Repechage C-Serum & Eye Rescue Pads Review

I was recently contacted by Repechage, and they wanted to know if I'd be interesting in reviewing some products from their seaweed-infused spa skincare line. Um, yes?! Seaweed in skincare is one of those weird things that I happen to love - I've tried quite a few seaweed sheet masks (made from actual seaweed!) and they were glorious, so of course I was up for adding the ingredient to my skincare routine permanently. I received their best selling C-Serum Seaweed Filtrate, and their Eye Rescue Pads with seaweed and natural tea extracts.

*Before I jump into this review, I do want to say that although these products were sent to me from Repechage for review purposes, all opinions are, and always will be, my own. While I have been reviewing quite a few sponsored products lately, I will always tell you the truth about how a product performs for me; I have no reason to be dishonest! The blogging community may be rife with sponsored content and maybe some bloggers who are not quite as honest as they should be, but the main reason I started reviewing products was to bring you real reviews from my own real experiences, and I don't plan on changing that. Anywho, onward to seaweed goodness and my review!

A little about Repechage - Repechage (pronounced rehpeh-shazh) is an American company founded in 1980 by skincare professionals who wanted to create skincare products that harness the powerful benefits of the ocean. Repechage (which translates to second chance/rescue) brings together the remarkable benefits of seaweed and the finest natural ingredients the earth has to offer. Lydia Sarfati, CEO licensed skincare professional with over 40 years in the salon/spa business and the face behind the brand, develops professional facials that can be done in uniformed, safe, and effective methods for all clients around the globe. Today you can ask for these facials by name in over 44 countries, and they are exclusively offered in only certified skincare centers, spas, medical centers, salons, and through Repechage.com. Repechage products are proudly made in the United States of America with only the finest ingredients from around the world, and their in-house quality control systems check every batch twice to ensure the finest, purist quality of product.

C-Serum Seaweed Filtrate Face Serum (Price: $59): This little serum is chock-full of seaweed-y goodness; after water, algae is the second ingredient, making it pretty potent. A highly concentrated seaweed extract serum, C-Serum is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, and it helps skin retain moisture and helps to prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Repechage's products are all cruelty-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and made exclusively in the USA. It's suitable for all skin types, especially skin that has early signs of aging with dehydration, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and blotchiness. It also would work well for oilier skin types that are prone to breakouts, as its oil-free formula helps replenish lost moisture without weighing down skin or clogging pores.

Description: Every skin type can see and feel softer and smoother skin with this lightweight, oil-free serum. C-Serum, short for cytoserum, is our special seaweed Laminaria Digitata filtrate seaweed extract rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, trace elements, phlorotannins, and antioxidants. C-Serum is the first step of our world-reknown Four Layer Facial - a must have for more luminous skin! See results as long as you are using this product daily.

Ingredients:

Water/Aqua/Eau, Algae (Seaweed Cytoserum), Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dihydroxyacetate, Potassium Sorbate.  

How to use: Use all over face, neck, and decolletage twice daily alone or under Hydro-Complex PFS Moisturizing Cream.

The C-Serum comes in a heavy 30ml glass bottle with a plastic pump dispenser. Despite its name, the C-Serum is not a vitamin C serum, but rather a highly concentrated sea weed serum, with Laminaria Digitata (Seaweed) Extract and Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) as key ingredients. These are natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, and help to soften, brighten, and replenish lost moisture to skin.

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As far as scent goes, this serum does have a rather potent, ocean-y scent; I can definitely detect seaweed. I actually kind of like the scent (is it weird to like how seaweed smells? Ha!), it reminds me of my childhood memories at the beach. If you're very sensitive to scents in your products, the smell might be a bit much, but I can't smell it once applied. The serum is a very watery, amber colored liquid that dispenses from the pump easily. I only need about 1-2 pumps to cover my entire face. I've used it twice daily for about a month, as per the instructions, and my bottle is almost empty, so one bottle has about 30 days worth of product. Since the serum itself is so watery, I apply it before any of my essences or thicker serums, and it sinks in almost immediately, leaving behind a slightly tacky finish that disappears completely after a few minutes.

I do notice an immediate plumping/hydrating effect when I use this, but the real magic came from using it regularly for a few weeks - while I didn't notice much goin' on at first, after 3 weeks or so, my skin definitely started taking on a more healthy, "from the inside" type of glow, and where my skin is usually parched and dull by the end of the day, it's had a much easier time hanging on to moisture. I was honestly a bit disenchanted with this for the first couple weeks of use, as I didn't notice anything beyond mild hydration and subtle brightening, which for $60 a bottle is just not enough. I'm so glad I stuck with this little serum though; I think this is one of those products where it will take a little while to notice any big changes, but will definitely work some inner magic by repairing and brightening your complexion. As much as I love immediate, palpable results (which is why I love the instant gratification of sheet masks so much), I really appreciate a product that can truly repair my skin and prevent future fine lines and dehydration, especially one that's no fuss, sinks in quickly, and doesn't leave behind any stickiness or irritation. I'd definitely consider buying this serum again in the future (maybe when $60 won't put such a dent in my finances) now that I've seen the long term effects it can have on my skin.

Eye Rescue Pads with Seaweed and Natural Tea Extracts (Price: $38): I also received this 60-count container of moisturizing eye pads. These came at a great time, because I was looking for some new eye patches! These aren't like most eye patches I've used that are in a tear-drop shape - these are circular, and your eyes need to be closed when using them. At first I really didn't like the idea of having to have my eyes closed while wearing these, but after awhile, I got used to it. It was actually kind of nice being without any visual stimuli for 10 minutes; I like to listen to music or podcasts while wearing these, or just relax and reflect on my day. Soon I actually started looking forward to my time using them!

Description: Breathe new life into the delicate eye area! Repechage Eye Rescue Pads with seaweed, cucumber, and a potent tea blend will help your eyes look and feel refreshed. It's like the ultimate 10 minute vacation.

Ingredients:

Water/Aqua/Eau, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Aspalanthus Linearis Extract, Aloe Barbidensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata, Cola Nitida Seed Extract, Paulinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate. 

How to use: After cleansing, gently place pads over eyelids and relax for 10 minutes or longer. Remove and apply your favorite Repechage eye treatment product. Do not use if eyes are irritated or infected.

These eye pads have a bunch of awesome ingredients, such as green tea leaf extract, rooibos leaf extract, chamomile flower oil, yerba mate leaf extract, aloe vera juice, algae extracts, and cucumber extract. All of these ingredients are great for soothing, brightening, and de-puffing eyes. 

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I like to leave these on for a bit longer than the recommended 10 minutes, but even after 10 minutes, my eyes look so noticeably brighter! There's definitely a cooling effect and some mild tingling upon application, but that fades after a few minutes. The brightening effect is so noticeable that after removing these the first time I used them, there was a noticeable ring around my eyes where my eye area was much brighter than the surrounding skin. It was actually really funny (if not a bit alarming, I looked like a reverse panda!). I don't notice any irritation while using these, and my eyes feel moisturized and soothed. Overall, these have to be the best eye patches I've ever used, and $38 isn't too bad for the phenomenal results they deliver. Definite new fave!

Final Thoughts: I love when I find products that are definite repurchases, and these two are definitely going on my "to-buy" list! I've known about the moisturizing and brightening powers of seaweed for a while, but I couldn't believe how nicely these products worked to maintain the moisture balance in my skin, all the while brightening and evening my skin tone. I also love that the ingredients lists are so simple, no artificial colors/additives, just pure seaweed goodness. While it's hard to choose a favorite between the two products, I think I'm leaning more towards the eye pads - I've never used an eye product that had such pronounced, immediate effects (it even beats out my beloved My Scheming eye patches that I reviewed a few weeks ago). I'm always hesitant when it comes to products and brands that are unknown to me (I hadn't heard of Repechage before receiving these products), but these turned out to be solid winners. I can't wait to try out other products from their line! They have a brightening toner and skin correcting serum that I have my sights set on. 

If you'd like to shop the rest of the Repechage line, you can do so here. Have you tried any seaweed products lately? What did you think? 

These products were sent to me by Repechage free for review purposes, all opinions are my own. If you're curious about my press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclosure policies.