This Serum Gave Me Brighter, More Hydrated Skin and Less Redness in Three Weeks
Flick is Adore Beauty’s Creative Copywriter. She started her writing career covering women’s sports and interviewing musicians and can often be found photographing gigs on the side. She’s no stranger to a rotating skincare cabinet and is currently on the lookout for a skincare routine that caters to redness, sensitivity and texture. She also used to complain when her mum would tell her to wear sunscreen and for that, she'd like to publicly apologise
My skin history is littered with redness, sensitivity, clog-prone pores and annoying bouts of hormonal acne.
So when our Senior Beauty Editor Sadaf asked me to road-test the new Sodashi No.21 botanical-packed face serum, I must admit, I hesitated.
That would mean adding another ingredient to a delicately balanced skincare cocktail.
But, after pouring over the ingredients list and recognising a few face-faves (centella, Vitamin E and bakuchiol) I agreed to be the guinea pig.
They’re definitely an underrated brand here at Adore Beauty and up until this point, the closest I’d gotten was admiring the exquisite packaging whenever I passed our skincare cabinets.
However, after some more research, I found another reason to love them — their dedication to balancing skincare production with environmental responsibility and social impact.
So, let’s get acquainted…
What Is Sodashi?
They’re an Australian-made vegan, cruelty-free skincare brand that combines biochemistry with principle learning from aromatherapy and Ayurveda.
They’ve been around since 1999, and their ethos is all about using high-quality ingredients to produce nurturing skincare.
Their sustainability vision includes:
- Ethical sourcing.
- Eco-friendly packaging.
- A partnership with i=Change.
- A newly launched recycling program.
I’m a big fan of skincare that takes into account the world around them during production and Sodashi does exactly that.
On top of this, their products give off an uber-luxe spa vibe — like they should only be seen in a steam room next to a pile of hot rocks.
Needless to say, I was excited to see what they had to offer.
What Is the Sodashi Serum No.21?
Their new clinically-proven serum is supercharged with 20 of the world's most nutrient-rich botanicals and has been created to address the most common skin concerns:
- Ageing.
- Texture.
- Dehydration.
- Pigmentation.
- Elasticity loss.
By including ingredients that:
- Help with acne-prone skin.
- Stimulate cellular turnover.
- Boost production of collagen.
- Reduce signs of UV damage.
The formula is a goodie-packed potion that incorporates a lot of skincare ingredient favourites like jojoba oil, centella, kakadu plum, calendula, bakuchiol, rosehip seed oil, Vitamin E, frankincense (plus a lot more).
Long story short? It was created to be the ultimate 'all-in-one' brightening, hydrating, skin-smoothing wonder serum.
So, how’d it do?
My Sodashi Serum No.21 Review.
Let me reiterate, my skin is not easy to please.
I love her, but if I slather on something she’s not happy with, I will know about it — usually in the form of rapidly appearing pimples, blackheads, redness, peeling, and rosacea flare-ups.
I had just overdone it a little on the actives trying to get some revenge on a bout of hormonal acne so my skin was dehydrated, red, and dry when I started my road test.
With that in mind, I started slowly by incorporating Serum No.21 into the mix every second night.
I warmed the serum between my hands and popped it onto a clean and fresh face, inspired by the spa-like feel to slow down my slapstick-esque skincare routine and treat myself to a bit of facial massage.
It felt divine.
The serum feels like a lightweight oil and has a pleasant and natural smell.
It’s moisturising, but it doesn’t have that greasy/heaviness that I sometimes associate with face oils.
It went on smoothly and my skin absorbed it quickly, meaning I was able to layer on the rest of my skincare with ease.
I woke up the next morning still feeling hydrated, and it hadn’t made my rosacea flare up (this was a big moment for me).
After about four days of use, I was on a work call and one of my coworkers (who was unaware of the trial) stopped and commented on how dewy and glowy my skin was.
The oil also wore well under makeup.
Usually when I wear foundation, I tend to feel a bit of tightness towards the end of the day and by the time I get home, my skin is begging to be moisturised.
On the days I applied the serum in the morning though my skin stayed feeling fresh and hydrated all day.
The results?
I’ve only been using it for a few weeks but my skin feels brighter, more hydrated, and I have less redness on my cheeks and chin.
My hormonal acne flare-up was calming down and I noticed a lot less texture too.
Final Thoughts...
I’m in my '20s and was raised by a sunscreen-obsessed mother (I’m blessed and I’m grateful), so I won’t infuriate you by talking about fine lines or loss of firmness, but my skin does feel plumper.
Do my cells feel rejuvenated? Look, I can’t ask them, but they’re definitely acting like they’re in support of the collagen-boosting spa days they’ve been treated to.
This range is a bit pricier, but I’m willing to fork out a little extra for a brand that goes above and beyond with its dedication to the environment — especially when it makes my sensitive skin happy!
Safe to say, Sodashi No.21 has certainly earned its place in my skincare routine and I’ve discovered a new brand to gift my bougie skincare-inclined pals.
Looking for more helpful skincare advice and product recommendations like this? Check out these BIQs:
