Earth Sourced Power Berry Serum

2 Reviews

1. 

   grumpyTacos7

   Reply

   I have been wanting to try the new Paula’s Choice Power Berry Serum- and once I was able to get it on sale I finally picked it up.  The Power Berry Serum is a 95% natural ingredient lightweight serum.  I find that I like using this in my morning routine before moisturizer and sunscreen.  The Berry Serum is loaded with antioxidants as well as vitamin c in the form of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate- which is one of the newer and stronger types of vitamin c.  Applying a good serum that contains vitamin c before sunscreen increases the skins ability to fight off sun damage, pollution, and environmental damage.  

   The Power Berry Serum is rather lightweight and sets to a non-tacky matte finish.  This Serum also plays well with other products and doesn’t cause pilling.  For my dry skin I like to follow it with a moisturizer (usually the Drunk Elephant Protini Cream) and the my sunscreen.  If you have skin that is on the oily side you will probably be able to skip the moisturizer and go straight to sunscreen.  I found that using this during my evening routine I like to mix a couple drops of the serum with my moisturizer or sleeping mask.  

   I haven’t noticed any instant benefits from the serum- the Power Berry Serum is really created as a long term damage preventative measure.  In terms of hydration- it is a rather liquid-serum texture.  It isn’t hydrating enough for me to skip my moisturizer that I usually apply before sunscreen.  Although, I do have rather dry skin.  Those with oilier skin will probably be able to skip other moisturizers. My more detailed video review can be seen here: k

   Paula’s Choice Earth Sourced Power Berry Serum Full Ingredients List:

   Water (Aqua), Glycerin (skin-replenishing), Coco-Caprylate (emollient), Butylene Glycol (slip agent/hydration), Propanediol (hydration), Glyceryl Stearate (texture enhancer), Emblica Officinalis (Gooseberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Euterpe Oleracea (Açaí) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seaberry) Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis (Magnolia) Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Plinia Cauliflora (Jabuticaba) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Melia Azadirachta (Chinaberry) Flower Extract (antioxidant), Melia Azadirachta (Chinaberry) Leaf Extract (antioxidant), Myrciaria Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (skin soothing), Squalane (skin-replenishing), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9 (skin-restoring), Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11 (skin-restoring), Prunus Domestica (Plum) Seed Oil (skin-replenishing), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil (emollient), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (skin-softening), Corallina Officinalis (Seaweed) Extract (hydration), Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil (emollient), Xanthan Gum (texture enhancer), Mannitol (hydration), Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (hydration).

2. 

   yearningBoa8

   Reply

   The Power Berry Serum is advertised as a being a “95% natural serum [that will give] skin a healthy glow through a potent combination of berries selected for their proven antioxidant power in nature.” If one looks at the ingredients, it’s true that lots of berry oils are listed; however, I’m not so sure how much of them are in the serum, percentage-wise, as the first berry oil is the seventh ingredient listed. Everything before that is water, glycerin, emollients, texture enhancers, and hydration providers. That’s not what really bothers me, though, as antioxidants are never high up on a list, even in an antioxidant serum, and, yes, I have noticed a difference using good antioxidant serums in helping prevent damage to my skin. One just needs to be aware that you won’t notice short-term effects or even improvement to your skin; it’s a long-term prevention strategy. (As to how I know it worked, it took a long time to find a SS my sensitive skin could tolerate, but I’ve used PC’s Resist Antioxidant Serum for years. my face still looks good, but my hands and arms are starting to look crepey and spotted from sun damage, and this is just from incidental exposure – I don’t tan or spend time outdoors.)

   As for the Power Berry Serum, it is very watery in texture. Going back to the ingredient list, one might get the impression that it would be hydrating, but it’s not, at least not for me. I have very dehydrated skin that is dry. Some reviewers on the PC website found it hydrating enough to skip their moisturizer, but even in summer, there is no way I could do that with this serum. For those that like PC products but not their tendency to put silicones in everything, rejoice, for this serum is silicone free (and that is probably why it feels so drying to me as my skin desperately needs silicones to form a moisture barrier). My skin is also quite sensitive but did not react to this serum.

   Thus, I give the product three lippies because it didn’t really work for me, but it didn’t harm me, either. I think those with normal to oily skin will appreciate the serum much more, particularly if they dislike silicones. This serum retails for $31.00 (but sales/coupons are often available, so you can get it for less).