For years, I’ve categorized my skin as oily. Any time an esthetician or derm asked my skin type, I'd reply, “I would look oily even in the Sahara Desert–especially in the T-Zone.” Lightweight, oil-free moisturizers were always stocked in my medicine cabinet. I avoided heavy creams or serums. That is, until the last year or so. My complexion has become more dehydrated as I’ve inevitably gotten older. The light-as-air moisturizers I once reached for were not quenching my skin's thirst. Since then, I’ve been on a quest to find products that fill the void of the lightweight formulas I’m used to while nourishing and hydrating my skin enough so that I don’t end up with dry patches by the end of the day. After testing dozens of products, I found one formula that keeps my dry skin at bay: the Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum.
What is the Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum?
You may be familiar with Guerlain's Abeille Royale line, but the new Water Oil Serum has been majorly revamped. The French brand has had several different formulas before this latest iteration, the culmination of 15 years of research and nine patents that showcase the power of honey in skincare. Like the other Abeille Royale products, the new serum leverages nutrient-rich black bee honey and royal jelly. It boasts a trifecta of honey, and each strain serves a different purpose in the revamped formula.
First is the Ouessant honey, which has historically been in most of the Abeille Royale line and is harvested off the coast of Brittany in France; it increases the speed and power of the skin repair process. The second type of honey is Connemara, a unique honey from Western Ireland that harnesses the ability to increase hyaluronic acid synthesis in skin cells by 96 percent (doubling the hydration benefits, which is music to my ears). Lastly is the Trøgstad honey from Norway, which is rich in amino acids and gives the skin a bounce-back effect when trying to repair.
But what truly sets this serum apart from its predecessors is its ability to “wake up” sleeping skin cells, also known as senescent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), to increase cell turnover and address fine lines, wrinkles, skin radiance, and elasticity. MSC cells, aptly nicknamed “zombie cells,” may sound harmless, but they can signal to healthy cells to join them in stopping work, so stimulating them is essential in helping the skin repair itself and stay healthy and plump. Since skin repair and the production of collagen and elastin starts to decline at the age of 25, I, a woman in her late 20s, was particularly excited to hear that Guerlain’s new formula targets senescent cells and aims to slow down signs of aging.
How I Tested
When I first heard the name of the serum, my interest was piqued. A serum that has the hydration of honey but the weight of water? I’m sold. When I first got this bottle over six weeks ago, I started using it immediately twice a day, and at the first drop, I loved it. The watery essence instantly sunk into my skin, leaving a glow I’ve only seen with rich moisturizers. Since I’m a beauty editor with an extensive skincare routine, I wasn’t sure how this serum would fit into my existing lineup. Still, the lightweight texture made it easy to layer with my other specialty serums and heavy creams since it is winter in New York. I love that the honey is suspended in little gold beads that seamlessly come together with the watery essence once dispensed from the dropper. Not to mention, it has a delightful honey scent, which is throughout the Abeille Royale line, that feels like you are wrapping your skin in a cozy cashmere blanket.
My Verdict
I love how hydrating this serum is. It truly scratches every dry skin itch (literally) I have during the winter season. Since using it, I’ve noticed my skin is bouncier and more hydrated. Previously, dry patches would appear around my mouth and nose at the end of the day, but since using the Watery Oil Serum, I haven’t had much dryness from morning to evening. I even brought the bottle with me on a trip to Mexico and decided to forgo moisturizer because it was that hydrating.
The scent is extremely pleasant (it was created by Guerlain’s in-house perfumer Thierry Wasser, after all), but I can imagine that it may be a bit strong if you have sensitive skin. The serum does have a hefty price tag, but it packs quite a punch. I haven’t stopped using this innovative new formula since I got it, and I am already on my second bottle–it’s that effective.
The Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum retails for $150 and is available on Guerlain.com.