How many pumps of serum do you use every day? How much hyaluronic acid do you get through in a month? If you find you steam through your skincare within weeks rather than the three month expiry date might suggest, then the new category of capsulated beauty ingredients will give you (and your bank balance) some light relief. This month, Beauty Pie has unveiled its collection of Superactive Capsules. For hydration fiends there is the Hyaluronic Acid & Biopeptide Microspheres and for those who want brighter, smoother skin without any irritation, there’s the Pure Double Vitamin C & Vitamin E. Both are £50 for non-members and around £9 for Beauty Pie members.
The benefits of using capsules go further than ensuring you only use a measured dose. 'These capsules allow us to use anhydrous formulas that are able to hold high doses of stable actives,' explains Marcia Kilgore. 'For example, we wanted a product that contained pure vitamin C to help firm, smooth and brighten, as well as minimise the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and help even out skin tone. To do this you don’t want to expose the ingredient to light, air or water.'
The capsules have allowed Kilgore to bottle up one-shot of these ingredients in their most active form and all you have to do is twist, squeeze and tap onto your skin. 'It’s a daily must-have anti-aging vitamin shot for your skin' adds Kilgore.
Cosmeceutical brand, Exuviance recently launched its version of capsulated vitamin C with its AF Vitamin C20 Serum Capsules, £60, which turned out to be so popular they’re now sold out worldwide.
Admittedly skincare capsules aren’t new, Elizabeth Arden launched its Ceramide Capsules, £39, 18 years ago. For those not au fait with them, they’re one-use doses of ceramides to strengthen your skin’s barrier function, which in turn locks in moisture and helps slow down the ageing process and leaves you with healthier, plumper skin. While these travel-friendly capsules have a solid cult-following, few brands have followed suit and capsulated their formulas.
Exuviance’s sell-out success and Beauty Pie’s foray into the category signals that capsuled ingredients could well be having their moment.