Get Smart Skin With New Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum
It’s been four years since Algenist revolutionized the anti-aging game by introducing a range of products formulated with a groundbreaking ingredient: alguronic acid, a polysaccharide compound that protects the microalgae cell ands which, in lab results, was found to increase elastin synthesis by up to 32% and boost cellular regeneration by up to 55%. Last spring, the San Francisco-based brand introduced arguably its most potent, decadent, and effective moisturizer to date: the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream. Given the favorable response to the Genius collection’s star product, the brainy collection has been expanding, with new products like the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum ($115 at Sephora.com, Algenist.com) joining this MENSA-worthy range.
The Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum contains the aforementioned alguronic acid and microalgae oil, which is rich in three key anti-aging substances: oleic acid (Omega 9), which is found naturally in the skin, helping it appear supple and firm but which is depleted as we age; phytosterols, which serve as essential building blocks within the dermal cellular structure; and tocopherols that perform important antioxidant functions, protecting skin cells and repairing damage. The next hero ingredient in the serum is 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a potent Vitamin C derivative that helps to boost collagen and elastin production, leading to firmer skin, and evens skin tone, minimizing the appearance of any existing dark spots and increasing the complexion’s overall radiance. A plant-based collagen, meanwhile, helps to restore elasticity to the skin, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and softening facial contours.
Other key ingredients include plantago lanceolata, otherwise known as buckhorn plantain or narrowleaf plantain (not to be confused with the plátanos we use for cooking tostones, mofongo, mangú, and so on). This herb has long been used to treat inflammations, wounds, and burns thanks to its rich concentration of polysaccharides, lipids, and flavonoids, which help to accelerate the skin-healing process.
Fermented radish root, meanwhile, functions as a preservative system, which extends the serum’s shelf life and constitutes a safer alternative to synthetic preservatives (and reduced the probability of there being adverse side effects or allergies).
This clear serum has a velvety soft consistency that’s so lightweight as to be gel-like, and is never sticky or gooey. The moment you massage the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum into the skin, you’ll likely feel a refreshing and cooling sensation that’s comparable to the feeling of applying an after-sun, aloe- or yogurt-based cream to the skin after a day at the beach. Within 30 seconds, the serum is completely absorbed, with no greasy residue left behind.
Within two weeks of using this serum, you should notice that your complexion looks smoother and bouncier. About a month after beginning your new skincare regimen, you’ll start seeing that those pesky fine lines and wrinkles don’t appear quite as deep. They don’t magically disappear, of course, but they’re markedly less noticeable. Around the 30-day mark, you might also notice a change in your skin tone, with the appearance of dark spots being minimized and your complexion appearing more luminous. On a personal level, I saw how some of those tiny acne marks that linger after a breakout were finally eradicated, which pleased me to no end!
Ideally, you’ll want to use the serum in tandem with the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream in the evening in order to obtain the best results.
My one complaint regarding this serum is that the smell is a bit odd — not entirely unpleasant and by no means intolerable, but it’s quite different from the buttery vanilla aroma of the shea butter-heavy Algenist Genius Cream. Still, a peculiar aroma that disappears once the serum is absorbed could hardly be construed as a deterrent. Anything that can deliver results within two weeks is worth bearing a curious aroma!
