The bright-green serum and mask from SkinCeuticals’ Phyto Corrective collection are crowd-favorites for those with sensitive skin and redness, and dermatologists often recommend them to patients who have had an in-office procedure like a laser or chemical peel. Today, the brand is adding a Phyto Corrective Essence Mist to the group, which relies on a similar botanical blend to instantly take down redness, but in an easy-to-use, super-hygienic spray that can also be used over makeup throughout the day. I personally have a lot of underlying rosy tones in my skin, so I’ve been using the spray for the last few weeks, and these are my honest thoughts.
My Skin Type:
Combination. I’m drier in the cold-weather months and oilier in the warm-weather ones thanks to the high humidity on the East Coast. My biggest skin concerns right now are redness/blotchiness and fine lines.
The Benefits:
Think of this new product, which was highly requested by doctors and aestheticians who work with SkinCeuticals, as having the ease of a face mist and the power of an essence. A 6.2-percent blend of potent humectants hyaluronic acid and glycerin draws water into the skin and hold it there to hydrate not just instantly (it’s very refreshing), but also for hours. The hydration is complemented by a 5.75-percent phyto blend of cucumber, thyme, olive leaf and rosemary extracts, which helps calm and soothe the skin, as well as visibly reduce redness. This makes it a great option for acne-prone skin, too.
In a four-week clinical study conducted on 50 women ages 18 to 65 with Fitzpatrick 1 to 5 skin types and mild-to-moderate visible redness, rough skin texture, dullness, and fine lines, Phyto Corrective Essence Mist reduced visible redness by 31 percent when applied once a day. It also increased skin hydration by 69 percent, and was tested on both bare skin and over makeup. After eight hours, skin hydration was still increased by 35 percent.
The combination of ingredients also helps strengthen the skin barrier, protecting it from external aggressors. As such, I think this would be a great product to use under serum and moisturizer in the winter months if you want an extra dose of hydration. The mist format is also super hygienic and great to use on fragile, sensitized skin after an in-office procedure like a laser or chemical peel when you don’t want to touch your face and possibly introduce bacteria into “wounded,” healing skin. It was clinically tested to be safe and effective post non-ablative fractional laser, too.
Key Ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, cucumber extract, thyme extract, olive leaf extract, and rosemary extract
What It’s Free From:
Parabens, alcohol, gluten, and silicone
How to Use It:
Shake it up and spritz it on as often as you’d like, whether on bare skin, over an antioxidant serum or over makeup (hold it about six inches from your face). I prefer to use it on top of my vitamin C serum in the morning to diffuse my redness, give my skin a nice wake-up call and start my day. I use about three to four sprays for my entire face and neck.
What It Smells Like:
Herbal and slightly medicinal, but it dissipates quickly on the skin. There is some synthetic fragrance in this product, which may be a deterrent for those who are sensitive to that, so be sure to patch test on your inner arm before using if you fall into that category.
What It Feels Like:
A fine mist that sprays evenly, rather than dispersing large droplets of water that makes your face look wet, like some face mists do.
The Bottom Line:
Though this does run on the pricier side in the face mist category, it’s essentially a potent essence with the benefit of hands-free application, and so much more than a quick-spritz refresher (though you can use it that way if you prefer). If you are prone to redness or you frequent your dermatologist or aesthetician for resurfacing treatments, this is the product to have on hand for serious post-procedure soothing.
Price/Where to Buy:
$67, skinceuticals.com
