ISDIN vs MartiDerm — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Photo-Age HA+ Ampoules
9.1/10 · MartiDerm
| Isdinceutics Melatonik | Photo-Age HA+ Ampoules | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ISDIN | MartiDerm |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight night serum | Watery serum in single-dose glass ampoule |
| Finish | Recovered, brightened, smoothed | Brightened, plumped, immediately smoothed |
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| Verdict | ISDIN's night recovery serum — and one of the most innovative formulations in Spanish dermocosmetics. The star ingredient is melatonin, used here not as a sleep aid but as a topical antioxidant: melatonin is a potent free-radical scavenger that neutralizes oxidative damage accumulated during daytime UV exposure. Layered with bakuchiol (plant-based retinol alternative — same receptor activation, less irritation), stabilized vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside), and HPR (hydroxypinacolone retinoate — a next-gen retinoid that binds directly to retinoid receptors without conversion). The three-in-one night recovery concept (antioxidant repair via melatonin + retinoid renewal via bakuchiol/HPR + brightening via vitamin C) is clinically elegant. At ~$65 for 30ml, mid-premium pricing that's justified by the ingredient innovation. The night serum ISDIN's dermatologist network uses as a retinol-sensitive alternative. | MartiDerm's most iconic ampoule — and the Spanish 'before-the-event' beauty ritual in glass-vial form. Each 2ml nitrogen-flushed ampoule carries 5% pure L-ascorbic acid + dual-weight hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate + hydrolyzed) + ferulic acid + proteoglycans (sodium chondroitin sulfate, sodium DNA — MartiDerm's house actives) + Argireline peptide. The nitrogen-flushed glass keeps the vitamin C stable at full clinical potency until the moment you snap the ampoule. The ritual of snapping a glass vial, dispensing the entire 2ml dose, applying directly to clean skin, is part of why MartiDerm is the brand Spanish women reach for the night before a wedding, a job interview, or a photographed event. At $55 for 30 ampoules (~$1.80 each), mid-tier per dose — but a fresh, oxidation-free 5% L-AA hit that bottle-format serums genuinely cannot match. |
