Is your skin not responding well to retinol? Then try the Esse Resurrect Serum

Is your skin not responding well to retinol? Then try the Esse Resurrect Serum

Retinol seems to many to be the “holy grail” when it comes to anti-aging. And don’t get me wrong … Retinol is also an effective skin-enhancing active ingredient. But not everyone reacts equally well to retinol, and besides, it’s also good to know more about the skin and the ecosystem on that skin that such an active enters. Therefore, in this article I explain to you the role of the microbial ecosystem and how you can take it into account when selecting the right skin products, such as the Esse Resurrect Serum.

Genomes and microbiomes: a discovery that rocked science

In 2003, the Human Genome Project completed the mapping of the human genome, after a whopping 13 years of research and a $2.7 billion investment. A genome is the complete genetic makeup of an organism.

Interesting detail: The human genome consists of some 20,000 genes and today – more than 20 years later – you can have the human genome analyzed in just a few days for less than $1,000. Then again. science wasn’t that far back then.

The research allowed scientists to look at the human body in a different way, and a link was soon made to the microbes that live everywhere on and in our bodies; from in your intestines and lungs to your skin. These insights turned science on its head, because there was more to consider than had always been assumed. To give you an idea: The number of scientific citations to the “skin microbiome” in 2010 was 854 … by 2015, this number had risen to 5070.

Disruption of the microbial ecosystem

The microbes in your body form an ecosystem. Without this system, we cannot, or do not, function properly. The same is true of the microbes on your skin. Is their ecosystem disrupted? If so, it can result in skin problems. Disruption can result from cleaning too thoroughly, using the wrong products and active ingredients, but also, for example, from antibiotic use and disinfection. If you used to be brought up with the notion that you should “kill all the bugs on your skin,” it turns out that those bugs actually keep your skin healthy.

Stop the war on bacteria

We have long known that applying “healthy critters” (probiotics) to the skin is effective in treating things like eczema or even third-degree burns. Yet the use of probiotics for anti-aging is relatively new. South American company Esse was – and still is – a pioneer in this field. Founder and biochemist Trevor Steyn says, “It is not easy to change a hundred years of learned behavior in the use of beauty products. My goal is to inspire the industry to want to do better.”

“Customers buy results.”

Trevor sees it as Esses job to offer sustainable products that measurably outperform conventional lines. “Customers buy results,” he says.

There is something crazy about those very results, especially when it comes to anti-aging. Consumers tend to think, as I wrote in the intro – that the most powerful retinol serum always gives the best results. So that’s a wrong thinking. Powerful actives, such as retinol, can lead – especially in sensitive skin – to an overactive immune response, resulting in inflammation. And it is precisely these inflammations that accelerate skin aging. Without knowing it, you are then carrying water to the sea…. your powerful anti-aging product is causing your skin to age faster.

But what then? Esse Resurrect Serum!

The Resurrect Serum contains (in addition to Esses pro- and prebiotic technology to improve the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss), actives that soothe your sensitive skin and combat skin aging. The list of active ingredients is longer, but I like to spotlight three of them:

Myrothamnus flabellifolia: an unusual plant

So. A mouthful. To make things a little easier, this active ingredient is also called the Resurrection plant. And lo and behold. the name of the serum. The Resurrection plant is an extraordinary plant. In fact, it is capable of surviving for years without a drop of water in the Namib Desert. It dries out completely and then appears to be dead for a long time, only to come back to life within a few hours when the rainy season arrives in Africa.

Esse has managed to extract and incorporate into the serum the constituents from the plant that protect and provide hydration. This extract is further supported by the addition of hyaluronic acid.

Bakuchiol: non-toxic replacement for retinol

This active shows similar or better results without the drawbacks of skin irritation. This makes Bakuchiol an effective skin-enhancing ingredient for sensitive skin.

Skin care fact: Did you know that bakuchiol can also be used as an acne treatment? Studies have shown that use of Bakuchiol reduces acne by 70% over a 12-week period.

Gamma amino butyric acid: spreadable botox

Gamma aminobutyric acid is able to relax your facial muscles over time, reducing the depth of wrinkles. You could also call this active ingredient spreadable botox. It increases the firmness of your skin and improves its texture. Combined with Bakuchiol, Gamma amino butyric acid gives good results in skin firming and wrinkle reduction.

Swift in use

You use a small amount of the serum in the morning and evening, on cleansed skin. The serum has a brownish color (because why disturb the power of nature with synthetic color pigments?!), is odorless and absorbs quickly. Not a penny of irritation or redness, as retinol can still sometimes tingle a bit. After use, the skin feels supple and hydrated.

When I started testing this serum, I had a few pimples on my cheek. I saw these disappear like snow in a few days. I have now been using the serum for a month and my skin looks healthy, calm and “full” (is that the Dutch word for “plump”?). The 30 ml container is economical to use, so I can continue using this mild anti-aging powerhouse for a while.

30 ml €112.