Antipodes Apostle Serum – Carrying A Few Messages

Yet another cheesy title. I know. It will all make sense in a bit.

Say hello to Antipodes Apostle Skin-Brightening Serum, another product from the New Zealand brand that I came to really enjoy using. I didn’t love it from the get go. I needed some time to adjust and get used to it.

This serum was the first on my wishlist, simply because it has the skin-brightening words on it. When I hear stuff like that, naturally I got curious because I have a lot of hyperpigmentation from post-acne spots that I would love to get rid off. But mostly, my skin can get really uneven in tone, blotchy and it’s something that I need to tackle pretty much on a daily basis.

Let’s dissect this serum.

What it is (from the website):

A water-based serum to help target pigmentation, brighten your skin and restore even tone. Waiwera mineral-blessed water helps restore essential moisture while delivering antioxidant-rich Vinanza Performance Plus® to help reduce the effects of over production of melanin causing pigmentation. Vinanza Oxifend® defends skin cells from oxidative stress helping reduce skin redness. Kiwifruit exfoliating enzyme renews your skin for true fresh-faced beauty.

This is the first serum that got me wondering if I’m being too adventurous. It’s the color. It’s brown and has a watery gel consistency, much like the Juliet Cleanser from the same brand. It even has pretty much the same scent (green apple and cardamom). It sinks right into the skin and I can literally feel my skin drinks it. Thank goodness I do not turn into an oompa loompa afterwards.

There’s something that didn’t get exposed in the website description, only written in the box. Antipodes Apostle Serum is said to help correct blemished skin as well. I don’t think it’s meant for actual acne or anything more serious, but more like a flare-up or tiny bumps. I’m guessing it’s due to the antioxidants from the grape seeds (my skin loves grape seed oil) and kiwifruit exfoliating enzymes in the product. I do notice that it can aid those conditions, judging by the fact every time I used it during these moments, it helped to calm down the skin. It doesn’t make them go away in a night, but with continuous use, say in three days or so.

As far as the skin-brightening effect, I didn’t notice anything spectacular, not in terms of eliminating hyperpigmentation anyway. I’m not saying it doesn’t work, my skin just probably needs something more potent. Some of the lighter spots are less noticeable. The progress is there even though it’s not as fast. Entering the fifth month, I can see the serum has helped my skin to be more even-toned. Less dull. Less of the redness, which is always welcomed in my book. I didn’t think I like it that much right up until I keep reaching for this! It’s weird, isn’t it? My brain autonomously directs me to go for it. Come to think of it, the serum does play easily with others. It’s easily layered under and over other products.

I imagined, or rather, hoping that Antipodes Apostle Serum would bring the sensation that my skin has just been drenched in water. I didn’t get that feeling, unfortunately. It does bring an extra boost of hydration, but not enough to call it a day. Meaning, it lacks in the moisture-keeping department. But that’s not really an issue since I can always add something else on top, whether a face oil or a moisturizer or another serum.

One of my favorite ways to use this serum is to make a micro emulsion out of it by adding few drops of face oil like KYPRIS Beauty Elixir II and Odacité Serum Concentrates (Pa+G and Bl+C). By adding an oil, it completes the experience. The oil will bind and seal the hydration the serum gives while still providing its own benefits. Double the effect. I also like to layer Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil underneath the micro emulsion. At the time that I’m writing this review, I’ve been loving layering TATCHA Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate and Sunday Riley Tidal Water Cream over the serum as well.

Antipodes Apostle Serum becomes a serum that I enjoy using night and day. It’s definitely lightweight enough to use in the morning so it won’t give me the feeling of congestion throughout the day. It saves time too because it absorbs into the skin in a flash.

In the end, I still love using it because I realize it’s the type of serum that works great in the maintenance department. I need that sort of serums in my routine. Not much of a big player, but a key player. The one that I can hire everyday. Even though it has exfoliating enzymes, they’re on the gentle side so I never experienced any backlash from it.

The best part of the serum has got to be the combination of different benefits in one single bottle. It helps to fight hyperpigmentation as the underlying property (though on me it feels like a supporting character), reduces redness and flare-ups and boosts up the skin condition thanks to its antioxidant-packed ingredients. Happier skin, indeed.