- sylviajast
Review: Rationale Super Antioxidant Serum š§ššāļø
Another day, another serum LOL Iām like a broken record I know⦠I canāt help but try another vitamin C serum. Whatās a girl to do?!? At least itās not damaging to anyone else except my poor waller *sigh but thatās a discussion for another day. Today, itās all about Rationaleās number ā2ā serum: Super Antioxidant Serum. Why is it serum number ā2ā? Well Rationale has a skincare system based around 6 essential steps. Step ā1ā is their Immunologist Serum, which I believe you are to use first in the morning and then use serum ā2ā on top of it. Rationale is a very pricey Australian cosmeceutical brand. I chose serum 2 instead of 1 because itās based on vitamin C, E and A (Iām interested in vitamins C and E for morning use, because they protect against free radical damage, they ārechargeā each other on a molecular level and protect against pigmentation/sun damage). Serum 1 also protects your skin against pigmentation but in a different way (it boost your skins ability to protect itself and heroes different active/central ingredients). Why didnāt I buy or try both? Because I canāt bring myself to do it⦠The Immunologist Serum costs $170 AUD while the Super Antioxidant Serum costs $162 AUD. I just canāt justify to myself spending $300 plus on serums that I would use only in the mornings. Iām sure they would work amazingly together but maybe seeing what each serum does on its own is also a good idea. Itās a shame they donāt offer a duo pack that saves you some pennies, however, I think Rationale is one of those āso luxe and exclusive brands we donāt do salesā bullshit. Yes, I call it bullshit because I think itās elitist. I get that well formulated products designed and made in Australia will be pricey and Iām happy to pay more, but come on. Anyways, Iāve gone off on a tangent LOL letās get back to the Super Antioxidant Serum and what I think of all itās qualities š ššš§š

Super Antioxidant Serum 30ml Youthful Skin Tone + Texture Rejuvenates, re-firms and reactivates luminosity with Broad Spectrum Antioxidants. Australian SolarProtective Botanicals prevent sun-induced oxidation and glycation.This Broad Spectrum Antioxidant formula combines skin identical Vitamins A, C + E, Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase and Ubiquinone with native Australian SolarProtective Botanicals to protect skin from oxidative stress and rejuvenate sun damaged tissue. Ceramides and Lipids replenish the skinās natural barrier responsible for maintaining skin hydration and radiance.
Benefits
Re-firms and rejuvenates sun damaged skin
Prevents glycation, maintaining skin firmness and elasticity
Defends against UVR and formation of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)
Promotes collagen synthesis for firmer skin
Improves skin translucency and radiance
Helps fade pigmentation and boost brightness Directions
Smooth gently over face, neck, chest and back of hands each morning.
Use in conjunction with your prescribed Rationale Essential Six formulas for maximum daily rejuvenation and protection.Ā Active Ingredients Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate)
Potent, stable form of Vitamin CĀ
Stimulates collagen synthesisĀ
Brightens hyperpigmentation
Re-firms and rejuvenates skinĀ Vitamin A
Stimulates collagen synthesisĀ Ā
Protection of DNA when absorbing UVRĀ
Encourages healthy skin cell rejuvenationĀ Vitamin E (Tocopherols + Tocotrienols)
Enhances solar protection
Blocks the formation of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)
Reduces visible signs of UV damage
Helps fade hyperpigmentationĀ
Augments Natural Moisturising Factors within skinĀ Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10)
Supports cellular energy production
Neutralises superoxide radicals
Augments + protects intercellular lipids Glutathione
Potent Antioxidant
Prevents the formation of free radicals Superoxide Dismutase
Deactivates damaging superoxide radicals Australian SolarProtective Botanicals
Enhances skinās natural solar defence mechanismsĀ
Prevents solar-induced DNA damageĀ
Stimulates healthy collagen productionĀ
Strengthens barrier functionĀ

First of all, this serum uses a new and flashy form of vitamin C āĀ ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. Before I get into this, Iāll mention that for me vitamin C and E is much more important than vitamin A. I know from reading Nickiās Futurederm blog that vitamin C needs to formulated into a product with a specific PH level to be extra effective/absorb, while the PH level for vitamin A absorption is different to this, so thereās no major benefit in having BOTH vitamins in a serum/treatment product. Added to this, most of us know that vitamin A makes your skin photosensitive, but retinol is listed higher thanĀ ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate in the ingredient list. We donāt know how much vitamin C or retinol (vitamin A) is actually in the serum percentage wise because Rationale doesnāt tell us (I hate it when companies donāt tell you this!) but these two ingredients are high up in the ingredient list so thereās a decent amount I would think. Hey, maybe this is such an innovative formula that the PH problem isnāt a problem (but I doubt itā¦).
Back to Ā ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate! This is the newest form of vitamin C to hit the cosmeceutical market. Here is what Futurederm say about this new form of vitamin C and what it can do;
āA molecule derived from vitamin C and isopalmitic acid, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate has been shown to absorb into skinĀ faster than any of the other forms of vitamin C tested (Clinics in Dermatology, 2008). Aside from that benefit, it appears to have similar collagen-rebuilding properties to other forms of vitamin C, as shown in its ability to increase UVA/UVB photoprotection and to aid in the healing of burns (Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2008;Ā Burns, 2010;Ā International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2007).ā Futurederm
It could potentially be irritating for sensitive skin, but I donāt find that it tingles or āburnsā for that matter on my skin. The serum has a great non-oily texture, which sinks and absorbs into the skin beautifully. It has a sweet orange scent and a bright yellow colour. I wouldnāt say that may skin instantly looks better after applying this serum, but over a few weeks Iāve definitely noticed that my skin looks brighter and just healthier. Itās hard to pin-point perhaps, but my skin feels like it can function better. If it can function better it can also protect itself better from aggressors like free radicals but also dryness (environmental stress) and UV rays (pigmentation, DNA damage etc.). This would also be thanks to the other ingredients in this serum (yes, thereās a lot of stuff in there!) from the ceramides, to the peptides, glycerin and other hydrators, powerful antioxidants like vitamin E andĀ Ubiquinone (CoQ10). So despite the ācontradictionā of pairing vitamin C and A together perhaps, itās a wonderfully intense formula that packs a punch. And thatās what you want from a serum right?!
The serum contains a pipette applicator which I hate lol⦠Firstly, because you need to open the bottle every time you use it, serum degradation thanks to air and light is inevitable. Even a stable form of vitamin C can break down. Luckily it doesnāt contain L-ascorbic acid (the most popular form of vitamin C), which is notoriously unstable. ButI hate the pipette most of all because the dropper is big, which means when you start running out of serum, itās harder and harder to dispense the serum. I like the glass bottle it is housed in and think the packaging looks elegant ā but it could be improved and made more practical.

Above: Iām not sure why the colour of the serumĀ doesnātĀ translate on camera- itās muchĀ brighter in person ā almost a neon yellow!
All in all, I do like this serum a lot. Yes, thereās things that annoy me because itās not perfect, but hey who is?! Lol! Itās up to you to decide if you can put up with the serums āquirksā. I do really like the formula and how it leaves my skin feeling and looking. Itās not going to be accessible for everyone because of the cost, it comes in at $162 AUD for 30ml. International shipping is also available for $20, which is awesome. Will I repurchase it again? I think so. Iāll keep searching for new and exciting vitamin C serums because Iām fickle like that, but I would happily try this one again if I had the extra cash to spend. My other go-to serums which Iāve gone back to time and time again, is any Futurederm vitamin C serum, Aspect Extreme C 20 serum and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum.
So tell me Beauties, would you try this serum if you could? What are your go-to vitamin C serums? Let me know!
Catch ya next time,
Beauty Bee~
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#Tocotrienols #Ubiquinone #Retinol #AscorbylTetraisopalmitate #VitaminC #CoenzymeQ10 #VitaminE #RationaleSuperAntioxidantSerum #Tocopherols