I love Zelens skincare. I've been slowly going through their whole line. The first serum I tested was the Youth Concentrate Supreme Age Defying Serum. It was my birthday present to myself late last year.
Per Zelens website: "A supreme age-defying serum developed by Dr. Marko Lens, inspired by a Nobel-prize winning discovery on the vital role of telomeres (cells' biological clock) in controlling aging. Powered with a unique complex containing 8 potent peptides and encapsulated retinol, this concentrated formula helps significantly reduce all visible signs of aging. Perfectly hydrated, skin appears smoother, firmer and renewed with noticeably diminished fine lines and wrinkles."
Benefits
- Promotes firmness and elasticity
- Plumps up and lifts the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin feels smoother and looks visibly younger
This was one of those serums where after using it for about 1-2 weeks I saw visible results. That's usually rare. I test a lot of products and serums that add moisture. Some make my skin texture feel better. Others make my skin more plump and youthful. And some brighten or more my skintone more even. I have a hard time finding a serum that does all of those plus helps reduce the lines on my forehead. Youth Concentrate did it all. I actually put it in my Best of 2015 post after only using it for 2 weeks because I just knew. The texture is a thicker white liquid. Much like other Zelens products the smell is not annoying it's a pleasant, clean, easy, minimal scent. That's always a bonus and my preference.
So this powerful serum does come with a hefty price tag of $305 for 1 fl oz. It's in a nice frosted glass pump bottle in which the pump actually got 99% of the product out without me having to turn it over the last few weeks. Another bonus. I found a bottle lasted me about 4 months using one pump nightly. Recommended use is day and night. I usually prefer to use my retinol at night only. If you use it twice a day it will go faster. I did break out a little the first week or so, all retinol does this to me. I found it best to start every other night, then increase to nightly after a week or so. I originally started every night, then I backed down to start more slowly after the breakouts started. This helped minimize that for me. This also helped minimize the irritation for me. I get a little irritation when I start a retinol serum, starting slow is always best. This is not a serum for pregnant ladies because of the retinol.
Is it worth it? Depends on how you feel about spending that kind of money on skincare. I would buy the serum again. I'm going to finish going through a few serums I still have around then I will add it to my nightly routine. I saw a difference in my skin quickly and the benefits diminished shortly after I stopped using it. That let me know it did it's job and makes it worth it to me. Plus, why pay for and use multiple serums to tackle all those issues when one can do it. I would still use this with an antioxidant/vitamin C serum in the day, some type of acid serum at night for extra exfoliation. Don't forget sunscreen in the day when using retinol it's even more important, though you should be using it every morning anyway to avoid extra damage to your skin.
Active Ingredients per Zelens website:
"Youth Concentrate is fortified with 8 potent peptides that work in synergy with other active ingredients to provide a powerful anti-aging effect."
Telomere Protection Complex
A potent complex containing 4 peptides to protect telomeres, support cell survival and extend their youth span.
Chronopeptide
A powerful peptide that promotes natural skin repair and regeneration through the expression of circadian genes.
Anti-Aging Peptide Complex
Contains 3 anti-aging peptides that boost collagen production to achieve a visibly smoother and younger- looking skin.
Encapsulated retinol
This slow-release retinol enhances cell communication, promotes collagen production and encourages the skin renewal process. Suitable for sensitive skin.
Hylauronic acid
An important natural component of skin. Zelens uses a low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid with unique moisturising properties. Hyaluronic acid boosts skin moisture, promotes skin elasticity and fills in wrinkles to help reduce their appearance.
Silanols
Organic derivates of silicones produced in the presence alginic acid extracted from brown algae. Stimulate fibroblast proliferation and activate collagen production and thus have an important role in wound healing and restructuring of the connective tissue. Silanols also demonstrate moisturising, anti-oxidant and anti-glycation properties.
Full lists of ingredients
Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Ethylhexyldodecanol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Teprenone, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Retinol, Geranylgeraylisopropanol, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvaylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Magnesium Chloride, L-Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Linalool, Gryceryl Caprylate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Sodium Benzoate.