T he beauty industry’s great fallacy is that its customer base is made up of (cue nauseating marketing portmanteau) “skintellectuals” – people who have the time, interest and wherewithal to understand the difference between a peptide, a retinoid and a humectant – and the inclination to apply all three in a single routine. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.
Learn more. In reality, most people do not have a specific interest in skincare and have other priorities, which is why I know that suggesting a serum is already pushing my luck, so it had better work hard for its time and money. A multipurpose serum is fast, straightforward and can be applied day and night(post cleanser, pre-moisturiser).
It takes out the guesswork and kills multiple birds (dehydration, a compromised skin barrier, dullness, poor texture, unwanted lines, or any combination therein) with one stone. Olay’s Super Serum (£39.99) addresses dullness with brightening vitamin C and exfoliating lactic acid; niacinamide to soothe and protect the skin barrier, and humectants to hydrate.
It’s suitable for all, but younger adults in particular seem to love it – sales are huge. Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair (£65) is also loved by millions, and fairly so. Its silky, non-greasy texture contains the patented TriPeptide-32, to soothe, tone and soften.
Despite the name, it is worn day and night and is generally well.
