The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Range is such an exciting launch that I’ve been desperate to share with you guys as I’ve been genuinely impressed with all four of the products! This is such a rarity as my skin is so difficult to please, so I’m always much more likely to struggle with a range and maybe find one or two products that suit my skin, if I’m lucky, but I’m about to rave about the whole range as it all suits my skin and skincare needs so well!
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Range is a skincare quad with the main ingredient being Phyto-Retinol, which is an alleged plant-based alternative to Retinol that provides all the benefits without the irritation. I say “alleged” because it’s virtually impossible for me to prove the case either way, I’ve been using Retinol for such a long time that all I could hope for from this range (with regards the the specific effects of Retinol) would be that it would help me maintain the results I’ve already achieved. I can say with confidence that the whole range is very gentle, lovely to use and definitely provides a whole host of benefits without any sign of irritation.
At the moment, I’m using all four products in my routine, with the neck and eye cream getting daily use, whilst the serum and cream get at least 3-4 uses a week; if I’m going out then the cream gets used even more. This is because I’m using them on my “off-tret days” and I feel they do an amazing job at topping-up the benefits of using a stronger Retinol whilst also giving my skin a break from the aggressive actives. Anyway! Let’s look at each product individually to see what they offer:
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate (£52 here – link) is, I’m presuming, the hero product of the range, promising initial results in as little as one week. It’s a white serum with a medium consistency that feels light and hydrating on the skin, sinks in easily without disappearing completely and plays well with other products. Alongside the Phyto-Retinol, you also have Plant Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid. It can be used alone or mixed with other products depending on your needs – I’ve mixed it with another HA serum for additional hydration when my skin has been struggling.
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate would make a fantastic entry-level introduction to the sort of benefits retinol can provide, or also work as a great retinol alternative for anyone who struggled with the sensitivity and flaking of stronger retinol products. This is a really lovely serum that gives skin a hit of hydrating glow and you can really see the difference the next day, for this reason, I always use this the night before I know I’m going out as it’s a beautifully balancing, glow-giving, hydrating serum that works quickly and effectively.
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Face Cream (£52 here – link) is a similarly formulated product to the aforementioned Night Concentrate, making use of Phyto-Retinol, Plant Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid in a cream formula with a medium consistency. I like the fact that they’ve just called it “face cream” and omitted any night and day or AM/PM references, which presumably means this can be used twice daily, although, obviously you’ll need an SPF on top for the day. I’m also really pleased that they’ve specifically mentioned that this is non-comedogenic, so it shouldn’t break you out, which is a really important factor for me.
This was the first product I used in the range and it really made me sit up and take note, as it is such a beautiful formula that glides on the skin, providing a very noticeable shot of hydration and glow without any excess greasiness or silicone feel. It sits so well under makeup, plays well with all the other skincare I use and even works with SPF without any pilling. I’ve been spoilt for choice for moisturisers lately but this one jumped straight to the top of my usage list and I am melting through it at an impressive rate!
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Neck Cream (£45 here – link) is the thickest and most dense product in the range, again utilising the Ageless range big three of Phyto-Retinol, Plant Peptides and HA. It’s designed to target your typical signs of ageing on the neck, whilst improving texture and skin quality.
I have been meaning to start using a neck cream for ages but I’ve been nervous to try one as I know they’re always pretty rich and I definitely breakout on my neck if I’m not careful. I’ve been using this for a short while now and there have been no breakouts; much like the day cream, this is also sold as non-comedogenic, which I think is just fantastic as why shouldn’t use breakout-prone skin types be considered for products other than those specifically for breakouts?!
The texture of the bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Neck Cream is really interesting; it’s kind of spongey and mousse-like, but it breaks down wonderfully and moves around the skin with ease. I still find applying products to my neck quite awkward, but this absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any tackiness, plus I’ve definitely noticed an improvement of the texture of the skin already, so this is a real keeper for me and probably one I’ll end up replacing when used up.
The bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Eye Cream (£40 here – link) is a very gentle formula sold as being suitable for all ages and skin types. It’s a light cream that you can use all over the eyelid (so not just underneath the eye) and is designed to hydrate, reduce wrinkles, brighten and add radiance.
It’s a light, almost gel-like cream so great for anyone who doesn’t like any heaviness. I apply this with a cheapy little metal roller applicator thing just to work it into the skin and it feels so lovely to use, I actually look forward to applying it! I have very sensitive eyes yet I can be pretty gung ho with applying is as it doesn’t upset my eyes at all – I’ve ended up with it in my eyes on more than one occasion and it doesn’t sting or make them water, which proves just how gentle it actually is! It’s lightly hydrating, so if you have particularly dry skin around the eyes then this might not be nourishing enough for you, but it’s a great overall eye product and I love the fact that it contains Phyto-Retinol as my poor little ageing eyes need all the help they can get!
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