SKIN SAVIOURS
The market for targeted serums to tackle specific skin concerns is exploding. Sarah Simpson decodes the most common categories
Targeted serums to repair and soothe
Finding the right serum for your skin can be like trying to find the perfect little black dress – it needs to feel right, glide on effortlessly, and settle on the skin seamlessly, not to mention deliver on its promises. Designed to be like a supercharged shot of goodness for your skin, these pint-size potions are a godsend for a myriad of skincare woes. In an everexpanding sea of skin-salvaging concoctions, we’ve scoured the beauty aisles to find the best of the best for all of your complexion conundrums. REDNESS
If redness is your main gripe and it feels like your skin might be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, arm yourself with a serum which will calm the skin’s reactive responses, reducing the rush of flush. They work to strengthen the capillary walls in the dermis beneath the skin’s surface so redness is less prominent, as well as balance normal processes like hydration and cell turnover. Seek out serums which work to reduce inflammation like Rejuvaphyl Redness Recovery, $126.50 which contains chlorophyll, a molecule derived from plants which is excellent at improving skin tone and overall appearance. AGEING
When it comes to ironing out fine lines and unwanted wrinkles, there’s one heavy-hitter that remains the most lauded – retinol. The derivative of vitamin A , which is one of our body’s key nutrients for healthy skin cell function, works with a two-prong approach. It increases collagen and elastin production, as well as exfoliating the top layer of your skin. This encourages your cell turnover to speed up, in return revealing a smoother texture, and youthful, plumped-up volume. PCA Skin Intensive Age Refining Treatment, $164, contains a level of 0.5 pure retinol paired with antioxidants that work in unison to breathe life back into skin that is feeling older than you want it to. It’s worth starting slowly with retinol as it can cause irritation, so begin by applying at night twice a week until your skin builds up its tolerance. PIGMENTATION
Stubborn pigmentation is a common lament for many. Whether you were born with angel kisses, it developed with ageing or is the unfortunate result of too much time laying out in the sun as a teenager, there’s no denying the effect it can have on your complexion. While you can resort to cosmetic coverage, if long-term reduction of pigmentation is a goal, a powerful serum designed to break down melanin is a great plan of attack. It’s not the be all and end all to have a porcelain complexion, but it is rather covetable to have a more even overall tone and