Before trying out any skincare product, always bother to find out more about the brand. So before I start providing my honest opinions (and pictures to prove) about Dermagold products, here's a little background of this homegrown label (yes to local brands!!!) for you:
About Dermagold
"For Skin You Dare To Bare"
Unable to find anything in the market to suit their skincare needs, and with one of them having been a sufferer of teenage acne (thus affecting her self-esteem*; this speaks to me because I went through the same thing), childhood friends Dr Grace Ling and Dr Lim Luping decided to work together and invent a skincare line that is simple, effective and yet lovely to the senses (isn't this something we all want in our skincare? I know I do!). After extensive research and having sourced for the perfect ingredients, not forgetting both doctors' valuable input with their medical background, Dermagold was born. After 10 years of selling their products to only a selected group of customers and friends, and being encouraged by the increasing demand for Dermagold, Dr Grace and Dr Luping decided to take the brand to another level with the launch of revamped series and even Dermagold Men.
*Dr Luping's complexion became clearer and smoother since the usage of Dermagold products. I have seen her twice in real life and I can honestly vouch for this.
What Makes Dermagold Special
(The Star Ingredient)
Highly-nutritious with medicinal properties, the seabuckthorn berry remains as one of the best-kept secrets in the
world of skincare despite having been used for centuries in parts of Asia and Europe. Originated from the Himalayas, seabuckthorn is a fruit known to be beneficial as a skincare remedy
and nutritional supplement with restorative activity.
"Do not judge a fruit by its size" is my way of describing seabuckthorn. Although this tiny berry is a lot smaller than a blueberry, the amount of Vitamin C stored in a seabuckthorn is 12 - 15 times of an orange!
Did you know? China used seabuckthorn juice as its national drink during
the 2008 Beijing Olympics. American health expert Dr Oz also
featured this super berry in his show in 2011.
Filled with high omega fatty acid content including 3, 6, 9 and the rare 7 which helps combat skin dryness, visible fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of premature ageing, it is of no surprise that seabuckthorn became the star ingredient of Dermagold. With that, Dermagold became the first homegrown label to contain this miracle berry!
My Review
Ready to hear my thoughts on their products now? Don't fall asleep! Here are two Dermagold products that I have put to the test over the past month:
Dermagold Miracle C+ (S$69, 15ml)
Product Claims:
"A silky smooth concentrated 18% Vitamin C Ester serum. Has up to 8-fold anti-oxidant protection, anti-age, anti-pigment, anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties. Formulated in a base of hyaluronic acid to boost, protect and restore skin. Also suitable for oil control."
Ingredients:
Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Hyaluronic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Carbomer, (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol. *Paraben free*
My First Thoughts:
When I saw the first 3 ingredients, I already knew I was in for a good treat. Take a look at the ingredient list of the skincare products you own, and the first ingredient will most likely be aqua / water; this isn't the case for Miracle C+. Additionally, 18% is actually a great dosage of Vitamin C in a skincare product, so I was confident it would do something good for my skin. I was also told that all their products have been specially formulated to be lightweight and non-sticky without compromising the efficacy of the products. With that in mind, I still did not expect for this serum to be that watery and lightweight.
Because it's so watery, I'll pump the serum directly on my face and start patting with both hands immediately as it absorbs really fast. Within seconds, the serum will be completely absorbed into my skin. For someone with oily skin, this is a big plus point!
Verdict:
I have been using this serum together with the other Dermagold product, so I don't know how this has worked on my skin alone. However, before this serum, I actually stopped using serums altogether because I was breaking out and I didn't want to confuse my skin with too many skincare steps. Fortunately, this serum did not break me out at all. Read on for my final verdict on both Dermagold products.
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Dermagold Skin Elixir (S$128, 30ml)
Product Claims:
"This perfect skin food. The ultimate blend of natural ingredients for enhancing the skin’s moisture retention. Seabuckthorn extract enriches and soothes the skin."
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides(Seabuckthorn) Fruit Oil, Laminaria Hyperborea Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower) Extract, Carbomer, Phenylpropanol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, , Soluble Collagen, Isopropyl Myristate, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Beta-Sitosterol, Glucose, Squalane, Sphingolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carthamus Tinctorius, Linoleic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronnellol. *Naturally preserved and paraben-free. No chemical emulsifying agents used.*
My First Thoughts:
In my Hadara Power Facial review, I mentioned that the Skin Elixir was applied onto my face before I was given a facial massage, and I remember telling the aesthetician that I loved the smell so much! It smells very fruity and sensual, yet not overpowering or overwhelming. If you take note of the ingredients though, this one actually has fragrance in it. However, I do understand why fragrance has to be added, because the smell of seabuckthorn has been said to "smell like, well, the sea. And that’s exactly what seabuckthorn oil smells like to me. Not really fishy, but more like when you swim a few meters out into the ocean and all you can smell is a deep, wet, salty fragrance." (adapted from Crunchy Betty). I cannot stand products that smell too chemically or weird, and I honestly do appreciate fragrance when it is needed. The fragrance used in this moisturiser did not react adversely on my sensitive skin as well, so no biggie!
As you can see, the colour of the Skin Elixir when first dispensed is orange, but it turns transparent once I spread the product out. The texture is gel-like and definitely not as watery as the serum, but still very lightweight and easily absorbed nonetheless.
Verdict:
Again, I have been using this moisturiser together with the serum, so I don't know how this has worked on my skin alone. Read on for my final verdict on both Dermagold products.
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Before and After
Note: All "before and after" pictures have not been edited at all. All pictures were taken around the same timing of about 2 A.M. (different dates of course) and with the same camera function (standard function with no special effect, filter etc).
3 weeks before:
These were taken about half an hour after a bath; my hair is still wet in the above 2 photos. Skin at this point is dull and with big(ger) pores.
3 weeks later:
These were taken after the last step of my skincare regime. I have to mention that January has been the first month in years I managed to head to bed without looking oily or greasy; woohoo! Skin at this point (now) is evidently smoother and more radiant. Pores also look smaller and less-clogged.
Side-by-side Comparision:
Side-by-side Comparision:
To be honest, I used to be very self-conscious of how I looked with my bare skin, and I still do feel this way once in awhile. I don't know if I'll ever regret posting these pictures up without a single edit… but oh well. As long as you guys can see the difference! I sure can. I also have to be thankful that my skin does not look like how it did when I was age 12-15 (horrible!).
My Final Verdict
I have been using the Miracle C+ serum twice a day, and the Skin Elixir every night (sometimes in the day as well when I have more time). I have honestly enjoyed using these 2 products the past month! In fact, to be completely honest, after the first night of incorporating Dermagold into my skincare regime, I actually noticed that my skin looked more radiant the next day (!!!). I believe this has more to do with the serum due to its high percentage of Vitamin C. Also, I thought my serum would be used up by the end of 2 weeks (only 15ml of product), but I'm still using it today. For a local brand that has done so much research and put in crazy effort into inventing and curating a whole skincare line (even for different skin concerns), not to mention that their products are effective, I really think the prices are reasonable - especially if you're already used to the prices of SK-II, Dior, Chanel, Estee lauder etc. Some of the big brands in the market even contain harsh chemicals and ingredients that will not be beneficial for your skin (and health) in the long run, so Dermagold wins hands-down in this sense.
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Dermagold is available at Hadara Aesthetics Boutique, 23 Lorong Telok #01-01 Singapore 049035.
Tel: +65 6969 3022
Website: www.dermagold.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dermagold
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dermagold_sg
Quote "mybeautyroad" or "Jolynn" to get 10% off any purchase of Dermagold products.
No minimum purchase! (Valid till 31 March 2015)
No minimum purchase! (Valid till 31 March 2015)
Disclaimer: Products were sent for review. This post does contain information from the brand itself, but thoughts and opinions expressed above are strictly my own and based on my personal experience. I am not compensated by the company.
With love,
Jolynn Lim
My Beauty Road
"Don't forget to love yourself."
Follow me on Instagram @mybeautyroad for more beauty updates!
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