Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate is my most used serum in their skincare range along with their brightening serum in the same Orchidée Impériale collection. The longevity serum comes in very fun packaging, which feels very high tech and somewhat medicinal. I might feel this way as it somewhat reminds me of a syringe. I know, I have syringe phobia, but Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate is an exception >_<. It feels more like you are injecting youth potion into skin; just twist the cap and pump, simple as that! And I actually want more of it! Hehe.
Scent & Consistency
I'm not going to repeat again as I've already explained about the typical Orchidée Impériale scent multiple times in my previous related posts. The fragrance of the serum does linger on skin a bit after application, so you will need to see if your skin is sensitive to the scent before purchasing. The Longevity Concentrate has the exact the same scent, but is certainly less floral than its sibling, Orchidée Impériale White Age-Defying & Brightening serum.
The longevity serum is in a dense emulsion texture. In spite of its concentrated thicker consistency compared to the majority of other serums on the market, the serum still spreads easily without any tacky feel.
It doesn't absorbs into skin straight away once you put on, but if you give your skin a bit of massage for 30 to 60 seconds upon application, you will notice that the serum quickly penetrates skin considering its dense formula.
It isn't in an oil-free formula like most of the serums in the anti-aging category, but it doesn't feel typically oily or overly rich. The finish of the serum is rather smooth and comforting.
Benefits
"An exceptional ""replenishing energy charger"", the new ultra-concentrated serum is even more effective on the signs of ageing, restoring vitality to even the most tired skin.
The signs of ageing fade away day after day:
- wrinkles & fine lines
- elasticity
- firmness
- evenness
- radiance
- density
Full ingredients
AQUA (WATER) • GLYCERIN • PROPANEDIOL • DIMETHICONE • METHYL TRIMETHICONE • SQUALANE • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE • STEARETH-20 • DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER • CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) • JOJOBA ESTERS • DECYLOXAZOLIDINONE • POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE • GASTRODIA ELATA ROOT EXTRACT • PHALAENOPSIS AMABILIS EXTRACT • VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER • PHENOXYETHANOL • ACRYLATES COPOLYMER • GLYCERYL STEARATE • CETYL ALCOHOL • STEARYL ALCOHOL • PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) • DIGLYCERIN • AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT • ALUMINA • SORBITOL • LAURETH-23 • HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER • ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED BUTTER • TETRASODIUM EDTA • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • ALGIN • CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) • XANTHAN GUM • DIPALMITOYL HYDROXYPROLINE • LECITHIN • POLYVINYL ALCOHOL • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • HYALURONIC ACID • SODIUM HYALURONATE • HYDROLYZED SOY FLOUR • SACCHARIDE HYDROLYSATE • ADENOSINE • POLYSORBATE 60 • SODIUM HYDROXIDE • CELLULOSE GUM • ALCOHOL • LINALOOL • PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE • PALMITIC ACID • ROSA MULTIFLORA FRUIT EXTRACT • SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE • SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT • TROPAEOLUM MAJUS EXTRACT • CITRONELLOL • GERANIOL • ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE • LIMONENE • TROMETHAMINE • ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN • POLYQUATERNIUM-7 • TIN OXIDE • POTENTILLA ERECTA ROOT EXTRACT • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC/SUCCINIC TRIGLYCERIDE • CI 19140 (YELLOW 5) • TOCOPHEROL • CI 14700 (RED 4) • METHYLSILANOL TRI-PEG-8 GLYCERYL COCOATE • BHT • SKELETONEMA COSTATUM EXTRACT • ASCORBYL PALMITATE
Effectiveness
Although Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate comes in an emulsion consistency which sounds a lot more ideal for dry/mature skin, I think that even those with normal/combination skin and dehydration can enjoy the benefits as a 2-in-1 treatment (serum & moisturiser). It gives a smooth and glowy finish that I always enjoy using under the make-up base. It doesn't provide any sebum control benefit as that isn't the main function of the serum, but it still provides unparalleled intense long-lasting hydration along with a dewy glow, which has everything that I need as a make-up base for colder seasons personally.
I like to use the concentrate just by itself in Spring and Summer as my skin leans more towards average skin, and if I need an extra moisturising benefits and more logevity in hydration, then I usually add one to two drop(s) of face oil over Autumn. Finally in Winter, I layer it under my moisturiser as my skin feels a lot drier from the dry air and dramatic temperature difference between inside and outside. Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate is buildable, so you can start with a small amount first, then build it up gradually depending on how your skin feels at the time of the application. You could really get away with using it by itself without following with any moisturiser as long as you use a right amount of sunscreen after serum application. As it's in an emulsion formula without forming any scrubbable film over the top, you can use any product afterwards as it won't peel off unlike some of the serums that you can buy on the market.
I fell in love with the Orchidée Impériale collection 10+ years ago, and Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate still works very well on my skin. Actually my skin has been benefiting more from it as it has been exposed to frequent irregular sleep patterns and constant stress. The serum is very healing and regenerating that I like to use it even during my cycle. I haven't got any type of irritation from the serum, and it rather seems to control hormonal bumps and heals spots. Having said that, I still wouldn't recommend to those with acne and oily skin since the serum contains some ingredients like beeswax and mango seed butter that may not be the best for such skin types. It's also high in phenoxyethanol, so if you have a sensitivity towards the ingredient, you might want to avoid regardless of the fact that it's a very common to be found in many natural skincare products these days.
Nevertheless, Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate gives me such glowy velvety smooth skin upon wake-up in the morning after tossing several times in the bed at night mostly from my border collie kicking me out of bed while sleeping on my side :3. My grandmother in her 80s still enjoys the serum, and she looks more youthful than other people at around her age group. Whether you are looking for a serum to get your glow back or to age more beautifully, Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate will work fine. And if you have dry and/or dehydrated skin? Your skin will love it! Make sure you follow with a good moisturiser though if you fall into the category :).
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale (Ultimate Redefining Concentrate)
- Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Regenerating Youth Serum
- La Mer Genaissance de La Mer The Infused Lotion (Boosting essence)
- Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait & L'Essence (concentrate / oil serum)
- La Prairie Skin Caviar Crystalline Concentre & Skin Caviar Liquid Lift