I have reached the age where my targeted ads are no longer showing me cute festival outfits and are instead exclusively showing me preventative botox and something called NAD+. Apparently, our skin starts losing its internal battery power as we get older, and honestly? Same. So, when I saw a $15.99 Korean serum called the EQQUALBERRY NAD+ Peptide Boosting Smoothie Serum popping up in my feed, I figured it was time to see if I could charge my face like an iPhone.
The Texture is Actually Like a Smoothie
Opening this was a bit of a trip. It is called a smoothie serum, and for once, the marketing actually matches the vibe. It has this semi-thick, milky consistency with tiny little white particles floating in it. Do not panic, they are not exfoliating beads that are going to scratch your moisture barrier into oblivion. They are little concentrated bursts of goodness that dissolve the second they touch your skin. It is unscented, which is a massive win for my sensitive-skin girlies, and it feels cooling in a way that makes me feel significantly more put-together than I actually am at 7:00 AM.
Survival of the Fittest (and the Most Dehydrated)
I decided to put this to the ultimate test: a six-hour flight followed by a day of running around a city I do not live in. Usually, after a flight, my skin looks like a piece of crumpled-up parchment paper, but I layered this under my moisturizer and hoped for the best. The 5 Essential Ceramides really put in the work here. By the time I hit the hotel mirror at 9:00 PM, I did not have that weird, tight, desert-dry feeling around my mouth and nose. My skin actually felt... bouncy?
- Pigment Payoff: Not applicable here, but it definitely leaves a glassy, translucent glow that makes you look expensive.
- Wear Time: It kept me hydrated for a solid 10 hours without needing a mid-day misting.
- Texture: Completely non-sticky. It sinks in fast enough that you can put your makeup on thirty seconds later without everything sliding off your face.
- Long-term Vibes: After a week, my fine lines (especially the ones from squinting at my laptop) look significantly less angry.
The Final Verdict
Is it going to replace a professional facelift? No. But for sixteen bucks, the EQQUALBERRY NAD+ Peptide Boosting Smoothie Serum is punching way above its weight class. It is the kind of product that makes you look like you drink a gallon of water a day and get eight hours of sleep, even if you were actually up until 2:00 AM scrolling through TikTok. It is a solid, reliable hydration booster that treats your skin to some high-tech ingredients without making your bank account cry.
Who Should Buy This:
- Anyone who wants that Korean "glass skin" look without the greasy finish.
- People starting to notice their first few fine lines and wanting to nip them in the bud.
- Sensitive skin types who need a ceramide boost without fragrance irritation.
Who Should Skip This:
- People who want an immediate, overnight "miracle" (this is a gradual builder).
- Anyone who prefers a super watery, thin serum consistency.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Lauren