As a skincare enthusiast, I’m always on the hunt for products that promise to rejuvenate and replenish my skin. So when I came across 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil, with its decadent name and a star-studded ingredient list, I was naturally intrigued. Promising a transformative journey into the world of luxury skincare, this retinol oil, infused with actual diamond dust, claims to refine texture, reduce pigmentation, and soften lines.
I can’t help but wonder: can one product truly bring about such dramatic changes to my skin? Or is it all just beautifully packaged hype? Let’s embark on the journey together as I share my hands-on experience with this much talked about product.
About The Product
Founded by renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, 111SKIN was born out of his quest to deliver innovative skincare that mimics the holistic approaches he would usually recommend post-surgery. The brand is positioned at the high end of the skincare spectrum, boasting a plethora of products that combine medical expertise with luxurious aesthetics.
111SKIN claims to use potent healing ingredients to promote a youthful glow, and it’s certainly garnered an impressive celebrity following over the years. Considering the brand’s reputation and my expectations on the Black Diamond Retinol Oil, it was with much anticipation that I welcomed this product into my skincare regime.
When it comes to presentation, 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil impresses right out of the box. The oil comes housed in a sleek, silver bottle with a minimalist design that screams luxury. The dropper-style applicator screaming elegance provides for easy dispensation and exact measurements, increasing the overall usability of the product.
However, I found my heart sinking a tad when I caught sight of the price tag. Priced at a hefty amount, this product is by no means a casual purchase, but rather an investment into your skin. As I held the extravagant bottle in my hands, I couldn’t help but wonder if the product within could live up to its high-end packaging and equally lofty price point.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
At the heart of 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil lies the skin-transforming wonder – Retinol. Known for its prowess in combating wrinkles, dullness, and other signs of aging, Retinol is widely celebrated in the skincare world for its capacity to accelerate cell renewal. This means fresher layers of skin can surface more quickly, ultimately leading to a fresher and more vibrant complexion.
Adding to its efficacy, the product also includes Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, a next-generation retinoid. This gentle yet effective derivative of Retinol is known to be less irritating, making this product suitable for people new to Retinols or with sensitive skin.
While the Retinol duo works its magic, a luxurious blend of natural oils, including Squalane, Coconut, Olive, and Almond Oil, ensures your skin remains moisturized and nourished. Squalane, a hydrogenated version of squalene, mirrors a lipid naturally found in our skin and helps enhance skin’s smoothness and suppleness. The rich fatty acids in Almond and Olive oils lend a moisturizing boost, while the Coconut oil imparts a healthy glow.
Adding a touch of luxury, Diamond Powder is incorporated into the mix. More than just a fancy add-on, this unique ingredient is touted to enhance the penetration and efficacy of other ingredients, allowing them to dive deeper to work their magic.
Another notable ingredient is Diacetyl Boldine, a skin lightening agent derived from the bark of the Chilean Boldo tree. It’s known for its brightening properties and works to fade uneven pigmentation, leaving your skin tone more uniform and radiant.
Nevertheless, impressive as these ingredients sound, the true measure of this product’s effectiveness was to be seen in my everyday experience. How much of this promised transformation could it deliver to my skin’s texture, brightness, and overall health? It was time to put this Black Diamond Retinol Oil to the test.
My Personal Experience with Black Diamond Retinol Oil
Introducing 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil into my skincare routine was a journey of anticipation and curiosity. I began using the product 3 times a week after my cleansing and toning routine at night, as is recommended with most retinol products.
The oil has a surprisingly light and non-greasy texture, which was a definite plus for me. It absorbed quickly into my skin, leaving it feeling soft and velvety rather than slick or oily.
In the first week of application, I didn’t notice much difference. After about two weeks, however, I began noticing a subtle shift. My skin felt slightly smoother to touch, and there was a faint but definite improvement in my skin tone – a bit more even-toned, a tad brightened. My fine lines? Well, they remained mostly unchanged, but then again, perhaps I was expecting too much too soon.
As I continued its use into the fifth week, I noticed a plateau in the improvements. The overall texture and brightness of my skin had surely improved from where I began, but the progress seemed to have stalled. My fine lines looked a little less pronounced, but the change was not remarkable.
On the brighter side, the product never caused any irritation or breakouts, which is indeed commendable considering retinol’s infamous reputation for causing initial purging and peeling.
The Pros & Cons
My experience with 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil evoked a mixed bag of impressions. Here are the pros and cons, clearly delineated:
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Its light, non-greasy texture that quickly absorbs into the skin makes it incredibly easy to incorporate into a skincare routine.
- No Adverse Reactions: Unlike many retinol products that often cause initial skin irritation, this oil was quite gentle and didn’t cause any breakouts or adverse reactions.
- Improvement in Skin Texture and Tone: While the results were gradual, there was a noticeable improvement in the skin’s texture and evenness of tone over continuous use.
Cons:
- High Price Tag: Considering the moderate results, the product’s high price could be a deterrent for many skincare enthusiasts.
- Questionable Luxury Ingredients: While the inclusion of diamond dust adds to its luxury appeal, the actual skincare benefits of such ingredients remain questionable.
- Limited Impact on Fine Lines: Though it promises to soften fine lines, the product did not bring about any significant changes in this regard.
- Progress Plateau: After a few weeks of use, the results seemed to plateau, which was not expected from a product with a potent ingredient like retinol.
In essence, while the product has its fair share of enticing features, it also has areas where it could definitely improve to justify its luxury label and price point.
My Final Thoughts
After several weeks of regular use, my experience with 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil can best be summed up as a luxurious journey with modest results. There’s no doubt that this product brings a touch of opulence to my skincare routine, from its chic packaging to its unique diamond dust-infused formulation.
The incorporation of retinol and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate certainly delivered positive changes, most notably an improvement in skin texture and an evenness in complexion. The fact that it’s gentle and didn’t cause any irritation or breakouts is a definite plus.
However, beyond the initial improvements, the product’s performance seemed to plateau. Given the hefty price tag, I would have loved to see more dramatic results, especially around its claims of reducing fine lines.
So, would I recommend 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Retinol Oil? Well, if you’re a skincare enthusiast who enjoys indulging in luxury items and values a product that is gentle on the skin, then this oil could be a nice addition to your routine. However, if your main objective is to significantly reduce fine lines and signs of aging, there might be other retinol products on the market that could deliver more noticeable results at a friendlier price point.
