The alternative blog for cruelty free skincare, veggie food and alt/geek culture

Company Ethics & Info

Espa is a brand that I really admire, not just for their cruelty-free policy but also for the natural ingredients they use and also the things they choose to leave out.

No synthetic colours or fragrance, no mineral oil (being derived from petroleum it isn’t renewable), no silicone (which can block pores easily) no alcohol or SLS or SLES which can be incredibly drying and/or irritating for skin.

Espa optimal skin pro serum

Product Info & Ingredients 

‘This advanced proserum helps brighten and even skin tone, enhance elasticity, firm and protect premature skin ageing.’

The oil is enriched with omega 3, 6 & 9, vitamins A & E and extracts of turmeric (which boots circulation and also brings down inflammation), white lupin and sunflower.

Packaging

Simple, elegant and pretty. The glass bottle has a slight ombre effect but it’s nicely shaded to keep the oil from being exposed to too much sunlight. I was curious as to why there was a little button on top of the lid and pressed it a good few times! Upon unscrewing it I realised it was an incredibly useful dropper.

 

 

 

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My Experience

The scent of this oil is incredibly spicy and uplifting! Similar to pepper and cinnamon. I’ve been smoothing a few drops of this oil between my palms and patting it onto my face morning and evening as instructed. When I wake up in the morning my sensitive skin doesn’t have any red patches which it can be prone to and has stayed balanced throughout the night.  I need much less moisturiser than I used and my skin looks plumper and more radiant.

Note after 3 months This has really evened out my old acne scarring and has made a very noticeable difference. I’m delighted!

Price

£48 for 30ml

Normally at this point I’d do Good Points & Bad Points but there aren’t any bad points! Yes, it’s expensive but it’s such high quality that it’s reasonable for a luxury serum. If it were cheaper I’d keep applying it as perfume!

I actually got this product as a gift for subscribing to Marie Claire magazine last month.

 


8 responses to “Review: ESPA – Treat Optimal Skin ProSerum”

  1. donedreaming Avatar

    Sorry, I’m very late to this post but I love Espa products. Thanks for sharing your experience of the serum, I’ve generally just stuck with moisturisers but it sounds worth a try.

    Like

    1. Manchester Flick Chick (Chrissie) Avatar

      That’s so odd, I was just wondering if I’d done a review of it as I’m just about to run out. I did use a small facial oil in between so it hasn’t lasted quite this long lol

      Like

  2. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    I have been using this serum for only a week, and I can see a big difference already. My skin is looking firmer and younger looking, this is surly now staying part of my skin routine.

    Like

    1. manchesterflickchick Avatar

      That’s brilliant Suzanne :0) I love it because it’s really evened out the texture of my skin and keeps grease at bay.

      Like

  3. Maison Bentley Style Avatar

    I’m a great fan of oil for the skin..I have sensitive skin too but use the Ren rose body oil..I have a sneaking suspicion it’s the same as the tiny face oil but is double the size! xxx

    Like

    1. manchesterflickchick Avatar

      That’s what I reckon sometimes 😉 Rose is a very underrated but wonderful oil (diluted not pure) to calm inflammation & redness. I’ve kinda forgot about body oils recently apart from therapeutic massage.

      Like

  4. chistanote Avatar

    of course the price worth the quality. silicon is awful!!! goid good to know this product. thanks for sharing. 🙂
    good luck

    Like

    1. manchesterflickchick Avatar

      So many cheap rubbish ingredients in the mainstream products which give the appearance of healthy hair/skin but do the opposite, urgh!

      Like

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