All about: Aspect's super charged Retinol Brulee

I swear in my life I have tried about every single ‘hope in a jar’ out there, spending god knows how much on moisturisers, eye creams, serums and whatnot as I (fruitlessly for the most part) battle the creeping signs of ageing. There’s certainly no way to escape them, but a little softening here and there is more than welcome, and if I can find a product that gives my skin that extra boost then bring it on.

In the skincare world there is one thing that we know absolutely delivers the goods however, and that’s retinol. Some are so potent that can completely change your skin overnight, but not all are created equal. There are a lot of misconceptions about retinol too, with good reason. Also there is the fact that there are ‘Retin-A’ products, and ‘retinol’ products… and both are ‘retinoids’. It’s all vitamin A, but the first kind is pretty heavy duty (i.e. you need a prescription) and the second type you can buy over the counter. Unlike standard exfoliators, retinoids work at the cellular level to increase collagen, smooth-out annoying fine lines and even-out the tone, all of which are on my shopping list thank-you-very-much.

Often called “the perfect entry level retinol”, Aspect’s Retinol Brulee is one of the names that does do what it says, and is a great place to start. Unlike some of the more questionable so-called ‘Retinol’ products out there it promises to deliver the results you want day after day, week after week, month after month, and you get the long-term results accordingly.

It is the first Australian developed cosmeceutical to take advantage of what is called “Tocoretinate” technology, a third generation non-irritating variety of "true" esterified Vitamin A acid that is guaranteed to maintain its potency and superior performance even under the most adverse of conditions. To further enhance the superior effectiveness of the aforementioned Tocoretinate, the clever clogs at Aspect have now literally turbocharged Retinol Brulee with the addition of Lanablue, a remarkable Blue algae extract that clinically mimics the topical cosmetic effects of pure retinol without any of the side effects.

So what are these side effects exactly? The fact is, whilst topical retinol is amongst the most active cosmeceutical ingredients ever discovered; in very high concentrations, it certainly is not without some potential side effects such as dryness, flaking and mild irritation. This is where Lanablue steps in so Aspect can give you much faster visible smoothing results without the disadvantages associated with increasing the retinol content. Love that! 

To help overcome any additional minor disruptions for sensitive skin types, Retinol Brulee also has Canadian Willowherb in there, a powerful botanical that has been clinically proven to cosmetically strengthen the skin’s defences against external aggressors and keep things calm.

Oh and for those that I have heard picking the Aspect range apart out there – you know who you are - Retinol Brulee is free of parabens, mineral oils, petrolatum, propylene glycol and artificial fragrances, so is joyously kind to even the most sensitive of skins.

What do you reckon? Like any retinol you start using just the smallest amount of Retinol Brulee every third night, building up to alternate nights and then nightly use for optimum effect. From then on in you shall reap the benefits!

This beauty has an RRP of $129.95 and for stockists check www.aspectskin.co.nz