Serum addition: the S5 skincare illuminating serum

A beauty serum is one of those everyday beauty staples that are always on my bedside table. I love to use one, especially in the evening- just by itself or applied prior to a face oil or night cream. I am super keen to explore the best serums on the market, and it may come at no surprise, I had my eye on the british natural brand S5 skincare. Their range features 5 top luxury serums that address very specific skin needs by providing potent bioactives to the skin. I was sent the S5 illuminating serum targeted at pigmented skins - As I have mentionned before, my skin type is combination but I am also granted of little fainty freckles (nice!). I lived in Los Angeles for a few years, I took advantage of the californian sunshine (yes, sounds awesome!) but it has resulted in some sparse "petits" dark spots (yes, less awesome…).

Product name: S5 illuminating serum
For: pigmented skins
Certified: yes (Ecocert)
Texture: cream/gel
Price: £44 for 30ml

My opinion

While I always try to keep my beauty regime simple and easy, the serum is one of my best skin companions. The S5 illuminating serum comes housed in a very clean-cut glass bottle and this is not suprising as I have already reviewed another (wonderful!) serum from S5 skincare (see review here) with a similar sleek look.

This one really feels luxurious to use. Why? Probably because of its texture: really soft, velvety, and in a way that I have never came across before. I would not even call it a serum actually, as it looks more like a white and delicate cream/dew. This texture is achieved by using an aloe vera base enriched with glycerin which gives already very hydrating properties to the serum. Included in the serum are skin lifting ingredients such as Kombuchka proven to enhance skin glow and radiance. In addition,  a plethora of herb and floral extracts such as Cowslip, Lady's mantle, Yarrow, Mallow, Peppermint have been added and act as a powerful brigthening complex helping to reduce sun-induced hyperpigmentation. This active illuminating complex is meant to target and downregulate a specify enzyme located in the skin responsable for the production of ageing spots/excessive pigmentation.

So enough of the theory, how does the S5 illuminating serum perfom in practice? After applying it every evening into cleansed face for a good 6 weeks, I can say that the serum is perfect to even out complexion. It gives a little kick to skin regeneration processes and help to unify skin while being really moisturising at the same time.
So I like the performance but I still want to mention a couple of things I like less. Considering the volume, I do find the serum slightly on the pricey side. The tag-line" little goes a long way" could not be applied here. The brightening effect is a tad disappointing as I have not seen dramatic improvement in terms of dark spot reduction. Perhaps I need to wait a little more time. All in all, I am still enjoying this serum very much: the weaker points do not outweight its strong benefits- super gentle, non irritant at all, and really helpful on dull and lack luster skin!

++ unifying and soothing serum
- pricey

Overal rating: 7.5/10

Composition: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, aqua (water), caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, Saccharomyces/xylinum black tea ferment, isostearyl isostearate, C14-22 alcohol, hydrolyzed Roe, glyceryl stearate citrate, glyceryl stearate, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, Veronica officinalis (speadwell) leaf extract*, primula veris (cowslip) extract*, Mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract*, Malva sylvestris (mallow) extract*, Alchemilla vulgaris (lady's mantle) extract*, Achillea millefolium (yarrow) extract*, Sclerotium gum, Laminaria ochroleuca extract, lysolecithin, dehydroacetic acid, alcohol**, tocopherol, xanthan gum, pullulan, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, parfum (natural, low allergen fragance), gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate. *ingredients from organic farming. ** made using organic ingredients.

Get it here.

What do you think? Have you tried this serum?