At a glance
Read my mini-review of the anti-aging serum with peptides, Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop, from the Korean skincare brand Dear Klairs. Why is it blue and what’s inside?
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With the current skincare boom, super effective anti-aging ingredients are all the rage. Vitamin C is on the rise, as is retinol, but peptides are also very popular! These also happen to be the star ingredients of the Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop serum from the Korean brand Dear Klairs.
I talked about it during my review of Drunk Elephant Protini, peptides have been part of my routine for several years.
Usually, I prefer them in a serum format where I feel they provide more effectiveness!
I was intrigued by the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop serum for a while and when I saw it in a store in Korea, I decided to give it a chance! (yes, this review is super late, I know!)
After first purchasing it, I bought it a second time, so I used it over a period of around 6 months.
If I hadn’t done a review so far, it’s because I needed a little time to get a clearer understanding of this product…
I ‘ll still try to explain why, even after emptying two bottles, I’m still not entirely sure if I like this product or not!
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Mini-review:
I already mentioned the brand Dear, Klairs in my review of their famous moisturizing essence Supple Preparation Facial Toner. It’s indeed a Korean skincare brand offering simple, minimalist, eco-friendly products, and with formulas that are generally rather natural.
But they also know how to create products with sophisticated ingredients, ones that are scientifically recognized as effective, and this is the case with their Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop serum, released in 2017.
With this pretty blue liquid serum, the brand targets mature skins, and all who are concerned about the aging of their skin. In Korea, it concerns a lot of people as, on average, they usually start using anti-aging products after celebrating their 25th birthday!
The formula of this product is very short (only 10 ingredients) and focuses on the essential. Here, it’s peptides, some anti-aging active ingredients known to be very effective on the skin, even in small quantities.
Peptides are very small protein precursor molecules that act on the skin as a trigger (they are also known as a “signal” molecule) to generate a specific reaction. In the case of the peptides used in Klairs serum, they have an anti-aging effect, particularly on wrinkles, and they also stimulate cell renewal.
The first peptide in Klairs serum formula, sh-Oligopeptide-1 or “epidermal growth factor” (EGF) is an ingredient responsible for stimulating collagen production and also plays an important role in the skin healing process.
It was discovered by two scientists: the Italian biologist Rita Levi-Montalcini and the American biochemist Stanley Cohen, and this even earned them a medicine Nobel prize in 1986!
The second, sh-Polypeptide-1 or “Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor” (bFGF), stimulates the growth and proliferation of fibroblasts (= fibers present in the dermis, which are responsible for skin firmness, in short), collagen production and skin renewal.
So I used this product for almost 6 months (I used roughly 2 bottles).
With its super-liquid texture, I applied it quite early in my routine, to avoid my other products with a thicker and/or oilier texture from decreasing its penetration effects.
I really appreciated its soothing effect. It’s really something I could visibly see on my skin, especially when I applied it after my acid toner.
I also saw some improvement in the texture of my skin, but the change was so subtle that it is very difficult to say that it’s because of this serum for a fact. I didn’t really notice a difference in my wrinkles, but well, it’s true that I’m lucky to not have a lot of them.
Did the peptides it contains help prevent other wrinkles from appearing? It’s difficult to be sure, but it’s true that this kind of ingredient has a very, very long-term effect.
In short, I don’t think this serum alone can transform my skin in a spectacular way. On the other hand, I think it’s one of these products that are perfect as an ally for the stronger treatments that I love, such as retinol and acids.
These other treatments are very effective but tend to irritate my skin and this product allows me to use them and enjoy their results without my skin falling apart, and that’s definitely a great thing to have!
In conclusion:
It is difficult to be 100% sure about the anti-aging effect of this product, but its soothing action is greatly appreciated!
Now, I find that the value for quantity is not really the best on the market…
I am currently using another peptide serum, the , and is also cheaper. It doesn’t have quite the same effects, so I’ll probably alternate the two in the future.
serum retails between $22 and $30 for 20 ml depending on the reseller.
Product Review in detail
Summary
Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop
" This night serum is designed to combat various causes of aging, and rewind time to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, through a dual peptide formula strengthened by EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1) and bFGF (sh-Polypeptide-1). While small in size, this 10 ingredient serum is perfect for use by everyone—regardless of age, to fight and prevent aging for a youthful complexion."
Recommendation
A good product, but it's tiny.
Price
$22 - $30
Details
Pros
- the simple and short formula, great even if you have sensitive skin,
- the concentration of active ingredients, which is rather high,
- the presence of peptides, very effective anti-aging ingredients (in the long term),
- the texture that penetrates very quickly, ideal for layering.
Cons
- the lack of sensoriality, it's not the nicest product to use,
- even if I want to believe in the effectiveness of this product and know that the ingredients it contains require very long-term use to make a difference on the skin, the lack of visible anti-aging results can be a little frustrating,
- the bottle is small (20ml) so the value for quantity is not the best.
product name
Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop
brand name
Klairs
size
20ml
made in
South Korea
packaging
A tinted glass bottle with a pipette.
fragrance
Fragrance-free.
texture
Very liquid, like water, and it's blue (but doesn't tint the skin).
For Who
– mature skins or people concerned by their skin getting older.
Concerns
– wrinkles, fine lines,
– loss of firmness,
– dullness,
– sensitivity.
Method
I use the Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop mostly in the evening on my face and neck, on my clean an dry skin. It’s usually one of the first products I apply in my routine because its texture is so liquid that I think my other products, with a thicker texture, could interfere with its absorption into my skin.
I apply 3 or 4 drops that I massage very quickly on my face because it penetrates very very quickly (in a few seconds).
I particularly appreciate how it absorbs so quickly into my skin because I do layering, so I prefer these liquid textures.
For those who are wondering, I still apply it after my acids and retinol if I use them because I always let them “sink” for 20-30 minutes before going on to the rest of my routine. So this product is part of the “phase 2” of my evening routine, if you like;)
Key Ingredients
The list of ingredients is very short (only 10 ingredients) and the peptides are definitely the stars of the formula!
There are two at the beginning of the composition, EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1) and bFGF (sh-Polypeptide-1) which are both peptides with anti-aging, repairing and cell renewal stimulating effects.
The Blueberry extract is an antioxidant.
Guaiazulene is a derivative derived from chamomile, it’s a calming and anti-inflammatory ingredient (it also gives the liquid its blue color, there is no added dye).
And finally, Adenosine is an anti-ageing ingredient, which helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Ingredients
sh-Oligopeptide- 1 (EGF), sh-Polypeptide- 1 (bFGF), Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Guaiazulene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine
Ingredients not included
– alcohol,
– mineral oil,
– synthetic fragrance,
– dyes,
– silicones,
– parabens.
Shop for this product
Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop $22 - $30
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