Mixing it up with Odacité Pure Elements Serum Concentrates

Over the summer, I checked out a beauty event at LYNNsteven, a cute boutique in the Gastown neighbourhood of downtown Vancouver. In addition to clothes and seriously pretty accessories, I was really into their assortment of niche and hard-to-find beauty lines. I was excited to see Odacité on their shelves; Rae's review on one of their facial serum concentrates perked my ears, but I hate buying things sight unseen. I like handling a product before deciding if I want to buy it, and was glad to finally have the opportunity at LYNNsteven.

Even better, I got a cool sample kit! Inside were small vials with six samples from their collection of 18 different facial serum concentrates and little cards explaining each of them.

So what exactly is a facial serum concentrate? Odacité created these oil-based serums to target specific concerns, such as blemishes or clogged pores. Each serum features two oils as the "headliner" ingredients, such as passion fruit and orange, or rosehip and ylang ylang. They are intended to be mixed in small amounts (2-3 drops) into your moisturizer of choice and give it an extra boost to address your specific skin concern.

My kit contained Marula-Neroli for elasticity, Baobab-Sarsaparilla for the eye contour area, Camelina-Chamomile for sensitive skin, Black Cumin-Cajeput for pimples, Green Tea-Lemongrass for radiance, and Acai-Rose for a youthful glow.

(One thing to note is that although the headliner ingredients are at the top of the ingredients list, most of the serum concentrates are formulated with several other plant oils or extracts as well--something to keep in mind if you are sensitive to certain oils. As usual, there are full ingredients lists for the six serum concentrates in my kit at the end of the post.)

Odacité's "table of Pure Elements" is too cute. It organizes their serum concentrates into six categories of broader concern: anti-aging, hydration, firmness, sensitive, devitalized, and oily/combo. Lately I've been testing the closest matches to my skin concerns: the Camelina-Chamomile and the Green Tea-Lemongrass.

Camelina-Chamomile is intended to calm sensitive skin. Odacité says camelina oil helps with inflammation and eczema, while chamomile oil soothes and helps with redness. It has a distinct grassy, herby scent that I really like (chamomile is also used in aromatherapy for calming!)

Green Tea-Lemongrass targets "restoration of radiance and skin luminescence". Green tea (camellia seed oil) is for radiance and antioxidant properties, while lemongrass is for tightening and refining. I love the bright, lemony smell from the lemongrass--you know I love citrus scents.

My skin has been behaving lately, so luckily I haven't needed Camelina-Chamomile to settle things down; I've been using it more as a boost of hydration and it's been quite nice. I have not noticed a big difference in radiance with Green Tea-Lemongrass either to be honest, but my skin care game has been pretty good lately so I can't complain.

I have been mixing the oil into my daytime moisturizer and find that two drops is more than enough to hydrate my skin. I don't normally need to blot or use setting powder immediately after applying makeup, but I do need to when using the serum concentrates; I'm a bit shiny if I don't.

Overall it's difficult to say yet if Odacité Serum Concentrates deliver on their promises. It usually takes some time to see results when it comes to most skin care--it's not instant gratification like lipstick or nail polish! I do like that the concept adds a certain sense of luxury or self-care to my routine: instead of rushing around, I'm taking a moment to carefully mix the oil and moisturizer together and then massage it into my face. Plus, all that extra oil has made my skin a bit more supple I think.

Unfortunately my kit was just a special gift from the LYNNsteven event and is not available for purchase. (The serum concentrates are available in 5 ml dropper bottles.) I wish Odacité would offer something like this though! It's a great way to try a few oils without a huge $$ commitment. Odacité is available online and is also stocked by a few select shops in Vancouver. They will also be carried at Nordstrom Vancouver, which is opening tomorrow, woot!

Odacité Camelina-Chamomile Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($39 USD odacite.com / $46 CAD LYNNsteven): Camelina sativa (camelina) seed oil, Anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile) flower oil, Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) leaf oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil, Santalum spicatum (sandalwood) wood oil, Vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower/leaf oil, Citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil, Hemidesmus indicus (sarsaparilla) root extract, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil

Odacité Green Tea-Lemongrass Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($39 USD odacite.com / $55 CAD LYNNsteven): Camellia oleifera (camellia) seed oil, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil, Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) grass oil, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil

Odacité Marula-Neroli Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($42 USD odacite.com / $?? CAD LYNNsteven): Sclerocarya birrea (marula) oil, Citrus aurantium amara (neroli) flower oil, Rosa damascena (rose) flower oil, Citrus paradisi (pink grapefruit) peel oil, Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) leaf oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil, Citrus aurantium (petitgrain bigarade) leaf/bud oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil, Cupressus sempervirens (cypress) leaf oil, bisabolol, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil

Odacité Baobab-Sarsaparilla Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($42 USD odacite.com / $60 CAD LYNNsteven): Adansonia digitata (baobab) seed oil, Hemidesmus indicus (sarsaparilla) root extract, Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) leaf oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil, Santalum spicatum (sandalwood) wood oil, Vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower/leaf oil, Citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil, Anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile) flower oil, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil

Odacité Black Cumin-Cajeput Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($32 USD odacite.com / $35 CAD LYNNsteven): Nigella sativa (black cumin) oil, Melaleuca minor (cajeput) leaf/twig oil, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil

Odacité Acai-Rose Facial Serum Concentrate ingredients ($55 USD odacite.com / $65 CAD LYNNsteven): Euterpe oleracea (acai) fruit oil, Rosa damascena (rose) flower oil, Citrus aurantium amara (neroli) flower/leaf oil, Jasminum sambac (jasmine) flower oil, Jasminum grandiflorium (jasmine) flower oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, Litsea cubeba fruit oil, Vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, Canarium lozonicum (elemi) gun oil, Cedrus atlantica (cedar) wood oil, tocopherols (vitamin E) oil