This is the £15 serum that will solve 90% of the UK's skin problems
I'm a words person, not a numbers person – I am a beauty writer after all. Crunching numbers has never been my forte (maths was painfully boring at school) but when I attended the launch of The Inkey List's new Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum, I heard a statistic that genuinely shocked me.
When creating the new serum, the brand carried out a study which found that 91% of people have dehydrated skin both in the UK and in the US. And yes, that includes anyone with oily skin too. No matter your skin type, you'll know that dehydration is a thing many of us deal with, but I won't blame you if the actual complications of what that means fly over your head.
Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
Dry skin not only feels tight and uncomfortable, but it is more likely to encourage conditions like acne and inflammation to grant your skin an unwelcome 'hello'. Essentially, when you have dry skin, it sends messages to your sebaceous glands to create more sebum (oil) that can lead to breakouts. And aside from the more important consequences of dry skin, dehydration can rob your complexion of its luminous glow.
So, have I adequately convinced you why it's important to prioritise hydration in your skincare routine? I think so. Now this is where the Ectoin Serum comes in, and after testing it for multiple weeks now, I've come to realise that this is a product every skincare routine needs.
What is the Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum?
The Inkey List describes the innovation as: 'a dual-action serum that simultaneously instantly boosts hydration up to 10 surface layers deep whilst building a stronger skin barrier, fast.' You have my attention.
Alongside 2% ectoin (we'll touch more on what this exactly is in a moment) that helps to strengthen the skin barrier, the serum also contains hyaluronic acid to deliver multi-level hydration to many layers of the skin. This is why the brand names this formula as dual-action. To achieve healthy skin at its prime, you can't focus on either the skin barrier or hydration levels; both are equally as important to ensure the skin functions at its best. You can read more about the skin barrier and its purpose, here.
What is ectoin and what are the benefits?
Before we go into the serum review, it'll be wise to understand exactly what ectoin is and why you need it – be prepared as it's about to get a little science-y. Think about it: the most extreme conditions in the world (places like the Dead Sea) are still populated with living organisms that can thrive and survive in these places. This is thanks to a molecule called extremolytes which helps these organisms to live – and ectoin is a form of extremolytes.
It's because of its ability to protect cells in even the harshest conditions, that it has become such an exciting ingredient in barrier-support skincare. When used in a serum or moisturiser, ecotin delivers an impressive number of benefits;
It creates a film over the skin to protect it against pollution, sun pollution and blue light, thus supporting the skin barrier.
The film creates a seal that prevents moisture loss, thus keeping moisture locked deep within the layers of your skin. In turn, this increases hydration levels.
It can improve the suppleness and softness of the skin.
And the best part? You don't need to live in the polar ice caps to benefit from the Ecotin Hydro-Barrier Serum. It's a wise formula to add to your routine if you have dry skin (which you probably do), live in a populated area with lots of pollution, or if you're dealing with the side effects of rabid retinol use.
The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum: My review
This serum is a great example of how one simple and affordable addition to your routine can make a dramatic difference to your skin, both for its health and appearance. While some ingredients take consistent use to see results, what's so pleasing to me about the ectoin serum is that the difference is near instant.
The first time I applied the serum – which, by the way, has a beautifully silky texture that instantly slips into my skin – I was taken aback by how quickly the product worked. As soon as it touched my dry cheeks, they instantly felt cool and relieved. With a very promising first impression, I introduced it into my daily routine with one pump in the morning and another in the evening.
Instantly I noticed that my skin was far more hydrated and juicy-looking – the serum gave my complexion a stunning, radiant glow. But over a few uses, I was shocked to see that the serum made my skin clearer and more unified which, because of the benefits of ectoin, makes complete sense. As my skin was more hydrated, there was less need to produce sebum and thus fewer breakouts.
I also love how well the serum sits under makeup. As the results are fast, a pump below foundation helps to improve the overall luminosity of my complexion and somehow it makes my skin appear smoother with fewer fine lines.
For £15, I think you'd be silly not to introduce this into your routine. Your skin will thank you for it.
Read now: ‘Chat GPT told me to cut my calories by a third’
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