The Fountain of Youth might only be a legend, but that hasn’t stopped us from looking. Centuries ago, our ancestors relied on eccentric beauty rituals to turn back the sands of time — the Ancient Greeks used crocodile dung for facials, and Cleopatra bathed in donkey milk. We’ve come a long way from putting leeches on our faces to draw old blood. For one, we now know that you need more than one sip from the fountain to age gracefully — it takes a series of products that work together to protect, restore and regenerate the cells.
While we can’t turn back the clock, we can be a little coy in telling the time — mainly through the help of anti-aging creams and serums. To assist you on your quest, we’ve rounded up the best products around to add to your skincare routine. Ranging from lines packed with antioxidants and natural wonders, to our favourite masks, oils and moisturisers, these are the beauty splurges that are sure to reduce your wrinkles and put some new glow into your complexion.
Valmont Purity Collection
Consisting of nine premium cleansers, Valmont’s latest release — the Purity Collection — is especially created to target the skin’s so-called ecosystem. Through a unique blend of Swiss glacial spring water and selected probiotics, the products promote a healthy balance of microbotics on the skin.
Our thoughts: We recommend this set for those looking to invest in a new cleansing routine. With nine products that take you through a deep cleanse, into energizing, exfoliating and purifying, the collection is gentle yet effective — helping to get rid of pollutants from the skin without drying it out.
Evidens de Beauté Extreme Collection
Known for combining both Japanese and French approaches to beauty, Evidens de Beauté’s Extreme Collection comes with a high concentration of what they dub as ‘Triple Collagen’, making them the only brand in existence to offer combinations of collagen at three different sizes — macro, medium and micro collagen. Highly effective and quick to penetrate the skin, just a few drops of the active ingredient are enough to yield visible, long-lasting results.
Our thoughts: Among one of the only beauty brands in the world to create anti-aging skincare products for sensitive skin, these products are ideal for those looking to find powerfully effective results, but have easily irritable skin. As an extra perk, they’re also very pleasantly fragranced, featuring a bespoke scent inspired by the gardens of Grasse.
Clé de Peau Beauté Radiance Trio
Possibly one of the most beautifully packaged luxury skincare products around — think actual diamonds — Clé de Peau Beauté’s Radiance Trio offers three products that are designed to bring out the skin’s natural radiance. Made of platinum gold silk and pearls for a glowing illumination, the set gives you a luxurious, fuss-free range, with a morning serum, intensive eye contour cream, and a nighttime product.
Our thoughts: Amongst the most indulgent of anti-aging lines, the most luxurious aspect of the products is arguably not in its price tag, but in the time taken to indulge in pampering ritual for your own skin. On another note, the products also come with sculpture-like packaging and individual spatulas to make you feel truly fancy.
Thalgo la Beauté Marine Lumière Marine
A big part of what makes skin age faster are dark spots and skin tone irregularities — the result of exposure to pollution and UV light among others. In response to this, Thalgo has launched the Lumière Marine treatment, especially created to correct dark spots, as well as even and clarify skin tones. With a high concentration of brown algae extract, the products offer triple exfoliation and effectively correct pigmentation imperfections for a clearer, fresh complexion.
Our thoughts: While not exactly part of the anti-aging beauty product crew, this line is one to eye for those who might not be looking to urgently turn back the sands of time, but are rather trying to delay said sands from emptying out. Afterall, good skin is ultimately about investment — both in quality products that match your needs, and in time spent caring for it.
