Facial skincare serums are a must-have, go-to (and favorite) beauty staple that I use every day. No matter what the season or condition of my skin, I absolutely have to use a serum under my moisturizer, sunscreen, primer and foundation. It’s the penetrating elixir that makes the skin look and behave better and come alive – the first step in the process of pampering and plumping.
Your Best Face Antioxidants Concentrate ($55 in the shop) is a wonderful blend of heavy-hitting antioxidants, including ferulic acid, resveratrol, glutathione, spin trap and Lipochroman 6. I have heard the term spin trap before but didn’t know what it was or did. And I’ve never heard of “L6.”
According to YBF founders Darrell Owens and Kimberley Fristed, if they had a “mascot,” it would be spin trap. This powerhouse skin protector stabilizes free-radical molecules without destroying them and thereby effectively prevents damage. Most antioxidants blast away at the free radicals while destroying the molecules in the process. Lipechroman-6 (L6) is a standout antioxidant that protects from two types of free radicals: ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species). This is used in almost every product that YBF makes.
Other superstar antioxidants that protect against radical damage (UV-induced, for example) and are part of this concentrates formula are ferulic acid and vitamin E. YBF’s allegiant stance and promise is to use ONLY safe ingredients, so you can be assured that the ingredients are top quality and not harmful or dangerous. Oils are used to a minimum in the YBF line to help the skin stay clear. The products use a combination of water- and oil-based actives.
For me, it is usually a challenge to find a serum that is formulated with so many active and proven antioxidants and works effectively yet doesn’t cost over $100. At $55 for 1 ounce, this serum delivers great results and mixes well with other products – without the wallet-emptying price.
I sometimes use the Antioxidants Concentrates serum on its own underneath my moisturizer, etc., but more often I do mix it with other bio-peptide, nourishing and lifting serums. The airless pump is a great delivery system and so far the pump has worked as it should, without clogging. Other airless pump products I’ve used frequently clog and I have to hit the bottom of the bottle on the inside of my hand or on a hard surface to get it to dispense properly. When this happens on a regular basis, it can be quite frustrating. Not something that you want to worry about….
While I prefer to use fragrance-free products whenever possible (due to my sensitivities and allergies), I am not averse to trying products that use natural actives like this one. I am always pleasantly surprised when my skin reacts well and I don’t mind the scent. This serum smells like black cherry soda (think Dr. Pepper), but is not overpowering and it dissipates quickly and absorbs well after application. The consistency is silky and light; never tacky, waxy or clumpy.
My skin is now more normal-acting and a little drier now that I am older, and being of Irish and Scandinavian descent, I do have thin skin that is on a downward spiral of losing volume and plumpness. So I desperately need to use products that repair and rebuild the skin and protect against further damage, and must do so on a regular basis. The days of excess T-zone oiliness and persistent breakouts seem to be over (one definite plus of aging!). This serum definitely meets my criteria for product confidence and excellence, and I would LOVE to try the other YBF serums – especially Control and Define. And, I am so impressed and excited about the new YBF Prep exfoliator – this product really rocks and is in a coveted category all of its own! I received the YBF Prep exfoliator in my most recent Discover With Marta Collection.
In four weeks’ time after using the Your Best Face Antioxidants Concentrate serum, my skin feels softer and smoother and looks better with or without makeup. I am sure that I will see even better results in the days to come and after I have used up the entire product. For this serum fan and obsessed beauty junkie, I am so happy that I was introduced to this product as part of the YBF line of youth-preserving and restoring skincare.
Ingredients: Reverse Osmosis Water, Olivem (Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate), Ethoxydiglycol, Ferulic Acid, Macadamia Nut Oil, Leucidal (Radish Root Ferment Filtrate), Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Spin Trap (Phenyl Butyl Nitrone), Lipochroman-6 (Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol), Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Trans Resveratrol, Glutathione