‘I had bumpy, sensitive skin until a retinal serum changed my face in 7 days’ (Image: Zoe Cripps)As someone who works in the beauty industry, I often meet with skincare experts. Every time I visit one to learn about a new product launch or discuss my current skincare routine, they always recommend incorporating retinol into my nighttime regimen. I’m not insulted by this constant advice because my uneven, dull complexion could definitely benefit from it. Like many others, I face a problem: every time I use retinol, my skin becomes red, dry, and flaky. I’ve tried various strengths, from lower-grade supermarket versions to stronger, prescribed vitamin A formulas from dermatologists, but I always end up discontinuing use within a week or two. However, I should speak in the past tense now because I’ve finally discovered a product that suits my sensitive skin: Kate Somerville’s Mega-A Skin Transforming Serum. I can’t express how much it has improved my skin, but I can show you shortly. It uses retinal instead of retinol to put it simply, retinal is also a form of vitamin A but can be used in smaller concentrations to achieve the same results, making it more suitable for reactive skin and promises to smooth skin texture and plump fine lines in just a week. Let’s talk about Kate Somerville’s Mega-A Skin Transforming Serum This new serum is set to be a game-changer in the battle against ageing and skin texture. It uses advanced retinal technology (a step up from your usual retinol) to deliver firmer, smoother skin 11x faster than standard retinoid products. The secret? The retinal is encapsulated in tiny calcium particles, which help it absorb into the skin more effectively, giving you a sustained release over time with minimal irritation. Plus, it works to strengthen your skin barrier instead of compromising it like some potent actives, reports the Mirror. But that’s not all. This serum also comes loaded with dual-weight hyaluronic acid, meaning it can hydrate both the surface and deeper layers of your skin. This double dose of moisture leaves skin plump and bouncy not something you’d typically experience after using a vitamin A product. It also uses squalene to create an extra layer of hydration, which keeps your complexion looking radiant and firm while balancing your skin’s microbiome. A look at the user trials reveals some very impressive results. 94% found the formula gentle enough for daily use, and after just one week, 88% said their skin felt more hydrated and smooth. Fast forward to four weeks, and a staggering 88% reported firmer skin, while 100% agreed their complexion felt fully hydrated. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding or whatever the skincare equivalent of that is. Head of beauty Zoe says
Kate Somerville’s Mega-A serum before and after from a beauty editor
(Image: Zoe Cripps)
I’ve never seen such a dramatic before-and-after from skincare alone. The left photo shows my skin was rough and prone to small blemishes. On the right, the texture is mostly gone, there’s less pigmentation, the fine lines around my eyes (mostly from dryness) have been reduced and I generally look healthier. That glass-like glow people get from using SPF and retinol (or retinal, in my case) is something I’ve always been suspicious of because even with access to the best products, I’ve never been able to achieve it. Now, after two weeks of consistent use of the Kate Somerville serum, I’m on my way to finally looking plump and glowy. Actually, I’d say I pretty much had these results after the first week of use, so the speedy results promises are definitely true. Just the other day someone guessed my age at five years younger than I am (I’m 32), so if that isn’t a testament to its results, I don’t know what is. I know £72 is a lot to spend on a skincare product, but a pea-sized amount goes far and if I count up how much I’ve wasted on products that I use once or twice and then don’t work for my skin, I’d rather spend more on one product I’ll use every last drop of than on one I try and forget about. Plus, if you shop the Kate Somerville serum this week from Space NK, you’ll get a free 30ml Goat Milk Cleanser and a 7.5ml Exfolikate treatment as a thanks for spending over £70. If you’re after a retinol product that’s a bit more budget-friendly, I’ve also heard fab things about Naturium’s Retinaldehyde Cream serum, £32, and The Ordinary’s Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, £15.20.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterMore OnBeautySkincare
