It seems like an odd business strategy: makeup companies seem to want your skin to look so good that you don’t actually need makeup. Clinique has come out with “Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector,” Estée Lauder has launched “Idealist” (don’t be shy about your philosophical leanings, there, Estée), Clarins just introduced “Vital Light,” and Lancôme has formulated not one, but two serums that claim to perfect the skin you’re in: “Visionnaire” and “Genifique.”

As another odd business strategy, I’ll tell you a secret: I don’t like to wear makeup. I overheat easily (it’s my pitta dosha), so my makeup usually sweats or slides off by around 3pm, and the oil in my skin can oxidize my foundation, making it look darker. So, yeah, I’d love perfect skin without makeup.

I tried Clinique’s skin-bettering serum, and although I had high hopes, it didn’t seem to make much of a difference, even after a month. “Idealist” seems alright in the tester and the Clarins has a lovely ad campaign, but I haven’t yet found that money tree that will allow me to try everything under the sun. My mother is a long-time Lancôme devotee, so I thought I’d place an educated bet.

I’ve been using “Visionnaire” for only a few days, and already I need way less makeup. The serum comes in a beautiful blue bottle, and although it smells pretty perfume-y, the fragrance doesn’t irritate my skin. The translucent white serum sinks in very quickly, and is not at all greasy. Apparently there’s a super-cool molecule called “LR 2412” (that sounds made up) that…well, I’ll just let this film-trailer-like video—complete with swelling symphony soundtrack—do the explaining.

Now I get why these companies are going the skincare route: this stuff is EXPENSIVE ($84). But think of all the money you’ll save on foundation!

Photoshopped, sure, but not by much.