Obagi Medical - NU-GEN Cellular Renewal Serum

Obagi's newest serum, and immediately a different approach than the rest of their range. While their classics work with vitamin C or retinol, this is all about the energy metabolism of your skin cells.

Why it works

NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell of your body that plays a role in energy production. Its levels decrease as you age, and that is what this serum addresses. Obagi combines NAD+ itself with NMN, a precursor from which your cells can create NAD+, and with niacinamide, which feeds that same pathway.

Niacinamide is also an ingredient I enjoy working with on its own: it strengthens the skin barrier and visibly makes an uneven complexion look more uniform. In addition, it contains sodium hyaluronate for hydration, and beta-glucan, which keeps the skin calm.

The texture is light and absorbs quickly, so it fits under your cream and sun protection without feeling heavy. One bottle contains 30 ml.

For whom

For every skin type, from oily to dry. Especially interesting if your skin looks a bit dull and tired while your basic routine is already well-established.

Also an option for those who do not tolerate retinol well. This is a different entry point to the same goal, without the adjustment phase that retinol often requires.

How to use it

Two to three pumps, morning and evening, on cleansed and dry skin. It goes before your heavier products, so after your cleanser and toner and before your cream. Avoid contact with your eyes. Store between 15 and 25 degrees, out of direct sunlight.

What I would like to share with you

Honesty is part of it: this is an expensive serum, and it is new. NAD+ in skincare is a young field of research, and you won't find the years of piled-up studies behind it that exist for vitamin C or retinol. That doesn't make it bad, but it does make it something to choose consciously.

I wouldn't start with it for that reason. If your cleanser, sun protection, and a good active product are not yet set, you are better off putting your money there. If you do have all that, and you are looking for a next step, then this is the most interesting thing Obagi has released in recent years.

Are you unsure whether this is the right time for your skin? Feel free to send me a message, and we can look at your routine together.