I really don’t like to rush reviews on skincare, there are always so many claims to consider and sometimes skin takes its sweet time to get used to new products. I received the Biotherm Skin.Energetic Concentrate serum for review consideration almost 2 months ago and have been using it every morning, I’m just about ready to give you my thoughts and impressions of this serum that claims to “fight the most visible signs of fatigue”.
The product recommends itself to morning and nightly application but I prefer to use serums and oils that target my low hydration levels in the evening… that’s just a personal preference. However, I’m the total opposite in the mornings and have been known to skip moisturiser entirely purely because I hate to feel like I have a heavy mask of skincare on throughout the day.
The Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate is not your usual anti-aging serum. It’s designed for a younger market who may be just noticing the first effects of the aging process but instead of claiming to reverse those signs, the Skin.Ergetic serum promises to boost moisture, radiance and dampen the effects that a busy lifestyle can have on tired, dull or stressed skin. This in itself has me sitting up and paying attention. Radiance? Freshness? Did someone say perky? I’m all about the perky.
First things first… what a total bugger this is to open and ‘mix’. It comes in two parts, the ‘serum’ (think of it as a carrier oil) and then a ‘powder’ (think of that as the active ingredients). You need to dispense the powder into the serum and shake thoroughly to mix. I can do the shaking but the dispensing had me stumped for a little while.
I read the instructions, re-read them properly… made a cup of tea and glared at the bottle. Then I gave the thing to Mr. L, throwing my arms up in the most Gallic way I could muster and pointed at the instructions. About 15 seconds later he gave it back to me fully mixed with a pitying look on his face that left me with no other option than to refuse to say thank you and KMT at him instead.
The concentrate smells divine. It’s fresh, zingy and above all else, apple… er… y. It makes for a positively uplifting experience in the mornings on my freshly washed skin. A white lotion that spreads thinly and without resistance over my face ensuring that a little prodcut goes a very long way.
I was unconvinced that it would give me enough moisture and in patches, I don’t think it does. I definitely need to use my normal day cream over this but in fairness, you’re not supposed to use it alone anyway. Moot point.
The concentrate is enriched with things such as: Broccoli (a novel way to get your 5 a day), Soy, Apple, Lemon and Sugar Cane… all of which promise to improve radiance and skin texture. In honesty, I can’t say I noticed a huge difference to my skin texture first nor last… but radiance? Well… it was only when I stopped using it last week (thinking that I’d had enough of it not doing anything other than smelling and feeling good) that I noticed how much duller my skin was looking by the middle of the day. The Biotherm Skin.Ergetic concentrate seems to bring a brightness to my complexion that it’s visibly lacking without.
Priced at £35 for 50ml… I’m not even close to being halfway through the bottle after 2 months (1x a day) usage so have no problems expressing that I believe it provides value for money. My only concern is chasing after something that gives more than just visible brightness. Admittedly, it provides most things I want from a daytime serum… non-greasy, easily absorbed, refreshing, value for money, brightening… but it doesn’t give me smoother skin or plump out fine lines. Does anything? Well… I’m still chasing that particular pot of gold.
All in all, if fatigue is your main skin concern and you want something light and refreshing for the summer months that will brighten your complexion and leave you looking more refreshed. I’d seriously give Biotherm’s Skin.Ergetic Concentrate a second look.
Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate is priced at £35 and available to buy from most department stores and online at Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Beauty Expert.
What do you look for in a serum?
£35 for 50ml isn’t bad at all! I got the Good Morning Skin serum by Elizabeth Arden for £30, thinking it’d be 30ml. It wasn’t until I has half way through the bottle that I realised it was actually only 15ml…
I’ll probably have to check this out since I’m always on the search for serums targeting the first signs of aging.etc Prevention is the best cure!
Although the whole mixing purpose seems too cumbersome. What’s the purpose anyway? To extend its shelf life?
http://shimmerdreamz.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekend-haulage-and-bank-breakage.html
Cassie
I’m currently trying out this one (the whole range actually) to participate in a consumer discussion with a magazine next week (nothing blog related, thus, but this will end up on my blog as well).
I’m not as positive as you, I mostly got blemishes from using this range, probably because of the heavy scents 🙁 Too bad because I liked the idea of that serum.
What I don’t like is that the active ingredient (the broccoli thing) works for 3 months only, after that you’re supposed to throw away the bottle and I already know it won’t be empty by then. That sucks big time, if I may say so.
I really prefer serums to moisturisers, apart from the fact they all seem to have short shelf lives and i never use them up that quickly! I never use them in the mornings, as if I put anything other than sunscreen on my skin it feels heavy for the whole day.
£35 for 50ml is pretty good value though!
http://incensepeppermints.blogspot.com/
Hollie x
Very glad it’s not just me who had problems activating the serum! It took me so long! x
I’ve just started using some of the Dr Nick Lowe anti-aging skincare range (well, it was on 3-for-2 at Boots.. :-P) and actually I’ve been very impressed…the night cream smells a bit musty/pondweedy but the foaming cleanser andthe eye serum are really suiting my very sensitive skin 🙂
The other range I would recommend is La Roche Posay – Lisa Eldridge recommeds their Cicaplast as a primer but find it is brilliant as a lip treatment.
Both the above ranges are worth checking out
All the best, Jo 🙂
I’ve tried the serum, no problems at all 🙂
Activating it was a breeze, no rocket science involved. Took me about 10 sec to activate it. I find it refreshing, smells great and no problems thus far 🙂 All the best to everyone who tries it.
Can you tell us something about INCI, please? I remember a bit TOO MANY expensive products that were just some glycerine and a bit of petroleum derivatives (alias: no real effect on the skin)
V
I absolutely TOTALLY will if I can remember where I put the box!
i got this a couple of weeks ago and panicked because the instructions were in french or something. i was trying to figure out what the extra lid was(the broccoli one) but unfortunately there was only pictures to illustrate what to do with it. so glad i got it right. was quite confused for a while there. i love the smell, and i think my skin has perked up a bit while using it, i use it morning and night