Avène PhysioLift, priced from $70.
An anti-ageing skincare range ideal for anyone with sensitive, yet ageing skin. Brimming with active ingredients designed to kick butt when it comes to smoothing wrinkles, blurring dark spots and reducing open pores that will not cause the skin to react.
What's in it?
Hyaluronic acid fragments that temporarily fill fine lines. A powerful antioxidant vitamin E (pre-tocopheryl), and low levels of retinaldehyde (vitamin A) which helps boost cell turnover promoting skin radiance. Finally, Shea butter and a collagen making brown algae extract (ascofilline) that give ageing skin a much-needed hydrating boost.
The range:
Physiolift Eye contour cream, $65.
This gentle eye cream does work to smooth wrinkles but what we like is its ability to tighten the skin around the eyes, which does reduce puffiness.
Physiolift Day Smoothing Day Cream, $69.
It's the addition of shea butter that makes this day cream feel so luxurious once on the skin, but it did absorb quickly and is a great base to my foundation. While the addition of vitamin E (a brilliant antioxidant helps boost skin clarity and radiance - one tip a little goes a long way.
Physiolift Smoothing Regenerating Night Balm, $70.
What we would describe as a cross between a balm and a gel, it absorbs fast, without leaving that feeling of a greasy residue skin.
You can tell there are firming and plumping ingredients in this cream namely retinaldehyde, (a form of vitamin A), which is the most gentle vitamin A option, making it safe for sensitive skin. And the hyaluronic acid (HA) is the perfect skin plumping ingredient that offers brilliant moisturisation overnight.
Physiolift Precision Wrinkle Filler, $80.
This serum is the star in the range and does need some explaining. The long, thin tube-like nozzle looks like a syringe because a small amount of cream is supposed to be applied directly into the deep wrinkles around the nose and mouth and forehead, and not smeared all over the face. Twist, and then press the tube from the bottom to apply a targeted application - and be careful as it can squirt out quickly. We are impressed with this serum; it has given our skin an almost pearl-like smooth sheen - and like the fact that it's super-charged with the most potent amount of vitamin A and HA.
Why do we like it?
We very rarely use an entire range from the same family, however, after three weeks our skin is feeling so nourished and without any itchy patches (which we often experience when we chop and change our skincare), it's simple, luxurious skincare that is gentle yet active. The Wrinkle Filler and Eye Contour Cream are keepers; I am excited to see what they will do three months down the track. The day cream is now in my travel makeup bag, as my skin is often becoming sensitive and dehydrated when flying and having late nights.
Background pastel paint colours: Resene Cavern Pink. Resene Frozen. Resene Apple Green.