HYALURONIC SERUM

[EasterIssland]

hi
im loving Barbara sturm serum but can’t afford its price … any alternatives for which I don’t have to break the piggy bank?

thanks

Hada Labo makes some of the best for very little money. You'll probably like the Gokuyjun Premium one in the gold bottle.

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a bit of a con btw, the price is hugely inflated and she's not a dermatologist as the branding seems to suggest, she just has a doctorate in podiatry.

I’m currently using one ordinary (I think it came in the space nk calendar? )

thanks! Def not spending 250 on it

hyaluronic serum is such a cheap ingredient. Definitely not somewhere where you need to spend £££

I like watching those Vogue Beauty Secrets videos on YouTube where various celebs go through their skincare and makeup regime. I only noticed Sturm's brand when Hollywood types started enthusing about it there. Made me suspicious that she was more of a friend to the stars, rather than someone who actually has a decent skincare line.

Same as when at one point the Hollywood actresses were raving about the Jillian Dempsey gold sculpting bar, even though hers is just a very expensive copy of an already existing cheaper tool that does the same job.

MissHavisham, I'm sure they're nice products to use and if you're getting them for free of course you're going to say nice things about it, but really there's not much too hyaluronic acid and tbh plain old glycerin does as good a job, if not better. Dr. Barbara Sturm did have some sort of 'blood' cream that was some sort of PRP concoction (platelet rich plasma, aka vampire facials) when she practiced as an aesthetic doctor (not a protected title), that's why all the Hollywood starlets are so enamoured with the brand, it's not the hyaluronic acid that deliver the results.

I'm also very 🧐 about the Augustinus Bader stuff, again I'm sure it's lovely to use but the science, not so sure, and if you follow the money there's a tremendous amount of venture capital behind it to make it successful.

Inkey list, The Ordinary and Byoma are my favourite brands for inexpensive ingredient led skin care

I googled Augustinus Bader when the products started receiving loads of hype. £225 for a 50ml moisturiser! I think not.

Very interesting about the funding source. I suppose the enduring success of La Mer and La Prairie have shown that there's a big market out there for mega expensive skincare brands. Get the right mix of glycerin, ceramides, and clever marketing and watch the money roll in.

I use Inkey List or Superdrug. I recently picked one up in Primark for £3 and it's absolutely lovely. Can't tell the difference between that and my usual. It's not something you need to spend a lot of money on IMO.

Hada Labo or the Missha "dupe" of ANR here too.
@botemp I was reading that BS is very litigious and has it in for Caroline Hirons for her honesty about "the science" or lack of in the products.
PS it's me in Italy 🤣

Ha, yes, my Italian friend, I spotted you elsewhere this morning.

Do I need to hide 😶, in fairness she did work in dermatology she just isn't a dermatologist. I've never really looked into the science of Sturm's brand, I just saw overpriced hyaluronic acid and though nah 🤷

MissHavisham, yes, it remains a huge market. The biggest customer base tends to be people who can only just afford it so I'm always in two minds about it. I really don't have an issue with people buying luxe skincare because they enjoy the sensation and pampering effect of it but most people aren't stretching themselves financially just for that, they buy into the promise it's somehow better and will solve things it probably can't.

I have normal to slightly combo skin though, so a nice moisturiser is easy enough to find (I don't even need it all the time) but if you're plagued with very dry skin I can definitely understand there's a comfort factor in a luxurious feeling moisturiser.

I often watch the Doctorly channel on youtube - they are a pair of dermatologists who review skincare and give advice.

I remember them mentioning the Barbara Sturm serum as an example of over price and overhyped products. They did recommend Vichy 89 serum as a cheaper alternative (although I haven't personally used it).

What they and other dermatologists say about hyaluronic acid is that it's nice to have, but don't spend a lot of money on it, because while it's moisturising and feels nice on the skin, it is in lots of products already and isn't an 'active' ingredient so isn't going to give any longer term results.

The inkey lost or Superdrug are decent budget hyaluronic acid serum.

Q+A is good cheap serum, Evolve Beauty do one for about £30. Both good products

I'd forgotten about the Vichy 89. That was nice, but I tell you which one was Fab-u-lous- the Vichy 89 probiotic bonkers name one- I bought a full bottle of that after getting a free sample. Couldn't stop stroking my lovely plump face. (that looks better than it sounds!)

Here's the video I was talking about, they also list the L'Oreal Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid as a good option for a reasonably priced HA serum, as well as the Inkey List one.

Probiotic Fractions.
Sounds like mathematical yakult but it was very nice.

This stuff is AMAZING and super cheap.
Used to use Ordinary but this is better. Often have it on reduction at Tk Maxx

Last time I recommended Vichy 89 on here I discovered it's really expensive in the UK compared to Europe. It is a very nice product though.

I've somehow missed the probiotics fractions version (how that is possible with a name like that), but it looks good with 4% niacinamide.

Another fan of the Inkey List HA here. I initially bought it as a stopgap in lockdown when counters were closed and I’d run out of my usual Estée Lauder ANR, but switched over to it permanently.

Vichy 89 is often on offer in Boots either with a third off or on 3 for 2 which brings the price down. I’ve been using Geek & Gorgeous HA for the last year as I buy their Vit C. I really like it and it’s very reasonably priced.

I use The Ordinary one, good value for money and does the job.

Off topic but I generally use The Ordinary but treated myself to Estée Lauder ANR. Hate it! Left me with weird hard reptilian skin. An expensive mistake. Will stick to the Ordinary next time.