Kelly Driscoll's YouTube video

You're Buying The Wrong "Soothing" Serum (Here's How to Actually Choose)

4 products · Jun 25, 2026 · Watch on YouTube ↗

  1. @kellydriscoll reviewing cocokind Electrolyte Rescue Serum at 01:28 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • This is your SOS pick if you went a little bit too hard with your actives1:09
    • This is going to help rescue your skin1:28
    • This is exactly what this serum is designed to do2:09
    • It actually has quite a nice texture to it. Surprisingly, it is almost like a gel cream texture for a serum2:49
    • It actually feels very cooling, refreshing, watery, and it does thin out3:01
    • You can feel how deeply it sinks into your skin3:06
    • It's not like overly greasy, moisturizing, oily, or rich3:26
    • This really relieves dehydration3:37
    • I could not believe how soothing this felt on contact4:30
    • The electrolyte complex here, the magnesium and the zinc, really do have an anti-inflammatory soothing benefit4:40
    • They do seem to take down the redness and the inflammation, especially sweat, sun, that kind of thing, really, really nicely4:51
    • This is going to provide long-lasting hydration that is going to also take down that irritation quickly
    • It dries down not sticky and not tacky5:37
    • If your skin is itchy, red, uncomfortable, and you know it's from dehydration, Cocokind is going to be the serum for you15:29
  2. @kellydriscoll reviewing Avène Cicalfate+ Intensive Skin Restorative Serum at 07:33 in a YouTube Shorts video
    Avène$40.00
    • This one actually has a lightweight hydrating gel texture7:18
    • This is going to be a really great one for folks who are also struggling with some of that dehydrated feeling, but also for folks with oily skin7:33
    • This is really really very light, refreshing, non-sticky7:46
    • If you have the type of sensitive skin that is highly reactive to ingredients like fragrance, to plant extracts, this would be a good one for you to consider because of how minimal this ingredients list is7:50
    • This one is probably going to be a safer bet for you because there's a lot less of those potential irritants to track in the ingredients list8:27
    • Avène is going to be the best for highly reactive skin looking for minimal formulas in a lightweight hydrating gel texture
    • Go with Avène if you need something lightweight, hydrating, and gel-like with an incredibly minimal formula, great for highly reactive skin
  3. @kellydriscoll reviewing The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum at 08:44 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • It's actually a creamy emulsion type of texture8:37
    • You will feel there is a hydrating element, something that sinks in a little bit deeper into the skin to relieve it, but on top we've got creaminess that feels a tiny bit rich, moisturizing, but not very greasy8:44
    • This is a very balancing type of serum, especially great for folks who are struggling with a tiny bit of dryness on their skin, maybe due to the irritation, combination skin9:00
    • It also is meant to rebuild up a weak or damaged skin barrier9:58
    • The Ordinary is great for redness, tightness as well as strengthening up your skin barrier in a creamy formula that is great to moisturize any dry areas on your skin10:13
    • No matter your skin type or your budget, both are going to soothe burning and stinging on contact10:23
    • This is also going to be your budget pick coming in at $1716:02
    • Go for The Ordinary if you appreciate a little bit more moisture in this emulsion cream texture, and if you know you need some extra barrier support on top of it
  4. @kellydriscoll reviewing COSRX Cica Serum at 10:46 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • Centella is amazing for soothing irritated sensitive skin. It brings down inflammation, soothes redness10:43
    • It's particularly good for acne-prone skin cuz it can take down the swelling of pimples, the redness and the look of pimples, but also to help promote healing of those pimples10:46
    • COSRX is using what they call a seven Cica complex in this serum, and it does contain different forms of the Centella plant in the extract form, but it also contains the four biologically active compounds of the Centella plant11:30
    • That's what makes this a compelling, effective, potent Centella serum rather than some of the other products out there12:47
    • The texture is so universal. It feels so lightweight and hydrating in this gel texture
    • It sinks down deep into the skin and really replenishes it at a much more meaningful level14:40
    • It's so lightweight, it's non-sticky at all
    • This is going to work for the oiliest of skin, this is going to work for balanced skin types, combo skin types, dry skin types. This is going to work in summer, it's going to work in winter. It is all-purpose, all skin types, all seasons15:01
    • It is one of my favorites based on the ingredients alone, based on the performance alone, but it's also one of my favorites to recommend because it will really suit a wide variety of folks15:16
    • If your skin is inflamed, red, and breakout-prone, Cosrx Cica serum is the one for you

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