At Embassy of Beauty, we understand that every individual's skin is unique, requiring a personalised approach when selecting targeted skincare products. Using wrong products can exacerbate skin conditions and even cause harm, making it crucial to choose correctly. That’s why we created our “Find Perfect Your Perfect Match” blog series, to help you make the most informed choices about your selection of products. In today's edition we’ll focus on the category that we get asked most about: serums. These potent skincare solutions can make or break your regime.
You have probably used a serum in some way, shape or form, but have you considered its function in your routine? Serums are designed to act as targeted solutions on different skin needs (formula dependant) helping to achieve optimal skin health and improve your specific concerns. They do so by utilising high concentration of actives, delivery systems and different molecular sizes to ensure those actives get to where they are need the most.
Serums are formulated to address a wide range of skin concerns. Today, we've selected a handful of serums specifically designed to target very particular skin needs such as rosacea, post-inflammatory marks, dehydration, fine lines & wrinkles and plump/glowy skin. Keep reading to discover how these targeted solutions can enhance your skincare routine!
First up we have redness and rosacea prone skin. Oftentimes, people confuse a wind-blown flush of skin for rosacea, but they’re definitely not one and the same. Rosacea is a persistent skin condition that causes facial redness and visible blood vessels. More advanced cases can also have pus-filled bumps, particularly on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Rosacea is more prominent in individuals with fair skin and commonly affects adults between the ages of 30 and 60 but can appear in earlier years too. It is also more frequently diagnosed in women, although men often experience more severe symptoms such as bulbous nose. Although the main cause of rosacea is unknown, evidence points to genetics, lifestyle habits and an overactive immune system. This means that flare ups can be exacerbated by internal or external factors, such as temperature and food. That’s why you may notice symptoms after a particularly spicy taco and margarita mix or even a sunny summer day.
REDNESS & ROSACEA PRONE SKINS
Rosacea’s signature red flush is due to compromised blood flow, causing capillaries to expand. Look for serums with ingredients like arnica and cypress that improve microcirculation, allowing for a more even coloured complexion. Biologique Recherche’s Serum Erythos is one such topical treatment here at Embassy of Beauty. Rosacea can also lead to enlarged blood vessels, causing broken capillaries. This in turn prods the skin to create NEW vessels, continuing the viscous cycle.
This process called neovascularization, causes vessels to leak, leading to permanent visible redness of the skin. Serum Erythos contains green microalgaea that inhibits neovascularization, while white tea leaf soothes unpleasant heat and protects skin from environmental aggressors.
POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTION (AKA POST ACNE MARKS)
Those with rosacea may also suffer from small, pus-filled bumps. While these bumps shouldn’t be treated as acne, they can sometimes lead to similar scarring which acne can leave behind. If you suffer from post-acne scarring/marks or rosacea bump scars, you probably know how long the healing process can take. The key to a smoother canvas is regenerating the skin. Iso Placenta Serum contains a blend of peptides which form a biomimetic placenta. These peptides aid in the repair of scars, by stimulating the skins healing process, through the provision of epidermal growth factors.
It also contains carob seed extract, which boosts structural protein production. What this translates to is faster healing, important for those with those pesky ice pick scars. A lightweight, fast absorbing serum, Iso Placenta goes deep into skin, its inclusion of scotch thistle inhibits bacterial growth and reduces inflammation, essential in preventing future scars from occurring.
DEHYDRATED SKIN
While many oily skin types experience acne, quite a few people fail to recognise the source of their overactive sebum production. Though oily skin is usually genetic, increased oil (sebum) production can also be caused by dehydration. When the skin lacks water, it may overcompensate by increasing its oil content. Most follow that up by a further deep cleansing and stripping of skin, starting the process all over again.
An important factor for healthy skin, regardless of skin type, is adequate hydration. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid work wonderfully to attract water to your skin from surrounding and deeper layers of the skin, keeping it plump and dewy all day long. Irene Forte Triple Level Hyaluronic Serum contains this tried and tested hydrating hero in three different molecular weights (High, Low and Ultra-Low). What does this mean? Well, your typical hyaluronic acid usually comes in high-molecular weight. This form is what gives it a beautiful jelly consistency and allows it to instantly quench skin. However, high-weight hyaluronic acid tends to stay on the surface of the skin to create breathable barrier against TEWL (Trans Epidermal Water Loss) and is not able to replenish deeper layers of skin.
Good news is that this larger molecule can be spilt in a laboratory, creating smaller and smaller molecules, all which penetrate skin at different levels. Thanks to its multi-weight hyaluronic acid blend, this lightweight serum provides instant and long-lasting hydration. The ultra-low hyaluronic acid is able to penetrate deepest to not only plump the skin from within but also support fibroblast activity resulting in firmer, smoother skin. Your skin will be left supple, dewy and with fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced.
DRY SKIN
Dehydrated skin should not be mistaken for dry skin. Understanding the difference between the two is crucial for effective skincare. Dry skin lacks oil, whereas dehydrated skin lacks water. Those with dehydrated skin often feel persistent tightness, while dry skin typically has a flaky, uneven texture. Dry skin also appears dull, unlike the sheen of oily skin.
For dry skin, the focus should be on ingredients rich in lipids and emollients that mimic the skin's natural sebum composition. One highly effective product for restoring dry skin is Ayuna Cellular Oil. This serum-in-oil formula combines olive, sweet almond, and hazelnut oils to reinforce the skin's fatty acids, providing immediate relief to dry, flakey skin. More than just an oil, Cellular Oil includes stem cells from the Acebuche, the Millennium Wild Olive tree, which has unique ability to trigger the skin’s rejuvenation cycles, restoring its natural radiance.
Stem cells are incredibly beneficial for the skin as they aid in cellular regeneration, protecting it from damage caused by external environmental factors. This helps balance oil levels and strengthens the skin, allowing it to naturally replenish itself over time. The Millennium Wild Olive tree, capable of living for hundreds or even thousands of years, provides the micro-lipids extracted through patented technology, ensuring the active ingredient remains all its beneficial components and provides maximum results to your skin.
FINE LINES & WRINKLES
While we may not be fortunate enough to live as long as the Millennium Wild Olive tree, we certainly hope to age gracefully. Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of the skin aging process, but thanks to cosmetic innovations like SYN®-AKE, we can keep these signs of ageing at bay for longer.
SYN®-AKE is a targeted peptide that penetrates the skin to aid in muscle relaxation, delivering botox-like wrinkle-smoothing results without the need for injections. Unlike botox, it doesn't cause the dreaded "frozen face" effect, allowing you to maintain natural, expressive facial movements. This means you can still show your happiness and joy when you see your loved ones, all while enjoying smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
Auteur Definitive Line Serum combines SYN®-AKE with LIFTISS®, a polysaccharide extract of baobab fruit pulp. Wonderful in its method of action, LIFTISS® instantly tightens skin, with a perceivable “lifting” in minutes. These two ingredients along with a multi-weight hyaluronic acid complex allows the Definitive Line Serum to work instantly with results becoming more prominent overtime. The formula also helps to stop expression lines in their tracks. For those who don’t know, expression lines are the wrinkles that form in certain areas of your face due to facial muscle movement. A great example are forehead furrows, and smile or frown creases.
PLUMP & GLOWING SKIN
We already know about the damage that the over exposure to the sun can create, however under exposure to sun can also have negative effects. The sun triggers Vitamin D, the sunshine nutrient production, which is highly beneficial for the overall well-being of our system, including our skin. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is associated with barrier dysfunction, increased dehydration, inflammation, dullness and lack of radiance.
Think of Vitamin D as the new “it” active, which helps to keep your skin plump, youthful and glow from the inside out. Here in the UK, the weather can be unpredictable therefore getting that much needed ray of sunshine is not always guaranteed, however thanks to Ayuna Nectar we can now supercharge Vitamin D synthesis in our skin. This lightweight creamy serum contains the cellular nectar of lithops pseudotruncatella, also known as the “living stone”. These stem cells interact with bio-sugars in the formula to increase skins Vitamin D reservoirs. Paired with super antioxidant astaxanthin, Nectar visibly plumps and hydrates creating a smooth and supple appearance, while infusing with anti-glycation benefits to prevent signs of premature skin ageing.
ELEVATE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE WITH YOUR “PERFECT MATCH”
Serums are seriously essential for an effective routine. But just like any other product, you need to find the best match for your skin. As always, we’re available at The Embassy of Beauty just in case you need a little extra help.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
