Moon Juice, the wellness startup both mocked and beloved for its $40 'dusts', now makes a hydrating serum that costs $58 - and I have to say, it's incredible

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Remi Rosmarin / Moon Juice

The Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Serum uses adaptogens to plump and hydrate skin.

• The Beauty Shroom Plumping Jelly Serum ($58) is an intensly-hydrating serum from popular wellness brand Moon Juice.
• The serum combines powerful adaptogens and potent moisturizers, like reishi mushrooms and hyaluronic acid, and claims to to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles for skin that looks plump and fresh.
• I've been using the serum for a few weeks and my skin hasn't felt this soft and smooth in ages.

Even if you haven't heard of Moon Juice, you've probably heard some of the buzz around the brand's signature "dusts." Yes, you read that right: dusts - otherwise known as powdered supplements.

Each "dust" is a proprietary blends of adaptogenic herbs that you can stir into smoothies, coffees, or even just water. Supposedly, they work to improve your skin, focus, energy, and sleep from the inside out.

As a skeptical but always intrigued consumer, I was always interested in the brand from afar - the $40 price tag for the small jar of powder is what kept me at arms length. So, when I got the opportunity to try some Moon Juice skin-care products, I was excited, if a little wary.

After testing it out for a few weeks, I think the brand's standout product is the Beauty Shroom Serum.

Although I had never heard of this particular product before I started testing it, I can't imagine my skin-care routine without it now.

What is Beauty Shroom serum?

Moon Juice's Beauty Shroom is a serum that works to plump, fill, lift, and smooth skin. It's a powerful tonic made with classic hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and the secret sauce in most of Moon Juice's products, adaptogens. According to Moon Juice, adaptogens are "Superherbs and Supermushrooms that help expand your body's capacity to handle mental, physical and emotional stress." Adaptogens have been used in Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and today are revered for their ability to help improve the health of one's adrenal system, which manages our responses to stress. If adaptogens are supposedly this good for the inside of our bodies, it makes sense that they may also do wonders for the largest organ we all have: our skin.

The Beauty Shroom Plumping Jelly Serum combines hyaluronic acid with tocos (a potent vitamin e), silver ear (a hydrating mushroom), and reishi (an anti-inflammatory adaptogen). The consistency of the serum is that of a lightweight jelly and just a few drops morning and night kept my skin ultra-hydrated.

Moon Juice claims this product will not only hydrate skin, but it will also plump, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and protect skin from environmental stressors of the day. While those are some big claims, I've been using the serum for a few weeks now and in my personal experience, the hype is real.

My experience using Beauty Shroom

Moon Juice suggests you rub a few drops of the Beauty Shroom serum onto clean skin morning and night. You can follow up with a thicker moisturizer if you desire.

It takes a while for most skincare products to yield noticable results, but after using the Beauty Shroom Serum just once, my skin felt noticeably softer and looked much healthier. I don't really have issues with serious fine lines or wrinkles, but a coffee habit, usual lack of sleep, and just living in New York City have all definitely contributed to my skin typically looking dry and dull. After massaging two generous drops onto my face one morning, I was surprised to see my skin instantly looked bouncier and brighter - it was as if I had just drank a liter of water and slept for 12 hours.

What surprised me even more is that when I came home after work, my skin still felt so hydrated. Usually, by the end of the day my skin has given up to the elements - it gets red, dries out, and loses most of the moisture I lathered on in the morning. Yet, hours later my skin felt supple with no signs of any end-of-day dullness.

Moon Juice

The lightweight consistency of this serum works well for all skin types, at all times of year.

After a great first impression, I began incorporating this serum into my routine more often - now I use it every day, morning and night. The lightweight jelly consistency feels great and seamlessly absorbs into my skin, visibly smoothing out fine lines I never even really noticed before until they were gone. My makeup just glides on and looks much more natural. Even without any makeup on, my skin looks refreshed all day thanks to the combination of super-hydrating and skin-protecting ingredients.

In the mornings, I've been layering sunscreen on top of this serum, but other than that, on most days I've decided to forgo any extra moisturizer. This product is so hydrating and leaves such a nice, smooth feel, that I don't even feel the need to use anything else. If your skin is particularly dry or you have any special creams you always use, layer away.

Bottom line

After spending money on relatively expensive skincare products that don't always live up to their claims one too many times, I've become pretty discerning when it comes to curating my skincare collection. While the $58 price tag is high, this serum has earned a permanent spot in my skin-care routine. When this bottle runs out, I am without a doubt buying another one, because I don't think I can go on without having this now that I know it exists.

Of course, everyone's skin is different and what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. But, if you're looking for a really hydrating product, and if it's in your budget, I think this serum is worth a try. The clean list of ingredients means it'll work for all skin types. amd the hydrating boost it delivers is perfect for warm-weather skin care, and getting that natural, dewy summer glow.

Get the Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Plumping Jelly Serum, $58, available at Moon Juice and Sephora

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