This Serum Will Save Your Skin in the Summer Heat

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Welcome to Esther Tested, where former pro surfer and Racked SF associate editor Esther Hahn shares her best tips for staying cute, even in the harsh realities of Bay Area outdoor life.

California's drought can wreak total havoc on our skin. A daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing, and wearing sun protection is the baseline defense against blemishes and aging. But serums can really be the game changer. In search of one, I headed across the Golden Gate Bridge to Bluemercury in Corte Madera. All the beauty heavyweights were there, but the in-house brand M-61 caught my eye. It was developed by Bluemercury's CEO and co-founder Marla Malcolm Beck, and I figured she must know a thing or two about ingredients after 15+ years at the helm of her skincare business.

Sure enough, the M-61 Vitablast C serum ($92) didn't disappoint. Before using it, I noticed an unevenness across my forehead. But after a few applications, paired with various moisturizers, the bumpy blemishes have vanished. I've also noticed a higher moisture retention in my skin, which has resulted in more elasticity and an overall glow. It's just the magic I need for the wedding season ahead. Mix half a dropper full of it into your moisturizer to come out of the dry weather (or dry airplane) with vibrant skin.
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