Because this doesn’t disappear into the skin and remains on top of the skin (if you use a good amount of product) that does mean you’re left with an oily/greasy layer on top which is wonderful for the PM (although be careful of pillow if you sleep on your front), and means that this wouldn’t feel comfortable on my skin as an AM moisturiser). Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate: targets fibroblasts, the dermal cells that generate collagen and elastin (part of a targeting encapsulation system for Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14) Sh-Polypeptide-1 and Sh-Polypeptide-11: the two Fibroblast Growth Factors which stimulate the growth of fibroblasts, the organelles responsible for creating collagen and elastin

According to Reed, she’s rejected “every major beauty retailer” for a reason. “We had to make the difficult decision to say no but Stratia is positioned to counter a lot of fads in the beauty market. This clean, chemical-free beauty movement has a marketing style that isn’t authentic to science and the radical transparency of ingredients.” Because of this, she fears a brand like Stratia—which leverages science and chemical ingredients—will get lost in a mass market retailer. Because my skin leans toward dry in the winter I use this right before a heavier cream, although I found that when my skin skews towards normal in the summer, this was a fine moisturizer before sunscreen.rc-container-wrapper .rc-template__legacy-radio .rc-radio.rc-option__subsave { padding-bottom: .5rem; }

I think what lets this product down is the orange tint/tinge it gives the skin which means I am forced to use this in the PM and can’t wear it in the AM if I wanted to. And of course I have to be worried about staining white pillows. Rose Hip Oil: High in oleic and linoleic acids, both of which are polyunsaturated fatty acids important for the integrity and regeneration of skin cell membranes. More moisture barrier magic going on here, my friends. Sh-Polypeptide-9: also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, it promotes the growth of capillaries to bring nutrients to the dermis I’ve found that this is quite light and sinks into your skin well if you don’t apply too much. It doesn’t drag when you apply it like a more linoleic-rich oil, but also doesn’t feel like it’s dripping off my face either (a bit problem when you’re oily!). It has quite a strong musty oil smell – to me it isn’t unpleasant, but I can imagine it could bother some people. I’ve been mixing a couple of drops with Liquid Gold when my skin feels extra dry, and using it under tretinoin to try to reduce irritation – it’s working really well for both. I’ve also lent this to my sister to help with spironolactone-induced dryness and she loves it too!

How it worked: And here’s where the other part of the title of this post comes into play. I have a long and glorious history of overexfolating my skin because…well, basically because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. Physical exfoliants, all sorts of acids, inappropriately high strength retinoids…I would throw them all at my face at once every single day until literally my whole top layer of skin peeled off in sheets in the shower and I was shiny and red as a cherry. Even normally gentle products would sting like the devil, and I never questioned it because I honestly thought that’s how it was supposed to work. I’d fry the life out of my skin until I couldn’t handle it (so like 3-4 straight days of all this), then take a break for a week, maybe less, and then I’d start all over again. It was a roller coaster, let me tell you, and I did this for years. What I think: I think as long as one doesn’t live in hot and humid weather, this would be a nice PM moisturiser. When my skin was sensitised, I used this and didn’t get an irritated reaction. I think they mention dehydration because if your skin barrier is healthy and resilient, you should experience less water and moisture loss from the skin. And another 5-star review says, “This stuff is FABULOUS, I just got done with almost a year on accutane and my skin is so dry and so sensitive, and this stuff is like butter, it brightens my skin, and makes it so incredibly soft it’s unbelievable. I hooked two of my best friends and my mom on it, they are equally as pleased.”

Lipid Gold is a one-stop skin-saving powerhouse that belongs in every skincare routine. It’s formulated with ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, the three main ingredients that make up your skin’s moisture barrier. No matter what shape your skin is in, Lipid Gold keeps your face healthy, clear, and resilient. Notable Ingredients: Oh, man…all of them?! This ingredients list is STRAIGHT FIRE if we are talking moisture barrier repair. Let’s break that down, shall we? I’m going to limit my highlights because otherwise I will literally never finish this review. Stratia is a Los Angeles-based indie skincare brand that’s formulated with effectiveness in mind. Alli Reed, the founder, has an excellent blog called The Acid Queenwhere she detailed her DIY adventures before setting up Stratia. I know Stratia have really unique formulations and my chances of finding good dupes is going to be difficult. But I want to try, at least for the sake of my bank account. Interface is vegan and cruelty-free. All Stratia products are free of common irritants like fragrance, alcohol, and essential oils.

Reed expects sales to accelerate and continue to double over the next few years as she ramps up social media marketing, and plans to finally enter retail “in a strategic way.” Skin type? Recommended for all skin types, but works especially well for dehydrated or over-exfoliated skin Ingredients: Camellia japonica (Camellia) Seed Oil, Borago officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Perilla ocymoides (Perilla) Seed Oil, Squalane, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Tocopherol. Stratia Rewind Stratia Liquid Gold >> The Ordinary's Natural Moisturising Factors or Cerave in the tub (or perhaps LRP Lipikar AP+M with Squalane Oil mixed in)

A final benefit is niacinamide’s ability to prevent and reduce acne due to its antimicrobial and sebostatic effects, meaning it can help protect against the bacteria that cause acne while also helping to reduce oil production. The story behind Stratia Liquid Gold isn’t like most skin care products. It began in 2016 when former chemistry minor Alli Reed started Stratia as a side hustle from her kitchen. Reed also started a blog and joined Reddit skincare groups, which turned out to be the key to her success. After formulating Liquid Gold, Reed shared samples with fellow forum readers on Reddit — and it went viral. Since then, Reed has formulated an entire line of Stratia skin care products, although Liquid Gold remains one of the brand’s best selling products. rc-container-wrapper .rc-template__legacy-radio .rc-radio__label { display: flex; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0; width:But is Stratia Liquid Gold right for you? To help you answer this question, below we’ll give you all the details on the key ingredients in this formula, as well as the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skin care.