Can Serum Really Give Me Super Skin?

I've been skirting around the edge of serums for awhile now… a tester here, a dab on the back of the hand there. To be honest, I didn't really UNDERSTAND them. Now cleansers, toners, day and night creams… I get. I know where I stand with them.

But for me, serums were a bit of a confusing beast…and also, though i'm a little ashamed to admit, something I was *ahem* 'too young to need quite yet'…

This notion came crashing down around my ears at my last visit to the the House of Fraser Lancome counter. The assistant quite literally laughed aloud at my nonchalant "I use daily moisturisers, do I really need MORE?"(Not in a rude way, but still!)

She appeared to take this as a personal challenge to convert me, and gave me a quick notes rundown on serums and what they bring to the table.

Essentially, where creams will sit on the skin and slowly provide moisture, what the serum is able to do is be absorbed instantly - giving an instant boost in skin hydration, along with a whole heap of other benefits.

The serum she was suggesting for my skin type was Lancome Advanced Genefique. Along with the hydration benefits, it also boasts an improvement in skin tone and texture, firming, reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and most importantly - *radiance*. Quite the miracle product!

Handy pipette style applicator means no product waste!

So I was sent packing with a few sample bottles, to see the difference for myself. I've decided to follow the instructions I was given - use before bed, and in the morning UNDER makeup and daily skin care regime. Tonight is my first night!

I'm going to do some before and after shots, to see if there is anything special about 'serums'. Fingers crossed. I'd love to be proven wrong on this one - if they work miracles, I get great skin, and they get to justify the hefty £59 price tag. Win Win.

So - night #1… 

Eek. No makeup :(

My skin tone is pretty uneven - I have a little redness around the t-zone. I also have a couple of pesky blemishes, nothing huge, but annoying nonetheless. There is dryness on my cheeks and around my mouth. 

The serum was a pretty strange consistency... here it is on my hand:

A bit slimey…? 

Slimey-ness aside, I pushed on and applied it to my face and neck - gently massaging as I went. It felt good! It was a very cooling sensation, and I *definitely* got the impression it absorbed immediately. It doesn't give me the feeling of complete hydration I get when I moisturise (my face seems to DRINK night cream when i've had a tough skin day!) … but my skin does feel a little smoother and softer. 

I guess we will see in the morning!

If I look 16 and glowing, we will consider it a success!! (Saying that, I had pretty bad acne at 16…)