I can’t escape the fact that I’m getting older and so is my skin…
After reading review after review of both these serums, I had to try them for myself. Today I’ll be telling you all about my experiences with both the Glossier Super Pack and 2 of the 59 available serums from The Ordinary. Honestly, before I even heard about these serums I didn’t know I was supposed to be using them. Now that I’m 25, I’ve read several articles saying that I need to start worrying about fine lines and wrinkles and having children and saving money for retirement; I guess only a couple of those are relevant to this.
Now that I’ve finally made it a habit of washing my face twice a day (I know, it took a while), wearing sunscreen on my face, and washing my makeup brushes, and now when I use nicer products on my skin, I actually notice a difference. I’ve absolutely loved every one of these serums, but they’ve got their subtle differences that make them helpful in their own ways. Here’s what I’ve found.
Glossier
Photo by Glossier
The Super Pack comes with three separate serums: Super Glow, Super Pure, & Super Bounce. The trio costs a whopping $65, though you do get a reduced price for buying the pack rather than buying them separately ($84). Unfortunately, Glossier is only available in the U.S., Canada, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, but I was able to find it in Australia via Ebay, though it might take a bit longer and the prices might differ. All of the serums have the following claims: hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, paraben free, fragrance free, appropriate for all skin types, cruelty free, vegan.
Super Glow | Vitamin C + Magnesium PCA
This is the thinnest of the three, and is a great summer serum since it’s so light and doesn’t cake your face when you’re already sweating in the sun. I generally use this one when my skin is already feeling pretty good, and needs a good little pick-me-up. I’d liken it to the Evian Brumisateur® Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray. They say that it “helps reduce dark spots and creates smoother, light-reflective skin,” though I can only say that, yes, it does make my skin a bitt smoother and lighter. I don’t have dark spots (yet), so I’ll have to come back to that in the future.
ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Super Pure | Niacinamide/Vitamin B3 & Zinc PCA
When you put a few drops on your skin, you notice it’s slightly more viscous, and I can feel the serum soaking in a bit longer. The Niacinamide is the main fighter against redness in the skin, and I have actually noticed a difference in redness when using this. According to Glossier, the Zinc “penetrates pores to help clear out impurities and excess sebum that can cause blemishes.” I say sure. It makes it sound like it’ll clean your face, but really, if you’re properly washing your face, it won’t make much of a difference, but if you’re lazy and just put it on top of your dirty face, it’ll feel like you’ve got a nasty film all over
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Zinc PCA, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose
Super Bounce | Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin B5
Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the body, and it’s best feature is its water retention. It holds up to 1000x its weight in water, and it helps aging skin re-hydrate itself to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from sun and chemicals. The Vitamin B5, also found in mushrooms and avocados, helps to keep your skin soft and supple. I absolutely love this serum, and I feel like it makes the most difference of the three.
ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodecanol, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Shop Glossier:
The Ordinary
Photo by The Ordinary
There are so many serums by The Ordinary, but I ended up purchasing the equivalent of Super Pure and Super Bounce, Niacinamide + Zinc and Hyaluronic Acid + B5 respectively. So far, I was pretty excited that I got twice as much product for almost a third of the price. Glossier kills it with their cute packaging and pastel colors, but I can’t help but to love the simplicity and quality of The Ordinary.
Niacinamide 105 + Zinc 1%
If you’re anything like me, you’ve struggled with redness and zits. Since I’ve been using this on my face, my skin has actually cleared up. By no means is it a replacement for doing a good wash on your face, but it helps keep your skin balanced and seems to block all of the dirt from your adventures from clogging your pores. The best part about this product is that I can use it in conjunction with other acne-fighting meds. To be fair, I only use a salicylic acid wash for my face, but The Ordinary keeps things gentle. Be sure to lock this in with a proper lotion after applying!
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
This stuff is fantastic when I use it correctly. It’s very similar to Glossier’s Super Bounce but on steroids. Be sure to apply it as soon as you get out of the shower or after you’ve washed your face so that your skin in still damp and sticky. After applying, be sure to lock in all that moisture with a face cream. I’ve noticed that when using it on a dry face, my skin seems to be wicked of all its glorious hydration. It’s not a lotion, so don’t use it as such. As long as it’s being used as intended, this stuff will give you a boost of hydration and your skin will be a plump as a partridge. I tend to use this during autumn and winter and switch over to the Super Bounce during spring and summer.
Shop The Ordinary:
I have absolutely denied the entire possibility of needing serums for my face, but now that I’ve used them, I’m a total convert. Unfortunately, I can’t really guarantee the same results for you, so be sure to listen to your body when you’re testing out products. Our bodies are different and everyone is unique in so many ways. If you find this helpful or have other products that work better for you, I’d love to hear about them!