L’Oreal Revitalift 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum (USA Version vs European Version): Review+ How to use

In today’s Blog Post I am going to write about L’oreal Revitalift 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum. First of all, I have to say that while I was researching the ingredients I figured out that there is a serum in the USA market with the same name, and similar packaging but some crucial differences. So I guess the one that I’m reviewing is meant for the European market, and the one in the clear bottle is for the US market.

To avoid making confusion I will compare them for you guys just based on the ingredients because I cannot get the one from the USA market. But just so that you know what you’re dealing with in case you get the one from the USA.

INGREDIENTS

They have 13 matching ingredients, and the main active ingredients in both would be Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, and Ascorbyl Glycoside. Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin are the humectants that bind water and they will hydrate your skin, so this is a hydrating serum, and Ascorbyl Glycoside is the form of Vitamin C that has brightening properties and is also an antioxidant. They also both have Dipeptide Diaminobuyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, which is a very small molecule that can penetrate the skin easily, and this peptide belongs to the “Botox in the jar’’ type of peptides meaning that it has a smoothing effect on the skin and it can reduce the wrinkles. So if you do see some immediate result from using this serum it would probably be the effect of this peptide.

The crucial difference is that the USA version does not have Fragrance, and the European one is loaded with Fragrance.

The good thing is that they both have two types of Hyaluronic Acid (the low molecule and the high molecular one). And by the way, it’s always better to have a serum that has two types of Hyaluronic Acid(HA), because the low molecular HA can penetrate the skin and reduce the wrinkles while the high molecular HA just sits on the outmost layer of the skin and hydrates it.

CONTROVERSIAL INGREDIENTS

They both have one controversial buffering agent, also known by the acronym HEPES (Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid). Here’s a thing behind it: it’s a buffering ingredient that is used to establish a neutral pH in water-based solutions. There is one research indicating that it can generate free radical damage in the presence of Oxygen, which means that it could be a problem when used in skincare products. But we cannot know is it really like that until there is more research because at the moment there is no research showing the direct impact on the skin. So it’s hard to say if we should avoid this serum just because of this ingredient.

HOW TO USE

Here is how I use it. I first wash my face, and I’m still using the Avène cold creme bar – I’ve reviewed it, you can check it in the video below.

After that, I spray my face with Avène Thermal water because I prefer that water to hydrate my face rather than the tap water, but you can of course just leave your skin wet after washing your face and then put the serum on. Anyways, because this is a hydrating serum with humectants only it is best to apply it on a wet face and immediately add an occlusive moisturizer on top to lock in that moisture. After applying serum, I use the L’Oreal hyaluronic Specialist Night Cream. I recently did a review on this cream as well, you can watch it down below.

I also love using the Panthenol cream with 5% of Dexpanthenol – but you can use any occlusive moisturizer that you know works for you.

EFFECT ON THE SKIN (EU VERSION)

Feels nice when you apply it on the skin, it does the job, but I did have one situation with it. When I was using the Retinaldehyde serum by Avene, I tried combining it with this Revitalift HA serum by L’oreal and I was using it every other day. So one day I would use the L’Oreal serum and the other day I would use the Avène Retinlaldehyde, and guess what? The L’Oreal serum was burning my skin like crazy and I couldn’t use it. I mentioned that in the review that I did on Avene’s Retinaldehide serum, you can watch that video down below.

By the way, when I stopped using Retinaldehyde everything went back to normal and I had no problems because usually I’m not sensitive to Fragrance in products but when I use Retinoids, my skin becomes sensitive.

If you have sensitive skin – just note that this product (L’oreal Revitalift Serum) is not for you.

FINAL VERDICT

Is this the best HA serum that you can get in this price range? Unfortunately no. You can get better HA serums in this price range. Sorry, L’oreal.

When it comes to the USA version vs EU version, the USA version is the slightly better option because it doesn’t have fragrance, so you will be able to use it at the same time with some other ingredients that are increasing the sensitivity of your skin (Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, etc.). You won’t be able to combine the European version of this serum with such ingredients though.

Regarding that controversial ingredient HEPES- because there is no research showing the direct impact of HEPES on the skin, we cannot judge this product just based on this ingredient. But there are better options in the same price range and even cheaper than this that don’t have this buffering agent (For example The Ordinary HA 2% + B5 Serum).

Bottom line is that L’Oreal is a drugstore brand and that we cannot expect much from it but maybe they should go easy on the price.

For example, there is the Ordinary HA 2% + B5 serum that has a higher concentration of Hyaluronic Acid (2%) plus it’s cheaper, it retails for 10$, and for L’Oreal I paid 18$. The Ordinary HA 2% + B5 doesn’t have the controversial buffering agent and it’s Fragrance-free. I also have a review on the Ordinary serum you can watch it down below.

Regarding the effect on the skin of L’oreal Revitalift Serum, I cannot say anything bad, it is really moisturizing and feels nice on the skin, but if you have sensitive skin it’s going to burn and cause irritation to your skin.

Bottom line is, if you do have access to other HA serums in your country, maybe you can avoid this one. I hope this review was helpful, thanks for reading!

Text adapted from Pharmacy&Makeup’s Youtube Video by Katarina Savković