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Dior Capture Totale The Serum
The promise
There is such a thing as serum overload. Because even though the beauty industry has managed to seemingly come up with a concentrated liquid for every existing skin problem, applying more than 20 products a day is a recipe for disaster — and heaps of maintenance. That’s where Dior Capture Totale Le Sérum enters the chat. Developed with less fragrance, lighter packaging and more natural ingredients, the newly revamped treatment product is a jack of all trades created by balancing the brand’s flower-focused formulations with cutting-edge science, clinical studies and genius concoctions of brilliant scientists.
So let’s break it down, shall we? First and foremost, there’s the anti-aging component, which has been an integral part of the Capture Totale’s two-decade existence. Fine lines are visibly smoothed in four hours (yes, I was skeptical too) and the firmness doubles in a week. These claims may seem like voodoo on the surface, but understanding exactly how it happens connects the dots.
Long story short, a beautiful Dior garden in the rainforest of Madagascar is home to longoza flowers, revered for their ability to grow forever and ever in any climate. “The multi-fermented stem cells of the longoza plant are proven to rejuvenate and revitalize mature skin,” explains Dior US Skincare Expert Sean Garrett. “The multi-fermentation process increases the regenerative properties in the skin, as the higher molecular richness can penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the effectiveness of the serum.”
Add iris extract, which is harvested from the Dior garden in Tuscany, to the mix and the anti-aging, youth-boosting benefits are multiplied. “This has been shown to strengthen the epidermis and reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin,” adds Garrett.
Then there is the hydration and shine component. Instead of having to reach for a barrier-repairing, hydrating next step, you can get your solution in the same pump. The Capture Totale Le Sérum combines hyaluronic acid with polyglycerol (a blend of moisturizing glycerol and fatty acids) to create an all-day plumping effect and provide long-lasting hydration. It all sounds great, but I’ve lived most of my adult life as a more-is-more skincare person. To see if I could be swayed by simplicity, I put this product to the test.
Why I’m obsessed
I test products for a living, so sometimes my routine starts to look a little chaotic – I consider it an occupational hazard. Four serums and two moisturizers in one day? Perfectly normal in my book. Does my skin enjoy this constant barrage? Absolutely not. Will I keep doing it? 100 percent. But there came a point this winter where, despite my assortment of hydration serums, exfoliators, and glow-boosting concoctions, my skin looked bla Descriptive, I know. It was a mix of dullness, dryness and irritation, with a nice side of perioral dermatitis.
On my dermatologist’s orders, I scaled it all down. I went back to basics (cleanser, moisturizer, the end) and let my skin take a beating to recover. When it was *finally* time to bring “nice things” back into my regimen, Dior’s new and improved Capture Totale Le Sérum was the first, and despite my penchant for maximalism, the only product I added to my range. My hope? That it could single-handedly take the place of my dozens of other products.
In terms of texture, I have no complaints. Zero, zip, zero. The serum looks milky, but it actually has a relatively watery base that blends like a literal breeze. There is also no stickiness or pilling. I will say, even though the serum is formulated with much less fragrance than the original iteration, the product still has a floral scent to it. I am normally turned off by scented products, but this scent doesn’t bother me. It’s light and fleeting.
Now let’s move on to the *actual* benefits, starting with the glow-stimulating properties. The glassy finish of the serum gives an instant reflective shine. And in the long run, the benefits quadruple. My current look is second to none. Then come the firming powers of the serum. While I am not too concerned about fine lines and wrinkles at this point, I still noticed the firming effects of the fermented longoza extract. My skin has a newfound tightness. Last, but certainly not least, is the hydration component. Thanks to the hyaluronic acid, glycerin and fatty acids, my skin has a plumpness that makes it look like I’m getting 12 hours of sleep and drinking a liter of water a day. (For the record, I do neither of those things.)
However, the best part about this serum is that I can see all these improvements from one single Product. And that got me thinking that maybe, just maybe, less is actually more.