HW Beauty Review: The serum that got rid of my pimples

If you’re a fan of Singapore brands, you would have heard of Skin Inc. The skincare brand was one of the first to use Big Data in its product innovations, which means everything it launches is something its customers have been rallying for.

While it’s most well-known for iconic serums that are customisable to your individual skin condition, Skin Inc also offers pre-mixed serums that contain the best combination of active ingredients to address skin concerns from anti-ageing to brightening. 

The new My Daily Dose of Armour was born because 52 per cent of Skin Inc customers suffer from acne, enlarged pores and sensitive skin. 

The key ingredients include vitamin B3+ (a combination of vitamin B3 and pro-vitamin B5) to reduce excess oil production, tighten pores and target blemishes, licorice to soothe skin and keep pigmentation at bay, and ceramides that boost skin resilience to keep it healthy. It also contains a glycerin base to attract and lock in moisture to prevent dryness. 

My first impressions

I was looking forward to trying Skin Inc’s My Daily Dose of Armour because as luck would have it, I welcomed two new pimples (P1 and P2) on my face a day before the serum arrived at my home.

The green gradient bottle makes me think of army gear, which is rather apt since I’m going to be doing battle with my blemishes. The coloured capsules in the bottle are the active ingredients – white for vitamin B3+, purple for licorice and blue for ceramide, which have been encapsulated to maintain their potency.

Prepping to use it

The directions for My Daily Dose of Armour state that three to five drops should be used each time. I end up using four, which is sufficient to cover my face and neck.

Over the days, I start playing a game each time I use the product, trying to ensure that I get all three coloured capsules in every drop – sometimes I win, sometimes I don't. But when you’re stuck at home because of circuit breaker, you do what you can to keep yourself entertained.

For optimum results, you are advised to pair My Daily Dose of Armour with Skin Inc’s Facial in a Flash - Pure Revival Peel to slough off dead skin cells and prep the skin, Pure Deepsea Hydrating Overnight Mask to hydrate and brighten, and the Optimizer Voyage Tri-Light++ with its Nasa-inspired LED light therapy to get skin brighter, blemish-free and youthful-looking.

However, for this review, I chose to keep the focus on the new serum and incorporated it into my existing skincare regimen to see how effective it is.

Day 1: Using it for the first time

Credit: @Iloveskininc

1/4

My preferred routine was to use the My Daily Dose of Armour serum during the day because it not only targets breakouts but also promises to protect against external aggressors like UV damage and pollution.

Though I have to admit, I was a little worried because I had just started incorporating a retinol product for my night care, and my skin has been a little dry. I did worry that the serum wouldn’t be hydrating enough. So I was pleasantly surprised that it kept my skin smooth and supple during the day.

Day 3: Is it really working?

Credit: @Iloveskininc

2/4

I wasn’t sure because after three days, my face felt the same, P1 and P2 were just as red and angry – they were so noticeable that even my husband started commenting.

I was getting worried. Was I not applying My Daily Dose of Armour correctly?

Day 5: Seeing the results

Credit: @Iloveskininc

3/4

As I stared at my face in the mirror, I realised that my blemishes had subsided quite a bit, and my pores, especially around the chin area, which I’ve been having trouble with for the longest time, were looking cleaner and less obvious too.

Day 7: Clearer, improved skin

Credit: @123rf

4/4

It’s been just over a week and I’m happy to report that P1 has left the building. And P2 is very much subdued too.

I’m glad that the serum didn’t cause my skin to dry out or become flaky. In fact, out of the many anti-acne products I’ve tried in my lifetime, which is a lot, this was one of the few that didn’t have this effect.

I enjoyed the lightweight textures well. It’s almost water-like, and it absorbs easily, which is perfect for Singapore’s heat and humidity. And as I work with the windows open at home, I’ve started avoiding products with heavy textures that can make my face feel greasy or look shiny.

Looks like I’ll be keeping the Skin Inc My Daily Dose of Armour in my daily skincare routine.

$98. Skin Inc My Daily Dose of Armour is available at www.iloveskininc.com.sg