‘This peptide serum is the latest to go viral for Botox-like effects – I tried it out’

Peptide serums are going viral at the moment, with shoppers praising their ‘Botox in a bottle’-like effects. Beauty and wellness editor Laura puts Skinceuticals’ new one to the test

With shoppers more than ever on the look-out for needle-free ways to smoother, fresher-looking skin, the term ‘Botox in a bottle’ is having a viral moment in the skincare world. And while it’s really just a catchy marketing phrase (no topical skincare product can freeze line-forming muscles like Botox does), there are a host of great new products hitting the market that can help to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

And one such product is the new P-Tiox Neuro-Peptide Serum from SkinCeuticals, a brand renowned by beauty editors, skincare experts and dermatologists for cult classic products such as C E Ferulic. This smart new serum contains a multi-peptide complex as well as PHA, niacinamide and laminaria extract to target nine different types of wrinkles, SkinCeuticals claims, from crow’s feet to forehead lines.

At £130 it’s not cheap (although new customers can save 10% via the SkinCeuticals website), so I’ve been putting it to the test to see how it compares to my currently favourite wrinkle-reducing serum, Medik8’s Liquid Peptides Advanced MP…

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Pros

• Skin looks immediately smoother, brighter and healthier
• Lines appear slightly lessened
• A real one-and-done serum – no need to layer other serums or moisturisers
• Absorbs quickly but still feels hydrating
• Trustworthy, derm-approved brand

Cons

• Expensive
• Some report that it pills a little under make-up (I haven’t found this to be the case)
• May be a bit strong on very sensitive or broken skin

I’ve tried and loved plenty of SkinCeuticals products in the past, and it’s a brand that I trust because of its clinical trials and how much it’s recommended by experts, so I had high hopes with using this serum. And it was love at first swipe.

P-Tiox such an elegant formula: lightweight and runny yet rich, it sinks straight in yet feels nicely hydrating (hydrating enough to have me skipping moisturiser and moving straight on to SPF in the mornings), and layers well with all my other skincare and make-up.

I’ve only been using this for a week so far but the instant and short-term results are so good that I know I’m already going to be sad when it runs out. It makes my skin look immediately fresher, plumper and brighter – we’re talking ‘glass skin’ here. I’m overdue a Botox top-up and I do think that this serum makes the fine lines on my forehead appear less noticeable, perhaps due to the instant brightening and smoothing effects.

I’d previously been using the much-hyped Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP, which I love (you can read my full review here), but find that it’s a little drying, and I need to use additional skincare products; SkinCeuticals’, though, is gorgeously hydrating, and a real ‘one-and-done’ anti-ageing serum.

It’s hard to find a negative with this brilliant all-in-one anti-ageing serum but if I had to pull one out, I’d say that it might be a bit too strong for very sensitive skin (I had a bit of flaky skin from an old blemish and it stung for a couple of seconds).

Of course, it’s also expensive, although new customers to the SkinCeuticals website can save 10% when they sign up, and you may also be able to find some other offers on it on Lookfantastic. You’re paying for some really top-quality skincare here though.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, Naturium Multi-Peptide Advance Serum comes highly rated by beauty editors, and is currently reduced down from £27 to £21.60