This product was gifted to me by the brand as part of a collaboration. I was not paid to write this post and nobody reviewed it before it went live – the opinions here are my own. This post also contains affiliate links, so if you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated September 9, 2026
AVL Laboratories sent me two products: the AVL Face Serum, which retails for $195, and the AVL Face Mist, which retails for $88. That is $283 of skincare in one small box.
I want to be upfront about something before you read another line. The box was delivered on September 4, 2026, and I am writing this on September 9, 2026.
That is five days. AVL's own marketing promises visible results in 28 days, so I am not going to sit here and tell you my wrinkles are gone.
What I can tell you is what these products are, what is actually in them, how they feel, how long a bottle lasts, and whether the science behind AVL SOM3 holds up when you read it closely. I will come back and update this post at the 28-day mark.
If you are weighing this against other things in the same price bracket, my OneSkin OS-01 review covers the closest competitor in longevity skincare, and my guide to PDRN serums covers the other buzzy category chasing the same customer. For cheaper ways to get similar actives, start with my niacinamide serum picks or my vitamin C serum guide, and if you are not sure where a serum and a mist even go in your routine, my skincare layering order post sorts that out first.
What Is AVL Laboratories?
AVL Laboratories is a Florida-based biotech skincare brand built around AVL SOM3, a patented complex that delivers all 20 amino acids to support collagen, elastin and cellular energy. It matters because it treats visible aging as under-nourished skin rather than damaged skin, which is a gentler approach than retinoids. It is most useful for people over 35 with dry or sensitive skin and a luxury skincare budget.
The Short Answer
AVL Laboratories makes a $195 Face Serum and an $88 Face Mist built on AVL SOM3, an amino acid complex. After five days of testing in September 2026 the texture is excellent and the ingredient list is honest, but the brand's 28-day wrinkle claim cannot be verified in a week. Start with the mist.
Quick Takeaways
- AVL Face Serum is $195 for 30ml, roughly $2.60 a day
- AVL Face Mist is $88 for 50ml and is the smarter first buy
- AVL SOM3 contains all 20 amino acids, verifiable on the label
- Wrinkle claims come from 26 people, hydration claims from 11
- Instant smoothing is dimethicone, the second ingredient
- Gifted by AVL, tested 5 days, 28-day update coming October 2
What This Guide Covers
- What Is AVL Laboratories?
- What Is AVL SOM3 and Does the Science Hold Up?
- What Is the AVL Face Serum Actually Like to Use?
- What Is the AVL Face Mist Actually Like to Use?
- AVL Face Serum vs Face Mist: Which Should You Buy First?
- What Do AVL's Clinical Results Actually Mean?
- How Does AVL Compare to Other Anti-Aging Serums I've Tested?
- Who Is AVL Laboratories Actually For?
- What Mistakes Should You Avoid With AVL Laboratories?
- How I Tested This (And Why This Is a Week-One Review)
- Is AVL Laboratories Worth the Money?
- Frequently Asked Questions
TL;DR – The AVL Face Serum is one of the nicest-feeling serums I have used, and the amino acid concept is more substantiated than most luxury skincare. But five days is not long enough to judge wrinkle claims, and at $195 you deserve to wait for real results before you buy. My honest advice as of September 2026: start with the $88 Face Mist, or use the code below on the serum if you were buying anyway.
Use code girlnamedjazz for 10% off. Free shipping over $150.
What Is AVL Laboratories?
AVL Laboratories is a biotech skincare brand that sells a small line of amino acid based products built around a patented complex it calls AVL SOM3. The line includes a face serum, a face mist, two face creams and an eye cream. Prices run from $88 to $195 per product, which puts AVL in the same bracket as La Mer and Augustinus Bader.
The brand positions itself as skin longevity rather than anti-aging. The argument is that aging skin is under-nourished skin, and that feeding it the raw materials it needs works better than forcing it with an active.
AVL says the formulas were built over five years with $10 million in research and development, and are manufactured in an FDA-registered facility. The company is based in North Redington Beach, Florida.
Those are the brand's own figures, not independently audited ones. I am repeating them so you know what AVL is claiming, not because I have verified the R and D spend myself.
What Is AVL SOM3 and Does the Science Hold Up?
AVL SOM3 is a patented blend that supplies all 20 amino acids, the molecular building blocks your body uses to make collagen and elastin. AVL's claim is that it supports three pillars at once: structure through collagen, elasticity through elastin, and cellular energy through NAD. The concept is more grounded than most luxury skincare marketing.
Here is the part I like. I read the full ingredient list on the serum and counted the amino acids myself. Glutamine, arginine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, histidine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, cystine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, asparagine, proline, serine, tryptophan, alanine and glycine are all there.
So the "all 20 amino acids" claim is literally true. That is more than a lot of brands can say about their hero claim, and you can check it yourself on the ingredient list.
Here is the part I am more careful about. Amino acids in a bottle are not the same thing as amino acids delivered into the dermis where collagen is actually made.
Skin is a barrier. It is designed to keep things out, and topical delivery of building blocks to the living layer is genuinely hard.
AVL is not claiming to be a drug and it does not need to prove drug-level efficacy. That is worth understanding before you read any "clinically proven" line on any beauty product, including this one.
What Is the AVL Face Serum Actually Like to Use?
The AVL Face Serum is a lightweight, silky, fast-absorbing serum that costs $195 for 30ml and is meant to be used twice a day. It feels genuinely luxurious, sinks in within about 30 seconds, and leaves skin looking smooth and slightly blurred immediately. That instant smoothing is real, and it has a straightforward explanation.
Dimethicone is the second ingredient on the list, right after water. Dimethicone is a silicone, and silicones are what create that soft-focus, filled-in finish the moment you apply something.
I am not saying that as a criticism. It feels lovely and it makes makeup sit beautifully on top.
I am saying it because if you apply this and think "my fine lines look better already," that is the silicone doing its job in the first minute. It is not collagen. Those are two different things on two very different timelines.
The actives underneath are a sensible stack. There is niacinamide, which is well supported for barrier support and dark spots.
There is acetyl hexapeptide-8, the peptide sold as Argireline, which is marketed as a topical alternative to relaxing expression lines. There is ferulic acid, a strong antioxidant that also stabilises vitamins C and E.
One honest note on concentration. Acetyl hexapeptide-8 sits below phenoxyethanol on the ingredient list, and preservatives like that are typically used at around one percent.
That placement usually means the peptide is present at under one percent too. Niacinamide sits higher, above the preservative, which suggests a more meaningful amount.
Texture-wise this is the nicest serum I have tested this year. Absorption is fast, there is no tackiness, and it layered cleanly under sunscreen and makeup every single morning.
30ml of a genuinely beautiful, fast-absorbing serum built on the AVL SOM3 amino acid complex, plus niacinamide, acetyl hexapeptide-8 and ferulic acid. Feels expensive because it is. Use code girlnamedjazz for 10% off.
Shop Now →What Is the AVL Face Mist Actually Like to Use?
The AVL Face Mist is a fine, non-sticky hydrating mist that costs $88 for 50ml and can be used over bare skin or on top of makeup. It contains the same AVL SOM3 amino acid complex as the serum, plus hyaluronic acid, aloe, panthenol and rose water. Of the two products, this is the one I reached for most.
The spray itself is genuinely good. It is a true fine mist rather than the fat droplets that ruin makeup, and it dried down in under a minute every time.
I used it three or four times a day, mostly at my desk and once in the car in traffic on the 405. It did not disturb foundation once.
AVL's clinical note for the mist says 100% of participants showed improved skin moisture, and 91% maintained barrier function at six hours. Read the asterisk though. That trial was 11 people.
Eleven people is a very small study, and AVL does disclose it plainly, which I respect more than brands that hide the sample size entirely.
The hydration claim is also the easiest claim in skincare to hit. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe will improve a moisture reading on almost anybody.
What that does not tell you is anything about wrinkles. So treat the mist as an excellent hydrator, which it is, and not as a wrinkle treatment in a spray bottle.
50ml of a genuinely fine, makeup-safe hydrating mist with hyaluronic acid, aloe and the same AVL SOM3 complex. Half the price of the serum and the easier way to find out whether you like this brand. Use code girlnamedjazz for 10% off.
Shop Now →AVL Face Serum vs Face Mist: Which Should You Buy First?
Buy the AVL Face Mist first. At $88 it is less than half the cost of the serum, it uses the same AVL SOM3 complex, and it delivers the one benefit you can actually judge within a week, which is hydration. If you love how your skin responds after a month, then step up to the $195 serum with real information instead of hope.
The serum is the better product on paper and the better product to use. It has the fuller active stack and it is the one AVL ran the wrinkle trial on.
But $195 is a lot of money to spend on a brand you have never tried. The mist answers the question "does my skin like this" for $107 less.
There is one exception. If your main concern is fine lines rather than dryness, the mist will not touch it and you should go straight to the serum or skip the brand entirely.
What Do AVL's Clinical Results Actually Mean?
AVL's clinical results are real consumer studies, but they are small and they measure what participants and instruments reported, not drug-level efficacy. The serum figures come from 26 people aged 40 to 60. The mist figures come from 11 people.
Those are honest disclosures, and they are also very small numbers.
Here is the thing almost nobody explains, and it is the single most useful thing in this post. In the United States, the FDA draws a line between a cosmetic and a drug.
A cosmetic changes appearance. A drug changes the structure or function of the body.
Anti-aging skincare is sold as a cosmetic. That is why the language on these pages is always "reduces the appearance of fine lines" and not "reduces fine lines."
Look at AVL's own benefit list and you will see it: "Reduce Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles." That wording is deliberate and it is legally required.
So "96% reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles" means 96% of 26 people, in a questionnaire, said lines looked better. It does not mean a measured 96% reduction in wrinkles.
None of this makes AVL dishonest. Every brand at this price does exactly the same thing, and AVL discloses its sample sizes where many do not.
It does mean you should read the asterisk on any luxury serum before you spend $195 on it. Once you can read a claim like this, you can read every brand's claims.
How Does AVL Compare to Other Anti-Aging Serums I've Tested?
AVL sits in the same $150 to $250 bracket as OneSkin, Augustinus Bader and La Mer, and it is chasing the same customer as the newer PDRN serums. Against the things I have actually tested, AVL wins clearly on texture, holds its own on ingredient transparency, and loses on price per milliliter and on how quickly you can tell whether it is working.
The closest comparison is OneSkin, which is also a longevity-positioned brand with a patented peptide and a similar price. I broke that one down fully in my OneSkin OS-01 review.
OneSkin has more published research behind its peptide. AVL has the nicer texture and the more transparent ingredient list.
If you want the same actives for a fraction of the money, that is genuinely possible. Niacinamide and ferulic acid are both cheap and widely available, and I have tested the good affordable versions in my niacinamide serum roundup and my vitamin C serum guide.
What you cannot easily replicate at the drugstore is the amino acid complex and the way this particular formula feels. Whether that is worth $195 is a personal call, not a factual one.
One more honest comparison. If you have never used a retinoid, a $30 retinol will almost certainly do more for fine lines over six months than any $195 serum will, and my retinol for beginners guide walks through starting without wrecking your barrier.
AVL is a nourishing, gentle, feel-good approach. A retinoid is the aggressive, evidence-heavy approach. They are different strategies for the same goal.
Who Is AVL Laboratories Actually For?
AVL Laboratories suits someone in their late thirties or older with a real skincare budget, a preference for gentle formulas over aggressive actives, and dry or sensitive skin that reacts badly to retinoids. It is a poor fit for anyone under thirty, anyone on a budget, and anyone whose main concern is acne or oil rather than firmness and hydration.
AVL is a good fit if you
- Have dry, sensitive or reactive skin that cannot tolerate retinoids
- Are past 35 and are targeting firmness, crepiness or dullness
- Prefer a short routine over a ten-step one
- Can absorb a $195 purchase without it hurting
- Care about texture and experience, not just the active percentage
Skip AVL if you
- Are under 30 and mainly want prevention, where sunscreen matters far more
- Are treating acne, congestion or oil
- Want the strongest possible evidence per dollar
- Have never tried a retinoid, which is cheaper and better studied
- Would feel sick about spending $195 on something that might not work
Pros
- Genuinely excellent textureAbsorbs in about 30 seconds with zero tack, and layers cleanly under SPF and makeup.
- The amino acid claim is verifiableI counted all 20 on the ingredient list myself. It checks out.
- Transparent about sample sizesAVL publishes that its trials were 26 and 11 people. Most luxury brands do not.
- Sensible, well-chosen activesNiacinamide, acetyl hexapeptide-8 and ferulic acid are all reasonable choices.
- 45-day money-back guaranteeYou can actually test it for a meaningful stretch and send it back.
Cons
- $195 is a serious askFor a brand with almost no independent review coverage, that is a lot of trust to extend.
- Instant smoothing is siliconeDimethicone is the second ingredient. The day-one effect is cosmetic, not structural.
- Peptide looks low in the formulaAcetyl hexapeptide-8 sits below the preservative, which usually means under one percent.
- Very small clinical studies26 people on the serum and 11 on the mist, both self-reported.
- Results need 28 daysYou cannot know if it works until you are well past the return-decision point.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid With AVL Laboratories?
The biggest mistake with AVL Laboratories is judging it in the first week, because the instant silicone smoothing tricks people into thinking it worked on day one and the real claim needs 28 days. The second biggest mistake is buying the $195 serum before you know whether your skin likes the brand at all. Here is what else to avoid.
Six mistakes to avoid with AVL
-
1
Do not judge it on day one. The immediate blur is dimethicone. AVL's actual claim is a 28-day one, so give it 28 days or do not bother.
-
2
Do not skip sunscreen because you bought an expensive serum. Sun protection does more for how your skin ages than any serum at any price.
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3
Do not layer it over a strong acid or retinoid on the same night. Alternate nights instead, and read my guide to ingredient combinations dermatologists recommend first.
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4
Do not mist and then walk away. Water evaporating off bare skin can leave you drier. Press the mist in, or follow it with a moisturiser to seal it.
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5
Do not buy both products at once. Start with the $88 mist, decide, then upgrade. That is $107 you keep if the brand is not for you.
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6
Do not let the 45-day guarantee expire while you are still deciding. Mark day 40 in your calendar the day the box arrives.
How I Tested This (And Why This Is a Week-One Review)
I tested the AVL Face Serum and AVL Face Mist for five days, from September 4 to September 9, 2026, on combination skin in Los Angeles. AVL gifted both products through a PR collaboration on August 27, 2026, and they arrived on September 4. Five days is not long enough to assess wrinkle claims, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.
Here is exactly what I did. I used the serum twice a day as directed, four drops each time, pressed into clean skin on my face, neck and chest.
That is ten applications total. I used the mist three to four times a day, over bare skin in the morning and over makeup during the afternoon.
I did not change anything else in my routine during those five days, so that any reaction was attributable to the AVL products. My cleanser, sunscreen and moisturiser all stayed the same.
What I can report honestly after five days: the texture is excellent, absorption is fast, there was no stinging, no breakouts and no irritation. My skin looked smoother from the first application, which I attribute to the silicone rather than to the amino acids.
What I cannot report: anything about fine lines, dark spots or firmness. Those need the full 28 days, and AVL's own materials say so.
“Five days tells you whether a product is pleasant and whether it breaks you out. It tells you nothing about whether it works. Anyone reviewing a 28-day claim after five days is selling you something.– Jasmine Del Toro, Layers of Beauty
How I will run the 28-day update
I started on September 4, 2026, so day 28 lands on October 2, 2026. I will photograph the same two areas, my forehead lines and the pigmentation on my left cheek, in the same window light.
I will use the same routine with no other new products introduced. Then I will come back and update this post with what actually changed, including if the answer is nothing.
the FTC endorsement guides require that a gifted review reflects my real experience, and a results claim I have not lived is exactly the kind of thing those guides exist to prevent. So the results section stays empty until the results exist.
Is AVL Laboratories Worth the Money?
As of September 2026 I cannot tell you AVL Laboratories is worth $195, because five days is not enough evidence and anyone who tells you otherwise after a week is guessing. What I can tell you is that the formula is genuinely well built, the amino acid claim is verifiable, the texture is the best I have tested this year, and the 45-day guarantee makes trying it a low-risk decision.
If you have the budget and you want a gentle, nourishing approach rather than an aggressive one, this is a reasonable place to put your money. The return policy means the real risk is your time, not your $195.
If $195 is a stretch, do not do it. Buy the $88 mist, or get niacinamide and ferulic acid for $30 and put the difference toward a good sunscreen and an at-home device like the ones in my LED mask review.
My genuine recommendation is the mist first. It is the same technology, it is half the price, and it answers the only question that matters in week one, which is whether your skin is happy.
Code girlnamedjazz takes 10% off, and there is a 45-day money-back guarantee if it does not work out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AVL Laboratories legit?+
How much does AVL Laboratories cost?+
How long does an AVL Face Serum bottle last?+
What is AVL SOM3?+
Does the AVL Face Serum really work in 28 days?+
Is the AVL Face Mist worth $88?+
Can you use AVL products with retinol?+
Does AVL Laboratories have a discount code?+
Where is AVL Laboratories made?+
Is AVL better than OneSkin?+
Do you need both the AVL serum and the mist?+
Was this AVL Laboratories review sponsored?+
The Bottom Line
The reason I would not fake a 28-day result for you is the same reason this blog exists. Real confidence does not come from a product working. It comes from knowing enough to decide for yourself.
Once you can look at "96% reduced the appearance of fine lines" and know that it means 26 people answered a questionnaire, you are never at the mercy of a beauty ad again. That skill is worth more than any serum, including this one.
AVL Laboratories makes a lovely product. Whether it earns $195 of your money is a question only your skin and your budget can answer, and I would rather hand you the tools to answer it than tell you what to think.
I will update this post on October 2, 2026 with my real 28-day results, good or bad. In the meantime, if you want to build the routine this would slot into, start with my morning skincare routine.
Sources & Further Reading
About the AuthorJasmine Del Toro
I'm Jasmine Del Toro, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle blogger who tests beauty products, wellness trends, and everyday solutions in real life. AVL Laboratories gifted me their Face Serum and Face Mist in September 2026, and I chose to publish an honest five-day review rather than invent 28-day results I had not lived. I share what actually works, what doesn't, and what you need to know before spending your money. My approach is practical, honest, and based on personal experience living in LA.
I'm an Amazon Influencer, an Icon-level ShopMy creator, and a brand ambassador for Revolve, Victoria's Secret, and DoorDash.
This post may contain affiliate links – I only recommend products I have personally used and believe in.