Some time last year, Dior released a range of serums that you could customize to your skin needs. It was reminiscent of the Bobbi Brown Remedies range, and was a luxury brand’s answer to the plethora of more affordable brands catering to a similar need for customization.
I recently had the opportunity to try one of the more interesting ones (to me), when I found a bottle of the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster Age-Defying Illuminating Serum in an event goodie bag.
I like products that promise a glow and radiance, and when I saw that it contained Vitamin C, I was very intrigued. It was opportune that I had just finished the Vitamin C serum I was using, so I decided to put this to the test.
About 2.5 weeks in, I was reminded of the perils I face as a blogger, trying new skincare LOL!
Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster Age-Defying Illuminating Serum
The Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster, is a booster serum that you add to your moisturizer, to give it that added oomph. For this purpose, Dior also sells the Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Creme, which is the carrier moisturizer for their booster serum range.
However, you can also use the serum on its own, which is how I used it.
The Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster serum contains glycolic acid (AHA) to help exfoliate and smoothen skin, and Vitamin C, which helps brighten skin. These are the key ingredients.
However, there is no indication of the percentage of these key ingredients, so it’s hard to comment on the efficacy just based on the ingredients alone.
Lightweight Watery texture
The texture is lovely. It has a very light, watery texture, and it sinks right into skin very comfortably.
I can imagine that this will appeal to those who abhor an oily feeling on their skin, or who aren’t comfortable with having any residue. From experience, Vitamin C serums can often feel a little oily, but this doesn’t.
It also blends easily with a moisturizer, without altering the texture or feel of your moisturizer.
Slight illuminating effect
In the 2.5 weeks I was using the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster serum, I did notice a slight illuminating effect on my skin. Rather, to be more precise, I did not notice any reduction in skin illumination.
I maintain that because I use Vitamin C serums on a regular basis, I cannot with any certainty say that any one product is more illuminating than another. I can say with certainty however, that I cannot claim that any one product brightens or illuminates or makes my skin look more radiant than the one before. That would be lying 😛 If it maintains how my skin looks, that’s sufficient for me.
Truth to tell, I was quite happy with this serum, with one exception, that I was initially prepared to overlook.
Fragrance!
The fragrance. Sigh.
I dislike strong fragrance in products, and it is rather unfortunate that this serum is rather heavily fragranced. There is a floral scent with a slight hint of metallic underlying scent, that reminds me a lot of pouring perfumed water on the skin.
I’d like to say it isn’t unpleasant, but to my nose, it is.
Still, I toughed it out, because I thought it would be fine. I have used Dior skincare in the past, and also other brands of skincare that are fragranced, and I generally tolerate it well.
But not this time.
The perils of being a beauty blogger rears its ugly head!
About 2.5 weeks in, I was reminded of the perils of being a beauty blogger.
I noticed an inexplicable spot on my face. It was red and angry and felt, and looked, irritated. I also noticed other spots appearing on other parts of my face. I haven’t broken out or gotten spots in a while, so I have to say I was confused for a moment LOL! 😛 I wasn’t even sure how to treat them!
I have rather perfected my skincare routine, and the products (or types of products) I use, so suddenly breaking out in inexplicable spots was rather unnerving.
This was coming at a time when my stress levels was rather high, so I thought it might be that at first. However, when I eventually stopped using the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster serum, the spots subsided.
I haven’t gotten any new spots, and the existing spots have already gone away since I stopped using the serum, so I can safely say that there is something in there that irritated my skin.
I ran a quick search online, but few people have reported any irritation. What I can safely trace it to is fragrance, even though I don’t have very sensitive skin. Perhaps the amount of fragrance in there is just far too much.
I also read one of the ingredients is iris root, which is apparently, a skin irritant. Might this be the culprit? I don’t know. But suffice to say, this beauty blogger is not going anywhere near this serum anymore!
You can quite easily get more affordable Vitamin C serums that do not irritate your skin, and cost far less. So I’d say just skip this one unless you really really want something from Dior 😛
RELATED READING: My favourite affordable Vitamin C serum that works and won’t break your bank READ HERE
IN A NUTSHELL
The Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster Age-Defying Illuminating Serum is a lightweight, watery textured serum that absorbs easily into the skin. It contains AHA (glycolic acid) and Vitamin C to exfoliate, smoothen and brighten skin. You can use it on its own or mixed into a moisturiser. I found that it was rather subtle in illuminating skin. However, the fragrance can be overpowering, and I broke out from using this (once a day). As I don’t break out much anymore, it was significant enough for me to take note, and to avoid using this serum anymore.
PROS:
Lightweight watery texture absorbs easily into the skin
AHA and Vitamin C work to exfoliate, smoothen and brighten the skin
Luxurious packagingCONS:
Heavily fragranced
Irritated my skin and made me break outWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a lightweight watery type serum that illuminates skin, Anyone who can tolerate the fragrance
PRICE: RM386 | US$95 | £75 for 30ml
WHERE TO BUY: Dior counters and beauty boutiques, Selfridges, Harrod’s, Sephora
For those interested, this is the ingredient list for the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster serum
Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Terminalia Ferndinandiana Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Yellow 6, Iris Florentina Root Extract, BHT, Tocopherol
Have you tried this Glow Booster serum? What about any of the other Dior Capture Youth booster serums?
I have to admit some of the other ones did intrigue me, but I’m a little more wary now. I did read that you can use this once a month or occasionally, as a treatment product, so I might do that, so it doesn’t go to waste. Or I might just ditch the whole thing coz I don’t want to have to deal with breakouts 😛
Paris B
Been using the youth capture line since the past half a year and didn’t have a good reaction to the glow serum either. The best one is the yellow bottle (lift, I think). Didn’t see much lifting but didn’t break me out and skin look smooth. Quite disappointed with the glow serum as I had so much hope for it.
Oh I’m so happy I’m not the only one who thought it was sub par! haha!
Illuminating? I’m sold! Well…almost, except for the price tag. 😛 Been eyeing this for quite a while but still haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe when my current one runs out but the price is a bit of a turn off..
Haha the scent was a turn off for me!! I think I’ve seen them offer little samples. Maybe you can try asking and see if it works for you 😉