Sticking exclusively with a single serum or moisturizer for 30 days is almost impossible with so much product I want to try at any given time. Committing a month to a supplement routine seemed much easier. For the month of October, I’ve attempted both. For over a decade, I’ve been a Perricone MD enthusiast so I decided to pair their new High Potency Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum with a side of Total Skin & Body supplement routine.
High Potency Growth Factor Newness
With regard to Perricone MD skincare launches I have learned to harness my enthusiasm. Why? Because as excited as I get about the latest in cosmeceuticals, not everything the doctor formulates is a fit for my skin. Loyal to the Cold Plasma+ for face (the best multitasker within the line IMO), I was immediately intrigued by the promise of the latest innovation. Growth Factor? Do tell more. Also, if you’re under 30, no need to read further. xo
For whom is the new serum?
For anyone with diminishing elasticity who longs for firmer, brighter, plumper looking skin: this new High Potency formula aims to address all the above. My skin isn’t sagging (yet) but can always benefit from a boost of radiance. So I swapped my jar of Cold Plasma+ for the apothecary-chic pump bottle that is the new Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum.
First impressions
Those who have tried their fair share of Perricone MD know that some formulas smell better than others. The Growth Factor potion has to be the best scent in Perricone MD products I’ve tried to date (detecting tart currant notes). It doesn’t linger. Similar to other serums within the range, it absorbs incredibly well and does great under your moisturizer of choice. The texture is that of a light lotion. Two pumps cover my entire face and neck.
What’s in it?
The hero ingredient trifecta:
- Growth Factors: protein naturally found in our bodies, which make cells divide, grow, and produce collagen and elastin, resulting in a firmer and plumper appearance to the skin. Perricone MD uses lab created, synthetic polyamine growth factors which are supposed to be superior to traditional and unappealing sources (bone marrow, umbilical cord, foreskin, to name a few).
- Retinol: the encapsulated form of Vitamin A increases cellular turnover that helps firm up the skin, fade hyperpigmentation, and refine the appearance of enlarged pores.
- Eggshell Membrane: the thin film that nests (see what I did?) between the shell and the egg contains keratin, a protein most often associated with healthy hair. It also has antimicrobial properties, prevents moisture loss, and helps reduce damage caused by UV exposure and inflammation.
Overall
This is a win for me. My skin is loving the formula and I’m no longer mad at the brand for having phased out the OVM cream in a white jar. It, too had featured eggshell membrane as its hero ingredient. I actually like this latest addition so much that I got myself a backup bottle. My skin is visibly more vibrant, which may be the result of my having combined the serum with supplements. Since the formula feels very lightweight, I have been using it in the morning under my sunscreen. I prefer richer/heavier serums at night. $129 (60ml)
Total Skin & Body Supplements
Supplements are meant to quite literally supplement our efforts to bring about good health and well-being. To rely on supplements entirely, however, wouldn’t be very wise. Diet, sleep, and exercise are crucial elements in improving our energy levels, skin clarity, digestion- or metabolism-related issues. Since my diet doesn’t rely on wild-caught salmon and watercress salads exclusively (there’s a fair share of pizza and nachos because life and balance) and I don’t mount the Peloton bike as often as I should, I’ve turned entrusted Perricone MD Skin & Total Body supplements to enrich my daily routine.
What are they?
Skin & Total Body is a month long regimen that consists of 60 packets of pre-selected supplements to be taken twice daily during meals. Each packet is split into two compartments: one houses soft gels; a second stores the other capsules, which prevents them all from clumping. I’ll post all facts related to the supplements at the bottom, rounding up exactly what you take each day and some highlights: Rejuvenate (CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid), Astaxanthin (2mg), Super Antioxidant Formula (you take 4 of these a day and there is a lot to unpack here), Skin & Joint Essentials (Vit E, Flaxseed, Borage, Black Currant), Derma-Glo (Vit C, DMAE, Pycnogenol), Omega 3, and Calcium/Magnesium.
I will be the first to admit that taking 16 pills each day required equal parts effort and discipline. I found myself carrying a packet or two on me at all times (and still managed to slip—it’s October 31st and I have one packet left). In other good news, the pills were easy to swallow and none had a weird aftertaste. I also never experienced the boomerang effect that some supplements trigger. You know, the ones that have you burping them up the rest of the day.
Thoughts
Within the first three days, I noticed my energy levels were UP. A month in, my skin is looking pretty impressive, I haven’t had a single breakout, and I’ve been feeling pretty great overall. Would I recommend the 30 day system? Yes, 100%. With that said, be prepared for the $155 investment. Were you to purchase seven separate supplements, you’d probably spend a bit less. But you offset the splurge on the Perricone MD program by eliminating your $5/day Starbucks habit for a month.
Get creative at Skinstore.com where Perricone MD is always included in the online retailer’s discount programs (which usually rides at 20%). You can also find the brand at perriconemd.com and sephora.com.
