In case you missed it, iconic Australian brand Sukin have come out with a new range of Natural Actives – three serums to help target different concerns and centred around using effective natural ingredients.
Sukin was founded in 2007 (they’re one of the original natural innovators in beauty), and since then, the Australian brand has sought to bring its customers formulas that make use of the benefits we can find in nature and give them the option for a more considered choice.
Reaching for a natural product shouldn’t mean you have to compromise and Sukin have shown that with their widely loved products that are always a delightful experience to use.
They are also very aware of their own impact, focusing on being cruelty free, vegan and making sustainable choices like using recyclable packaging and carbon offsets.
It then makes perfect sense to know that when formulating their Natural Actives range, they turned to powerful natural botanicals and clinically proven ingredients for a natural and effective result.
Over the past two weeks we’ve been diligently trialling each serum to really put them to the test. Here are our honest opinions…
Morgan: Hydrating Serum, $35.
For context, I am someone who often makes jokes about my skin being a desert, so of course I put my hand up to try the Sukin Hydrating Serum.
Ingredients-wise, Sukin have approached the formulation with the goal of deep and long-lasting hydration, with the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid. The different molecular weights of these mean that they are providing hydration at different layers on the skin, helping to boost hydration both at the surface and deeper within.
Australian hibiscus and betaine also feature to support the hydration process. Australian hibiscus has been proven to hydrate the skin for up to 72 hours, whilst betaine is a gentle humectant that helps to maintain and balance moisture levels.
So, as a hydrating serum it works not only to provide intense hydration, but also to help support the moisture barrier and prevent future moisture loss. That is a big yes from me!
Over the last two weeks, I have included the serum in both my morning and evening skincare routines, as the first step after cleansing. It comes in a glass bottle with a dropper and I found 3-4 drops to be a good amount, gently pressed into the skin.
It’s a lightweight gel texture that sinks into the skin beautifully and works well within the rest of my skincare routine. The scent is gentle but non-irritating and the overall experience is so lovely – especially as that first step after cleansing. It really helps set the tone for the rest of my routine.
I noticed my skin feeling more bouncy almost immediately, from that instant hydration boost, as well as an increasing plumpness to my skin. As I continued to use it over the two weeks, it felt like my skin was managing to better maintain hydration between applications – an absolute win for me!
I will definitely be keeping this in my routine to help support my skin through the dry weather and I can see it continuing to be a joy to apply even as sweaty summer approaches.
Despina: Brightening Serum, $35.
Vitamin C is one of those tricky ingredients in a serum. You either love it, or you hate it.
I’ve always found myself in a love/hate relationship, as a result of most vitamin C formulas causing my sensitive skin to break out – until good ol’ Sukin Brightening Serum walked into my life!
If I could describe this serum in three words, it would be a pleasant experience! Let me explain.
The smell – it’s glorious. It was absolutely the first thing I noticed when I first used it. There’s no hammy smell, and it doesn’t linger after applying to your face.
We’re already off to a good start.
The feeling of hydration is beautiful as it sunk into my skin beautifully and didn’t feel heavy once dried. It applied evenly and felt really nice as a base. With the aim of trying to target pigmentation, as well as protect my skin from pollutants we face every day, I love that this could universally be used under any base I choose.
The antioxidant-rich formula achieves ALL of this.
There are amazing, clinically proven active ingredients found within the formulation such as tomato fruit extract and bisabolol to assist with pigmentation and redness. You’ll also find borage and flaxseed oil, which help support the skin barrier function, keeping skin hydrated and radiant.
Big ticks all around for this liquid gold in a bottle!
My sensitive skin was a fan. After cautiously using the serum every 2-3 days, I quickly discovered that I could introduce it much more frequently to reap the benefits.
The result? No breakouts!
It’s been a beautiful new serum to add to my routine. As a busy mum of 11-month-old twin boys, my skincare routine needs to be quick. In fact, you might often find my random serums and sunscreen sitting on the dining table so I can apply it all while my boys are eating their breakfast.
After washing my face with water (I cleanse the night before, and time is short most mornings) I’ve started using this serum as my very first step. It acts as a really nice base and because it dries quick, I don’t need to wait too long before moving onto the next step.
I usually follow this with niacinamide and sunscreen on my non-workdays. Otherwise, I’ll add my foundation, cream blush, and bronzer. No matter what follows, the result is flawless, and I don’t have to worry about pilling towards the end of the day.
I’ve been a big fan of Sukin for many years… for its accessibility, affordability and high-quality formulations that are created in their beautiful products.
Margaret, Pro-Collagen Serum, $35.
For the last 2 weeks I’ve been putting Sukin’s new Pro-Collagen Serum to the test, and boy, do the results impress.
But first, what on earth is collagen? Isn’t it something our body already makes? So why do we need collagen products???
Collagen is a fibrous protein in our body. In the skin, collagen provides elasticity and strength. As we age, collagen naturally begins to breakdown and becomes harder to produce which results in skin ageing.
Sukin’s Pro-Collagen Serum is made up of a combination of ingredients which make it a powerful product in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (the visible signs of skin ageing).
The tri-peptides boosts collagen levels while the acai berry extract, which is an antioxidant filled with vitamin E, helps fight signs of premature ageing. The kangaroo paw flower extract works to improve skin firmness and elasticity while the vegan squalene mimics the natural oils within the skin to enhance elasticity and moisture retention.
All of this paired with hyaluronic acid ensures the skin is hydrated which helps reduce the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles.
Over the 2-week period I replaced both my morning and evening serums with the Pro-Collagen Serum.
The texture of the serum is light and once on the skin it feels hydrating. It’s subtly scented and two pumps of the serum is plenty to apply to your face and décolletage.
Now, I’m not going to lie. I was sceptical about how well the serum would work in 2 weeks considering collagen normally takes about 4 weeks to show major results BUT just look at my before and afters!
You can see the fine lines around my eye and on my cheek have visibly faded – and that’s just after 2 weeks, imagine what it would be like after long-term use.
It's safe to say Sukin’s Pro-Collagen Serum has found its way into a permanent spot in my daily skincare routine.
Shop Sukin's new Natural Actives range for powerful natural ingredients and clinically proven ingredients.
Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.