Bow down and worship at the anti-aging serum altar that is the Antipodes Worship Serum

Subscribers to the MWS Companion(which is the MWS newsletter) were treated back in March to a preview of this new serum from Antipodes Skincare that had just landed on my lap. I was quite excited about it because it’s from Antipodes, and that’s a brand that I actually really enjoy using a lot, and the brand I credit to changing my mind and perception about organic skincare.

This year, Antipodes launched their new Worship Superfruit Antioxidant Serum and I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little more than amused at the name and the claims. You see, from experience, organic or natural skincare always takes a little longer to be effective as compared to a chemical based skincare. Sometimes, there’s no effect at all and from my experience I knew to give this a 2 month trial as opposed to my regular 1 month trial period for skincare.

As it turned out, I didn’t really need that extra month because I can quite comfortably attest to seeing some results within the first month of using this serum night and day. And I love it. Boy, do I love it! I love it so much, I actually think that this is an organic version of another much loved anti-aging serum I rave about. In fact, I loved it so much, I talked to the folks at TNS Skinlab who carry this brand locally, into giving us all an exclusive discount code that you can use on their website to buy this serum. More about it below! 😉

So what’s this serum for then?

In a nutshell, I’d peg this one as an anti-aging serum targeted at those who are just starting out using anti-aging products or who feel like they want to try one. Antipodes says that this product will inhibit “oxidative stress”, which is the key phrase I’m seeing in these 2-3 years.

What they really mean is that the ingredients are supposed to help fortify the skin barrier so your skin is stronger to face the daily aggressors – pollution, UV, stress, free radicals etc. Worship Serum therefore doesn’t repair your skin per se, but it helps strengthen your skin so effects of aging are less noticeable, therefore helping you look younger.

But what I really noticed most about this Worship Serum is how it seems to make my skin look and feel healthier, more hydrated and better. It’s not something you notice overnight. In fact, if you already have good skin you may not notice any difference visually.

I don’t have great skin. I have skin that tends to be dry and have an uneven skintone with pigmentation. But when I was using this serum until just a short while ago, I noticed that my skin hydration levels seemed better. My skincare in general seemed to be more effective, and although my skintone was still uneven, it was less so. My skin actually looked more “rested” even though I actually wasn’t (insomnia sucks, let me tell you that!) Old acne scars and pigmentation were still there but my skin just looked better.

This is a water-based serum that absorbs very quickly into the skin without any oily or sticky feel and it is dispensed by way of a dropper. Glass dropper, glass bottle. I love it, I know people don’t, but I love it.

The product itself isn’t very attractive. It has a very “natural” scent which isn’t unpleasant but does smell “organic” if you know what I mean. From the dropper, you can usually see some sediment which reminds me of how a glass looks after you’ve drained it of your fruit juice. I don’t know if it’s intentional, but since this serum is supposed to contain Vinanza Oxifend Plus®, boysenberry, blackcurrant, kiwifruit, Vinanza Grape® seed extract, coffee berry, açaí and alpha lipoic acid (ALA), I often wonder if it is a little like a fruit juice 😛

It is a dark amber coloured liquid that is very watery. One thing I wasn’t too pleased about is the lack of instructions regarding how much to use for maximum efficacy. They tell you to dispense onto fingertips and use it day and night, but they don’t say how much.

I use about half to one full pump of product each time. Is that too much? I don’t know. Is it too little? I don’t know either. But the reason I use a full pump is this – Worship Serum reminds me A LOT of my other favourite serum – Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, and I always use a full pump for that one.

In fact, I tell people who ask me that to me, the Worship Serum is like a natural and organic version of the iconic Estee Lauder ANR. It’s not to say that they are the same thing. Ingredients-wise, they are as different as chalk from cheese. But in terms of how my skin takes to it, I find them rather similar.

Both these serums target the early signs of aging and are targeted at those who are looking for an anti-aging serum to start with. Both these serums leave my skin look more rested with regular use. Both these serums help my skin look a little clearer and more vibrant. Both these serums combat oxidative stress. For me, both these serums boost the efficacy of my other skincare.

The difference is that with the EL ANR, I notice the results more quickly. With Antipodes’ Worship Serum, I find the results take a little longer to be seen. The eventual results seem to be similar on my skin, hence my summation.

I really enjoyed using this serum and I already plan to pick up a new bottle when I’m done which I expect to be in about another month or so. I’ve scaled back to once a day usage after my 2 month test period, but that’s only because I’m testing something else in the evening. It’s not quite cutting it for me though, so I plan to go back to this as a twice a day “booster serum”. Hey, it’s ok to use more than 1 serum each time after all! 😉

IN A NUTSHELL

The new Antipodes Worship Serum is a water based, very lightweight serum that is targeted at helping skin fight against free radicals and therefore helping address the first signs of aging. I find that with regular twice a day use of this product, my skin looks better and more rested. It also seems to boost the efficacy of my other skincare that I use, and appears to make my skin feel more hydrated through the day. There is no direction as to how much to use each time so I err on the side of caution and use half to one pump each time. It’s quite a lot I know, but I’m generous with my skincare. For me, this feels like a natural and organic version of the famed Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum which I also love, and you know, that’s saying quite a lot!

To use: Cleanse -> Tone -> Worship Serum -> face oil (if using) -> moisturiser twice a day

PROS: Lightweight texture, Easily absorbed, Smells pleasant, Boosts the efficacy of my skincare, Increases and maintains my skin hydration level, Skin looks more rested and clearer with more even skintone with regular use

CONS: Glass bottle isn’t portable although it isn’t stopping me from travelling with it, No directions on how much product to use to be most effective

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a natural or organic anti-aging serum

For any one interested, here is the ingredient list for the Antipodes Worship Serum.

Now for the discount code! I enjoyed using this serum so much, I spoke to the people at TNS Skinlab who carry this brand locally, and we worked out a special discount code just for you, if you plan to purchase this serum.

To use the MWS discount code, just enter QY226OCWG at the checkout when you purchase the Antipodes Worship Serum from their website (link here), and you will receive an additional RM20 off on top of the existing 10% online discount. This brings the price of the serum down to RM141.10 which is a RM37.90 saving off the retail price. With GST added, the final price is about RM149.57. Still a saving. You also get free shipping with purchases over RM100 in Malaysia. Good deal? Yeah I think so, so I’m planning to use my own code to get my back up bottle! LOL! 😀

Validity: 1-31 May 2015 for Worship Serum only (link here)

Have you already tried this Worship Serum? Do you plan to?

The product comes in a 30ml size bottle which is pretty standard for a serum, so I don’t actually find the price very prohibitive, all things considered for an anti-aging product. I personally feel this to be worth a shot, if you are into something more natural or even if you aren’t. If you’ve tried it, let me know what you think! 🙂

Paris B

Antipodes Worship Superfruit Antioxidant Serum Price: RM179 | NZD54.50 for 30ml Availability: TNS Skinlab stores and online for Malaysia

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