I Tried A Serum That Claims to Restore Facial Symmetry, Here’s What Happened
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
I saw an unflattering photo of myself the other day (back camera - of course) and it forced me to take a step back. I was in denial. The face I spent years getting to know in the mirror was a little more asymmetrical than I had thought.
The brows I once viewed as siblings, now distant cousins. My right eye, slightly rounder than the left. One cheek, less swollen than the other.
Logically I knew these differences were minuet (and nothing to worry about), but it got me thinking about facial symmetry.
Facial symmetry is one of those subconscious beauty markers that we rarely think about, but once you see it, it's hard to unsee.
So when I heard (coincidentally) that Dermalogica, one of the most science-backed brands in the game, was launching a new NeuroTouch Symmetry Serum designed to visibly restore facial symmetry - my interest was piqued.
NeuroTouch claims to help correct asymmetry through the power of neuroscience, botanicals and touch. So, yeah. I had to try it.
The Science of Symmetry
Dermalogica describes NeuroTouch Symmetry Serum as a bridge between professional skin therapy and your at-home routine.
The stacked formula is dosed with squalane to moisturise, bioengineered bacillus ferment to visibly sculpt, winged kelp to firm and rosewood extract to naturally contour.
The serum also boasts an impressive adaptogenic botanical blend and CoQ10 that helps regulate stress (the glucocorticoid hormone) via the skin–mind connection. Coriander seed oil (in the adaptogenic botanical blend) has been provento boost oxytocin and beta endorphins. So, while your skin is getting a lift your mood is too.
Dermalogica says "Our essential oil technology elicits feelings of well-being and has been tested and validated for brain activity using fMRI methodology".
The Ritual: How To Apply Facial Serum For Symmetry
The serum itself is a lightweight golden oil. It feels almost dry-touch and layers like a dream. I've been applying it in the morning post cleanse using firm upward strokes to sculpt and balance.
You’re encouraged to follow Dermalogica’s sculpting technique (charted below), which is based on decades of hands-on experience in the treatment room. If you’ve ever had a pro facial and left feeling lifted and serene, that’s the vibe they’re replicating here.
Interestingly, Dermalogica are touting a unique partner-approach to the sculpting technique. According to recent studies (yes, real ones), partner massage can reduce stress-induced asymmetry, increase emotional connection and activate millions of touch receptors that literally calm your nervous system.
How to use Dermalogica NeuroTouch Symmetry Serum:
Use daily. Shake well. Apply 4-6 drops onto clean skin, massaging in firm upward strokes. Keep out of eyes. Pair with the NeuroTouch sculpting technique, alone or with a partner.
First Impressions
Here's my immediate before and after. It's subtle, but I can personally see a difference. Everything looks a little more balanced.
My jawline looked more defined on both sides, not just my “good side.” There's a little less fluid retention around cheeks. My brows and eyes look ever-so-slightly more lifted. And to top it all of? I look glowy. This lightweight oil leaves some serious radiance behind.
And I’m not alone. In an 8-week consumer study, 90% of users said their skin looked more sculpted and symmetrical after just 4 weeks. While it’s not a replacement for a full facial or gua sha routine, it’s the first (and only) serum I’ve used that makes symmetry a priority.
Final Thoughts
So, can a serum really restore facial symmetry? Surprisingly, yes. Or at least, this one can. What sets NeuroTouch apart is how it goes beyond the surface: supporting skin’s structure, tapping into sensory biology and turning a quick skincare step into a mindful ritual. It’s not just about changing how you look. It’s about how you feel, too.
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