This article is not sponsored in any way. Zelens have earned the praise.

Zelens is one of my all time favourite brands that I’ve been using since 2020 (I’ve been buying their products even before their big reformulation & packaging change). They are a UK-based skincare company founded by Dr Marko Lens, a melanoma expert, plastic and reconstructive surgeon with an impressive scientific body of work (including a Harvard MSc degree). 

Zelens’ DNA from their inception in 2005 continues to be all about marrying scientifically proven actives with effective botanicals to create skincare that’s results-driven and innovative. While it might not seem groundbreaking now, it definitely was almost 20 years ago. Setting the standard? Very much so.

Every product is extensively tested for efficiency before it hits the market, and it shows. I just love the way that the brand is positioned, the science-forward branding, the luxe glass packaging, the attention to detail, the texturally elegant formulas absolutely loaded with exciting actives… okay, that’s enough. You know I’m a fan.
Over the years I’ve tried most of their products, and I’ll give you my thoughts on each one. This post will be updated when i try more. Let’s dive in.

Products marked with an asterisk have been sent by the brand with no posting requirements, either as PR or as a restock of previously purchased products..

All products (aside from Z-22 and Lip Treatment Oil) are fragrance-free and smell of raw ingredients.

Buy them here: https://eu.zelens.com

Cleansers:

Shiso Balm – best for the evening first cleanse, removes makeup. An emollient, easily emulsifying thick gel product with a low oil content. Effective, efficient and overall a joy to use. Nourishing, but doesn’t leave a greasy layer behind. Has some antioxidants. Can even work as a single cleanse if you’re not wearing heavy makeup. Love the plastic bottle that won’t shatter in the shower. 

Masks:

Instant Recharge – I have it, not yet tested.

Mists (spray in your hands, and then apply to your face with patting motion)

Microbiota P3 * – a microbiome supporting mist, best used as a soothing serum. Prebiotics, postbiotics, peptides, botanicals, barrier supporting ingredients… Can’t go wrong. Very pleasant and hydrating, gives a lovely sheen to the skin. All skin types, but best on normal-dry skin. 

Provitamin D * – a barrier supporting mist, best used as a serum. Part of the Vitamin D („Fortificante” IYKYK) collection. Titular provitamin D, botanicals, glycosaminoglycans, barrier support, soothing ingredients, hydrators. Fabulous at keeping skin stable and as a lightweight barrier treatment. All skin types, but best on normal-dry skin. 
Life hack: Gives a gorgeous glass skin finish if used as a setting spray. 

Eye cream:

Triple Action Eye Cream – my mum (60+) has emptied a jar and she liked it. That’s all the reviewing I got 🙂

Serums:

Lumino – I have it, not yet tested

Hyaluron Intense – a plumping multi-humectant serum with 1% of hyaluronic acid at varying molecular weights (and even a niosome-encapsulated HA). Has some interesting antioxidants like succinic acid, shiso leaf extract and magnolol among others. If that wasn’t enough, it has polysaccharides, microbiome supporting ingredients and niosome-encapsulated kaempferol, a flavonoid that can inhibit the activity of hyaluronidase, our enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. I absolutely love it for the plumping power, and I appreciate that it’s more than just a hyaluronic acid serum. All skin types friendly

Melatonin B12 * – a nighttime repair serum with melatonin (antioxidant), vitamin B12 and a lot of peptides, ingredients that are supposed to regulate the skin’s circadian rhythm and nourishing botanicals. I loved the silky texture, but the results were pretty standard for a repair serum. Good, but if your siblings are prodigies… All skin types.

Tea Shot * – great option for people that need a non-vitamin C antioxidant serum. Why is it called like this? It contains green tea, green tea oil, EGCG (the main active polyphenol of green tea), matcha tea, white tea, black tea, red tea and kombucha. Plus some nice supporting agents that condition the skin. I really like it when it comes to reducing the appearance of redness – it did make a difference for me. I do think it’s not for the very oily skin types, as it’s a lotion with some weight. 

The Powers (products that are formulated to elevate the potential of vitamins A, B, C, D & E):

Power B * – directed towards breakout prone oily skin, this lightweight serum is full of vitamin B forms: B3 (niacinamide), B5, B6, B7, B9, B12. It does have a lot of other ingredients – hydrators, ferments, botanicals, antioxidants… As this wasn’t formulated with my type of skin in mind, I haven’t seen the full spectrum of results, but it did feel quenching on the skin and hydrated it well. I’ve been using it under my retinal serum as a buffer with no irritation. Smells of rosemary extract!

Power C * – one of my all time favourite vitamin C serums. 20% ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate & an underrated silanol vitamin C derivative are dispersed through a soy lysophospholipid-enriched micellar emulsion. Supporting cast is Oscar-worthy and includes Saccharomyces filtrate, regenerating silanols and botanical antioxidants. All skin types, maybe not for oily skin that likes lightweight products, because the lotion is quite nourishing. I love it, it’s exactly what Zelens is about: effective, elegant and so high tech!

Power D * – this is a semi-dry oil-emollient serum, think of it as a repairing & re-lipiding serum-in-oil. Best used as a serum or mixed with your moisturiser. Full of different types of lipids, calming provitamin D, mushroom extracts and amino acids. I absolutely cherish this as a post-shave treatment, it’s brilliant at decreasing the appearance of irritation and restoring comfort to the skin. Barrier hero of mine! If your skin isn’t irritated easily you might want to select another serum. If you don’t like oils – skip as well. Total Zelens bestseller.

Power E * – interesting product like no other on the market. Zelens have really put every vitamin E form in here, there are multiple forms of it in the formula – including a few different esters, silanol derivatives and tocotrienols. Since vitamin E has really nice emollient properties (and some minor antioxidant benefits), and this serum disperses it through a liquid crystal emulsion system, it is a lightweight lotion that moisturizes like a proper cream. Additionally it boasts different lipids, glycosaminoglycans, a Saccharomyces ferment and a few other interesting ingredients. All skin types, especially worth a try if Power D’s oiliness is a dealbreaker – this can care for your barrier too!

Moisturisers:

Emulsion D – The most cost effective way to get one of their Vitamin D products, Emulsion D is a lipid-rich cream with a buttery texture and a lamellar lipid matrix that mimics our skin’s own. Provitamin D, a staple of their D line, meets a ceramide, a wide variety of lipids, microbiome supporting ingredients, trehalose, soothing actives and hydrators. For me it’s an effective moisturiser that lasts a long time and is a particularly great option after shaving. Since it’s designed to leave a protective layer on the skin, it can create quite a glow on oilier skin types, so keep that in mind. All skin types but those who can’t take glow even at night.

3T Complex * – this is designed to be everything the skin needs in a moisturiser form. 20 liposome-encapsulated botanical extracts, including 5 algae, a proprietary oil blend for the lipid phase of the emulsion, barrier-boosting ursolic acid, some ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, Guggul resin that plumps up the skin (noticeable!) and many more special ingredients. The texture is lush, buttery and I love it. Apply it on damp skin for better spreadability. I’ll revisit it soon. Oily skins might prefer it for the night.

Oils:

Z-22 – how much time do we have left? I am a facial oil lover & my dry, dehydration-prone skin can’t get enough – I know they aren’t for everybody, so if you’re not the biggest fan of oils skip this paragraph, because I’m a Z-22 stan. This is close to a perfect oil for me – lightweight, moisturizing, texturally elegant and indulgently fragrant. The base showcases a rare oil – the antioxidant-rich Shiso seed oil. The composition blends it with 21 other oils – take a peek at the website, because it’s beautifully written and describes the actives really well. Some of the oils are fragrant, like lemon, bergamot, labdanum and rose flower oil – they give it its wonderful, deep, signature citrus-floral scent. It’s an absolutely incredible oil and I’ve repurchased since. Another hit from Zelens.

Lips:

Lip Treatment Oil * – well, if you’re looking for an elegant, sheer and luxe lip oil or just an indulgent daytime lip treatment then look no further. For me this is perfection in this category. The base is so well blended, and there are some antioxidants thrown in for good measure. You can feel your lips softened instantly, and the effect lasts longer than the other oils I’ve used. It gives a subtle sheen that isn’t too much, and there’s minimal migration or stickiness. The vanilla scent is thankfully not overpowering. I love this & my lips do as well. Won’t treat dry, chapped lips, but isn’t too drying.