This New ‘Inflammaging’ Serum Also Gives You Glazed Donut Skin

Two big benefits in one small tube: ZO Skin Health AOX Illuminating Serum fights against “inflammaging”—yes, it’s a real thing, and I’ve definitely been affected by it—and makes skin shine SO bright. These are my honest thoughts after giving it a try.

My Skin Type:

Combination. I’m drier in the cold-weather months and oilier in the warm-weather ones thanks to the high humidity on the East Coast.

The Benefits:

The beauty buzzword “inflammaging” represents the link between inflammation and aging, which has become a bigger conversation as of late thanks to new research findings. As a result, more skin-care brands are creating products to combat inflammation in the skin, and this serum does that and more. Backed by top dermatologists, the antioxidant-rich formula not only targets chronic inflammation—signs include dehydration, dullness, uneven tone, and premature lines and wrinkles and dryness—in the skin, which can lead to visible signs of aging, but also gives skin that glazed-donut effect everyone is pining over right now thanks to Hailey Bieber and TikTok.

The anti-“inflammaging” power comes from three of the brand’s proprietary ingredient blends (the formula took three years to create): ZPOLY, a new polysaccharide complex that helps reduce inflammation in the skin, hydrate and restore its optimal health; ZO-RRS2, a plant stem cell complex that fights free radicals and calms redness (another common sign of inflammaging); and ZOX12, an antioxidant complex of vitamins A, C and E that provides 12 hours of free-radical defense (pollution protection, etc) as you wear it throughout the day. Two reparative enzymes—micrococcus lysate and arabidopsis thaliana extracts—also work to shorten the time it takes for skin cells to naturally repair themselves, while also enhancing the repair process.

Though the word “illuminating” is in the product’s name, I had no idea just how illuminating it was until I put it on for the first time. Wow! Hello glazed-donut skin. So, you’re not just getting a supercharged anti-aging, healthy-skin formula, but also a glow like you’ve never had before (mica gives it its pearlescent color).

Key Ingredients:

ZOX12 (the brand’s proprietary complex of vitamins A, C and E), ZO-RRS2 (the brand’s proprietary plant stem cell complex), ZPOLY (the brand’s proprietary plant-derived polysaccharide complex), reparative enzymes, and micro minerals

What It’s Free From:

Parabens

How to Use It:

Apply it in the morning on clean skin. I like to layer it under my sunscreen for another layer of free-radical defense and double-duty protection. If you want to tone down the sheen, just apply a matte or semi-matte foundation on top.

What It Feels Like:

A light cream-serum that blends into skin easily

What It Smells Like:

There’s a faint hint of citrus but it dissipates quickly on the skin.

The Bottom Line:

For me, this product screams glowy summer skin. The glazed donut sheen may not be the look everyone is going for, but I’m a fan, and I’ll take all the products I can get my hands on that effectively fight signs of “inflammaging.”

Price/Where to Buy:

$165, zoskinhealth.com