I’ve always suspected my bathroom counter wanted to moonlight as a biotech lab. Enter the gleaming bottle of ELEVAI enfinity, retailing for a casual $299—or, as my wallet calls it, “the skincare equivalent of buying a plane ticket to somewhere sunny.” The serum bills itself as an eight-in-one miracle, powered by exosomes (microscopic carriers loaded with growth factors) and a cocktail of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and copper peptides. The texture? Lightweight, fast‑absorbing, and just slippery enough to make the dropper think it’s auditioning for competitive figure skating. After two weeks, my skin looked plumper and felt smoother, but I can’t swear the neighborhood barista recognized my newfound radiance through the cappuccino foam.
In the opposite corner sits Carmell’s Face & Neck Collection, a three-piece kit priced at a friendlier $199, which almost sounds thrifty until you realize each jar holds 10ml—basically, travel-size toothpaste for the pores. Carmell’s calling card is the Secretome, a proprietary brew that sounds vaguely like a Marvel villain but promises to zap dark spots and reduce redness. The Regenerative Elixir has a velvety matte finish that feels fancy; the Brightening Glow is thinner and sinks in before you can say “vitamin B3”; and Hydrating Dew is the Goldilocks of the bunch—rich enough to coddle laugh lines but not so heavy it clogs late‑night doom‑scroll sweat.
A (Sarcastically) Scientific Trial
Day 1: I applied ELEVAI to the left side of my face and Carmell to the right, hoping the two wouldn’t declare a turf war. By morning, both cheeks were still intact—a good start.
Week 1: ELEVAI’s exosome army marched in with hydration and a subtle glow. Carmell, meanwhile, focused on evening tone; the stubborn post‑pimple redness near my jaw started to mellow.
Week 3: The left cheek felt a touch firmer (thanks, copper peptides), but the right cheek looked brighter and less blotchy. Friends claimed I “looked rested,” which is hilarious because I’d been binge‑watching true‑crime documentaries until 2 a.m. Most telling, however, was my partner’s comment: “Your face feels expensive.” Translation: both serums leave a luxe finish, but neither eliminates the need for eight hours of sleep.
| ELEVAI enfinity | Carmell Face & Neck | |
|---|---|---|
| Standout Actives | Four forms of vitamin C, exosomes, and copper peptides | Secretome™, bakuchiol, niacinamide |
| Texture | Silky, sinks fast | Matte creams (Elixir & Dew) + lightweight serum (Glow) |
| Big Win | Noticeable plumpness and bounce | Redness reduction and brighter tone |
| Ideal For | Post‑procedure skin or anyone who calls Sephora “home” | Tone‑correction seekers who love layered routines |
The Verdict
If you crave firm, pillowy skin and don’t mind investing the equivalent of a designer handbag, ELEVAI delivers pro‑level bounce in a single step. Carmell, on the other hand, suits the mix‑and‑match crowd who enjoy targeting specific concerns—and aren’t afraid to keep tiny jars lined up like couture shot glasses. I’ll keep using ELEVAI on nights when I need instant plushness and tap into Carmell’s trio when my complexion starts to look blotchy. In the end, both earn a spot on the counter—right next to my increasingly bewildered toothbrush.