ALPHA-H | Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide

I love this serum so much, my skin feels refreshed and well hydrated. I use it in the morning and Liquid Gold from the same brand in the evening.

I received ALPHA-H Advocate Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide in a safety sealed box containing a 0.85 fluid ounce glass bottle, with dropper dispenser. The box label provides product information, directions, ingredient list, lot number, origin and company details. The serum is made in Australia. The antiaging formula uses targeted ingredients, such as 5% Niacinamide, Ferulic Acid and Copper Tripeptide-1, along with botanical extracts, 1% Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid and more. The serum itself is blue, and as some other reviewers mentioned there is scent to the product, but not due to an added fragrance. Since I have previously used products containing Ferulic Acid and Copper Tripeptide-1, a Copper Peptide, I suspect these two ingredients are the likely culprits here. True, the smell may not be the most pleasant, and this serum in particular may have a stronger scent, but personally I have found the benefits outweigh the momentary somewhat unpleasant smell. My research indicates that Copper Peptides are established as powerful antioxidants that can help with collagen production and overall skin regeneration properties. Ferulic Acid offers similar benefits, plus it helps improve the appearance of existing fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration. Also, anyone familiar with Niacinamide knows that this ingredient is really effective in keeping the skin smooth, bright and free of hyperpigmentation. It also strengthens the skin barrier. And this serum has 5% Niacinamide, vs many that only include 1%, which is likely another reason it is quite effective. Note: I have mature, somewhat sensitive and reactive skin, with a very pale Celtic complexion and these skin care ingredients work effectively for me to address anti-aging concerns of hydration, firming, melasma and brightening. Yes, it takes a while to realize benefits and products containing Copper Peptides like this ALPHA-H serum, (they are usually blue in color) are not inexpensive, but in my experience at least, they really do provide visible positive results. Personally, I noticed a difference in the firmness of my skin, especially around my jaw line and neck, in apx. 2 months, so even though the smell may not be the greatest, I will continue to use this product because it contains ingredients that have proven to be very effective for me and hope that the visible results seen thus far continue to improve. If you have never used a skin care product with these ingredients and you wish to address concerns referenced above, I suggest giving it a try.

I live in the Midwest where the winters are absolutely brutal on skin. Between the cold temperatures, wind and dry air from all the artificial heat it’s nearly impossible to keep my skin feeling dewy. This serum has definitely increased the effectiveness of my moisturizer and as a nice bonus I noticed that my skin tone was a little more even and less splotchy after only a few uses. My only complaint is that the scent is rather odd… It smells like smoke. Definitely a rather odd scent and not my favorite… but the serum is nice. It’s a deep blue color, but goes on completely clear. Feels super smooth and hydrating when applying! Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

If this was a $25 serum I'd be happy enough with it, but for more than double that I'm honestly kind of disappointed. It's not exactly bad, it's just not great. First of all... it's sticky. It makes my face feel sticky. I don't like that. It's also kind of unpleasant smelling... like fading perfume after a bonfire, almost? It's a weird description but it's a weird scent. The scent fades and so does the stickiness, so it's not terrible, but it's an issue other similar products don't usually have. The bigger issue is that it just doesn't perform as well as less expensive niacinimide or copper peptide serums I've used. It does seem to be better than nothing, and it doesn't irritate my skin, but I feel like I can get more for less. Ultimately, this will not become part of my regular skincare routine and I won't be reordering.

My first impression was that this stuff smells awful--like burning rubber. For that reason alone, I wouldn't consider buying it again. It also has no expiration or manufacturing dates on the bottle, which is concerning, considering how quickly these ingredients will degrade. There should be some sort of indication about how long this serum will remain potent, and I have no idea how old the contents are to begin with. Aesthetically speaking, the blue color is gross and off-putting. It absorbed in 10-15 minutes, for the most part, but left a sticky residue that lasted for hours. It will be a couple of months at least before I see any results, so the jury's still out on that.