It’s not every day a celebrity beauty brand truly piques our interest, but when we heard the news about Martha Stewart’s skin care line, Elm Biosciences, we couldn’t help but be curious. After all, this is the woman who makes constant headlines for her ageless skin (which, according to Stewart, has no help from Botox or plastic surgery) and, not to mention, graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Described as “intentional skin care for living and aging well,” Elm Biosciences has been five years in the making and was developed in partnership with Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, Stewart’s longtime dermatologist and the founder of Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in New York City.
Curious to see if the Martha magic is worth the hype? We asked four Glamour editors of varying ages and skin types to put the Elm Biosciences A3O Elemental Serum to the test. Ahead, our honest review on Martha Stewart’s skin care line.
About Martha Stewart’s skin care line
The inaugural launch includes The A3O Elemental Serum ($150) and Inner Dose Daily Skin Supplement ($50), which both aim to restore skin appearance, support the barrier, and improve resilience. According to the brand, the serum is the first of its kind, using patented A30 Complex, a combination of powerful antioxidants, to target UV damage, pigmentation, dehydration, and irritation. It was also designed to play well with other products in your skin care routine and work well under makeup.
Lauren Brown, creative visuals director
“The packaging of this serum is beautiful and definitely luxury: gold hardware, matte glass, and chic typography. The serum itself is a gold-yellow shade that looks almost tinted at first, but sheers out once applied. My skin looked super glowy and felt really hydrated. I definitely noticed the smell, which is a floral-meets-botanical fragrance, but I really like the scent so it didn’t bother me. Even after applying my makeup, I noticed my complexion looked a lot brighter. I took a cue from the instructions and also applied it to the neck and décolleté, which gave me a nice overall glow. If you’re a luxury skin care obsessive, it’s worth the $150 investment.” —Lauren Brown, Glamour creative visuals director
Eilish Morley, global director, editorial operations
“When applied on skin, the serum has an almost shimmery effect to it. I noticed my complexion looked a lot brighter than usual, which lasted throughout the week. The formula melts into skin well and didn’t leave me feeling tacky or sticky. The biggest benefits I saw were hydration and brightening—my skin felt plump and soft with a nice glow. As for things I didn’t love: The serum has a specific smell that I didn’t find pleasant. My nose is pretty sensitive, so I usually lean toward something with no fragrance or very light fragrance. If there was an unscented version, I would be totally sold.” —Eilish Morley, Glamour global director, editorial operations
Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
“The first thing I noticed about this serum was the smell, which I actually enjoy (the scent is rich and fancy—reminiscent of La Mer) but made me a little hesitant. My skin has been through rounds of intense laser treatments to smooth acne scarring and has become much more sensitive. Anything overly fragranced tends to make me itchy and splotchy. I pumped the gilded bottle (again, rich and fancy) and hoped for the best. You can imagine my surprise when I had zero negative reaction to this product. Instead, it made my skin feel plump and healthy, with the most unreal glow. I like using it in the morning before makeup, for an instant boost of brightness. The key is the patented A30 complex, which uses antioxidants to target UV damage, pigmentation, dehydration, and irritation. Jury’s out on UV damage (that requires more long-term testing), but you can definitely check off those last three skin concerns. At $150, it’s definitely a splurge, but if you have the means, it’s worth the short-term benefits (and worth waiting to see the long-term).” —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour senior beauty editor
Anna Moeslein, deputy editor
“My skin can be reactive to new products sometimes, but that wasn’t the case with this serum—a sign that it’s as gentle for sensitive skin as promised. The formula absorbed well and wasn’t too sticky on the skin. And because it is so gentle, I found it paired nicely with the rest of my skin care routine. My skin felt smoother and more hydrated, which helped create a good base for my makeup. I think I’ll need to use it longer than a few weeks to really see the full results and decide if it’s as transformative as the packaging claims. If so, it may be worth the $150 price tag. But it’s a promising start!” —Anna Moeslein, Glamour deputy editor
