All That Glitters..Really Is Gold! #isaprofessional

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

As someone who has become quite the serum fanatic, I was super-excited to try a serum made with an ingredient I'd yet to try - gold!  The appropriately named Xanadu (sing it with me! Xaaanaduuuu..) is a gorgeous clear serum filled with 24k gold flakes, from ISA Professional.  Would it live up to its claims, or just leave me sparkly, but wanting?

Right off the bat, everything about this serum says: LUXE.  I love the packaging of both the box and the serum itself.  The bottle is substantial, but not cumbersome, with a pump that delivers just the right amount of serum to use on my face and neck.  The gold flakes are beautiful.

In addition to the gold, there are some powerhouse ingredients in this serum - Matrixyl-3000 has been shown to repair skin and increase collagen.  Vitamin E is a great moisturizer.  Vitamin C brightens, and is an anti-oxidant.  Hyaluronic acid is one of my favorites, as it can hold 1000 times its weight in water, so it plumps and smooths the skin.

I did some research on gold in skincare, and I couldn't find much.  There's a good article from the New York Times that links to other research, but given that gold has been rumored to have been used in skincare as far back as Cleopatra, there is surprisingly little research available.  Gold may be an anti-inflammatory when injected into joints, or used to build collagen when inserted as a fine web of threads under the skin.  As a topical, the metal is supposed to react to the electricity in our bodies, warming the skin and making it more receptive to other ingredients, as well as providing anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-acne benefits.  Some people are allergic to gold, and get a rash from coming into contact with it... which I think is as sad as being allergic to chocolate.

When dispensed, you can clearly see the flecks of gold in the serum.  Rubbed in, most of the flecks dissolve into a glow without glitter.  I have to admit - even if the gold exists only for this purpose, it's worth it.  I love how luminous my skin looks after putting on this serum.  It just lights up with a natural, healthy-looking radiance.

No makeup - just naked face and ISA Professional 24k Gold Serum

Even though I'm already testing another serum, I still use this one for days I want a little something extra, a little oomph to my look, especially a no-makeup look.

Completely smitten, my mani is inspired by the rich colors and gold flakes of the serum and box.  Using striping tape, I blocked off the lower 2/3 of my nail, and painted it black with Cult Nails Nevermore.  Once that dried, I applied the red glowing glitter of Nails, Inc Trafalgar Square, and used Rica The Golden Egg for highlights. Mentality 12k Gold flakie topper adorns the top 1/3 of my nails.

For more information, or to purchase, you can find ISA Professional on their website, Facebook, and on Amazon, where this serum retails for $80, but is currently on sale for $59.

How do you feel about applying gold as skincare?