I’ve been interested by the world of specific serums to target areas of concern in skincare for quite some time now, although I haven’t been brave enough to add any to my skincare routine for fear of upsetting the good thing I’ve got going now. However, with an ever increasing number of  brands delving into the market (and an ever increasing number of brands in the playing field), as well as serums being touted as the ‘big thing’ in beauty, I thought it was high time to get my foot in the serum door. So where better to get a solid start, than with It’S SKIN, and since we’re hurtling into winter and the severe cold that Korean winters serves up, it also seems like wonderful timing to add the Power 10 Formula VE Effector and VC Effector into my current line up. 

I’ve been interested in It’S SKIN’s Power 10 Formula range for a while now. In store, they sit lined up neatly,  in mostly alphabetical order. The packaging makes me think of some kind of lab (along with It’S SKIN’s store interiors), with the weighted glass bottles, pipette dropper to dispense the product, and the measuring scale up the side of each bottle.  They’re appealing to the eye, and we all know that I’m very susceptible to things that look nice ending up in my basket.  I’ve tried one or two of the single-use sleeping packs before, and felt that the results were good for my skin, but didn’t want to commit to a full size serum when I’m forgetful, and also had a couple of others in my stash that I needed to use. 

But, with the changing weather and my skin feeling like it needed a bit of TLC in the form of vitamins, I caved and bought both the Power 10 VC Effector and the VE Effector – for 12000 each. A pretty decent price for 30ml of product, where you’re only using 3 – 4 drops per application of product. 

To get my ‘first impressions’ of these products, I have been using them on alternating days for two weeks so I can determine if there are any delayed reactions to the products. Though this is too short a time to see the true effects of the skincare. 

Power 10 Formula VC Effector

The benefits of Vitamin C are well known. When ingested, it’s a powerhouse that is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all the tissues in your body. It’s a crucial component in the process of absorbing iron, the production of collagen, and maintaining bones, teeth and cartilage. When applied topically (through skincare), Vitamin C can help with brightening, evening out skin tone of the user, hydration, and limiting the damage induced by free radicals in UV light. Vitamin C is not, and should not, be used as sun protection, as it does not absorb UVA or UVB spectrum light; instead, the antioxidant properties of Vitamin C protect against the damage induced by free radicals by neutralising them. It is also this antioxidant activity that means Vitamin C can also help decrease the visible damage caused by pollution. 

In less technical terms, Vitamin C is really good for your body, both internally and externally, but should not be used as sun protection when applied to the skin. 

So far, my experience with the It’S SKIN Power 10 Formula VC Serum is positive. I haven’t had any adverse reactions, eve with my sensitive skin. The product is scented – a light fresh citrus – which is nice, but fragrance does not please all, and generally I prefer fragrance to be left out of my skincare since that is usually the allergen for me. 

My skin looks to be more hydrated, ‘plumper’ and softer, though I’m unsure as to whether this is due to the serum itself, or the fact that I’ve been keeping up with a daily skincare routine to effectively test these products. I do like that the Power 10 Formula VC Effector can be used in tandem with my current favourite skincare products without any adverse effects.

In the area of brightening and evening of skin tone, other than the permanent dark circles of a teacher with a penchant for ignoring her own bedtime, my skin tone does seem to be more even. I’ve suffered from some redness in the centre of my face, and my skin has looked quite dull in the absence of base makeup, factors which appear to have improved. My skin is almost ‘the best it’s ever been’. 

The product itself is nice to use, other than the fragrance, it is light and absorbs quickly into the skin. I like the fact that it’s dispensed with a pipette style dropper, as this means that there is no real contact with the product inside the bottle and my hands, or much outside contamination. The fragrance also disappears very quickly. 

Power 10 Formula VC Effector Power Ingredients:

Glycerin 

We all know that the Korean Beauty ethos is ‘skin care first’, and the secret behind the ‘glass skin’ trend was a well nourished, well hydrated base. So it’s no surprise that glycerin would be  within the first five ingredients of this product. Glycerin (aslo, Glycerine) is effectively a water magnet: it attracts molecules of water from the air or from the deeper layers of your skin (the dermis). More water means your skin looks fuller/softer/plumper without the use of fillers. 

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Ascorbyl-anything is your vitamin C derivative in skincare. Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is a stable form of vitamin C, which is oil soluble and therefore able to penetrate the skin’s barrier faster. This can also increase irritation for sensitive skin due to increased effectiveness. As I’ve mentioned above, Vitamin C does wonders for your skin. 

 Polyglutamic Acid

Touted as a ‘novel peptide for skincare‘ Polyglutamic Acid is a serious hydrator. It’s an amino acid that is found in natto (yup, that fermented soybean product), so it’s a natural compound. It has a number of skincare benefits, including decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, facilitating the exfoliation of old keratin and the clearance of stagnant melanin to improve the brightness of the skin. (sources: 1,  2)

Power 10 Formula VE Effector

Vitamin E is one of the most well researched antioxidants in skincare. It is naturally occuring in the skin, but our reserves can decrease due to insufficient sun protection when exposed to the environment in a constant manner. So really, we don’t lose a lot of it unless you are outside all day every day without sunscreen.  Vitamin E is a antioxidant powerhouse, doing wonders to help defend the skin from external stressors and pollution (which is much, much needed in Seoul), hence why you can find it in a lot of anti-aging products. It has also been linked to possible reduction of UV damage to skin. When applied topically, Vitamin E has been shown to help areas that are dry, act as an anti-inflammatory, and has even displayed wound healing capabilities.  It is easily absorbed into the skin, and works particularly well when used in conjunction with Vitamin C, as the Vitamin C helps ‘restore’ the antioxidant function of Vitamin E.  

Vitamin E is a true star for your skin, protecting against environmental pollution and UV radiation (still not a sunscreen), as well as fighting the signs of premature ageing with its anti-inflammatory properties.

The Power 10 Formula VE Effector is the first Vitamin E product I have tried. I’ve been eyeing up The Body Shop’s vitamin E line for a while, but the prices in Asia are steeper than those in the UK. Also, I didn’t want to completely overhaul my current skincare routine for an unknown quantity and serums are pretty easy to swap in and out.  

My first impressions of this product have also been positive. Again, I like the way the product is displayed, the packaging makes me feel like I’m mixing my own skincare potions, and the pipette dispenser feels more hygenic to me. I haven’t had any adverse reactions to the formula, and I don’t really detect any sort of scent from the VE Effector. But, my nose could also be terrible…

When applied to the skin, the VE Effector also blends out and absorbs very nicely. The viscosity is possibly a little bit thicker than the VC Effector, but it doesn’t affect the way the product disperses at all. There isn’t any residue or stickiness left after application either.    

I have noticed that my skin does look a lot smoother, and that marks from hormonal acne breakouts as well as older scars have been less noticeable to me, even in a short amount of time. My skin does feel a lot more hydrated, softer, smoother, and I’ve noticed that even though the pollution has been very bad recently, my skin feels less dirty at the end of the day. 

Power 10 Formula VE Effector Power Ingredients

Polyglutamic Acid

Derived from fermented soybeans, Polyglutamic Acid has a number of skincare benefits including decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, facilitating the exfoliation of old keratin and the clearance of stagnant melanin to improve the brightness of the skin.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Less potent than naturally occuring Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate is a synthesised in a lab to produce a form of active Vitamin E (Tocopherol) that is protected by a ‘group’ – acetate – so that it does not oxidise before use. What it lacks in potency can be made up for in concentration. (source 1)

If these two don’t float your boat, there are a wide range of other products available in the Power 10 Formula Line: may more effector serums, creams, eye creams, cleansing foams, facial mists,  sleeping packs (single use) and sheet masks (single use). You can see them all on the It’S SKIN website here.

To purchase these products for yourself, you can try boots (UK), yesstyle, or the It’S SKIN website.

Have you tried any products from It’S SKIN before? Let me know!