As I'm a girlie who loves her vitamin C, it's almost painful to type this, but I think I've found something even more next-level. *Gasp.* While vitamin C has become the gold standard for concerns like dullness, rough texture, dark spots, and generally lackluster skin, I recently got around to trying Mara's Pearl Peptide Glaze ($54), and IMHO, it eclipses all other brightening products I own. That's not an easy thing to do! For reference, my skin is on the oilier side and acne prone, and I struggle with dark spots here and there after a breakout. This toner, essence, and serum in one is such a powerhouse product that helped me with all of those things.
Its milky texture absorbs easily into the skin and reminds me of my favorite K-beauty toners and essences. It doesn't sit on top of the skin or leave you with a greasy feel—just an ethereal radiance you won't be able to quit! If you've been looking for a way to simultaneously pare back your routine while also leveling up your glow, look no further. Ahead, I'm sharing everything you need to know about this magical product along with some of my other Mara picks to get you started.
Honestly, I'm not even someone who skips toner and essence. To me, they're both key steps in preserving my skin's hydration levels without adding too much extra weight. Mara really answered my prayers, though, with this one because it combines these steps into one. The brand says that this can also act as a primer and peptide-rich serum for brighter, calmer skin that's visibly plumper.
Some essences merely add hydration and aid in the absorption of other serums to follow, but this one is packed with all kinds of skin-improving actives and one star ingredient that really gives you that glow. While vitamin C is great and really brightens the skin, the pearl powder in this formula gives such a dewy, sun-kissed look that I'm completely obsessed with.
The Ingredients
It doesn't just look pretty. There are powerhouse active ingredients in this formula that reduce redness, firm and plump the skin, and hydrate.
- Beta-glucan reduces redness and irritation while acting as an anti-inflammatory, calming ingredient. It also provides hydration and strengthens the skin barrier. Lastly, it stimulates the Langerhans cells in the skin's epidermal layer, which are the cells that initiate immune and reparative functions.
- Marine collagen peptides boost collagen production and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Pearl powder brightens the skin and reduces redness. It's also rich in amino acids that boost collagen production and promote cellular repair.
- Pelvetia canaliculata extract, a brown alga, hydrates, protects, and supports skin resilience.
My Review
This supercharged product was an easy yes for me. Before getting my hands on this, I hadn't tried anything from the brand in a long time, but the OG Universal Face Oil ($72) was always a favorite. As I mentioned above, the consistency of this product is just *chef's kiss.* It's so hydrating and delicious for the skin but doesn't feel heavy or greasy. If you're an oily or acne-prone person, you know the struggle. Some essences are just a bit too much for our skin, but I'm in love with the way this one adds a dewy glow without making the skin look shiny. This effect definitely speaks to its artful formulation. It's not an easy balance to strike, but Mara has done it!
Most importantly, the ingredient list isn't five miles long, so it didn't upset my super-sensitive skin. In fact, it did just the opposite. I'm prone to redness at times because my skin barrier isn't in the best shape, but beta-glucan is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients that's severely underhyped. It calms redness in minutes, so it's the perfect skincare ingredient if you're struggling with an inflamed breakout. It also hasn't caused any new breakouts—it's just given me a gorgeous glow. In fact, I've gotten asked, "What are you using on your skin lately?" at least five times now that I'm using this. The ultimate compliment! I look forward to putting it on every morning and evening. When I do use it in the evening, I wake up with skin that looks like I just got a luxury facial.
More Mara Products I Love
I love a double cleanse in the evening, and this cleansing oil sweeps away any pore-blocking debris and makeup in record time. It also gently exfoliates with fruit enzymes, not acids, so it's perfect for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
This cleanser is so silky and hydrating. Gel cleansers sometimes leave my skin feeling tight or dry, but not this one!
This firming, hydrating cream is a new favorite. It has such a buttery texture but isn't heavy—just like the essence. It firms the skin with vegan stem cells, bioactive peptides, and sea moss. My skin looks so bouncy after I use it, and I genuinely look forward to slathering it on every day.
I absolutely love a good detox mask, and this one is elite. I love how well it exfoliates and minimizes pores without being too drying. Clay masks can be tricky for that reason, but this one is a treat I like to use a couple of times a week.
Even though the Pearl Peptide Glaze provides all the glow you need, I still love combining it with the brand's vitamin C serum in the morning. It features a solid 15% vitamin C along with the brand's star ingredient, algae, and adaptogens. If you deal with hyperpigmentation like me, it's a great morning combo.
I was never quite able to find a retinol that worked for my super-sensitive skin. Most ended up irritating my skin so badly and causing more inflammation that I had to stop using them altogether. This retinol is suspended in an oil base, and somehow, that's far less irritating for me. It really evened out texture and clarified breakouts quickly for me, leaving my skin with a dose of extra hydration and radiance.
This exfoliating serum is powered by a gentle PHA blend, so it's easier on most skin types. I wish I could use it every day, but sadly, my skin is crazy sensitive and can't tolerate that. But it does work super well on stubborn texture and breakouts, so I use it at least three times a week. The formula is amazing, and I was surprised by how much better my skin looked after just a couple of weeks of use.