‘I won’t be without it now’: road-testing SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF

Oily skin has been a challenge for me since my teens, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with acne in my 20s that it became clear how disruptive breakouts can be. The breakouts themselves were bad enough – sore, irritated and difficult to cover – but when the active blemishes finally went away, textural and pigmentation issues would be left behind. Now, in my 30s, with stress and mask-wearing, I’m experiencing breakouts again. My skin and its needs have changed, however; figuring out how to manage and treat blemish-prone skin while concerned about fine lines is a whole new challenge.

As a beauty writer, I’m lucky enough to be able to try most new products before they hit the shelves and, as someone with oily, blemish-prone skin, I’m always on the lookout for effective products. After years of experience and trying so many, I know exactly what I want from a treatment product for my skin. It needs to be light in texture, absorbing quickly into the skin without overloading it or exacerbating shine. I want clinical results and potent, proven active ingredients that work for the skin of someone my age – so many products for oily and blemish-prone skin don’t account for skin ageing. Most importantly, I want to see a difference. When I buy a product for oiliness and blemishes, it should deliver brighter, fresher-looking and clearer skin. So I decided to try SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF – a triple-vitamin C antioxidant serum formulated specifically for oily and blemish-prone skin.

Initial impressions
I’m immediately reassured by the brown glass bottle, which I know serves to protect some active ingredients from being damaged by sunlight. A few drops of the serum are enough to cover my face and neck. The neck can often be forgotten – those with blemish-prone skin know that spots and congestion are not limited to the face alone. I apply three to four drops from the pipette on to my palms in the morning, and then press them quickly into my clean face and neck before sun protection factor (SPF). The serum has a mild medicinal aroma – it isn’t added scent, just the smell of the ingredients, which I know to expect from SkinCeuticals products, and find quite reassuring. Applying it is the work of seconds.

Six weeks later
So far, SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF has delivered exactly what I’d hoped for. The serum is incredibly light and quickly absorbed – I don’t even feel it on my skin. After six weeks of use, I’ve noticed that my skin is looking brighter, more even and less oily in usually problematic areas such as my nose, chin and forehead. Pigmentation scarring from previous blemishes has started to look less dark, and the fine lines on my forehead seem less obvious. Even after wearing a mask, my complexion is clear and glowing but not shiny. When I catch sight of my makeup-free skin in the mirror at home, I still feel surprised by how much it has improved.

12 weeks later
At 12 weeks, the serum is still performing consistently and keeping my skin balanced. The few blemishes I have had were the inevitable hormone-related ones – and I’ve found that, while using SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF, they haven’t been as bad, diminished faster and haven’t left the same depth of pigmentation behind after clearing up. Overall, my skin is in visibly better condition – brighter and more even. Usually, when spring comes round, older pigmentation from previous sun damage resurfaces and looks quite prominent on my left cheek, but this year it’s barely visible – so I know the vitamin C in the serum is doing its job. And the fine lines that looked less obvious at the six-week mark have stayed that way, which I’m thrilled about.

Even with temperatures warming up, my skin is less visibly shiny than it was three months ago. I use SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF with my daily skincare staples, applying it in the morning before SPF. It has given me some of the best results I’ve ever had from an over-the-counter product – I won’t be without it now.

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