It’s incredibly empowering to look like the best version of ourselves through the help of aesthetic procedures. But you can’t just invest in treatments and then skip out on supporting those results with quality skin care. (That’s like buying a Porsche and never visiting a mechanic for maintenance.) As you likely already know, however, not all skin-care formulas are created equal. To get the best results, you need to seek out products made with ingredients that are clinically proven to work. Here, we’re sharing the latest formulas to hit the market that will actually deliver on their promises. Keep reading to discover our favorite new launches, including a creamy cleanser, a vitamin C-infused sheet mask, and more.
Kate Somerville Mega-C 30% Vitamin C Brightening Facial ($72)
The hero ingredient: Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is the most biologically active form of vitamin C, and experts generally agree that it’s the most effective at brightening skin tone. This mask uses a high concentration of clinical-grade encapsulated (read: stable) ascorbic acid, plus nourishing sea buckthorn oil and barrier-protecting ceramides.
How to use it: Apply a thin layer on clean, dry skin once or twice a week. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off and follow up with your usual daytime or nighttime skin-care routine.
Why we love it: It leaves our skin with a noticeable glow for hours after washing it off, and it can be used on hyperpigmentation all over the body. After a few weeks of using it on our chest, some sun spots were significantly diminished.
Ameon Holy Cream Diamond Moisturizer ($85)
The hero ingredient: Sinorhizobium meliloti ferment filtrate. This bacterium is a form of fermented plant sugar that helps to protect fragile skin against environmental aggressors, smooth fine lines, and promote lasting hydration.
How to use it: Apply in light strokes (do not overmassage into the skin) after serum and before SPF.
Why we love it: No matter your skin type, you’ll be impressed by this cream. It’s intensely nourishing yet incredibly lightweight, quenching the thirstiest of complexions without weighing down or breaking out oily, acne-prone skin. A blend of peptides, plant oils, and sodium hyaluronate works to firm, moisturize, and hydrate, making the skin seriously glow (the diamond powder in the formula helps with that too).
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum ($225)
The hero ingredient: The brand’s signature P.A.T.H. technology, which features plant-based adaptogens. Clinical studies of the formula show that this product visibly improves the health and quality of the skin in just two weeks and fades redness, discoloration, fine lines, and the look of enlarged pores after eight weeks.
How to use it: Apply to clean skin, morning and night.
Why we love it: If you’ve used SkinBetter’s formulas before, you know how elegant they are, and this new one is no exception. The moisturizing serum absorbs quickly while leaving skin instantly softer, thanks to hydrating heavy hitters like sodium hyaluronate, squalane, and isosorbide dicaprylate, an ingredient that helps balance and maintain a healthy skin barrier. While this product combats all the effects of stress on skin, its results are particularly impressive when it comes to combating redness. It’s a must for those struggling with rosacea.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream with Niacinamide ($55)
The hero ingredient: Viniferine. This exclusive ingredient is clinically shown to be a potent weapon in the fight against discoloration—a clinical study showed that it can decrease melanin hyperpigmentation.
How to use it: Apply morning and night—before makeup in the daytime and after moisturizing in the evening.
Why we love it: Caudalie is known for its clean formulations; this product boasts a pared-down ingredients list that’s chock-full of must-haves, including tightening caffeine, nourishing squalane, skin-balancing niacinamide, and Viniferine. This ultra-potent ingredient boasts a claim of being 62 times more effective at brightening skin than iconic antioxidant vitamin C.
Lancer Soothing Serum with Rosemary and Zen Peptides ($80)
The hero ingredients: Peptides, especially tetrapeptide-14. This peptide is shown to offer redness-relieving benefits; other peptides in the formula include those derived from honey for additional skin-evening benefits.
How to use it: Apply morning and night to face, neck, and décolletage.
Why we love it: If you’ve overdone it in the sun, snag yourself a tube of this soothing serum. It provides practically instantaneous redness relief while working overtime to restore deep hydration to parched, sun-ravaged skin. This is achieved with aloe leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, and marine extracts like sea whip and algae, which help rebuild water reserves in the skin to give it a refreshed, plumper look.
M-61 Perfect Peel ($32)
The hero ingredient: Lactic acid. This alpha hydroxy acid is perfect for more sensitive skin—it features a larger molecule size than most, so it won’t penetrate the skin as deeply. This will help you achieve glowier skin with minimal irritation.
How to use it: Wipe towelette across clean, dry skin on face, neck, and décolletage. Finish with moisturizer (and sunscreen if you’re using it in the morning).
Why we love it: We’re major fans of M-61’s PowerGlow Peel, but if you’ve resisted trying it due to any concerns about skin sensitivity, give this recent launch a go. Like the OG peel, it’s a one-step, one-minute treatment that resurfaces skin with a quick swipe, but this one is formulated with a gentler blend of acids, including AHAs lactic and mandelic acids as well as beta hydroxy acid salicylic acid. These all work in tandem to slough away dead skin cells and clarify pores, leaving your complexion looking brighter, more even, and youthful.
Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Eye Treatment ($54)
The hero ingredient: Caffeine. The reason caffeine is such a popular ingredient in eye creams is that it’s a potent vasoconstrictor. It helps stimulate circulation, promoting better blood flow to decrease the look of puffiness and dark circles around the eye. It also is an antioxidant, which helps prevent oxidative aging.
How to use it: Apply to the entire eye area, including the lids and brow bones, twice a day.
Why we love it: This lightweight, fast-absorbing cream helps intensely nourish the skin under and around the eye with moisturizers like squalane, ceramides, and plant oils, smoothing away fine lines without disrupting concealer applied on top. Niacinamide and caffeine work together to brighten away discoloration, while six peptides help firm and tighten. Translation: bye, bags!
SkinMedica Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads ($60)
The hero ingredient: Glycolic acid. This alpha hydroxy acid is one of the most well-recognized chemical exfoliants, and in this formula, it’s at a steep concentration—10%—to really smooth away uneven texture and hyperpigmentation.
How to use it: Wipe over clean, dry skin daily or as tolerated.
Why we love it: These face wipes are loaded with powerful ingredients, including a high dose of glycolic acid and tranexamic acid (which combats the formation of dark spots), to help significantly brighten skin. The formula also features soothing witch hazel and anti-inflammatory oat extract, to combat any sensitivity caused by the potent exfoliator. Bonus: the pads are double-sided, with one side being textured for a seriously deep slough.
Milk Made Skin Milk Drunk Peptide Rich Moisturizer ($89)
The hero ingredient: The brand’s exclusive milk peptide complex. The blend of ingredients (which includes lactose, fatty acids, vitamins, and enzymes) mimics the nutritious elements of breast milk, to promote collagen and hyaluronic acid production within the skin while smoothing, hydrating, and firming.
How to use it: Apply to clean, dry skin on face, neck, and décolletage.
Why we love it: We’d heard of breast milk referred to as “liquid gold” before, so we were intrigued by Milk Made Skin’s product collection, which uses a blend of ingredients (developed by a chemist, not from the real stuff) to provide skin with the regenerative benefits of breast milk. The creamy formula is ultra-rich for serious moisturization; the product firms and smooths while leaving skin brighter and more even.
WeThrivv Revivv For Her Hair Rejuvenation Serum ($160)
The hero ingredient: Glycyrrhiza uralensis, also known as Chinese licorice. A clinical study showed this botanical extract was more effective at treating alopecia areata than hair-growth treatment minoxidil.
How to use it: Liberally apply to the scalp one to two times daily.
Why we love it: This is the first hair-growth treatment that we’re actually excited to use every single day. The formula is housed in a bottle with a rollerball applicator, making it easy to apply, and the serum is water based, so it dries quickly without leaving a sticky or oily residue. In addition to Chinese licorice, it’s formulated with anti-inflammatory grapeseed and green tea extracts and androgen-blocking peptides. We are also impressed by the brand’s clinical evidence of this product’s efficacy. In a study of 150 participants, 80% noticed improved hair growth, scalp coverage, and hair density, while 90% noticed new hair growth, and all participants found that shedding had decreased.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced ($185)
The hero ingredient: Proxylane. Derived from beechwood, Proxylane is a patented molecule that is clinically shown to improve laxity and the appearance of facial folds by strengthening aging skin. It’s in this formula at a concentration of 18%.
How to use it: Massage a thin, even layer to face, neck, and decollete twice daily.
Why we love it: The product was specifically designed to combat glycation, a form of skin aging accelerated by sugar consumption and high blood sugar levels caused by stress. The brand’s studies (and before-and-afters!) show that this moisturizer corrects glycation damage, including deep-set lines and folds. The silky texture melts into skin, delivering Proxylane and fruit flavonoids, to smooth out uneven texture while softening away dryness, providing hydration that lasts up to 24 hours.
PerriconeMD High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer ($99)
The hero ingredient: Retinol. Few ingredients have been studied to the degree that retinoids have. Though retinol is not as fast acting as its prescription-strength precursor, retinoic acid, the vitamin A derivative still packs a punch. Clinical studies show that retinol is just as effective as retinoic acid in promoting collagen synthesis and produces comparable results, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in 12 weeks (versus retinoic acid’s four).
How to use it: Use it nightly as the last step in your regimen before bed.
Why we love it: The velvety cream quite literally melts into skin upon application to deliver nongreasy nourishment and three forms of retinol (retinol, retinol ester, and a botanical retinol alternative). We’ve seen results from just a few nights of use—glowier skin that feels hydrated but gives way to a light peeling that lets us know the retinol is really doing its thing.
Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum ($65)
The hero ingredient: Niacinamide. This B vitamin is a powerhouse when it comes to benefits. It supports healthy skin-barrier function, boosts collagen production, and tames facial redness—but above all, it’s recognized for combatting hyperpigmentation, the focus of this formula. When developing products with niacinamide, 10% is the highest potency recommended, as the ingredient may otherwise irritate skin.
How to use it: Apply a few drops once or twice daily before moisturizer.
Why we love it: Beyond the fact that this product features the greatest concentration of niacinamide we’ve seen on the market, it’s packed with other skin-brightening ingredients, including a proprietary blend called Brightenyl, the active in which is a form of gallic acid. Gallic acid is shown to inhibit melanogenesis—aka the formation of dark spots. It also works impressively fast—testers of B3 Nice found that it reduced the appearance of hyperpigmentation in just two weeks.
Paula’s Choice Peptide Booster ($58)
The hero ingredients: Peptides, including palmitoyl-tripeptide-1. This particular peptide has been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis within fibroblast cells as well as prevent their breakdown when exposed to UVA light. It’s also proven to increase the thickness of the skin.
How to use it: Apply a few drops after exfoliating, either solo or mixed into serum or moisturizer, being sure to complete your routine.
Why we love it: This brand is very transparent about every ingredient that goes into its formulas (seriously, check out the list of ingredients—each one is broken down so you know what it does). More specifically, this formula boasts an impressive number of eight different peptides, all designed to improve skin resilience, smoothness, and overall appearance.
Michal Morrison Genesis βSTEM6 Molecular Serum ($175)
The hero ingredient: βSTEM6. This exclusive, patent-pending molecule was developed out of more than 20 years of research into regenerative medicine and stem cell science. It works with your skin’s own regenerative properties, helping your cells to repair themselves, correcting and even preventing signs of aging.
How to use it: Twice daily, apply two to three pumps on the face, neck, and eye area after cleansing, following with moisturizer if desired and SPF in the morning.
Why we love it: The silky formula spreads easily, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leavy any tackniness behind. One RealSelf editor who has been using it on her inflamed skin says it goes on without any stinging and works overnight to take down the redness.
Revela The Fibroquin Essence ($138)
The hero ingredient: Fibroquin (ethoxypropyl quinazolinedione). This proprietary ingredient promotes the health and activity of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen. Revela makes a very significant claim about Fibroquin—that it is twice as effective at improving skin elasticity as 0.5% retinol. And unlike retinol, this ingredient is entirely nontoxic and non-sensitizing. In a study by the brand that assessed the two ingredients side by side, 93% of study participants showed a significant improvement in skin elasticity by week eight when using Fibroquin, while only 69% saw an improvement from retinol.
How to use it: Apply one to two pumps to face and neck after cleansing and before moisturizing, twice daily if desired.
Why we love it: Remarkable ingredient technology aside, this is a super elegant formula. It has a light and unobtrusive fragrance, feels incredibly moisturizing without leaving a residue or pilling up.
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser ($28)
The hero ingredients: Ceramides. If you have dry, sensitive, or sensitized skin (or simply want a creamier cleanser for winter), turn to a ceramide-enriched formula like this one. These skin types all benefit from reinforcement of the skin barrier, aka the stratum corneum—the outermost layer of skin that acts like your body’s shield from the rest of the world. When the skin barrier is damaged, moisture is able to escape (known as transepidermal water loss, or TEWL), while external factors like bacteria or other irritants are more easily able to get into the skin, leaving it dry, tight, and uncomfortable. Clinical studies of formulas containing ceramides show that using this ingredient can reduce TEWL, improve the structure of the skin barrier, and even improve the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
How to use it: Massage an almond-size amount into damp skin, to create a lather; rinse away when skin is fully cleansed.
Why we love it: A little of this formula goes a long way and easily breaks down dirt, grime, and stubborn makeup at the end of the day. Once you rinse it off, you’ll notice your skin feels soft, cushy, and nourished—thanks, no doubt, to ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and avocado oil.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Biocellulose Brightening Treatment Mask ($46)
The hero ingredients: Vitamin C and lactic acid. Vitamin C is a true skin care MVP: studies show that the powerful antioxidant protects skin from sun damage, reduces hyperpigmentation, and promotes collagen synthesis. It’s paired here with the alpha hydroxy acid lactic acid, which not only helps resurface the skin (allowing for better penetration of the vitamin C), but helps replenish skin. Lactic acid is naturally found in your skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF), a compound within the skin cells of the stratum corneum that helps maintain tissue hydration.
How to use it: After removing the mask from its pouch, take the protective mesh off, then apply it to clean, dry skin. Remove after 15 minutes and massage any remaining serum into your face.
Why we love it: In our opinion, biocellulose sheet masks are superior to all other types, as they actually stick securely (regardless of the size of your face), and the active serum is infused so you won’t have any product dripping down your neck like you do when using a cloth mask. This one, in particular, is quite refreshing, especially when kept in the fridge, and it’s a wonderful 15-minute treatment to do before heading out on a date—it makes your skin look plump and glowy with very little effort.
Payot Lisse 10-Day Express Radiance and Wrinkle Treatment ($58)
The hero ingredient: Hyaluronic acid (plus retinol). Hyaluronic acid is known for its plumping abilities when used in injectable fillers; the ingredient delivers plumper-looking skin when used topically too. Studies show that in just two weeks of regular use of hyaluronic acid, there was a 15% increase of water content in the skin, with a 55% increase at the six-month mark. More hydrated skin looks healthier, smoother, and more radiant (and therefore younger). This product features ampoules full of serum with hyaluronic acid to use in the morning plus retinol-packed ampoules to use at night, for an easy-to-use, fast-acting, glow-boosting treatment.
How to use it: At night, crack open the retinol ampoule and apply the enclosed serum; the next morning, snap open the hyaluronic acid ampoule and apply what’s inside, finishing with your moisturizer and SPF. Repeat daily until you’ve used up the set of treatments for best results.
Why we love it: We always appreciate a skin-care product designed to be used before a special event or as a pampering treat. This intensive 10-day regimen of ampoules from iconic French skincare brand Payot is made with not only hyaluronic acid and retinol but also 98% and 90% naturally derived ingredients, respectively.
Origins Plantscription Wrinkle Correction Eye Cream With Encapsulated Retinol ($58)
The hero ingredient: Encapsulated retinol. This form of the ingredient features the same benefits that we outlined above—namely, stimulating collagen production to help firm and smooth—but with an added benefit. Encapsulating retinol slows its release into the skin, reducing the ingredient’s irritating effects without diminishing its efficacy. Translation: less flaking, tenderness, and redness.
How to use it: Nightly, pat a small amount around the eye, focusing on the crow’s-feet, in the glabellar area, and underneath the eyes.
Why we love it: A little of this rich eye cream goes a long way, but it absorbs beautifully to instantly plump up the look of fine lines while treating them over time with retinol. Unlike many retinol eye treatments we’ve used, it actually helps correct dryness rather than add to it. Bonus: The ingredients are 90% naturally derived, and the formula is packaged in a luxuriously hefty (and recyclable) glass jar.
Biojuve Biome Essentials Duo: Living Biome Essentials Serum and Activating Mist ($225, available only at providers’ offices)
The hero ingredient: Patented Xycrobe technology, aka Cutibacterium acnes subspecies defendens strain XYCM42. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology shows that the technology is quite beneficial to the skin, with evidence of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. Studies of skin after eight weeks of use showed that it became more hydrated, with balanced sebum production and reduced redness.
How to use it: Squirt only one pump of serum into your hand. Then, after spraying three to four pumps of mist on top of the serum, mix the two formulas using your fingertip. Apply the mixture to your face, neck, and décolletage every evening.
Why we love it: We must admit that we were skeptical of this formula at first. We’ve heard about the importance of probiotics in skin care too many times to count, only to learn that most products contain just extracts, which don’t have the potency of live cultures. But after learning about the science firsthand—this duo’s serum contains live probiotics that are activated by the mist—and experiencing it for ourselves, we’re hooked and can’t imagine not having it in our routine. After using this pair of products for just a few days, our skin is clearer, brighter, more balanced, and healthier-looking than it has been in years, with visibly smaller pores and smoother texture.
A.P. Chem DOPEamine Uplifting & Smoothing Serum ($125)
The hero ingredient: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). You may be more familiar with this ingredient in supplement form—it’s a neuropeptide that helps slow some brain functions, which can reduce stress and anxiety—but it’s a rising star on the skin-care landscape too. It is sometimes referred to as “nature’s Botox” due to its ability to inhibit neurotransmission and cell signaling in the skin. A clinical study shows that the ingredient can reduce the appearance of expression lines.
How to use it: Apply morning and night to clean, dry skin on the face, neck, and décolletage.
Why we love it: This serum is one of the most cosmetically elegant formulas we’ve ever tried. The gel-cream texture sinks into skin quickly to quench thirsty skin with polyglutamic acid (PGA), which holds up to 10 times more moisture than hyaluronic acid. The GABA plus a host of complementary proteins, peptides, and amino acids instantly help to smooth the look of fine lines, leaving skin looking radiant and healthy with zero effort.
Viktor Michael Ciao For Now Post Injection Care Mask ($112)
The hero ingredients: Arnica and bromelain. These are frequently recommended by providers to use pre- and post-treatment to help mitigate discomfort and side effects caused by injectables, and they are part of the brand’s proprietary complex. Studies show that arnica can help reduce bruising, while bromelain can tame pain and swelling.
How to use it: Use daily two to three days before injection, leaving on for 20 minutes, then use within 24 hours of treatment and every three to four days for the following two weeks.
Why we love it: The creamy, pastel-blue clay mask feels instantly cooling and refreshing on the skin, hydrating and comforting with lentil fruit extract, watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and bisabolol. We were lucky enough to receive and try this on the day we were treated with a neurotoxin and found that it zapped any tenderness at the injection sites—and there was no bruising to be seen.
Lumene Nordic-C [Valo] Glow Boost Eye Serum ($26)
The hero ingredient: Cloudberry extract. This Nordic fruit is rich in ellagic acid, a polyphenol compound that has been recognized for its potency as an antioxidant. Clinical studies have shown that ellagic acid can prevent the collagen degradation and inflammation caused by exposure to UVB rays, thereby reducing photoaging.
How to use it: Apply a small amount to the eye area with the applicator and massage it in. Use alone or follow with eye cream.
Why we love it: We love an eye treatment with a cooling applicator; this wallet-friendly product offers more than just nice packaging. In addition to powerhouse cloudberry, the formula features vitamin C, peptides, and three types of hyaluronic acid. All of this results in a smoother, brighter, and firmer eye area.
Beekman 1802 Oh! Mega Milk Fermented Barrier Boosting Facial Oil ($54)
The hero ingredient: Angelica gigas root extract. Also known as dong quai, this plant extract has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine practices to treat a variety of concerns, including immune health. When it’s used in topical skin-care formulas, clinical studies show that the ingredient can help stimulate the production of collagen, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
How to use it: Apply a few drops to face, neck, and décolletage, then massage in. Apply over moisturizer if your skin is especially dry.
Why we love it: In addition to dong quai, the formula has goat’s milk, which contains nourishing omega fatty acids and skin-smoothing, anti-inflammatory lactic acid. Patting it on every night feels like we’re doing something luxurious and indulgent for our skin—the texture is that rich and silky—and it works just as hard to heal redness and blemishes as it does to lock in moisture and keep dry patches away.
Lawless Beauty Forget the Filler Skin-Plumping Line-Smoothing Perfecting Cream ($52)
The hero ingredient: Maxi-Youth. The trademarked ingredient (made up of a biomimetic hyaluronic acid complex) is clinically proven to plump, smooth, and hydrate the skin. More specifically, in a brand-backed study, it increased skin moisture by 28% and reduced wrinkle depth by 18.1% after two months of use.
How to use it: You can apply in the morning before makeup (the smoothing effects make it the perfect prep step) or at bedtime as an overnight treatment.
Why we love it: Along with the Maxi-Youth complex, the formula contains peptides, antioxidants, and shea butter. The end result is a cream that feels super high-end and luxe but still delivers impressive results. Bonus points for the almost primer-like texture: we’re partial to using it for daytime—applying even just a thin layer on the skin creates a nearly instantaneous smoothing effect, not unlike a real-life Instagram filter.
Glow Recipe Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum ($45)
The hero ingredient: This brand is well-known for its use of different fruits in each of its products. In this case, it’s pomegranate—specifically, pomegranate seed oil. One recent study showed that its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were extremely beneficial to skin, as were its wound-healing properties. In this formula, it’s combined with hydrating hyaluronic acid and firming polypeptides.
How to use it: Apply one to two pumps on slightly damp skin, twice daily. Follow with moisturizer and sunscreen.
Why we love it: The texture is light and refreshing, and while the serum is not the most hydrating, it does plump the skin and absorbs nicely without any sticky residue. The subtly fruity scent is also pleasant (and comes from a fragrance that’s 100% naturally derived, a boon for those with sensitive skin).
Byroe Pumpkin Pro-Retinol Cream ($110)
The hero ingredient: As the name suggests, yes, there’s retinol in the mix, but it’s also combined with bakuchiol. Often thought of as an alternative for retinol, the plant-derived ingredient has been shown to have equivalent anti-aging effects but without any irritating side effects. The two combined offer some serious youth-boosting benefits; in an independent clinical study, this moisturizer improved pigmentation, wrinkles, and elasticity after just four weeks.
How to use it: Apply to your face and neck at night.
Why we love it: Along with the retinol and bakuchiol, there’s also pumpkin in the mix, loaded with brightening antioxidants. The formula strikes the perfect balance between lightweight yet creamy; the pretty packaging is just the icing on the cake.
Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum ($35)
The hero ingredient: You guessed it. A 5% concentration of the B vitamin offers a multitude of proven benefits. We’re talking combating inflammation, offering antioxidant protection, targeting hyperpigmentation, and balancing oil production, just to name a few. A clinical study showed that it instantly reduced excess oil by an impressive 58%.
How to use it: Use two to three drops across your entire face, morning and night.
Why we love it: Niacinamide is one of only 10 total ingredients found in this serum, making it a great choice for purists and/or those with sensitive skin who want to limit how many different ingredients they’re exposed to. Plus while you can definitely apply it to your full face, it also works nicely just on specific spots—think oily areas, like your T-zone)—if you want to use it as more of a targeted treatment.
RMÉD BY GOODSKIN Renewal +++EGF Serum ($185)
The hero ingredient: EGF, AKA epidermal growth factor, shown to stimulate collagen production and hyaluronic acid, to improve skin elasticity. But it’s not just any type of EGF used here; the proprietary +++EGF in this serum is a unique biomimetic version combined with peptides to even better improve cell function. (There are also five types of algae and polyglutamic acid in the formula, all of which moisturize and plump.) It makes for a very comprehensive anti-aging serum. After a six-week study, more than 98% of participants agreed that their skin felt and looked plumper, smoother, softer, more hydrated, and revived.
How to use it: Apply morning and night, under moisturizer.
Why we love it: We’ve never used a skin-care product with this many active ingredients and experienced—quite literally—no side effects. And after a few weeks of dedicated, twice-daily use, our results were in line with the consumer perception study; our complexion was undoubtedly plumper and brighter, with generally improved texture and tone. The serum also layers quite nicely under moisturizers, sunscreen, and makeup.
