This Morning fashion expert Lisa Snowdon has been raving about a glow-giving anti-ageing serum from a brand reportedly used by Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. She said Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Water Serum gives your skin ‘the drink it needs’, and has heaped praise on the product for its ‘hydrating’ formula and ability to ‘reduce wrinkles’.
Usually priced at £130, the Dragon’s Blood Water Serum is currently on offer at Space NK for £104, saving shoppers £26 on the usual price. It’s one of the latest skin saviours to join Rodial’s line up of products featuring unusually-named ingredients. According to some sources, the Princess Kate is said to be a fan of their bee venom range, with their snake oil collection being popular among shoppers.
Of course, the Dragon’s Blood Water Serum is not really made from the blood of mythical creatures, but instead, features an ingredient nicknamed Dragon’s Blood, as it is derived from the sap of the Croton Lechleri tree, also known as the Dragon tree. Known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it’s been used for centuries in traditional medicine – and now, our skincare routine, too.
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The serum, which launched in February, pairs hydrating hyaluronic acid with polyglutamic acid that plumps the skin alongside Rubixyl, which helps fight against visible signs of aging and can help improve the appearance of wrinkle depth. Statistics show that the serum delivered 200% increased hydration after seven days, and is clinically proven that wrinkles are visibly reduced by 70% in 60 days.
The formula forms a barrier over the skin to lock in moisture, reduce redness, and soothe irritation, acting as a protective shield. Due to its intense, long-lasting hydration, it’s best suited for people with dry, dehydrated skin, which means it may not be suitable for those with oilier complexions.
But Rodial aren’t the only brand to have harnessed the power of the unusually-named ingredient, with Nip and Fab offering a Dragon’s Blood Fix Serum, which is said to deliver ‘an instant shot of moisture to dehydrated skin’. It’s currently on offer at Amazon, down from £19.95 to £17.96. There’s also a similar product from SkinChemists Sensitive Skin Serum Dragon’s Blood 5%, which is £22.90.
But it’s the Rodial serum that’s earned the seal of approval from Lisa Snowdon, who took to Instagram to share the serum with her 483,000 followers, and said ‘what’s not to love?’. She added: “I have found the ultimate way to drench your skin. It’s going to give your skin the drink it needs, it’s Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Water Serum. It’s a red, lightweight serum and the product is packed full of carefully selected ingredients to provide a 360-degree hydration system.”
“It feels so soothed and immediately any dry skin is completely gone. Just look at that glow,” Lisa continued. “We have deep hydration, we have reduced wrinkles and improved skin texture. I mean, what’s not to love?”
And shoppers seem to agree, with one Rodial shopper reviewing the serum, commenting: “I have been using this product for the past two weeks and I am incredibly impressed by how it makes my skin feel and look. It makes my face feel thoroughly moisturised as if I had given my face a drink. I will continue to use the wonderful serum and can’t recommend it highly enough. A perfect addition to the dragon’s blood range.”
Another added: “At 45, my skin needs all the hydration it can get, and I’ve always been a fan of the Dragon’s Blood range for its skin-soothing benefits. The texture is gorgeous – light, silky, and almost gel-like. It absorbs beautifully without any stickiness, leaving my skin feeling instantly calm and refreshed.”
They also praised its ‘cooling, soothing effect’, and continued: “I’ve been using it morning and night under my usual Rodial moisturiser, and honestly it’s a game-changer. If you’re looking for hydrated, calm, and glowing skin with that ‘just-had-a-facial look’, this serum is for you.
At Space NK, one shopper left a three star rating, saying it’s a ‘nice light serum for instant hydration’ but claimed they ‘have not noticed anything special in terms of a result on my skin’. They added: “Feels good but also because it is so light I do need a few pumps to cover my face and neck. Won’t be lasting long but enjoying it for its simplicity.”
A fourth shopper commented: “I bought this dragon’s blood serum instead of the usual serum I use, I fancied a change and I am so glad I did. This serum is so light and easy to apply but it also seems to hydrate my skin better than anything I’ve used before, I thought because it wasn’t as heavy as some other serums that it might not be as hydrating for my dry skin but it feels so soft and supple after I apply this, I will definitely be buying this again. It also smells lovely, a nice fresh, light scent.”
Our beauty writer Lucy Addicott tried the serum for herself and said. “Rodial’s new serum has a luxuriously silky formula, absorbing quickly into the skin without any irritating sticky feeling. So far, it has kept my dry patches at bay, without causing greasiness and I am starting to see an improvement to redness. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks, however, other reviews state that they have noticed a ‘real difference’ in fine lines since incorporating the serum into their skincare routine.
“The water serum is certainly an investment at £130 for a 30ml bottle, but having tried a number of different lotions and potions at much lower price points to help with redness and texture, Rodial’s dragon’s blood formula has shown more impressive results. Plus, a little really does go a long way so I can see this bottle lasting months.”
As well as the serum being discounted at Space NK, we also found a way shoppers can try out other Rodial Dragon’s Blood products for less. The Dragon’s Blood Little Luxuries kit is worth £117 and made up of four radiance-boosting and anti-ageing formulas, costing £49. The kit includes the sculpting gel mini, cleansing water mini, eye gel and jelly eye masks which are packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, rose water, haloxyl, arnica and, of course, dragon’s blood.
But if it’s the new serum loved by Lisa Snowdon you want to try, you can buy it here for £104 at Space NK.
