In partnership with ALASTIN Skincare. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
In the world of skinfluencers and 10-step routines, maintaining a skincare regimen that is minimal and fuss-free has always felt almost as delusional as the idea of capsule wardrobe. But unlike my personal style that thrives on excitement and variety, my skin does not. Through plenty of trial and error, I learned that my skin is happiest with a low-and-slow method of using gentler products that work over time to deliver sustainable results.
This became especially important as I began seeking in-office treatments (like microneedling, lasers, or injectables) to do the literal heavier lifting. As it turns out, a minimalist capsule wardrobe of skincare products is what was needed after all.
Over the years, I’ve found that you generally can’t go wrong when you take a derm’s advice. I’ve bookmarked various recommendations from the dermatologists I follow and trust, which eventually led me to ALASTIN Skincare. They are a science-led skincare brand that focuses on optimizing the skin’s process of building collagen and elastin — two key components of the brighter, bouncier skin we all crave.
To date, I had only trialed the brand with a few small cleanser samples that I had stashed for a weekend trip which piqued my curiosity to try more products from their range. So with a few of ALASTIN Skincare’s bestselling formulas in tow, I decided to test this derm-loved brand once and for all. Here’s what went down.
We like
- An essentials-only line that does more with fewer products
- They go above and beyond with education — and even have a quiz to help you find what you need
- An impressively long list of dermatologists and surgeons using their products in their practices
- A proprietary peptide blend (TriHex Technology®) that kick starts new elastin and collagen
We don't like
- These products are pricey (my total came to $500+), so I’d advise running them by your derm before making the investment (I’d also advise choosing a product with the brand’s TriHex Technology® to get bigger bang for your buck)
Building My Do-It-All Serum Trio
At any given time, my skin usually needs some combination of hydration, brightening, and/or repair. I set out to build a streamlined edit of serums from ALASTIN Skincare for the purpose of targeting each of my skin’s needs. Pro tip: Their site features a handy quiz to help point you in the right direction if you need a little guidance.
- The first serum I chose was going to be my hydration workhorse of the group. ALASTIN’s HA (Hyaluronic Acid) IMMERSE Serum™ aims to boost the skin’s hydration levels immediately and over time. I planned to use this one the most, both in the morning and in the evening, to help with the colder, drier winter air.
- Next up, I sought their C-RADICAL Defense Antioxidant Serum, which contains encapsulated vitamin C and 14 different antioxidants. This would be my morning wingman to layer with sunscreen and help ward off free radical damage caused by daily sun exposure.
- Finally, I had to get my hands on the award-winning Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology® to aid inflammation and (gracefully) slow the aging process. I love that this anti-aging peptide serum helps with everything from collagen and elastin to hydration, and volume in the skin.
My ALASTIN Skincare Product Breakdown
Because each of these products are formulated to work synergistically, I knew that I would be able to use them either interchangeably or layered together in some combination. This flexibility allowed me to create a routine that was both consistent but also satisfied my skin’s fluctuating needs on a day-to-day basis. There’s also the added comfort of knowing that some of their products are even designed to be safe for use after skin procedures. However, this comes at a price. ALASTIN Skincare’s cutting-edge medical formulation and proprietary ingredient technology puts this brand in triple dollar sign territory for me. It’s a worthy investment, but do your research before you splurge.
With a bevy of impressive clinical studies and best-of awards for hydration, I found that ALASTIN Skincare’s hyaluronic acid serum comes highly praised for good reason. The formula uses a double-pronged approach of using peptides to build and preserve your body’s natural hyaluronic acid levels. First, octapeptide-45 stimulates hyaluronic acid (specifically hyaluronan synthase 2) within your fibroblasts — aka connective tissue cells. Then hexapeptide-11 helps prevent the production of enzymes that break down that precious hyaluronic acid.
But since I can’t actually see what’s happening on a cellular level, I have to rely on what my senses tell me. I used two-ish pumps on my face and neck, patting it into damp skin after cleansing and could immediately feel a difference. I live in dry Southern California with skin that always feels dehydrated, so the initial flood of moisture was sweet, sweet relief. I chose to use this serum morning and night to help offset the extra dry winter weather. After two weeks, my skin felt bouncier and I could already tell that my baseline hydration levels were higher.
We like
We don't like
I’ll be honest that I was wary of bringing vitamin C into my routine. It tended to be a temperamental ingredient for my skin that was sometimes fine, but sometimes would wreak havoc on my skin barrier — so I usually declined to play that game of irritation roulette. (I’m a sensitive gal!) But in the spirit of finally being able to use the ingredient every pro swears by, I opened my routine once more and was delightfully surprised. No redness, no sensitized stinging, and no major breakouts after two weeks.
ALASTIN Skincare uses a novel form of vitamin C that’s encapsulated. This is important because it creates a stable environment for vitamin C and helps avoid ingredient degradation. The encapsulation also aids in better absorption. In fact, ALASTIN’s studies suggest that it’s actually 20 times more effective. The addition of green tea extract and 13 other antioxidants create an anti-inflammatory effect to help keep skin calm.
I’m still in the beginning stages of testing and more impactful brightening results will take more time, but the C-RADICAL Defense Antioxidant Serum has passed the first (and most important) tests with flying colors. It’s only a matter of time before I finally reap the vitamin C benefits I've been pining for.
We like
We don't like
As the priciest banana in the bunch, I was extremely intrigued by this restorative serum. It’s a peptide powerhouse that combats skin aging concerns on all fronts: volume, elasticity, thinning, fine lines, and texture. It’s a hefty promise that their proprietary TriHex Technology® aims to uphold. I preface my experience with the fact that no topical product will give you a face lift. Period. But there are products that can make a meaningful difference when used over time — and for me, this is one of them.
I am now squarely in my late 30s and looking down the barrel of perimenopause, so needless to say I’ve become acutely more interested in addressing my skin’s transition from youthful to mature. For the purposes of trialing these products as a full routine, I relegated this serum to my evening skincare so I could get a read on my skin the next morning.
My skin tolerated the formula beautifully and it layered nicely with hyaluronic acid. My skin definitely felt plumper and a touch glowier. I’m sure I would see impressive results if I used the Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology® twice daily for 16+ weeks, but my positive experience over just two weeks still bodes brightly for the future.
We like
We don't like
A Skincare Investment Worth The Splurge
Creating an essentials-only skin regimen requires learning about your skin’s core needs and the self discipline to stick to a consistent routine. It helped me to reframe my skincare routine as something more than just cosmetic, but a crucial part of maintaining my overall health.
ALASTIN Skincare’s products center skin health and encourage dialogue between patients and medical professionals — which to me, is indicative of a brand that truly cares about your skin. It was an element of trust that I hadn’t realized was missing from my routine.
I also fully acknowledge that their products are significantly more expensive than anything you’d pick up at a drugstore. Advanced technology, proprietary ingredients, and extensive clinical studies make these products more of a thought-out investment instead of just casual testing. But if you have the means to spring for it, I can wholeheartedly tell you it’s worth it.
Try it for yourself here.
