Renowned skincare guru Dr Zein Obagi's quote, “Reduce the sebum, acne disappears. Reduce the sebum, rosacea disappears. Reduce the sebum, melasma disappears!” intrigues me. I mean, if it was so easy, wouldn't everyone be walking around with perfect skin?

When ZO Skin Health Complexion Clarifying Serum was launched earlier this year, my curiosity was piqued even further. Backing up Dr Obagi's mantra, the serum claimed to transform the complexion by controlling sebum, the inflammatory substance that contributes to skin diseases including rosacea, melasma and seborrheic dermatitis.

As someone with combination and at times reactive skin, especially during the winter months when mild rosacea can surface thanks to extremes of temperature caused by cold, windy weather and centrally-heated environments, I wondered if this could help balance things out? It was certainly a challenge I was happy to undertake for a clearer complexion.

Suitable for a range of skin types but especially combination, oily and blemish-prone skin, the serum's powerful yet gentle formula is clinically proven to reduce surface oil, congestion and redness for a clear, balanced complexion.

In a six-week independent clinical evaluation, it showed statistically significant improvements (with results increasing throughout the study) in oil and shine reduction, visible pore size and number, and facial redness.

The water-based formula also promotes a healthy microbiome—the food source for micro-organisms that contribute to blemishes and redness—while reducing unwanted shine throughout the day.

Ingredients include edelweiss and white horehound meristem cell cultures which help to soothe visible redness while neutralising damaging free radicals, and plant-derived brown seaweed extract, prickly pear stem cell extract, mushroom and larch tree, all of which support skin’s protective barrier and help minimise visible inflammaging and premature skin ageing.

In addition, new water-soluble salicylic acid decongests skin and refines pores without dryness or irritation. It is shown to be as effective as traditional salicylic acid formulations, while being gentle on a range of skin types.

So what do the aesthetic professionals think? “Clarifying Serum is a game changer—not only does it reduce redness, it brightens the complexion, giving flawless, glass-like skin,” confirms Sara Cheeney, Director and Aesthetics Nurse Practitioner, Pure Perfection Clinic.

With all the hype around this seemingly transformative product, I had to put it to the test. I added the calming, watery serum into my regime every morning, and within two-to-three weeks I noticed some pretty incredible results—my skin looked clearer, more even toned and glowy, as opposed to shiny or oily. Blemishes also reduced and my pores seemed to shrink.

I am seriously impressed with the results so far, and am looking forward to testing the product's capabilities even further as winter takes hold. I am fortunate that my job enables me to try lots of new products, but there are few that become a can't-live-without essential in my skincare arsenal. This has most definitely made the cut.