Leahlani Champagne Serum – Happy Hour Any Time!

I’m aware that it has taken me this long to review this product. I’ve used it for nearly two years and mentioned it often in my blog and Instagram. Even with the multiple requests, I failed to deliver. I think it’s because I want people to try this product with no expectations or reservations. It was a beautiful discovery on my part and I wish for others to experience the same.

Or maybe, it’s the other way around. Sometimes I feel selfish not wanting to share great gems because in several occasions, the product went sold out and I wasn’t able to have a back up LOL. Well, sharing has its pros and cons. That being said, ultimately, I’m most happiest when I can help others 🙂

Here you go, it’s time to put it down, digitally. May I present, Leahlani Champagne Serum.

What it is (from the web):

Happy hour for your skin starts now with our Champagne Serum. She is a longtime Leahlani skincare essential and one of our favorite beauty tools to help combat redness and inflammation. Her luminescent cocktail of nutrient-rich chardonnay grapeseed oil and potent tea antioxidants will work in harmony to bring balance to your precious skin, leaving you with a dewy, calm and supple complexion. Infused with a delicate blend of lavender, chamomile and rose geranium essential oils, just one pump is all you need to bring your skin back to its happy place.

Happy hour for the skin is most absolutely suiting. Champagne = happy hour, get it?

Leahlani Champagne Serum is suspended in an oil form. It’s 100% oil with no water content. So it’s not the common traditional type of serum (water-based or emulsion) we’re familiar with in the mainstream market. There are more and more face oils marketed as “serums”, and I’m seeing a lot of these in the green beauty world. It does create a little bit of confusion for some people as to how to use it. Say, if you’re using an oil serum and then use another cream or face oil on top as your moisturizer, it might be too much, especially if you live in a place where it’s pretty much summer and humid all year long.

It’s understandable.

The beauty of this product is that it combines the best of both worlds. It is a serum full of nutrients and because it’s made out of oils, it also doubles as an emollient – moisturizer per se. Now, thing is, traditional serums (water-based) have smaller molecules and will sink in deeper into the skin. Oil will naturally sit on the upper layer. Therefore, I do believe I still need a conventional serum beforehand to really achieve the best potential results. So, where does Champagne Serum sit in my routine then? Easy. As a regular face oil and applied after serum.
I don’t apply an additional moisturizer because face oil is the substitute for that.

By any means, there’s nothing wrong wearing it on its own. If I just wanted something super quick in the morning, I’d just cleanse the face, apply a hydrating toner, Champagne Serum and SPF at the very last. But 99% of my reality, I still have the time to apply a serum underneath, or rather, I make the time :p

Ingredient list:

Organic cold pressed grapeseed oil (Vitis Vinifera), cold pressed chardonnay grapeseed oil (Vitis Vinifera Chardonnay), organic cold pressed rosehip oil (Rosa Canina), organic cold pressed jojoba oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), essential oils of: organic lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla), organic orange (Citrus Nobilis), rose geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens), Leahlani antioxidant cocktail: (organic green tea (Camellia Sinensis), organic white tea (Camellia Sinensis), organic rooibos tea (Aspalathus Linearis), organic calendula (Calendula Officinalis), Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), organic sunflower oil (Helianthus Annuus) and LOVE

The main oil here is Grapeseed Oil. It’s light and moisturizing at the same time. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The fatty acids aid in repairing skin barrier and restoring collagen. There’s an astringent quality in it that can help tighten the skin as well. One of the things that make this one of my favorite oils is because it’s high ratio in linoleic acid. I first came across this term when I was reading Minimalist Beauty blogpost and it’s such an eye opener! Also, read Lab Muffin‘s post about it. It makes sense and there’s a reason why I love Champagne Serum so much.

The only thing about Grapeseed Oil though, it has a high iodine value (due to high level of unsaturated fatty acids). This means the oil goes rancid faster and doesn’t have a long shelf life; usually around 6 months. While there’s Vitamin E included in the product to prolong the oxidation from happening sooner, it’s very wise to use this oil as fast, or as much as you can. It also helps to keep the product away from heat and sunlight (as it should with all skincare). Once it goes rancid, unfortunately, there’s no saving.

The ingredients in Leahlani Champagne Serum scream chock-full of antioxidants! Ooh yeah! Antioxidant, in simplicity, fights oxidation and protects the skin from cellular damage caused by free radicals. It’s the type of ingredient that won’t show results immediately but it is crucial for the long run. What I notice is that antioxidant helps to repair and maintain the skin’s health, making it more resilient from environmental aggressors. With long term use, antioxidants can keep the skin looking clear and less problematic. As I said often, incorporating antioxidants in the skincare routine is always a good thing. I may not see it right away, but something isn’t quite right when I don’t include it.

And that’s exactly what I experienced by using Champagne Serum. I have noticed ever since I use it, my skin has become more clear and balanced throughout the day. The skin appears less red than usual, more even-toned and calmer in general. I also feel it produces less (unnecessary) oil, in return, I get less blemishes. I’m telling you, I didn’t want this serum far away from my skin, for quite a long while.

It has a lovely, good natured scent. A little bit fruity, a touch of floral, soft and comfortingly sweet. It reminds me of spring transitioning into summer, somewhere tropical. Exudes lots of positive energy. It really is love at first whiff. Leah, the brand’s founder, has an uncanny knack on interlacing scents that stimulates the senses into one pure sensory bliss. That happens every single time I use her skincare products.

When it comes to botanical or plant-based skincare, it’s not unusual to have uncommon scents in the products; because they do not use synthetic fragrances. We’re so used of these made-up scents that our brain is wired that way and it can take a while to adapt. I can live with most of them thankfully, more so than the mainstream brands (they can be too overwhelming at times). But yes, the unfamiliarity can be make me shudder every now and then. So, I do appreciate when niche brands go the length of creating signature scents organically that can converse well with the products.

The way that I use it is the same as I do with any face oil. I wet my palm with few spritz of Avène Eau Thermale, add a pump of this serum, rub both of my hands together than transfer it on the skin. Use gentle massage and pressing motion as the final touch. Bring it over the neck, decolletage and arms if possible. Mixing it with Avène will help the oil to penetrate better into the skin and leaves less slippery, greasy residue. Whatever is left will act as a seal keeping the moisture in.

Other uses for Champagne Serum is to mix it with face masks such as its cousin Mermaid Mask, May Lindstrom The Problem Solver, Odacite SYNERGIE[4] Beauty Masque and anything else I see fitted, really. Mixing this into the mask will provides moisture and longer wear time. You know how sometimes you just want to leave some masks on for longer but afraid they’re going to dry out the skin. Adding oil is the simple solution. Plus points when using fancy(er) oils because we’ll get extra nourishment and fruitful extracts. It will leave the skin softer afterwards too.

I love using face oils for nighttime and was searching for a good one to use for daytime. Leahlani Champagne Serum is the first face oil that I can confidently use, time and time again. As a matter of fact, I find this works best for day time use. It doesn’t feel greasy and still wears well under makeup. Of course, expect the skin to be more dewy than usual. After all, we’re using a face oil. With makeup on top, some people might find it too shiny borderline oily, but personally, the difference to me is marginal between wearing a regular moisturizer and a face oil. I like the extra glow. I can always blot the skin beforehand and throughout the day, but that’s what I always do anyway, so really, no difference here 😀

So, if you’re scared of using face oils because you have combination-oily skin and even acne prone, don’t be. There are oils out there that are more suitable for these skin types. As I’ve mentioned above, the ones with higher linoleic acid ratio will benefit the skin more (oleic acid for drier skin types). I’ve also shared a little bit about this particular subject on my Instagram (here) alongside some of the face oils I’ve been enjoying lately, Champagne Serum included *duh*.
I have combination skin and I indulge in face oils, reaping so many benefits from them. Ever since then, I’m finding it hard to stay away from face oils.

Using Leahlani Champagne Serum is like sipping on a glass of cool chardonnay on a hot, scorching sunny day. Truly a daytime treat for the skin. This serum is dear to my heart and I’ll keep repurchasing until I’m ready to move on.