e.l.f. Discovery

How to Use Thirst Burst Drops—e.l.f.'s Brightening and Hydrating Serum

Emma Trevino

Pssst! Summer’s over and the fall season is nearly underway. Usually that means one of two things: you’re wondering how you’re going to maintain that healthy, plump look, with the effortless glow you got this summer, or you’re prepping to ensure dry, dull skin isn’t in your future with cold, wintery months around the corner. Whichever way you and your routine are leaning, one thing is consistent: you don’t want to let that plump looking, dewy finish go. Finding a product that delivers radiant, dewy skin is hard to come by. Some are too harsh, some aren’t potent enough, and others don’t deliver the skin-quenching hydration your skin craves when you’re handling dryness.

Enter Thirst Burst Drops, our newest member of the e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Collection. This brightening serum features niacinamide as its superhero ingredient, along with hydrating hyaluronic acid, hibiscus complex, and more. In other words, it’s going to be your go-to for capturing moisturized, juicy, and lit-from-within skin all winter long (and way after that, too). Ready to make room in your beauty cabinet for your new favorite hydrating serum?

What Does Niacinamide Do For Skin?

Like we mentioned, the powerhouse ingredient of Thirst Burst Drops is niacinamide. Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 and boosts versatile skin-brightening properties that make it a beloved ingredient in a wide array of skincare products. So, what does it do? Niacinamide offers so many properties that can help improve the appearance of skin. Niacinamide helps to brighten uneven skin tone and reduce dullness, delivering an all-over radiant glow.

Niacinamide (and Thirst Burst!) is also great for helping boost the hydration of skin and giving skin a plump, healthy-looking appearance. This, plus a thoughtful selection of other hydrating ingredients, make our brightening serum a truly multifunctional gel serum that works as well as it feels—hydrating, quenching, soothing, and plumping!

Skincare Ingredients That Glow

When formulating our fragrance-free Thirst Burst Drops, our main goal was bringing the glow and achieving a juicy, radiant-looking complexion. We’ve already shared about the magic that is niacinamide (which we formulated at a potent 5%), so let’s get into two of our other favorite ingredients that star in our hydrating drops. First up, hyaluronic acid. You probably know it and love it, but here’s a quick refresher: hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin known for its ability to help retain moisture—holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water! This makes it a hydration hero, helping to keep the appearance of your skin looking plump and healthy.

The other star ingredient in these hydrating drops is our hibiscus complex. The hibiscus can help to the appearance of skin look moisturized and hydrated, working to improve overall appearance and feel. It also helps to maintain skin's moisture balance so that it leaves skin looking soft and supple.

How to Use Thirst Burst Drops

The baseline how-to when it comes to Thirst Burst Drops? The more drops applied = the more glow you’ll get. This truly multifunctional serum plays well with other products, and can be used in lots of different ways to help achieve plump, healthy-looking skin. Of course, it can also be used alone and can be used during the “serum step” in your skincare routine.

If that’s your game plan, we recommend using this hydrating serum after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer or SPF. Thirst Burst drops have a gel-like, fast-absorbing texture, so it’s effective as a hydrating and brightening primer under makeup. If you’re a multitasker at heart and like to keep your makeup routine simple and quick, mix a few drops of Thirst Burst into your favorite foundation and apply that way!

Making Sense of Our Face Serums

If you’ve been around for a bit, then you know we have a handful of face serums in the e.l.f. skin family. While all can be a staple in your routine, each serum goes to work in a slightly different way and targets various skin concerns. So, let’s get into it. Thirst Burst Drops, at its core, is a brightening and hydrating serum. This is because of its 5% niacinamide formulation as well as its hyaluronic acid and hibiscus complex additions. If you’re looking to simply flood skin with hydration go for Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce Serum, which delivers hyaluronic acid at three different molecular weights and reveals fresh, plump-looking skin.

For those looking to reduce the appearance fine lines and wrinkles and work on a long term overhaul of dull skin, Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum is your pick. Our Blemish Breakthrough Triple-Acid Resurfacing Serum has an 8.5% triple-acid complex: salicylic acid, tranexamic acid, and PHA, to help resurface the appearance of skin to visibly improve the look of skin tone and texture. Our Vitamin C Serum is incredible for skin in need of general brightening and skin tone improvement thanks to its high antioxidant content.

Bronzer and Hydrating Drops: The Best Skincare Duo

Now that you’ve got your brightening and dewy serum on lock, we’ve got yet another way to maintain that healthy-looking summer glow you don’t want to let go of: mix Thirst Burst Drops with our Bronzing Drops in our Hottest Drops Duo kit for a quenched burst of sun-kissed color. Together, these drops deliver all the hydration and bronzy glow you’ll need to get through winter.

Keep an eye out for Hottest Drops Duo, mini versions of Thirst Burst Drops and Bronzing Drops that will be sold together to keep your routine easy and your skin looking bright, bronzed

How to Use Hydrating Drops

Frequently Asked Questions About Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide:

Q: What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do For Your Face?

A: Hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse ingredient in skincare, and may offer numerous skin benefits for your face when used correctly. This naturally occurring substance has the ability to attract and retain moisture. When applied to the skin, it can provide hydration, which can lead to a plumper, more youthful looking appearance. This hydration boost can also help to smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more supple and radiant look. Additionally, hyaluronic acid may improve skin texture, helping the appearance of skin look softer and more even-toned. One of the great advantages of hyaluronic acid is its suitability for most skin types, including sensitive skin. Whether used in serums, moisturizers, or masks, hyaluronic acid can be a valuable addition to your skincare routine, helping to maintain a healthy, hydrated, and youthful-looking complexion. Remember, while hyaluronic acid is beneficial, it's most effective when used in conjunction with a well-rounded skincare routine.

Q: Is It Okay To Use Hyaluronic Acid Every Day?

A: Yes, it is generally safe and to use hyaluronic acid every day as part of your skincare routine. Hyaluronic acid is a gentle, non-irritating ingredient that naturally occurs in our bodies, making it suitable for daily use across most skin types. Its primary function is to hydrate and plump the appearance of skin, which can be beneficial when applied consistently. Daily use can help maintain optimal skin hydration, improve the appearance of skin texture, and can provide a plumping effect that may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, as with any skincare product, it's important to pay attention to how your skin responds and adjust usage if needed. If you have any concerns or specific skin conditions, it's always best to consult with a dermatologist for personalized advice.

Q: What Is Best, Retinol or Hyaluronic Acid?

A: Retinol and hyaluronic acid are both popular skincare ingredients, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct benefits. Retinol is primarily known for its anti-aging properties. It can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid is a popular skincare ingredient that helps to attract and retain moisture in the skin. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, providing intense hydration and plumping the skin. While retinol focuses on skin renewal and repair, hyaluronic acid concentrates on hydration and improving the appearance of skin texture. Both ingredients are excellent additions to a skincare routine because they complement each other well.

Q: Can I Use Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid Together?

A: Retinol's cell-renewing properties can sometimes cause dryness or irritation, which hyaluronic acid can help counteract with its hydrating effects. Using both in your skincare routine (typically retinol at night and hyaluronic acid morning and night) can lead to a more balanced, youthful, and healthy-looking complexion. However, it's important to introduce new skincare products gradually and consult with a dermatologist if you have any concerns about combining these ingredients.

Q: Which is Better, Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid?

A: Both ingredients are great additions to a skincare routine because they complement each other well. Vitamin C works to protect and repair the appearance of skin, while hyaluronic acid can help skin to stay hydrated and supple-looking. Using both in your routine (typically vitamin C in the morning for antioxidant protection throughout the day, and hyaluronic acid morning and night for continuous hydration) can lead to a more balanced, youthful, and healthy-looking complexion. The combination can help address multiple skin concerns simultaneously, from dryness and dullness to signs of aging and uneven skin tone.

Q: Which is Better, Niacinamide or Hyaluronic Acid?

A: Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are both beneficial skincare ingredients, but they serve different purposes. Both ingredients are excellent additions to a skincare routine. While niacinamide works to improve overall skin health and appearance, hyaluronic acid can help the appearance of skin stay hydrated. Using both in your routine can address multiple skin concerns, from dehydration and dullness to uneven texture. Moreover, both ingredients are generally well-tolerated by most skin types, making them suitable for a wide range of users. By incorporating niacinamide and hyaluronic acid into your skincare regimen, you can work towards achieving a more balanced, healthy, and radiant-looking complexion.

Q: Is Niacinamide Ok to Use Every Day?

A: Yes, it is generally safe and beneficial to use niacinamide every day as part of your skincare routine. Niacinamide is a gentle and versatile ingredient that suits most skin types, including sensitive skin. Daily use can help improve skin texture, minimize the appearance of pores and help regulate oil production. It's also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to even out the appearance of skin tone. Unlike some other active ingredients, niacinamide typically doesn't cause irritation or increased sun sensitivity, making it suitable for both morning and evening use. However, as with any skincare product, it's important to introduce it gradually and observe how your skin responds.

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