This weather offers the perfect time to talk about Zelens Intense Defence.
What is it?
'A potent antioxidant serum formulated with a unique blend of synergistic ingredients to defend from environmental assaults.'
Who is it for?
Everyone.
What’s in it?
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Squalane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Superoxide Dismutase, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bisabolol, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Pinus Strobus Bark Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein PG-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Tripeptide-1, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysilicone-11, VP/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum (Fragrance), Linalool
Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Fragrance
Natural? Organic? Man-made? Vegan?
Man made/vegan
Tested on animals/sold in China?
No/No.
What's not in it?
Parabens
How do you use it?
Apply underneath moisturiser daily. I use AM but it can be used both AM and PM.
What’s good about it?
Clinically proven* to reduce the amount free radical activity on the skin by 74% after an hour and 50% after 5 hours, Zelens put their money where their mouth is. This is like wearing a suit of armour underneath your moisturiser. Most antioxidant products only focus on one type of free radical damage, and use vitamin C to do so, when, in fact, there are 3. Oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. So using an antioxidant product that only attacks one group of free radicals is akin to leaving the house wearing a bra, blouse, sweater and fur coat and nothing at all on your bottom half. You're not fully covered.
This serum also includes chromane, of which clinical studies show is more effective in the inhibition of oxidative stress than resveratrol, ferulic acid and vitamin E.
Being Zelens, they've thrown in an abundance of other actives - 18 to be exact, to enhance collagen production and act as massive anti-inflammatories.
What’s not so good about it?
Not much. It's not cheap, but then neither is the formula. Dr Lens is my first port of call for serums and anti-ageing. His day-to-day job is protecting the skin, he knows what he's doing.
Works well with?
Zelens Daily Defence
Similar products?
Grown Alchemist Antioxidant +3 Detox Serum
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Exchange rate – does it punish the UK?
No. Zelens is UK based.
Zelens Intense Defence is £125 and available at Zelens.com
*Papers published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (Assessment of the kinetics of the antioxidative capacity of topical antioxidants).
