Few beauty terms have been stretched quite as far as “glow”. It can describe anything from healthier-looking skin to the glossy residue left by an overenthusiastic application of face oil. The distinction is important. True radiance comes from a complexion that appears smooth, even and well cared for, rather than merely shiny.
This is precisely the result Keren Bartov sets out to achieve with her Booster Peel & Glow Serum. Combining a carefully judged blend of exfoliating acids with clinically proven results, the daily resurfacing treatment offers an intelligent route to clearer, more luminous skin.
Bartov has built an international reputation for facials that unite hands-on massage with advanced technology, sometimes employing as many as five devices during one treatment. Her flagship clinics in London and Tel Aviv have been joined by pop-ups in New York and Los Angeles, while her skincare range translates elements of that professional expertise into formulas for use at home.
The Booster Peel & Glow Serum is intended to address several concerns at once, including dullness, rough texture, visible pores, pigmentation and fine lines. Mandelic, lactic, citric and salicylic acids exfoliate at different levels, lifting dead cells and helping to clear congestion. Tranexamic acid targets discolouration and post-acne marks, while niacinamide promotes a more balanced, uniform appearance. Ferulic acid provides antioxidant protection.
It is an impressive roster of active ingredients, but a formula is only as persuasive as its performance. Having used the serum myself, I found that the results extended beyond the fleeting sheen that so many products pass off as radiance. My complexion looked noticeably fresher, smoother and more even, with the sort of clarity that is difficult to manufacture with make-up. The improvement was visible enough to justify the product’s place in my regular routine.
The texture also makes it easy to use. It absorbs readily and sits comfortably beneath the products that follow, without turning an evening skincare regimen into an elaborate undertaking. Despite the concentration of acids, it has been conceived as a daily resurfacing treatment rather than an occasional, aggressive peel.
My experience is, of course, anecdotal, but it accords with the clinical data supplied by the brand. Testing found a reported 30 per cent improvement in radiance from the first application. After 28 days of continuous use, instrumental assessments recorded a 21 per cent reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and a seven per cent decrease in the visibility of pores.
Those percentages provide useful context, although the appeal of the serum is easier to appreciate in less clinical terms. Skin looks rested rather than lacquered; its surface appears more refined and the overall effect is one of better health.
“The Booster Peel & Glow Serum is one of my favourite products when I want the skin to look smoother, more even and more radiant without overwhelming it,” says Bartov. “For me, the best glow comes from a precise routine.”
Her recommended sequence begins with Hyaluronic Micellar Water, which cleanses gently without stripping away moisture. The Booster Peel & Glow Serum follows to renew and refine the surface, before Advanced Skin Serum replenishes hydration and essential lipids while supporting the protective barrier.
“Glow never comes from one product alone,” Bartov explains. “It comes from the right sequence of cleansing, renewal and replenishment. When those steps work together, the skin naturally looks healthier, more even and more radiant.”
There is sound sense in this measured approach. The current appetite for layering numerous active ingredients can leave the complexion irritated rather than improved. Bartov’s method is more disciplined: cleanse thoroughly, resurface carefully, restore moisture and protect the barrier.
For those using the Booster Peel & Glow Serum on its own, three drops should be applied to clean, dry skin once a day, either morning or evening. Sensitive complexions can begin with three applications a week before gradually increasing the frequency. Daily SPF is essential when incorporating acids into a routine.
At £170 for 50ml, this is a considered purchase, and it should be assessed accordingly. The combination of a sophisticated formula, supporting data and excellent results during my own trial makes a convincing case. Although promoted as a post-summer remedy, its ability to tackle uneven texture and general lacklustre appearance gives it year-round relevance.
Most importantly, the serum delivers the right kind of glow: not an artificial gloss, but skin that looks smoother, clearer and genuinely revitalised.
Keren Bartov Booster Peel & Glow Serum, £170 for 50ml, is available from kerenbartov.co.uk.
Clinical results based on instrumental testing involving 30 participants after 28 days of continuous use.
