Three serums that dramatically transform skin (the numbers don’t lie)

Cathy Donohue

Skin serums – a phrase you’ll hear bandied about a lot.

I find the vast amount of skincare available right now VERY overwhelming and it’s difficult to know where to even start when it comes to picking just one.

For example, if you have oily skin, is it just going to make your skin shiny? No thanks. And if you have sensitive skin, what products should you steer away from?

See what I mean, it’s a complicated business.

However, there are several serums which address specific skin concerns and have proven results, those stats don’t lie.

Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense, €95 for 30ml

Discoloration Defense is specifically targeted at discolouration with clinical trials showing a 41 percent improvement in the appearance of stubborn brown patches in as little as two weeks.

It’s described as a “breakthrough in the fight against skin hyperpigmentation”, including melasma. The high potency blend of ingredients including dermatologist-favourite ‘Tranexamic Acid’ inhibits pigmentation irregularities by targeting the causes of visible discolouration resulting in a brighter complexion.

Dr Alexis Granite described hyperpigmentation as “the fastest growing global skincare concern” and says that demand for corrective products is on the up.

Let’s get down to the numbers then.

In a 12-week clinical study, Discoloration Defense Serum improved the appearance of key skin discolouration markers with average results showing:

71 percent improvement in the appearance of post-acne marks
46 percent improvement in the appearance of skin discolouration
41 percent improvement in the appearance of stubbon brown patches
35 percent improvement in the appearance of uneven skin tone

La Mer Revitalising Hydrating Serum, €175 for 30ml

Skin powerhouse, La Mer, has created a product that’s lightweight yet deeply replenishing.

It’s designed to give you the best skin of your life really with the description reading “for your most radiant, healthy-looking, fresh complexion yet” and of course, now we’re intrigued.

Priced at €175, it’s not cheap but skincare is worth investing in and it tends to pay the dividends, ten times over. A “high-speed serum’, this is a must for a gal who isn’t afraid to spend on her serum and wants to see results, fast.

Containing the brand’s secret weapon, miracle broth which is described as a cell-renewing elixir, you can see the impact from this almost immediately.

Miracle Broth was perfected after 6,000 experiments and 12 years of searching, culminating in a fermentation process transforming sea kelp, vitamins, minerals and other pure ingredients.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir, €74.50 for 15ml

One of the brand’s most exciting launches with its marine hero Padina Pavonica the star of the show. An active that works as a natural filler by attracting water into the skin and encouraging the production of those all-important glycosaminoglucan molecules – responsible for firmness and elasticity.

African Birch Bark, a natural anti-oxidant, restores and maintains
collagen, peptides help to strengthen and plump the skin and Red Seaweed extract boosts drainage.

Camelina oil rich in Omega-3 and Hyaluronic Acid helps to deeply moisturise, as well as prevent water-loss. The overall effect is that skin looks youthful, lifted and restored.

And on to the numbers, during independent clinical trials, the following results were collated:

95 percent agreed the product left their skin feeling smoother.
79 percent felt the product dramatically reduced the appearance of fine lines.
76 percent agreed the product worked faster and better than any other anti-ageing wrinkle product they had used.