Where to purchase: Available on the Strata Website HERE – The Link gives you $10 off your first order.
Price: £12.94
Volume: 30ml
Made in: The USA
What is it?: A Hydrating Serum that helps thicken the skin + hydrate it + brighten the skin.
What does it do?: Meant to Brighten, Moisturise + Firm the skin.
Brand Description: A Fast-absorbing Essence/serum containing 2.5% DMAE, 5% Niacinamide + Other Plant Extracts meant to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types + Ageing + Sun-damaged Skin (but possibly not those with plant allergies + extremely acne-prone skin).
What I think: I agree with the above as this isn’t a thick essence. However I will say that I didn’t find this the most hydrating/moisturising product.
Vegan?: No (Rewind uses n-acetyl glucosamine sourced from sea shells)
Cruelty Free?: Yes
Packaging: Plastic Bottle with a Pump Lid and a Cap (unfortunately I lost the cap).
Directions: Use before your moisturiser.
How I use it: I applied this in the PM, after toning and using my Arigreline Solution (Review HERE). I used this before applying thicker serums or moisturiser as it’s quite lightweight. I found 2-3 pumps covered my face and neck.
Key Ingredients: 2.5% DMAE (meant to thicken the dermis and hydrate the skin), 5% Niacinamide – helps brighten, smooth and even out the skin tone. Liquorice Root Extract also helps brighten the skin. Centella Asiatica is soothing and eases inflammation. Tamarind seed (emollient, moisturiser + humectant).
Full Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, 2-Dimethylaminoethanol (Dmae), Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) Seed Extract, Hydrocotyl (Centella Asiatica) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta
NOTE: The Incidecoder / Skincarisma have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
My Thoughts: I like Niacinamide and I believe 5% is an effective percentage (less is not always more). I like the addition of Allantoin (soothing) and Sodium Hyaluronate (Hydrating). Liquorice Root extract I like as it’s also hydrating. Panthenol is soothing. So I like the additional ingredients which make this product a very nice cocktail of hydrating, soothing and skin barrier-reinforcing supplement!
Discussion about DMAE + My Thoughts:
I found one paper where DMAE was used on Human subjects – a serum containing DMAE and a Placebo (didn’t have DMAE) were applied onto the forearm of human volunteers. The Stratum corneum (skin barrier) was measured for WATER content + other properties before and after application AND after re-applying the product for 8 weeks.
Results: Both the Placebo Formulation and DMAE formulation increased the thickness of the skin’s epidermis. HOWEVER the scientists found that the DMAE formulation increased the epidermis AND the dermal thickness of the skin. (See the image below to see the epidermis and dermis). It was also found that DMAE increased collagen fibres in the skin. So the study showed that DMAE can help with hydration in the skin and can thicken the dermis.
The paper is HERE
My Thoughts: So overall DMAE MAY help firm the skin (by thickening the dermis) which could help reduce the look of wrinkles or as wrinkle prevention, which is helpful). Of course I would not recommend this as the cure to ageing, but more of a supplement to ageing skin, to try and help thicken up the skin while on a routine that includes Retinol + Vitamin C (more studies to back these ingredients up).
Also, this study was done in 2009 and I can’t seem to find any newer papers done on human skin to reinforce these findings.
This is the latest study I could find using DMAE on Pub Med HERE – BUT please remember that this was done on Rat skin (Rat Skin does not = Human Skin). AND the mice were INJECTED with DMAE, this wasn’t applied topically (on top of the skin). But it did improve the thickness + hydration of the skin. Although the results were good, lets hope there are some more humans studies done!
Texture:
- This has an almost oil texture as it slides across the skin before absorbing. A very similar texture to the Dear Klairs Fundamental Watery Oil Drop (Review HERE). I does feel cooling once spread along the skin. It’s not sticky or tacky. It does feel like a watery serum.
Do you see it doesn’t hold its shape (doesn’t have much viscosity) and simply glides down the skin.
As you can see once you spread out the product, it kind of reminds me of an oil-water hybrid (which I believe this product exactly is). But it doesn’t make the product sticky or tacky on the skin, but more clings onto the skin.
Doesn’t take too long for this to absorb into the skin.
Youtube Video – Swatching and Reviewing some other Stratia Products!
Fragrance?: No added Fragrance / RO (but the natural smell of this isn’t that great).
Good Under Makeup?: Seems to be fine!
How long have I been using this?: Until Completion (2-3 months).
The Effect?: This maintained the skin condition for me. It didn’t make the skin look worse, didn’t irritate it, and helped provide good building blocks to maintain the skin. This very much reminds me of the Isntree TW-Bifida Ampoule (Review HERE) in terms of helping maintain a good skin condition + healthy skin barrier. This did also help improve the overall tone of the skin.
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What I like:
- No added Fragrance / Essential oils
- Fast Drying
- Non-oily / Greasy
- Not sticky or tacky
- Easily spreadable + absorbing
- Niacinamide + other added ingredients to help improve the skin’s texture, tone and soothe inflammation.
- Not difficult to layer with other skincare products
- Did not irritate my skin
- Nice supplement to an anti-ageing routine (may help thicken the Dermis).
- Useful for brightening the skin + dark spots
What I don’t like:
- The smell isn’t very nice (to me)
- Not that hydrating
- Not 100% convinced on DMAE as a full-blown ”Age-Rewind” Ingredient.
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 3.9/5 – Not irritating, lightweight and fast absorbing. I don’t have many complaints about the texture. I like that it’s unfragranced and was layerable in my routine. I like Niacinamide and the other ingredients added in here (i.e. Cica, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol + Allantoin) to help improve the state of the skin and protect it (not work against it).
– I think this is a fine supplement for an anti-ageing routine! (i.e. a routine that already has Retinol, Copper Peptides, Vitamin C etc) as DMAE may help thicken the dermis (therefore possibly help reduce wrinkle/line formation) and hydrate the skin – this can go well with a routine like that, just to help maintain the skin’s barrier and help in any way to firm up the skin. But I wouldn’t say this is a clear age-preventing product.
Would I repurchase?: I would as a supplement to an anti-ageing routine. I.e. this isn’t a harsh/active product that makes it impossible to use with other products.
Dupe?: To improve Skin firmness, Retinol has been shown to work or for Skin repair/Collagen stimulation (I like the La Roche Posay Retinol HERE, The Niod CAIS2 (Review HERE) is pretty good OR simply Vitamin C like the Geek and Gorgeous Vitamin C (Review HERE).
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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