'I tried the $30 serum that's giving skin treatments a run for their money.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Daily Skincare

If you've taken a joyful meander down a Priceline aisle lately (as I'm prone to doing), you've probably spotted the *gorgeous* lines of forest-green Daily Skincare bottles lining the shelves.

It's a home-grown beauty. A female-founded, Sydney-based brand from Kiwi founder Sophia Mantell, who set out to take everything we know about skincare brands and turn it on its head.

She wanted to redefine what 'accessible' skincare looked like in Australia and New Zealand. Say goodbye to fluffy packaging and even fluffier formulas.

Her whole philosphy? Luxury textures, clinically proven ingredients, and prestige-level formulas — at supermarket and pharmacy prices.

She had me at hello. I was curious, so when I got my hands on the Daily Skincare Notox Age Pro Serum ($30), I put it to the test for a full week — using it every morning and night, working it into my routine just like I would any active serum.

And, not to be dramatic, but after day three I had a colleague literally stop mid-conversation to tell me, "You're glowing." So we're off to a good start.

First, a bit about my skin — and why I'm picky.

My skin is doing better after the winter, but it usually hates trying new things. Image: Supplied.

My skin is more high maintenance than a Formula 1 Ferrari. Think: dehydrated, combination skin that's incredibly sensitive to new products. It's skin that will happily throw a tantrum — redness, tightness, little dry patches — if something doesn't agree with it.

Lately, I've been dealing with:

• early fine lines

• dullness

• redness

• some dryness/dry patches around my nose

• and the occasional chin breakout (especially when it's hot or sweaty around Christmas)

By December, my skin is only just bouncing back from the winter dullness, and is in some serious need of TLC. So I'm always on the hunt for something affordable, easy, and actually effective. And when I find something I love, I'm loyal.

My aim for this serum was to help me reduce the appearance of some new lines (hello, 30th birthday!), bring back my glow and make my skin feel plumper and more rejuvenated.

Meet the serum: What is it for?

Here she is! Image: Supplied.

Forget the ageing-directed drugstore formulas of the past. The Notox Age Pro Serum is packed with clinically proven ingredients — designed for anyone who wants the look of hydrated, firmer-looking, brighter skin without clinical treatments.

If you're an ingredients snob like me you'll find these inside the little green bottle:

• Kakadu plum for vitamin C-powered brightness

• Rose water to soothe and refresh

• Hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and plumping

• OceanDerMX® and IBR-Snowflake, two clinically proven actives known to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and help skin look firmer and more resilient

It's all the stuff you'd normally expect in a much more expensive serum… except it's $30. (And 50mL — which is rare, because most serums these days are 30mL.)

My first impressions: the texture caught my attention.

The gel texture felt super luxe. Image: Cassandra Green

The very first thing I noticed? The luxurious texture.

It's a smooth, gel-like serum that glides across the skin and feels instantly hydrating — refreshing without being sticky or heavy.

It's clear, lightweight and has that really satisfying "ahh" moment as you spread it across your face.

There's also a natural, herbal scent that surprised me in a good way: a little citrus, a little aloe, a faint rose lilt. At this price point, I usually brace myself for artificial fragrance, but this was a huge plus for me.

It absorbs fast. Like, blink-and-it's-gone fast. There's no residue, no tackiness, and it layers like an absolute dream. I could apply moisturiser, SPF and makeup straight over the top without any pilling. At night, thicker creams sat perfectly over it too.

Where it fits in a routine (spoiler: it's very easy).

It felt so refreshing applied around the occipital bone. Image: Supplied.

Any active serum should always go first — after cleansing, before moisturiser — so that's exactly how I used it.

The bonus with this serum is that it's suitable for both morning and night, which isn't the case with many ageing-directed products. So I slotted it into my routine AM and PM, every day, without skipping.

If you're using a vitamin C in the morning, that can still go first — this will happily layer just after it.

And there's an extra plus for people who travel! The bottle has a locking feature, which means you're not going to arrive at your destination with your precious serum all over your makeup brushes. What a win.

So… the results. What changed after a week?

Applying the serum to problem areas like my forehead. Image: Supplied.

Let's be clear: anything targeting the appearance of fine lines usually needs more than a week for dramatic shifts. But early results? Absolutely. And I noticed them quickly.

After a few days, my skin looked genuinely glowier — like I'd slept more than I actually had. It looked more even-toned, and more hydrated. I'd say it's giving salon skin treatments a run for their money.

By the end of the week, the overall condition of my skin had improved so much.

My breakouts stayed at bay, which is rare when I introduce something new. My skin appeared plump, hydrated and smoother — and even had that slightly "structured" feeling, where everything looks supported and fresh.

My makeup also sat noticeably better, especially around the areas where foundation usually creases or catches on dryness.

And yes, a friend at work did comment that I looked "glowy", which is basically a scientific measurement in my books.

What really impressed me, besides the price.

It left my skin looking so glowy — but with no residue. Image: Supplied.

Honestly? The whole experience felt far more luxury than $30 should allow.

The texture is beautiful, the packaging is clean and sleek (and cute enough to earn a spot on my dressing room counter), and the scent is natural and subtle.

The formula is packed with prestige, clinically-proven actives, without heavy fragrance or filler ingredients that affordable skincare often relies on.

It reminded me of something much higher-end, but with the ease and accessibility of a pharmacy brand you can pop out and grab during your lunch break. (Which is exactly what I did at Priceline.)

Will I keep using it? Absolutely.

It fits into my routine so easily, it agrees with my sensitive-combination skin, and the early results I'm seeing — hydration, glow, smooth and plump-looking — are exactly what I was hoping for.

I'm genuinely excited to see how my skin looks after a full month of using it consistently.

And for $30 for 50mL, with ingredients and results that give high-end serums a run for their money, it's the kind of product I'll keep reaching for.

Shop Daily Skincare Notox Age Pro Serum from Priceline.

Feature image: Supplied.

The Notox Difference
Meet Notox Age Pro Serum — the natural alternative to injectables that's changing the way Australian women think about ageing. Powered by Kakadu plum, rose water and hyaluronic acid, this clinically backed formula hydrates, brightens and helps smooth fine lines for firmer, more radiant skin. Enhanced with proven actives OceanDerMX® and IBR-Snowflake, it delivers visible results without the luxury price tag. Available exclusively at Priceline, this $30 serum is the latest breakthrough from Daily Skincare — the female-founded brand bringing clinically-backed skincare to every shelf.