You’ve seen the pictures—azure-colored water with tufts of smoke rising from the surface, surrounded by a jaggy, rocky landscape. All types of people pilgrimage to The Blue Lagoon: couples searching for a romantic retreat, influencers pursuing the ultimate IG photo, or an adventurous solo traveler looking for another country to check off the list. The one thing that connects everyone who visits this specific body of water is they know it's different from your average influencer destination; this one has special powers.
I know—the idea that a geothermal lagoon can have tangible healing properties sounds fake, or like something out of an old Grimm Brothers fairy tale, but it’s true. Back in the 1980s, people who soaked in the lagoon noticed that the water didn’t just provide reprieve from cold weather; it made their skin softer, less inflamed, and soothed chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, says Asa Brynjólfsdóttir, director of research and development at the Blue Lagoon. Word spread about the magic water and in 1993, scientists opened a clinic onsite to do official research. Thankfully, you don’t have to book a plane ticket to Reykjavik to reap the benefits—Blue Lagoon Iceland’s geothermal spa and products, specifically the BL+ Complex collection, are formulated with seawater and silica from the lagoon. After hearing all this talk about the lagoon, I had to test out one of the products for myself to see if it’s actually worth the hype.
Microalgae and silica: The brand’s unique BL+ Complex is formulated with these two ingredients. Together, they strengthen the skin barrier—the outermost layer—and promote collagen production, which helps minimize signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging, and dullness.
Blue Lagoon seawater: Seawater injects the skin with electrolytes to help maintain hydration levels, balances the skin barrier, and ensures that the skin’s regenerative processes, like cell turnover, are working properly.
Vitamin C:This antioxidant works to help fade dark spots, boost collagen projection, and protect skin from free-radical damage.
Three Types of Hyaluronic Acid: HA draws moisture into the skin to hydrate and plump while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Estheticians love to tell me that my skin is dehydrated. Like, really, really dehydrated. So, I finally decided to do something about it and incorporate this serum into my skincare routine. For those new here, your skin can be both oily and dehydrated. It just means your skin has high sebum levels but low water content. Dehydrated skin may also look dull, intensifying the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles. This differs from dry skin, which shows itself through tight, flaky skin and lack of oil. While dry skin is a skin type you can’t change (blame your parents, not me), dehydrated skin is a temporary skin condition which means you can actually do something about it. Even though I had been diligently patting a hyaluronic acid serum into my skin, it wasn’t enough. I needed a product that would finally quench my skin’s thirst.
The first thing I noticed about the serum was the scent—it wasn’t strong and doesn’t overpower your nostrils, unlike other serums on the market. I was also drawn to the texture—a lightweight serum that settled into my skin quickly without stickiness or shininess. It also spread seamlessly onto my skin without pilling.
After using the serum day and night, my skin felt softer, more supple, and my face looked bouncy and plump. Turns out a healthy and balanced barrier translates to happy skin. I don’t have wrinkles but thanks to this serum, I am winning the war against the dark circles under my eyes. (They used to get so bad that even a strategically-placed concealer couldn’t hide them.) And not to brag or anything, but even my hair stylist noticed a difference in the look of my skin and showered me with compliments after I entered the salon. I felt like a Disney Channel star in their prime.
If your skin is starting to feel a little out of balance, stressed out, or extra-dehydrated, this serum is definitely worth adding to your skincare routine. Yes, it’s pricey—serums tend to be—but it’s cheaper than a plane ticket to Reykjavik. A serum’s goal is to deliver potent ingredients directly into skin, and they’re perfect for the job because they’re made up of teeny-tiny ingredients that can penetrate deeply into the skin’s inner layers and target specific skincare concerns. They actually get the top done, especially this one, which counts water from the fountain of youth as one of its ingredients.
