Here’s the thing about Rodan + Fields: When they come out with a new serum or a cream or a peel, it’s not unusual for millions — literally, millions — of people to go nuts over it. And if you do things like go on Facebook or check Twitter or talk to humans, you’re almost definitely going to hear about the newest #rodanandfields #beyourbestyou #skincare. There will be friends — and Facebook friends — who are there to sell the new product to you. There will be videos to watch, skin transformations to read about, and before-and-after pictures to obsess over.
So brace yourself. Your Facebook feed is about to blow up with Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum. It’s a moisturizing serum that’s launching on May 9. And I got not one, but two early samples to try out. I sent one to a cosmetic chemist to get her thoughts on the formula, and I took the other one home to test out. It was kind of perfect timing because I’d been trying to get rid of some dryness on my chin and cheek (I’d been slathering on rich creams each morning, but the dry spots kept coming back).
The first thing I noticed about the serum was that it felt a little sticky and kind of warm going on, but both sensations went away quickly. (When I asked a friend without sensitive skin to try it, she didn’t notice the warming effect.) I put my makeup on over it — no pilling, no streaking, no problem. I checked my skin in the afternoon and was surprised to see that there was still some dewiness. I drink about seven cups of coffee and zero cups of water a day, so around 3 p.m., my look is more “scares small children” than “glowy and fresh.” Not scaring small children was probably the best part of using the serum. But what came next was a huge relief: The dry spots were gone the next morning and never came back.
There’s a reason it works so well — actually, a whole bunch of reasons. The serum is basically a Big Gulp of almost every good moisturizing ingredient there is. “This contains PCAs, which are moisture magnets, as well as all of the ceramides [good fats] you find naturally in your skin,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. That’s a big deal because most serums contain only one or two.
There are expected moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and unexpected ones like sea salt, “which sounds odd, but salt actually helps hydrate skin,” says King. "There’s a lot of good stuff in this serum and there’s lactic acid to drive the ingredients deeper.” There’s also hydrating glycerin. A lot of hydrating glycerin. Most serums max out at 10 percent, but this one has 30. That's kind of a double-edged sword because high levels of glycerin can make skin feel warm temporarily, says King.
It explains why the serum made my cheeks feel flushed for a few seconds, which is why I don't use it every single day. But I do reach for it on mornings when I know I'll have a big meeting in the afternoon, something to go to that night, or whenever my skin is looking dry.
While you wait for the Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum to launch, read more on the brand:
- The Truth Behind Rodan + Fields (And Its Takeover of Your Facebook Feed)
- Test Drive: Rodan + Fields Acute Care Patches
- 6 Weird Beauty Tools (and How to Use Them
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