How to choose your serum?

What is a serum? A serum is a facial treatment, highly concentrated in powerful active ingredients, with a fine and light texture, which provides targeted action to the skin by penetrating deep into the epidermis. It complements the moisturizer and allows you to work on a skin problem that you wish to improve.

The most common skin problems - and which serums must address - are as follows:

• Skin dryness (with accentuation of fine lines & wrinkles and loss of elasticity)
• Imperfections (pimples, acne, blackheads, excessive sebum)
• Stains and lack of shine

These problems can add up and/or evolve depending on the seasons, your state of health and your emotional state. This is also the whole point of serums: you can adjust your routine by combining or dissociating several serums according to your current needs.

Please note, knowing how to target your skin problem(s) is unfortunately not enough to choose the right serum. The cosmetics industry is still very opaque and we must not forget these common sense rules:

• Do not fall into the trap of the “wow” effect, namely a feeling of immediate effect which is in fact fictitious because it is due to “dressing” chemical ingredients - such as silicones. These ingredients do not deeply treat the skin, and deteriorate it in the long term. Remember that you must wait at least 28 days to see the real effects of a serum.

• Find out about the percentages of assets : for certain assets, a concentration of 0.5% is a record rate, for others, at less than 20%, there are no effects. As with all subjects, find out well before taking the plunge, compare the percentages, ask your questions to the brands if these percentages are not displayed, ask for the results of in vitro studies and clinical studies. Here too, brands are often very vague on the subject... which often hides an active ingredient dosed at a very low percentage and therefore used only for marketing purposes!

• Choose 100% natural and certified organic serums . We can never repeat it enough, but it is a question of long-term EFFECTIVENESS (The skin is a very sensitive organ which only recognizes its own constituents - we therefore need treatments qualified as “bioavailable” if we want to improve the structure and functioning of the skin in the long term), HEALTH (many synthetic ingredients are recognized as endocrine disruptors and dangerous for health) and ECOLOGY (synthetic ingredients are often a disaster for the planet , and if the serum is not certified ORGANIC, this means that it potentially contains a large number of pesticides - even if it is 100% natural)

At Apicia, our serums are 100% natural, certified organic, very concentrated in active ingredients, and meet the needs of the 3 main skin concerns mentioned in the introduction. Our approach has always been to offer treatments that go back to the essentials, with the right concentrations to have a real impact on the health of the skin, compositions and containers that disturb the planet as little as possible (today, most of our products are in glass containers, and the others in recyclable plastic).

That being said, which Apicia serum to choose?

Lack of hydration and firmness? Wrinkles and fine lines?

To correct dryness of the skin, loss of elasticity, and signs of aging, priority is given to hyaluronic acid. Research has demonstrated the benefit of Hyaluronic Acid in daily skin care, IF AND ONLY IF all 3 molecular weights are used, each weight having a different role. It is therefore not enough for a product to contain Hyaluronic Acid: always make sure that the 3 molecular weights are present in a significant percentage to fully benefit from its benefits.

Our REGENERATING SERUM WITH ORGANIC HYALURONIC ACID is a natural and ultra-effective formulation, combining the 3 molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid at a record concentration of 2% with a booster plant complex (Belle de nuit & Caffeine) to increase bioavailability and supplement the activity of Hyaluronic Acid.

To go further, the benefits of the 3 molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid (2%) in our ORGANIC REGENERATING SERUM are as follows:

*High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid (HPM): It does not penetrate the skin barrier but binds to the stratum corneum of the epidermis, thus forming a non-occlusive moisturizing film which retains water in the cells. It makes the skin smooth and soft.

*Medium Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid (MPM): Unlike MMP Hyaluronic Acid, this penetrates the epidermis. It provides intense and prolonged hydration, a plumping effect and filling in fine lines and wrinkles. Furthermore, it has been shown that this size of Hyaluronic Acid strengthens the skin's natural defenses by releasing β-defensin, and stimulates the regeneration of sensitive or damaged skin (it contributes significantly to healing).

*Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid (BPM): Its very small size allows it to penetrate deep into the skin. It stimulates collagen synthesis, thus preventing loss of skin elasticity and sagging. It also retains water in the dermis thanks to its exceptional hygroscopic properties (like a sponge, retains up to 1000 times its weight in water). It is the most expensive hyaluronic acid, which is rarely found in serums or creams based on Hyaluronic Acid.

Lack of shine? Pigment spots? Signs of aging?

To effectively treat dull, uneven skin, as well as signs of aging, wrinkles and pigment spots, we opt for a vitamin C serum.

It is the ingredient recognized by the scientific community as being one of the most effective active ingredients for healthy skin. Vitamin C protects against skin aging (antioxidant), acts on collagen, strengthens elasticity, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, improves the appearance of skin prone to imperfections, promotes cell renewal and evens out the complexion while boosting its radiance.

But be careful, absolutely avoid isolated synthetic vitamin C ! Instead, opt for a quality natural stabilized vitamin C, combined with plant active ingredients naturally containing a high vitamin C content, which does not oxidize and which really penetrates the epidermis, for effective results.

Our ORGANIC RADIANCE C SERUM is an innovative combination of 3 forms of vitamin C - pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid), stabilized vitamin C (ascorbyl glycoside) and acerola, one of the plant active ingredients most concentrated in vitamin C - which allows vitamin C to really penetrate the epidermis.

To go further, the benefits of the innovative combination of 3 forms of vitamin C in our RADIANCE C SERUM are as follows:

Acerola & Lactobacillus Complex (5%) *: Small acerola berries are extremely rich in natural vitamin C (they contain 65 times more than oranges), thus providing all the benefits linked to Vitamin C. Object of many studies, vitamin C is an active ingredient whose effectiveness is no longer in doubt, acclaimed by dermatologists. In addition to smoothing the skin's texture and making the complexion brighter, vitamin C acts against skin aging by stimulating the production of collagen. It also reduces the production of melanin, one of the pigments causing spots on the skin. Rich in anthocyanins – a type of flavonoids, as well as vitamin A and carotenoids – acerola also has record antioxidant activity. The fermentation of this active ingredient thanks to Lactobacillus helps protect it and better penetrate the epidermis thanks to the small size of the active molecules.

Stabilized Vitamin C Complex + Zinc PCA + Oleuropine (6%) *: This complex acts on the inhibition of 2 pigments responsible for the appearance of aging spots: melanin (pigment linked to the sun) and lipofuscin (pigment developing with age). Vitamin C inhibits melanin synthesis and reduces age spots. Zinc PCA regulates the vitamin C transporter and facilitates the transport of vitamin C into skin cells. Oleuropine (from olive leaf) prevents the formation of lipofuscin.

* Objectified active ingredients (in vitro & in vivo studies)

ORGANIC C Radiance Serum

Oily skin ? Imperfections? Excess sebum? Redness? 

Priority to our ORGANIC SEBORE-REGULATING SERUM, a highly concentrated gel treatment containing propolis, a zinc & oligoalginate complex, concentrated hyaluronic acid, as well as cornflower extract. These active ingredients treat all skin disorders linked to imperfections and acne: excessive sebum production, bacterial spots, acne lesions, inflammation and scarring. It also relieves feelings of heating, while limiting shine and improving the biodynamic properties of the skin.

To go further, the benefits of the main active ingredients in our ORGANIC SEBORE-REGULATING SERUM are as follows:

Propolis: Propolis has extraordinary antiseptic, antibacterial, fungicidal and healing properties. It is very effective on oily skin, acne-prone skin, and skin with redness.

Zinc & oligoalginate complex* (2%): Produced by Laminaria algae, this complex is recognized for its actions on blemish-prone skin: it regulates sebum, inhibits bacterial development, regulates acne-type imperfections, boosts the healing mechanism and inhibits inflammatory mediators.

Concentrated hyaluronic acid* – plant origin (0.8%): This active ingredient of plant origin maintains dermal density, improves the biodynamic properties of the skin and contributes to its good hydration by preventing imperceptible water loss.

Cornflower extract (1%): Cornflower extract has soothing, calming and regenerating properties, ideal for sensitive or irritated skin.

* Objectified active ingredients (with in vitro & in vivo studies)

ORGANIC Seboregulating Serum

How to use a serum?

A serum is applied morning and evening to clean, dry skin. Apply 2 to 3 drops of the serum to the face and neck using light smoothing movements. Follow with your moisturizer.

Our serums can be used synergistically according to your needs.

Daily use is recommended for quickly visible results.