You know those Instagram posts of people with beautiful, glowing skin with the caption that reads “when the light hits just right”? That’s what Alicia Keys’ Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum gives you without the help of any highlighter at all (though of course you can wear makeup on top if you want). Here’s what makes this multitasking skin perfecter so good.
My Skin Type:
Combination. I’m drier in the cold-weather months and oilier in the warm-weather ones thanks to the high humidity on the East Coast.
The Benefits:
Truthfully, I’m shocked this serum is only $26. When I read the ingredient list and saw it was packed with brightening niacinamide, hydrating rose water and moisturizing squalane (to name a few), I was impressed. Yes, the glow is instantaneous, but the niacinamide works to help brighten your skin over time, too. I had known Keys partnered with dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder to ensure the products were top-notch, but the price point for this quality is attention-grabbing. Not only does the serum stand on its own as a radiance-booster (it also has a really pretty sheer golden tint that works on all skin tones), but it also acts as a makeup primer.
The addition of amethyst powder lends a velvety effect to create a smooth canvas for foundation application. Personally, I love the way this makes my skin gleam, so I prefer not to cover it with foundation. Instead, I opt for a light tinted moisturizer if I need more coverage, or ideally, just a concealer in a few spots, and blush of course. In a clinical study, 100 percent of participants experienced immediate improvement in skin moisture, and in a consumer perception study, 97 percent said the serum wears well under makeup.
Keys provides a “soulcare benefit” for each product in the collection, and for this one, she says “it helps you radiate with confidence and lets your inner light shine through.” She also assigns a mantra to each one, which she encourages people to say in the mirror as they apply the product. For this serum, the mantra is “I give myself permission to glow.”
Key Ingredients:
Niacinamide, rose water, squalane, amethyst powder
How to Use:
Apply it on moisturized skin with your fingers or a brush. The general skin-care rule is to apply your products thinnest to thickest, so if your skin is really dry and you’re using a heavier moisturizer, I’d recommend giving your skin enough time to absorb that formula as much as possible before applying this one. I’ve been layering it on top of both a hyaluronic acid serum and vitamin C serum.
The Bottom Line:
This multitasking, glow-boosting serum is a bargain.
Price/Where to Buy:
$26, keyssoulcare.com
