Bloomberg Businessweek USA 09.30.2019

CARETIRELESS

RETINOIDNIGHT

SERUM

Madewith

Granactiveretinoid,

a retinolgentle

enoughfordaily

useonmostskin

types,it smoothed

andtightenedskin

andevensoftened

wrinklesinthe

delicateeyearea.

Butit canheighten

photosensitivity,

soloadupon

sunscreenor

avoidusingit

inthesummer.

$45for 1 oz.;

careskincare.com

64

By now youshouldknowwhata facial

serumis.

Even ifyou don’tbelievein the

nutrient-packed potions, the half-

trillon-dollarskin-careindustryhas

spent yearsmarketingthemtothose

seeking extra help fighting every-

thing fromagingtoacne.Accordingto

beauty consumerdatasitePoshly.com,

76% of beautyconsumerssayserumis

a regular partoftheirface-careroutine

(up from 68%in2016),and68%sayit’s

an essentialpart(upfrom55%).

Applied to the face and neck

after washingandbeforemoisturiz-

ing, serumsareoftensilkyorgel-like

and contain high dosesof ingredi-

ents such ashyaluronic acid,reti-

nol (vitaminA),andothervitamins.

They’re “potentskin-careproducts,”

says MassachusettsdermatologistDr.

Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip.“Theyareusu-

ally comprised ofverysmallmole-

cules thatcanpenetratetheskinand

contain highconcentrationsoftheir

active ingredients.”

The latesthigh-performingserums

are loadedwithtrendyretinolalterna-

tives, like plant-basedbakuchiol,and

innovationssuchasb-silkproteinto

preserve theskin’sbarrier.Weassem-

bled a 17-personpaneltotestthemar-

ket’s latestofferings;herearethemost

powerful performers.<BW>

BEAUTY BloombergPursuits September 30, 2019

Serumsdomorethan

moisturizersalone—

battlingwrinkles,

cloggedpores,andeven

pollution’seffects

ByAjaMangum

Skin

Saviors

WE TRIED IT

MONASTERYALOE

HYALURONIC

MOISTUREBOOST

SanFrancisco

aestheticianAthena

Hewetthasblended

botanicalsforher

clientsforyears,and

nowthey’reavailable

tothemasses.This

hyaluronicacid

andaloecombo

plumpsandcalms

themostsensitive

skin.$79for2.03oz.;

monasterymade.com

EIGHTEENB FIRM

+ REPLENISH

SERUM

Thisgeekybiotech

brandclaimsthat

itsb-silkprotein,

whichis fermented

ina labfromyeast,

sugar,andsalt,

hasrestorative

properties.

Promisingtolift,

smooth,andfirm

normal,dry,and

combinationskin

types,it livesupto

itsword.$105for

1 oz.; eighteenb.com

ACADERMA

INVISIBLE

SHIELD DEFENSE

SERUM

This lightweight

treatment uses

sesame, peony, and

summer snowflake

extract to prevent

damage caused

by pollution and

free radicals, and

possibly even harm

from the blue light

of a phone. Once-

a-day use resulted

in brighter, clearer

skin. $80 for 1 oz.;

acaderma.com

BEAUTYCOUNTER

BEAUTYCOUNTER

COUNTERTIME

MINERAL BOOST

HYDRATING

ESSENCE

This fresh and

fruity essence—a

premoisturizer

that’s lighter than a

traditional serum—

absorbs rapidly

without leaving

a sticky film. Its

bakuchiolperksup

lifelessskinjustas

quickly.$59for 5 oz.;

beautycounter.com

DR. DENNIS GROSS

ALPHA BETA PORE

PERFECTING &

REFINING SERUM

With eight different

acids, retinol, and

witch hazel, this

powerhouse is

like Drano for the

skin—it unclogs

pores and dissolves

waxy plugs. After

three days of

use, skin was

dewyandsmooth

withoutirritation.

$65for 1 oz.;

drdennisgross.com

Monastery

ALOE

Care

EIGHTEEN·B