As a 40ish-year-old woman who has been testing and writing about beauty products and skin care for at least six years, I get a lot of emails about “miracle” lotions and potions that promise to wipe x number of years from my face after x number of weeks. Believe it or not, I read every one, and my years of experience have taught me how to spot the phonies from the real deal.

When a pitch to review Ourself Regenerative Serum hit my inbox, promising to deliver “firm, smooth and even skin tone in as soon as two weeks,” I was dubious to say the least. Very few beauty products can make a noticeable difference to fine lines and wrinkles in such a short time. But as a fan of the brand, which has a glowing reputation in the industry — and the website’s before and after pictures, which are pretty impressive — I figured it couldn’t hurt to try out.

Ourself Advanced Regenerative Serum

This skin care product is pricey but powerful. Although it didn’t give me the results it promised in the stated two weeks, I noticed my skin was plumper, dewy and more hydrated after one month of regular use, and my upper lip lines were much less noticeable.

I always consider a skin care product’s ingredients before I decide to use it. This face serum has bioactive peptides that are said to help stimulate collagen and elastin production, as well as vitamin C, niacinamide (both of which brighten and strengthen the skin) and HA+ complex.