Christa LeeSave this storySave this story
Even if you barely dabble in beauty, odds are something from Lancôme has lived on your vanity at one point or another—maybe that instantly recognizable blue bottle of eye makeup remover your mom swore by, a delightfully shiny Juicy Tube you may have hoarded in middle school (as a millennial, I practically squealed when it made its glossy comeback), or the waterproof mascara that gives the entire Allure office the fluttery, lifted lashes of our dreams. Lancôme has always been an iconic brand that’s found that sweet spot between classic and current, offering elegant formulas and sensorial textures that nail it from the very first swipe.
So, it’s no surprise that when the brand launched Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum, a 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner, it immediately stood out from the crowd. By housing three potent face serums in one bottle, it tackles several of the biggest aging-skin concerns at once: hydration loss, dark spots, fine lines, and overall firmness. “H.C.F.” stands for hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide, and ferulic acid, which are some of the most tried-and-true ingredients when it comes to proven actives. But to make things even more effective, each serum actually lives in its own chamber, staying stable and preserved until the moment you pump them out. (More on that very cool bit of engineering in a bit.)
Lancôme
Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Amazon
Nordstrom
Lancôme
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Christa Joanna Lee
After hearing so much buzz about the triple-chamber system and the claims around plumping, brightening, and smoothing, I decided to put this multitasker to the test. Here’s everything that happened during my four-week experience with the serum, and why it has a strong shot at becoming one of those rare beauty products you actually finish.
My Skin Goals
I have sensitive skin that’s unpredictably reactive to ingredients. Plus, postpartum melasma has also been an ongoing project. I see the biggest improvement with prescription tretinoin, but since it’s only recommended for short stretches (and definitely not during summer, thanks to the sun sensitivity), I rely heavily on gentler brighteners like niacinamide and vitamin C to keep my skin looking even-ish and less dull. And because dryness shows up first as fine lines under my eyes and across my cheeks, I’m always reaching for formulas that hydrate deeply without upsetting my barrier. Seeing that this serum promised hydration, brightening, and antioxidant support—without being aggressive—felt like it checked every box my sensitive skin has right now.
First Impressions
Here’s a humbling moment for someone who tests beauty products for a living: I didn’t read the directions. You’re meant to hold the bottle horizontally and pump until all three chambers kick in together. Once I did that (after a few priming pumps), the serum released exactly as it should with three pretty little ribbons of different textures and tones.
Lee applying the Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Christa Joanna Lee
And it’s in those varying textures and tones where the sensorial fun begins. One texture is more gel-like, another feels like an emulsion, and the third is more like a cream. When you blend them, they melt into a lightweight fluid that glides across skin without pilling or feeling heavy. There’s also a lovely scent that is soft and understated, with a slightly floral touch from extracts such as limonene, geraniol, and citronellol. It’s elegant and doesn’t overpower—just enough to make the routine feel a little luxurious.
The Formula
To the uninitiated, the whole “triple-chamber delivery system” might sound like one of those bells-and-whistles features that brands add just to make a product feel high-tech—and expensive. But there’s actually a real purpose behind it. Each chamber isolates a different set of actives that would otherwise destabilize, oxidize, or lose strength if mixed together in a standard bottle. In other words, the packaging isn’t a flashy extra; it’s the mechanism that keeps the ingredients fresh, potent, and able to perform the way they’re meant to.
So what’s happening inside each chamber (and why does it matter)? For starters, one chamber houses hyaluronic acid, “which is a powerful humectant that attracts and retains up to 1,000 times its weight in water,” says Debra Luftman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Calabasas, California. Widely known for its hydration abilities, “it plumps the skin, smoothing the appearance of fine lines,” she says.
Another chamber houses the vitamin C and niacinamide complex. Vitamin C wears many hats: the brightener, the collagen supporter, the dark spot fader, and the environmental shield. “It protects against damage and promotes firmness over time,” says Dr. Luftman. It’s paired in the same chamber with niacinamide, which steps in as the buffer and the barrier-builder, helping calm redness, refine pores, ease inflammation, and support even tone, especially helpful for sensitive skin types like mine. Together, the two create this subtle but steady brightening-and-smoothing effect that still feels gentle.
Lee holding a bottle of Lancôme’s Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Christa Joanna Lee
And then there’s the ferulic acid chamber, which helps stabilize and supercharge other antioxidants, such as vitamin C. On its own, though, ferulic acid “helps prevent photoaging by neutralizing environmental aggressors and promoting firmer, more luminous skin,” adds Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. Ferulic acid is notoriously unstable when mixed with water, which is why Lancôme keeps it in its own water-free chamber until right before it’s applied to your skin.
Put simply, each chamber keeps its ingredients at their best, and they only meet right before you apply—kind of like mixing a fresh batch straight from the lab every time.
How It Fits Into My Routine
If a low-lift routine is your love language, this serum fits right in. Two to three pumps gave me the perfect dose every time, and it layered effortlessly under moisturizer and SPF. Some mornings, I found it hydrating enough to stand on its own; at night, it settled beautifully under my heavier creams without pilling or feeling too heavy.
Lee before applying the Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Christa Joanna Lee
The Results
I used Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum twice a day for a month, and the results just kept stacking up. Almost right away, the hit of hydration made the fine lines under my eyes and along my cheeks look softer and a little less etched-in. As the weeks went on, I also started to notice a gentle brightening effect that made my complexion look more even overall.
But for me, the biggest win here is the convenience. It genuinely feels like getting three serums in one step: a hyaluronic acid hydrator, a vitamin C brightener, and a ferulic acid antioxidant, minus the mental gymnastics of figuring out what to layer when or whether different actives will irritate my skin. As a busy mom who appreciates a hard-working multitasker, this is one of the most thoughtful serums I’ve tried in ages. And after a month with it, it makes sense how Lancôme spent over three years fine-tuning the formula and the packaging—the results just keep getting better.
Lancôme
Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
Amazon
Nordstrom
Lancôme
Meet the experts
- Debra Luftman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Schweiger Dermatology in Calabasas, California
- Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York