This Do-It-All Nighttime Serum Tackles Dark Spots, Wrinkles, and Acne Without Irritating Sensitive Skin

During the winter months, my sensitive skin is more prone than usual to breakouts, so I’m constantly looking for a nighttime product that will help prevent those pesky pimples without causing irritation (and, ideally, will brighten my skin and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles). Now, my search is over thanks to the discovery of Biossance Squalane and Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum ($62).

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Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum — $62.00

The formula’s key active—a 10 percent concentration of lactic acid—is gentle enough for sensitive skin, but still tackles discoloration and hyperpigmentation while you sleep. Like other members of the alpha-hydroxy acid family, lactic acid works by melting the “glue” that holds dead skin cells to the surface of your skin, and helps with brightening as well as with evening out tone and texture. Getting rid of these dead cells also makes it less likely that dirt and oil will become trapped inside your pores, which means that the ingredient also plays a role in preventing breakout. And what’s more? It also aids in hydration, which can help diminish the appearance of wrinkles. With that in mind, it’s no wonder it’s been deemed a “do it all” ingredient by the brand (for what it’s worth, dermatologists love it too).

Aside from lactic acid, the serum also contains clover, which stimulates cellular turnover to boost its exfoliating effects, and squalane, which derms have previously been referred to as “the big gulp of moisture.” The entire mix is vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, making it even more appealing for those of us with irritable skin.

After purchasing, I immediately noticed the texture of the serum. It’s thick enough to really bring moisture into your skin, but light enough not to clog pores. I’m also typically worried about fragrance (which is typically a no-no for sensitive skin) and was pleasantly surprised that the serum doesn’t have one. It just smelled super clean and felt really gentle on my skin.

I’ve been using the product for a little over a month, and it has quickly become a staple in my nighttime skin-care routine. While I didn’t notice any immediate results, I started to see brighter skin after about three weeks. It has also reduced my discoloration to give me a more even skin tone, and diminished the appearance of dark circles over my eyes. And as for wrinkles? The ones on my forehead and between my eyebrows look significantly less noticeable than they did before I started using the serum.

Most importantly, I tend to break out when testing new products—especially if they’re exfoliating. But in this case, I haven’t had a single pimple, and have noticed a real improvement in my acne scarring.

As someone who tends to shy away from exfoliants (#sensitiveskinproblems), I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I love this product. It does what it sets out to do, and a single $62 bottle contains enough product to last me a few months, making it a worthy investment IMHO. It has kept my skin hydrated, clear, and non-irritated, and is sure to be a staple in my routine for the foreseeable future.

Dealing with adult acne? Check out the video below for a derm’s tips on how to handle. 

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