Lift Off

Aging is a topic that lingers on the minds of women, even men. As much as we prefer to age gracefully, there is always the need to obtain a little assistance from some skincare product to help slow down the signs of aging. This usually happens when we reach a point where we cannot justify wasting any more time but to do something about it. Anti-aging, anti-wrinkle serums, lifting serums, creams and elixirs flood the market and our consciousness. While these may be the answer in slowing down the aging process, it is important that we know exactly what we need. It is no secret women are obsessed about the state of their skin more than anything else. And with most of us living in increasingly urbanised and polluted places, environmental aggressors such as smoke and pollution are among the greatest threats to the health and youth of our skin. Because of this, we are constantly on the lookout for beauty products that aid in our pursuit to age gracefully.

We probably have all the basics covered, the cleanser, toner, moisturiser but what about serum? It may seem like something redundant folks, but it actually is not. In fact, it is quite vital in our entire skincare regime. Using a serum regularly can give your skin a firmer, younger and smoother texture, make pores appear smaller and increase moisture levels. What more, the anti-aging and lifting serums are making their way into cabinets permanently. If you are left mystified by what a serum actually does, you’re not alone because even the best of us are baffled by its contradictions. It’s moisturising but not a moisturiser, oily but not a face oil, watery but not an essence. So, let’s make this easy. A serum is a skin care product that you apply to your skin after cleansing but before moisturising with the intent to deliver a potent shot of ingredients directly into your skin. Face serums are lightweight lipid-soluble gel based liquids concocted with more potent ingredients that penetrate deeper into the skin instead of laying on the surface. This way, face serums are great for targeting specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, hydration or acne. Face serums do not necessarily replace moisturiser, but can boost the hydrating effects of the moisturiser. Serums include active ingredients that bring antioxidants to the skin and restore cell growth. They also act as a brightening treatment, an anti-aging prevention and can help with skin complaints such as dry or oily skin. However, one of the most striking benefits of face serums is their ability to help lock moisture into the skin. Formulas with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid can improve the moisture content of the skin whilst strengthening the skin barrier for a more hydrated, nourished, plump and healthy looking complexion. Often, a serum is able to hydrate more effectively than even the heaviest creams even if they are not as thick as. They typically come in small bottles with a dropper, and only a few drops are needed to treat the entire face. Serums act as targeted treatment for wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes, thus giving your skin a fresher, younger and healthier appearance. Serum is particularly suited to this task because it is made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin and deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients. This makes them a great tool for targeting specific skincare concerns, like wrinkles so goodbye to signs of aging!

Certain potent ingredients often found in serum can become unstable once they come in contact with air. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), for instance, can oxidise and lose efficacy over time. But thanks to science, modified versions of the ingredient last longer so they can do your skin more good. Best rule of thumb is to store your vial in a cool, dry place and use it up within six months to a year. We get that face serums may seem intimidating at first with its hefty price tag because of all the potent and concentrated ingredients but just think of it as a delivery system for these highly concentrated active ingredients and the wonders they do to your skin from clearing blemishes to smoothing wrinkles, then you’ll realise it is worth the penny.

Putting it into practice

Skincode Essentials Intensive Lifting Serum

30ml | For Normal, Dry and Dehydrated Skin Types

Serums are all the rage right now. From daytime to nighttime and in between, the options can be overwhelming. As with everything else in the world, serums too have a huge variety. Yes, there are many types of face serums out there – from anti-aging, lifting, hydrating, exfoliating, skin brightening, the list can go on. But as we fancy the most, anti-aging and lifting is the one we more often like to talk about. Truth be told, it is the very one concern that all of us face, yes in case you have forgotten, we are all aging every day and those fine lines are slowly appearing as we speak. So, it is very crucial that we address this concern.

The face serum, hailed as ‘underwear for your skin’ are the latest skincare technology that people are going crazy about. Serums are proven to directly deliver active ingredients deep into skin layers where it is needed most. Generally, serums are water based treatments which contain a much higher concentration of active ingredients and the molecules in serums are smaller than those in a moisturiser, giving them the ability to penetrate through the pores and deep beneath the skin’s epidermis.

Skincare should never stress you out so we pooled our collective knowledge, did a bit more research, and decided on a perfect serum that works wonders. A popular serum that is trending in the beauty market now is the Skincode Essentials Intensive Lifting Serum. A light refreshing gel-serum to hydrate and restore the skin’s firmness, this lifting serum works to stimulate cell renewal, protect from free-radical damage, quench dehydrated skin, firm, energise and brighten skin while fighting against signs of aging. The innovative ingredient in this lifting serum visibly lifts skin instantly and reduces the appearance of the visible signs of aging. Immediately after applying, the lifting serum acts to smooth the skin's surface texture for a more refined and even-looking complexion. Skin also returns to health and instantly hydrated, leaving skin feeling soft and plumped. While it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles it also as its name suggests, uplift the skin leaving it feeling vibrant and smooth.

As mentioned, face serum is a more expensive product, primarily because the ingredients are concentrated, and not diluted with fluff. However, on the upside, you'll need fewer other products if your serum addresses your skin problems. While the more expensive serums tend to have better quality ingredients, there are cost-effective ones that can work wonders if only you do your research on your skin's needs in advance.

Application

As mentioned, serums are clear, gel-based or liquid, and they tend to be less thick than a moisturiser. They’re typically applied before moisturisers to help lock in moisture. For this reason, a serum should always be applied directly onto skin after cleansing or toning and before moisturising. The Skincode Essentials Intensive Lifting Serum can be applied every morning and evening over cleansed face and neck. Pump a few droplets onto fingertips and smooth the serum over cleansed face before the moisturiser. Pat it all over the face and gently massage the product into face and neck. Those few concentrated drops are super-efficient. Serums are made of very small molecules, so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply. Be sure to avoid the soft part of the eye area. For better results, we would recommend the use of the Skincode Essentials 24h Cell Energiser Cream which works perfectly. Suitable for normal and even dry skin types, it works to fight the signs of premature aging around the clock. This 24-hour power cream not only restores and preserves the skin, stimulates cell renewal, boosts skin defense mechanism, protects from free radical damage and regenerates and nourishes skin, it also improves skin’s elasticity and firmness and smoothens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thicker heavier ingredients in the moisturisers form a barrier on your skin so it can lock active ingredients out, so be mindful to always apply the serum before the moisturiser and without these hindrances, the active ingredients in the serum penetrate skin faster and more effectively. Each of our skin is different, but on average, initial results should be visible in a couple of weeks.

Ingredients

As with the rest of the Skincode Essentials products, the Intensive Lifting Serum also contains the active ingredient CM-Glucan, a water-soluble glucan derivative, with a combined protective action to repair, regenerate, preserve and heal, that has the ability to stimulate the skin’s own defense mechanism. CM-Glucan enhances the skin’s resistance to UVA induced oxidative stress as well as other environmental hazards. It enhances the turnover of cell renewal and improves the skin’s barrier while calming and reducing irritations and is therefore ideal for sensitive skin. While the Sodium Hyaluronate, a super hydrating ingredient has the ability to hold one thousand times its weight in water. It works to regulate moisture balance of the skin and has a high capacity to retain moisture. It gives immediate smoothness to rough skin surfaces and significantly improves skin’s appearance thus reducing dryness, itching and burning of the skin. This ingredient offers an excellent environment for the growth of new cells and the healing of existing cells. The Aloe Vera Extract in this lifting serum has soothing, moisturising and regenerative virtues. It has the ability to stimulate healthy cell growth and repair damaged tissues. Its healing and anti-inflammatory properties have made Aloe Vera a favourite ingredient in topical pharmaceutical creams, to treat burns, scars and to assist in wound healing. It also contains Vitamin C which is a strong antioxidant that promotes collagen synthesis. It also inactivates Tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in the release of the melanin, which leads to skin darkening and uneven pigmentation. The other ingredient, the Nano-Lipobelle A / E are small lipid vesicles similar to liposomes and ideal as carriers for lipophilic agents filled with Vitamin A which improves skin texture, firmness and smoothness, while providing aging benefits through its moisturising and regenerating properties, and Vitamin E that helps prevent premature aging and aid in skin regeneration.