PRODUCT REVIEW
SKINCEUTICALS
HYDRATING B5
By Danielle Hadley
T
ake a look at the skin care products
sitting on your bathroom shelf. How
many of them were impulse buys or
purchases heavily influenced by media hype?
We’re guessing quite a few. And how many of
those products have actually become an im-
portant part of your daily routine? We’re guess-
ing not that many. When you’re trying to build
an effective skin care routine, it’s important to
nail the basics first before indulging in any
trendy extras.
To look at, the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5
serum couldn’t be more basic. It’s a simple,
clear glass bottle that houses within it a trans-
parent liquid that you could easily scroll past
if it appeared on your Instagram feed. But what
it lacks in fancy packaging, it makes up for in
formulation. Packed with Hyaluronic Acid and
Vitamin B5, this thick, gel-like serum is like the
Little Black Dress of the skin care world – a
suits-all staple that everyone needs in their
collection – working wonders for every skin
type, at any time of the year.
It’s this combination of two hydrating power-
houses that makes this serum so special. Instead
of simply conditioning the surface of the skin,
like many moisturising creams do, the Hydrat-
ing B5 travels down to the lower layers to re-
plenish depleted moisture reserves where it
counts. This then plumps fine dehydration lines
and alleviates dry patches while restoring
balance and calm to the skin. Like a good LBD,
this serum can work its magic alone or paired
with other products. Alone, it provides grease-
less hydration that won’t clog the pores. Layered
with other formulas, especially face creams and
lotions, it works to enhance their benefits. It
can even work as a pacifier when skin is strug-
gling to remain calm during the use of strong
acids or active ingredients.
If you can envisage such a product in your
routine, remember these three things. When
layering it with other active serums, apply the
most active first. If you use an antioxidant in
the morning (and, by now, you
should be), apply this before
the Hydrating B5, as its ingre-
dients need a clear pathway into
the skin to work best. Next,
avoid unnecessary waste by
dripping the serum directly
onto the face before mas-
saging it in with fingertips.
The pipette applicator
makes this incredibly easy
and will prevent valua-
ble product being ab-
sorbed by the palm of
your hands; just drop a
dot onto each cheek-
bone, the chin and,
lastly, on the centre of
the forehead. Finally, be
consistent. Use it twice
a day, every day, to enjoy
a smooth, bouncy com-
plexion all year round.
ISSUE #06 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 36