REVIEW: Omorovicza Gold Flash Firming Serum

Hi all!

Dull, lifeless skin in need of a serious, instant reboost? Well, today's product review of Omorovicza's Gold Flash Firming Serum may be of interest to you.


What is it?

Firstly, here is Omorovicza's description of the serum:

"This silky anti-ageing serum instantly soothes and firms the skin. An oil free formulation, it absorbs instantly whilst potent ingredients, led by anti-inflammatory gold, help to repair and re-texture the skin, revealing a radiant, healthy and youthful-looking complexion."

Personally, I don't believe there is substantial research to make the claim that gold, unlike an ingredient such as bisabolol, is an effective anti-inflammatory. What this serum does contain is a wealth of ingredients that prevent free radical damage and premature aging. Speaking of which...


What's in it?

The ingredients list (I.N.C.I.) lists the following:

Aqua (Hungarian Thermal Water), Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Saccharomyces (Hungarian Thermal Water) Ferment Extract, Glycerin, Corundum (Pro Ruby Crystal), Phospholipids, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Niacinamide, Pullulan, Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Zinc PCA, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Colloidal Gold, Silica, Parfum (Fragrance), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Dehydroacetic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Dextran, Linalool, Limonene, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).

Aside from Omorovicza's signature inclusion of Hungarian Thermal Water, the serum contains rose water (to scent the prpduct and hydrate the skin) and glycerin, in order to moisturise. The formula also contains a nice amount of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that can bind to many times its own weight in water, drawing water into the skin, while humectants bind it there, plumping the skin, and reducing the visibility of fine lines. For me, the anti-inflammatory properties of ruby crystals and gold mean nothing, and it always seems gimmicky, in my opinion, when a company chooses to spearhead a campaign with these ingredients. However, the gold, in unison with the light-reflective mica, allows the serum to illuminate the skin beautifully. Pullalan (derived from sugar) has the characteristic of creating a film on the skin, giving the impression that the skin is being tightened and lifted. I should stress that pullalan will not create any visible difference in your skin, but is included in many products, because consumers like to feel that the product is working. The significant quantity of niacinamide (vitamin B3) works as a brilliant antioxidant to prevent sun-related damage and premature aging. Antioxidants are a brilliant way to prevent damage to your skin, and should be consumed as part of your diet, and applied topically, by means of skincare products.

Usage

As with any other serum I use, I placed the Omorovicza Firming Serum after cleansing and toning and before my moisturiser. With Omorovicza's established status as a luxury brand, I was incredibly excited about how well the product would perform; the effects were stunning! In a similar manner to many hyaluronic acid formulas, the fine lines on my forehead were visibly reduced, and the texture of the skin appeared smoother and more refined. My favourite thing about the serum was its light-reflective quality. My face shone once the serum was applied; not at all shimmery or glittery, but instead, a lit-from-within glow. My skin was luminous...radiant...I loved it!

The serum is a quite pricey, but I truly believe serums are where the most money should be spent in your skincare. A cheap cleanser can improve your skin, if you select wisely. A cheap moisturiser can provide you with the hydration and moisture you need. But a cheap serum just won't do anything. When picking a serum, I personally look between the £30-90 ($40-100) range, and always opt for the brands that have a wealth of scientific expertise, research and money backing them. That's truly how I find the best results. I will never spend over £150 on a product. On the lower end, Vichy, Hylamide and Indeed never disappoint, whilst Omorovicza and Zelens are great if you can splash your cash a little more. The Omorovicza certainly doesn't disappoint with its ability to transform your skin. While you shouldn't expect a dramatic, wind-tunnel, face-lift effect, the serum definitely plumps and transforms the texture of the skin.

A brilliant serum for a special event or party!

Slight con: the glass packaging. As with all glass packaging, keep out of sunlight in order to maintain the quality of the active ingredients.

Omorovicza Gold Flash Firming Serum: £135 for 30ml at Omorovicza.com

ALEX

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Why skincare?

The initial question I encounter when I tell my friends about the decision to write this blog. The question to which I answer unthinkingly: BECAUSE I LOVE IT! Why write about skincare? Why write about the products I buy, try and test on my face, in the hope that others will read what I have to say?

For as long as I can remember, skincare has played an important role in my life. From a young age, my mother – a former beauty therapist – instilled within my sister and me the importance of good, regular skincare. As a child, this only took the form of a gentle cleansing lotion and moisturiser, but the fact remains that the concept of a skin routine was never alien to me, and importantly, my mother taught me the importance of regular skincare; taking care of my face was as important a part of my day as bathing and brushing my teeth.

As I got older and made my way through the awkward and cringeworthy years that are adolescence, my skin was fortunate enough to remain relatively unscathed by teenage hormones. Aside from the occasional breakout of spots across my forehead (not helped by the presence of a fringe!) and ever-present blackheads, my skin thankfully remained in a decent condition.

Not all my friends were as fortunate. At the age of twenty, with those teenage years behind me, my friends and I are now assessing the current condition of our skin; some of us never blighted by acne, and some still plagued with it now. For many of them, skincare seems inaccessible. Whether it is the repeated disappointment from products that simply do not do what they promise, the overly verbose jargon on packaging (a lot of it being complete nonsense), or the fact that they simply don’t know where to begin, they struggle with how to select products that work for their skin.

But why write about skin? When I would take just as much pleasure talking about makeup, and the inclusion of light-reflectives and hyaluronic acids in foundation, why am I choosing to write a blog on the topic of skincare? Because skin is universal. The desire to look in the mirror and see our natural, unmasked faces in the best condition they can be is completely universal; a desire shared by men, women, young and old. Not everyone wants to wear where makeup – and frankly finding makeup that works for you can be even more confusing – but everyone would love to be untroubled by pimples, acne, fine lines and the like.

So where does this blog come in? My hope for this blog is to create a way of bridging the gap between people – like my friends – who don’t know where to start, and the information we have at our fingertips to improve skin. Unaffiliated with any skincare brand, I am aiming to create a resource that consists of honest product reviews and the science behind skincare, stripping away the unnecessary and nonsensical, and demystifying the beauty industry.

ALEX

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