

I love serums and I have tried a lot! Most target hyperpigmentation as that is my main skin concern. I have also used a lot of general/ skin barrier support ones.

This list will be updated frequently and I will do a separate post on hyperpigmentation products

Check out my favourite serums here

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair– my all-time favourite serum and repurchased several times

L’Oreal Midnight serum– the closest drugstore dupe to the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair- I recently bought this and I LOVE IT

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Ampoules

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating serum– by far the best serum under £5 I have used for simply hydrating and softening the skin

Shisedio Power Infusing Concentrate

Medik8 Super C30

The Ordinary amino acids serum

The Ordinary Niacinamide serum

Your Good Skin Balancing Skin concentrate

The Inkey List Q10

Ren Glow & Protect

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow

Skin Goals for 2020

I’ve been pretty consistent with my skincare routine and learning about new products, ingredients and techniques over the last 3 years. For 2020, I really wanted to level up my skincare game, use more advanced skincare and incorporate more clinic visits.

Why?

Because even though I have been good with my skin, I felt as though it had become ‘stagnant’ and some pigmentation and textural issues I was facing were not shifting. Of course this can be due to a lot of things but I reviewed my skincare routine and products and realised I needed to do more. With this in mind, I decided to get some ‘power serums’, serums that have been tried and tested and are best sellers for a reason.

My main aims this year and beyond is visibly healthier skin that is texture free and (hyper) pigmentation free. I have sorted my skincare now (slowly) and next I will be tackling my eating & sleeping habits because I know these have a huge impact on skin conditions.

Power Serums- I don’t know why I call them these but I have been wanting these products for a while so in the boxing day and New Year sales, I made sure to take advantage and get them

Lancôme Advanced Genifique Serum– Lancôme’s flagship serum, the Genifique has similar ingredients to the EL night serum. I remember I used a tiny sample a few years back and was impressed by it. I caught it in the Boxing day sale in a gift set with an eye cream and face cream for less than the price of a single serum.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewable Booster– I was introduced to this product at a skincare event last year and tried it very quickly on the back of my hands. The texture was nice. This is a booster serum so I don’t plan on using it alone, infact they recommend you use it before another serum to boost their effectiveness. I have started using this in combo with the Honeymoon Glow and I have been loving it so far. I also got this in a gift set so it came with samples of their flagship ceramide capsules and boy am I hooked- I may have to purchase these as well!

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow– I love Farmacy the brand so this serum was a no brainer. This is a high acid content 14% AHA BHA serum which resurfaces the skin. I have started using it and let me just say my skin has been so smooth! It stings (as expected) so I layer a hydrating cream after plus an oil. I use it for 1 week on 3 weeks off

Estee Lauder Advanced Repair Night Serum– this really is a repurchase, this time I have gone for the 50ml. whilst this serum doesn’t necessarily target hyperpigmentation, it leaves the skin texture free and visibly radiant. I fell in love with this serum almost instantly and when I finished it I knew it was something I needed to get again and be a staple in my routine.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Ampoules: I had a deluxe size of this last year in a gift set I purchased and it was love at first use. When coupled with the night repair, your skin is left plump, hydrated and well rested and this was really tested in the summer when it was hot, I had little sleep and events to attend to. It really leaves the skin looking like you have had the best sleep ever and woke up with gorgeous smooth skin. Its pricey of course is it worth the full price?. I think it could be at least £15 pounds cheaper so when I saw it at the Estee Lauder Outlet store for £23 less than the original price plus an extra 10% off I immediately bought it ( then went the next day to get another tub lol)

I’m really excited about this year and my skin journey! In addition to these, I will be doing more facial and clinic visits (watch out for reviews). I will also be using other great ingredients like Vitamin C, hyaluronic acids and of course SPF! I also want to try more high-end skincare.

I am currently working on posting my current routines for AM & PM: these should be up soon

Catch you later.

September Empties and Reviews

My empties for September! This month went by so quickly, right? I managed to finish quite a few things so I am really happy about that. check out my thoughts and reviews below

Haircare

I really love the EcoStyler Olive hair gel for slick buns. This is the 2^nd tub I have finished this year and I have already repurchased. Nunaat Hydration plus Conditioner– I mainly used this conditioner for my wigs and it works well for the texture. I have also used it on my natural hair a few times, it was ok. Got2b blasting freeze spray– we all know the deal with this. I used it for my wigs but mostly as a holding spray when I curl them too. ORS Monoi Oil Conditioner– full review here. Tsaka Black Magic Hair Mask (gifted)– this mask was not impressive. It has a loose runny consistency and it provides enough slip for detangling. I feel like it doesn’t do much, it does condition my hair but my hair has felt better before

Skincare/makeup

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Mud Mask– this was great but it’s not impressive. It’s a nice mask but I have definitely used better. BodyShop Strawberry Smoothing face mist– these BodyShop face mists were released sometime last year and promises to leave the skin smoother and velvet to touch. It is makeup friendly. I have been using this as a mist over my makeup or to dampen my makeup sponges. I really like the Strawberry mist. It smells lovely and leaves my skin looking healthier and glowing. The mist is suitable for powder and liquid foundations: I have used it for both and it didn’t disturb makeup. It sprays in a fine mist so it’s very easy to use and even layer on the skin. It does leave the skin glowing so I won’t recommend for oily skin types. As for reducing texture, I haven’t used it as a skincare mist but over makeup, it helps to leave the skin looking smoother. DHC Astaxanthin Collagen gel (gifted) – this is a lovely textured gel cream. It does hydrate the skin although it not long-lasting. I didn’t think it did much to my skin over time so I used it very intermittently. Towards the end I think I used it more as a body moisturiser. Another bottle of The Ordinary Salicylic acid which I love so much for treating spots and texture. Beauty Pie purifying clay cleanser– I have a full review here. Missha Sun gel SPF 50– full review here. Seahorse Plankton Everlasting Radiance Moisturiser (gifted) – this is actually a great moisturiser with a luxurious texture. It moisturises the skin without leaving it oily. What I don’t like about it is the scent. I am not a big fan of frankincense and this moisturiser smells quite strongly of it. If you don’t mind that then this is a good moisturiser. Another bottle of my fav top coat Barry M Plumpy topcoat. Burt’s Bee lip balm (gifted)– full review here.

Sunday Riley CEO moisturiser– this was part of the SR box from Glossybox. I have fallen in love with this moisturiser. It’s creamy and feels lux plus it leaves the skin looking brighter and feeling moisturised. I definitely like it better than the SR CO Vitamin C Serum. Full review of the serum here. Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing gel– full review here. Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray– I will have a full review of this up soon. Simply Pure Refreshing toner– this is a very simple basic toner to use. It doesn’t do much but does hydrate after cleansing – not that its enough though. I like it because it’s easy to add to any routine and can be used with so many other products. Nivea Moisture lock SPF 30– this is a great SPF for dark skin. It has both UVA/UVB protection and its 100% invisible on dark skin. 2x DIY sheet mask. B makeup primer (gifted) – full review here. 2x Primark wipes and 1x Cucumber cooling mask. Nivea Q10 SPF 50– this is a lovely lightweight lotion that feels moisturising on the skin. it is 100% invisible on dark skin. my only con with this is that it tends to pill if you use too much of it and for someone like me who likes to slaughter on SPF you will experience a lot of this. Use a smaller amount and you won’t have this issue. this is the only reason why i would recommend the SPF mousse over this one. In terms of the Anti pigments benefits, I do not think I noticed any improvements or benefits. its an excellent SPF from the drugstore and one that works well for dark skin. Superfacialist Vitamin C Glow Boost serum– this is my 2^nd vitamin c product from Superfacialist and again I am very disappointed in it. It has a slight shimmer and did not add any benefits to my skin. I used it everyday morning for at least 4 weeks but benefits. IT Cosmetics Transforming Moisturising Super Cream– oh this is a very luxurious non-greasy cream that moisturises the skin! The texture is thick and so creamy and just skins into the skin with ease! Benefit Porefessional primer– this is an ok primer. I don’t think it’s worth the hype though. I don’t have large pores but even with that, this doesn’t completely minimise them. It is good for keeping the skin semi-matte during the day and works well with powder foundation. Becca Glow Elixir– whilst I didn’t have enough to get a good impression of this, the glow elixir didn’t do anything special. It’s a shimmer serum which I hate and I didn’t add any hydration to my skin. I’m so glad it was super small. Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief– this is a lovely gel crème texture that hydrates the skin and leaves it glowing. This is my 2^nd and product from the Moisture Surge range and honestly, I am loving it so far.

Murad Hydra-Glow Aqua Peelx2– this came in a Murad gift set I got from Debenhams. I was really excited to try this because I have known about this product for a while and it’s been on my list. It’s a 2 part mask- 1^st you use the acid swab all over the face then the moisture sheet mask to lock in moisture. As much as I love acids, the swab in this mask was unimpressive. It doesn’t say the conc of acids in it but it’s formulated with lactic and glycolic acids. It’s a large cotton swap I used all over my face- I didn’t experience any irritation. The Moisture Infusion Mask was much better. It hydrated my skin and left it glowing. It fits well and stays on. If you’re interested, I got the ‘Drenched in Moisture Set’ which also comes with a cleanser ( I have a full review on this), serum and gel moisturiser.

Bodycare

Derma Organics Facial Scrub (gifted) – this is a face scrub but I used I as a body scrub because it felt so abrasive on the skin. This has a similar texture to brown sugar and I definitely was not going to use it on my face. This as a body scrub was amazing! It left my skin so soft and smooth and the oil in it left my skin glowing. It is also great to use on my feet, around my heel area to remove dry dead skin. I really don’t think this is suitable for the face because of the texture. It smells amazing too. Missguided Babe power– this perfume is amazing as an everyday scent and I go so many compliments. Its has vanilla notes which I super love and best of all its very affordable. Sure deodorant. Divine and Handmade hazelnut oil (gifted) I used this in my oil mixes. It’s a very lightweight oil and doesn’t have a nutty smell. Holika Holika Aloe 99– great aloe vera gel to use in my oil and butter mixes.

Total this month- 39 total so far- 295/400

This month I am also retiring two products. I haven’t included them in my empties because they are not empty but I am just not getting on well with them/ bored lol. (I think I will make this a series)

Sunday Riley Blue Moon- I will have a full review on this but I managed to use it for a week before I gave up on it. I do not like the texture – it has grit which doesn’t dissolve easily and it doesn’t work well with a makeup removal cloth. The cleansing power is mediocre at best.

Dr Organic Snail Eye Serum- this one I like but slightly bored with it. I have retired it for now as I am trying out the new eye cream from The Inkey list.

That’s it for September! I’ve been really busy lately so I haven’t been working on posts for the blog but I should get up and running soon! Watch out for more reviews and recommendations!

Catch you later

The Ordinary Amino Acid and B5 Review

The growing portfolio of The Ordinary means one thing: new products for us to try! The Ordinary Amino Acid and B5 is one of their latest serums and I bought this as soon as I saw it ( they hadn’t even put on the product information lol) I bought this because at the time I was researching amino acids as a skincare ingredient and The ordinary is the perfect brand to start experimenting with. Check out my Summer to Fall routine here

The Ordinary Amino Acid and B5 is for hydration support which means to maintain healthy skin function. It is a mixture of amino acids and amino acid derivatives

Experience

The Ordinary Amino Acid and B5 is a watery serum which feels light on the skin. The Ordinary say you may feel a tingling sensation upon application but I have NOT experienced this. I use my serum in the morning after my essence or facial mist and it works well layered underneath those products and my moisturiser. I have not experienced any irritation with this and it doesn’t clog pores

The serum is easily absorbed into the skin after pressing it in. it feels great and adds hydration to my skin whilst adding a healthy glow. I really love this serum because it provides all-day hydration. I use about 2-3 drops over my face and neck. It does feel somewhat tacky when dried but I have experienced no pilling with it. It can tend to have a very shiny look and form a shiny ‘film’ on the skin if you use too much (like I have done so many times lol) but after adding moisturiser this breaks the ‘film’ and reduces shine.

Verdict

I prefer this serum for hydration to the Ordinary’s Hyaluronic acid serum (I have reviewed that here). This watery serum is very lightweight and very hydrating and it’s been the perfect addition to my routine this winter. I am halfway through the bottle and I will definitely repurchase. It has been a good addition in terms of helping my skin maintain its health. I have been using this for a while and I haven’t experienced any tingling upon application but always patch test before trying this.

I will definitely recommend this serum if you are looking for a budget-friendly hydrating serum. Amino acids have a range of benefits in skincare like antioxidant protection and hydration. The amino acids in this serum are a mixture of essential and non-essential amino acids and also have hydration, skin smoothing and anti-aging benefits.

The Ordinary Amino Acid and B5 is £5.90 on BeautyBay*

It’s Christmas EVE!

*affiliate link used. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, I will earn a small commission which goes towards the upkeep of the blog (and allows me to keep bringing you excellent content) but the price remains the same

Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum review

Vitamin E is a skin care ingredient which is excellent for healing skin and antioxidant protection. Superdrug’s Vitamin E range is one of a kind and they also have a lot of products in the range. Today’s post will be a full review of the Facial Boost serum

Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum has been formulated with fruit acids and betaine to boost skin moisture contact and stimulate skin cell renewal. The serum also has a blend of vitamin A, B, F and H.

Experience

The serum has a lightweight silky texture and is easily absorbed into the skin. It is a lightweight lotion with a pleasant scent which is the same scent as all the other Vitamin E products in this range. The serum doesn’t leave a greasy finish and I experienced no irritation with it. I also really liked the packaging of the serum, it comes in a pump bottle and dispenses a good amount. In addition to Vitamin E, it has also been blended with other skin nourishing ingredients like Betaine which acts as an anti-irritant and humectant to draw moisture into the skin plus other vitamins.

I think this is an excellent budget serum and it’s perfect for use both morning and night, layered underneath a moisturiser or a watery serum. I really like this and it adds hydration to my skin. I use 2 to 3 pumps which I pressed into the skin after using 2 serums. I find that it doesn’t ‘pill’ when combined with other serums/creams.

Verdict

Overall, the Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum is good drugstore serum that is easy to incorporate into any routine. I will recommend it for all skintypes and it can be layered with the other serums in your routine for a quick boost of hydration. The price post of this serum is very budget friendly and it’s almost always on offer in Superdrug. Plus you get a lot for £3.99, its 50ml!

I will be doing a brand review of the Superdrug Vitamin E range soon as I have picked up quite a few products and tried a few products in this range

Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum is £3.99 in Superdrug

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver Review

Vitamin C has a lot of great benefits for the skin and if you want brighter glowing skin, it’s an ingredient worth incorporating into your skincare routine! The Vitamin C range from the BodyShop has a lot of products but are they actually worth it? Because they’re not exactly the cheapest! Today’s review will be on the BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver which I have been using for the last months now.

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver is an instant smoother for dull and tired looking skin. It promises to enhance natural radiance and give skin a silky-smooth finish. It also contains light reflecting particles.

Experience

What’s there not to love about this little product?! It comes in a pump bottle and the scent is a delicate orange scent: really pleasant and refreshing. It’s very lightweight in texture and easily spreads over the face. The serum has a hint of colour but it doesn’t leave any of this on the skin. There is also a hint of shimmer but this disappears as you smooth it over your skin.

I use this serum as the last step in my morning skincare routine on makeup free days, which is now almost every day lol. The texture is very similar to that of a primer and so it blurs (a tad bit) pores and leaves your skin looking smooth. I only use half a pump for my entire face and neck because I found that using a full pump was too much and it settles a little bit around my neck area.

To me, it doesn’t really add any moisture to my skin and it doesn’t look or feel oily either. It feels light weight and leaves a satin finish. A lot of reviews I have read state that this is excellent as a makeup primer. Although I haven’t used it as such, I think it would be a great alternative as the textures are very similar. The skin reviver as mention earlier also has blurring properties although I won’t say it’s as much as a primer

Verdict– I have been using this skin reviver and the Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser (review pending) and I must say they work really well together. It also layers well on top of other lotions/creams I have used. I love this skin reviver and it’s definitely worth a repurchase!

It’s a must have for me on makeup free days and I love how smooth and healthy looking it leaves my skin.

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver is £17 on BodyShop.com

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum Review

So The Ordinary, is a skincare brand that my serious beauty addicts have heard off. I must admit I was every late to the game with this but as soon as I read the reviews I wanted to try it. The Ordinary is a full skincare line that’s supposed to be effective but very budget friendly I’m talking £4 serums including Retinols and Oils. I think they most expensive product from the line is a (whopping) £12.90!! Anyway, I picked up some products back in October/November (this is why you should follow me on Instagram) and I am here with a full review for the Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid is 2% with added Vitamin B5 which is supposed to enhance hydration. The serum provides hydration support with an ultra-pure vegan hyaluronic acid. If you haven’t heard of this sexy little molecule called Hyaluronic Acid and want to know all its benefits, read my previous post on it here.

Experience

You are directed to use a few drops of it on the face in the morning and evenings before creams. I use mine in the mornings and use a full drop to 2 before my SPF and morning moisturiser. The serum sinks into the skin very easily and a tad bit sticky when dry.

For my skin type (normal to combo) it doesn’t leave a greasy feel, it leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. I’m almost done with the bottle and since using it I can honestly say my skin’s moisture levels have been good. I can use this underneath my morning moisturiser and SPF and leave the house and have no dry patches (even without makeup on!) during the day even with this cold winter we have been experiencing! Continued use has left my skin plumper and radiant (#moisturelevelsonpoint #teamnodrypatches LOL)

The packaging is very simple yet effective and the dropper works. It comes in a clear glass bottle: for a cheap serum I am impressed by the packaging and its quality. It almost has no scent.

Verdict

For a £5 serum, £5.90 to be exact it’s a very good serum! Hyaluronic Acid is great for moisture and its one of the main reasons I purchased it! Definitely a repurchase and suitable (especially) for the winter! Just make sure you don’t catch it on pre-order as I did for one of their products (although at the time it didn’t say it was on pre order hmm and received that product almost a month later!). It has been a great addition to my skincare routine and I am bummed I am almost out of it. Dry skin types looking for a budget friendly but effective moisturising serum, do check this one out! works great with the different moisturisers I have paired it with.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid is £5.90 and available from Victoria Health

Fear & Doubt has killed more dreams than disappointment