Monday, July 06, 2009

Lisa Hoffman Vitamin A& C Serum


Another chapter in the quest for the perfect serum, or: The secret of fabulous looking hands

I wanted to love the Vitamin A& C serum from Lisa Hoffman's skin care line. After all, it's a small niche brand full of good intentions. The ingredient list is short, precise and doesn't contain scary or questionable chemicals (unless you're from IFRA, and in that case the grapefruit peel oil might send you into convulsions, but that's not the point here). But despite the promised vitamins (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbat is vitamin C and Retinyl Palmitate is vitamin A, both are good for you, as far as my googling could tell), most of what's in the silvery pump bottle is silicone, the same stuff that goes into most hair serums.

Not that there's anything wrong with it. But when it comes to my skin care needs, coating my face with silicon (it takes a little while to absorb) was not the right treatment. I gave the serum three weeks before I gave up, but it obviously clashed with my moisturizer and didn't provide the skin brightening I expect from vitamin C products.

Like many unloved skin care products, I started using the Lisa Hoffman serum on my hands. I do this often, as most creams and serums, even if I find them to be underachievers, are still more active than the average hand cream. While definitely not nourishing enough by itself (my hands can get very dry), I find that it's fabulous for locking the moisture from a good cream and making my hands look and feel very smooth. The antioxidants and vitamins can't hurt, either.

Lisa Hoffman Day & Night Vitamin A& C Serum ($95 for 1 oz) is available from lisahoffmanskincare.com. The travel size (0.5 oz) I received was a PR freebie.

Image: universaltimer.com

5 comments:

  1. Well dearie since you're a good good ten years younger than I (and look 20 years younger, grrr) this doesn't apply to you but the best thing one could do is to pay attention to the hands. Nothing belies a smooth taut face like claws. Cream those paws!

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  2. I share your dislike for silicone based serums, and the best thing I have found so far is DHC's Vitamin C Essence. It contains Vitamin C in the form of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, has a very short list of ingredients (zero silicones), and is water-based. It has a very runny texture and is not exactly moisturizing on it's own. I don't use many other DHC products, but his serum works wonders when it comes to brightening my skin. I'd suggest checking it out.

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  3. Tom, I'm sure Madonna wishes there was botox for hands.
    I especially love creams with an SPF 15 or higher. Like Lancome Absolute. I don't like it on my face, but it's amazing for hands.

    And Donatella Versace uses Creme La Mer on her feet.

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  4. CoD, that sounds perfect for me. I'll try it as soon as I'm done with the serum I'm testing at the moment. Thanks!

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  5. I am now going on my second bottle of Lisa's A & C Serum. I am quite happy with it but after reading this review, I decided to do more homework on it. I found the 3rd party clinical testing results on it and I have to say I was pleased and agree 100% with the testing group. I have seen great improvement. My skin loves this stuff!

    Now to address the silicone, I love the effect because my makeup has never looked better.

    My skin has improved and so has the appearance of my make up so it's a WIN WIN for me!

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