The Glossier Supers. They’re supposed to be little superheroes for your face (sans the cape because not all superheroes wear capes, ya know). But, are they really?
I know affiliate links bother some people so I want to get something out of the way:
Yes, I am a Glossier rep. Yes, I make a small commission if you shop through my link. No, I am not going to love everything they ever create. And no, I don’t get paid to talk highly of their products. Just because I love a brand doesn’t mean all of their products are [super] heroes in my eyes. And I have never, and will never, make any money off of being fake and promoting stuff I don’t even use myself. Money is not why I blog. And, I didn’t accept Glossier’s offer of becoming a rep because I wanted to make money. I became a rep so I could share new launches and test out products so I could share my honest reviews with all of you who are fellow beauty lovers. Now that my serious little spiel is over, let’s talk Supers.
Hot or Not | The Glossier Supers
so you want to glow_
Super Glow is a vitamin c and magnesium based serum that is supposed to brighten and energize dull, tired skin. Literally what I need because I rarely go to sleep at a proper hour (it’s 2 am right now, oops). And, we all know that sleep is imperative for energized, bright, and youthful skin. Ascorbic acid, the most popular and widely used form of Vitamin C, is super unstable and oxidizes easily, especially if it’s not packaged properly– air tight and in a dark light-proof glass. Luckily, the form of Vitamin C used in this formulation is Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate. It’s a stable derivative of Vitamin C that is supposed to reduce melanin production– the reason we get dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
Magnesium is a humectant so it attracts water to the skin to condition and moisturize. The thing I’ve learned about humectants is that it pulls moisture from the air. But, it can also pull from the dermis (the lower level of your skin) if there’s not enough moisture in the air. That’s why it’s important to seal in the moisture with an occlusive. Some occlusives are squalane, silicone derivatives like dimethicone, and even mineral oil and paraffins, but you know how I feel about the latter two.
I was really excited to use this one– who doesn’t want to glow? I sure as hell do. But, sadly, this one was really underwhelming for me. The consistency is essentially like water, and I was not expecting that when I piped some out. It literally just ran through my sealed fingers and into the sink because it was very liquidy. Personally, because of the consistency, this is more like an essence than a serum, and it feels like you’re tapping fancy water on your skin. I notice a slight glow after application, but nothing that makes me go, “super!” And it hasn’t helped lighten pigmentation from blemishes, which is what I need, and wanted from this.
It is nice because thanks to the Vitamin C you are getting antioxidant benefits at a pretty inexpensive price. But, I’d rather invest some more money and get something more potent that will give me better results. Right now, I’ve been using this under my SPF so I have some sort of antioxidant on in the morning to help protect against free radicals. So, I’m using it up, but as of right now I don’t plan on repurchasing it.
_when those breakouts come around
Super Pure is a niacinamide and zinc PCA serum that is supposed to calm blemish prone skin and ease redness. Niacinamide is an ingredient I really like. It’s a form of Vitamin B3 that is known to reduce acne/blemishes, reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss where water from within our skin is being lost due to evaporation), and decrease premature skin aging caused by sun exposure. Zinc PCA (aka zinc salt) is a synthetic skin conditioning ingredient that protects collagen, reduces redness, and reduces excess oil. That’s why it’s great for acne and rosacea.
This one is one I like to use when my skin begins to feel that tingling irritation sensation I get before I start to break out. It’s not a miracle worker for me, but it does help speed up the healing process of any blemishes and calms them down a bit. Plus, the consistency of this is more like a typical serum that absorbs quickly, another reason why I’m a fan. I compared this to The Ordinary’s Niacinamide and Zinc serum if you’re interested in that.
I just want bouncy skin_
Super Bounce is for adding moisture back into the skin and to soften things out. It’s a hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 serum that has a smooth serum-like consistency, looks more cloudy and “milky,” and absorbs quickly. Hyaluronic Acid is an amazingly moisturizing ingredient that is also a humectant. So, again, apply a moisturizer on top to stop it from sucking moisture out of your skin. Vitamin B5 is a humectant as well, and as far as I have researched, it also helps your skin retain water. And, it’s a great ingredient to soften and improve the skin’s elasticity, which keeps your skin looking youthful.
I really like using this serum before I apply my face since it hydrates (but is never greasy) and smoothes the skin nicely before makeup application. And it’s a great one to add into your nighttime routine if your skin is looking a little crusty crust. If you have really dry skin, I think this would be a nice addition just to amp things up. I can use this with a lightweight moisturizer on top and it’s enough for my combo skin without being heavy or too much.
_ but which one?
Out of the 3, I really like Super Bounce and Super Pure so I would recommend those since these serums are more on the affordable side. As for Super Glow, I know a lot of people like it, but it just didn’t wow me. I had the highest expectations for that one, and it left me wanting. You do get the antioxidant benefits of Vitamin C, which is a always nice, but ya girl needs some brightening and lightening-of-pimple scars action in her life. And this did not give it to me.
Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments below!
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