In my tried-and-tested opinion, serum is one of the best things you can add to your skincare regimen. A serum seeps deep into your skin and, depending on its abilities, can boost hydration and moisture retention, correct dark spots, firm skin, clear pores, prevent breakouts, brighten complexion and more. You apply it to freshly cleansed skin, before adding a more dense moisturizer over top. (Whereas the serum is more proactive or corrective, the moisturizer is nourishing and defensive: It hydrates the outermost layer of skin, and also acts as a shield against environmental toxins—and UV damage, if it contains SPF. Moisturizer is the more necessary step, if we’re talking basic skincare essentials.)
Adding serum to your regimen is an upgrade, even if it’s a low-cost, safely formulated hyaluronic acid serum that is designed to retain moisture in your skin. And in some cases, more calculated and highly concentrated serums can be a luxurious upgrade: I was able to get my mitts on Dr. Barbara Sturm’s overnight serum ampoules, a 7-night pack of 2-ml serum vials (again, applied after cleansing or showering, and before a nighttime moisturizer). They are the same formula that Dr. Sturm uses in her 30 ml night serum. When you crunch the numbers, that means you’re using about half of the volume of her traditional $310 night serum in a one-week period, hence the $150 sticker of the ampoules. The 30-ml bottle, when used more sparingly, should last you a month or more, assuming you apply just 3-4 drops per night.
The ampoules are intended to provide users with a high-volume, fast-acting boost to the skin. Here are the ingredients each ampoule contains, plus its benefits: cotton thistle extract, to calm stressed skin; senna alata extra, an antioxidant that also reverses UV damage; poria cocos mushroom extract, to tone oil production and balance skin’s pH levels; beta-glucan reduces redness; purslane reverses and prevents signs of aging; molecularly balanced hyaluronic acid to significantly boost and preserve moisture levels in the skin (holding up to 1,000 times its own weight in water).
So, after my test run—what was my verdict? It was timed well, to a post-Brazilian carnival party onslaught, and an overseas flight. My skin was tired, dry, breaking out. Did I see a boost in my complexion, plus increased firmness, and brightness? Yes, definitely. But, I did note some pros and cons to the ampoules. Here are my thoughts:
Why You Should
It’s an effective, quick fix to tired skin. All those ingredients, plus the 2-ml volume of each ampoule, yields serious skin-brightening and firming results, especially since they sync with your body’s circadian rhythm to replenish and rejuvenate cells while you sleep. It’s the perfect recipe for a well-rested, age-reversing, bender-neutralizing result. Call it a complexion treatment, or a topical IV for your complexion.
The name is trusted. Dr. Sturm is held in very high regard in the industry. She takes a scientific approach to her production — and a precisely German one at that — selecting ingredients and formulas that work hard, fast and effectively. There’s a noticeable difference between, say, her $300 hyaluronic serum and the $10 one you can buy on Amazon. Hers is lab-tested, a “low- and high-balanced” formula that seeps into skin while also nourishing cells at the surface. There’s essentially 0 percent risk of anything going awry. If what you want is fast and lasting results, look to Dr. Barbara Sturm. (Though any future benders, dehydration and lack of sleep will quickly undo the results. Much of this is on you to maintain with smart daily habits.)
You don’t need to do them all in one week. While I took a weeklong “recovery” approach to the ampoules, you can keep them for single-night “brightness emergencies,” or a lavish Sunday night — perhaps after a bath and face mask. At roughly $21 per ampoule, this is a luxurious product, and each one is single-use. Heck, there’s enough in each ampoule that you and a partner could get a high-powered dose during an at-home spa night.
