What it is: Subversive Apothecary Anti-aging Serum
The background info: As we’ve mentioned before, Subversive only makes one product – this one. It’s an all in-one moisturizer, primer, toner, and serum, made for everybody, whether you have oily skin, dry skin, blemishes… the list goes on. Here’s (some of) what they have to say about themselves, on their FAQ page:
“How are you an apothecary if your products don’t address specific skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and freckles?
- Freckles are adorable and are not a legitimate skin concern.
- Our apothecary is devoted to treating 1 disease: the overuse and overconsumption of too many skin care products. Less is more. Using too many products—especially fragranced and exfoliating products—abuses the skin. If you’ve got a serious, acute skin problem that a break from your Lavender Mint Miracle Cheek Exfoliation Detergent Scrub does not resolve, then heavens to Betsy, please see a doctor!”
What I have to say to this: YES. I thought the first point in particular was adorable; I have freckles and they’re one of my favourite facial features! Love them to death. But honestly; I love the vision of Subversive Apothecary. I’m a one-product kind of gal (I know; I’m terribly lazy and low-maintenance for a beauty blogger), so one product that does it all really appeals to me. Plus, I love that they’re free of things like preservatives, fragrances, and silicones (to name a few)!
just under one pump of product
The serum: is surprisingly nice! I have to admit that I was skeptical (“one size fits all” rarely applies in real life), but this serum didn’t disappoint. It goes on really smoothly, feeling almost reminiscent of my beloved silicones – oh, how I miss you! – hydrates well (really well), and sinks in quickly with no heavy feel or oily finish. One pump is enough to cover my entire face and a bit down my neck, and as they’ve mentioned on the product page, that one pump is free of water and other fillers.
For those unaccustomed to using facial oils, applying this could take some getting used to, but it’s honestly not that hard! This serum is a lot lighter than things like mineral oil or EVOO (extra virgin olive oil, a popular all-natural moisturizer)
immediately after being worked into the skin
The ingredients:
Grapeseed Oil; Olive Extract (Squalane); Ceramides; Antioxidant Booster (Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Oil, Rosehip (Rosa Affinis Rubiginosa) Seed Oil, Alpha-D-Tocopherol (vitamin E), Lycopene, Tocotrienols, Astaxanthin, Lutein, Beta Carotene and Alpha Lipoic Acid); Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone); Soy Lecithin
The cost: I have to say; this is the only thing about the serum that I disliked. I mean, $62 for 1 fl oz? I thought it was pretty high – until I compared it against other anti-ageing serums, that is. Here’s a bit of a comparison for you: for the same amount, Burt’s Naturally Ageless would be $50, Lancôme Genifique would be $84, and Guerlain Orchidée Imperiale would be bloody $400. So, $62’s actually pretty reasonable, I suppose!
The verdict: Okay, this is a hard one. On one hand, I really, really like this serum, but because I don’t need anti-ageing (yet)… I wouldn’t shell out $62 to re-buy. However, I do think that it’s an innovative, unique product, and it’s backed by a great brand, so yeah – if you were looking for an anti-ageing serum, or something to simplify a five-product skincare routine, I’d recommend this.
Availability: as far as I know, this is only available through the Subversive Apothecary site. However, they do ship worldwide, and offer free samples of the serum if you’re in the US! (Due to shipping costs, as the shipping for the sample is free, too.)
