All about: Aesop Lucent Facial Concentrate

As a brand, Aesop don’t make a move unless it is very carefully considered, so you know when they introduce a new product that it’s going to be for a reason. A very, very good reason.

The latest that I have been lucky enough to play with is the Aesop Lucent Facial Concentrate, a high-intensity vitamin-boosting concentrate that fortifies, balances, soothes and replenishes the skin and the first of its kind in a new category for the brand.

Both beautiful and practical, Aesop’s ethos is all about marrying old world wisdom with new scientific disciplines – harnessing the finest botanical extracts and fusing them with the latest discoveries – and almost “re-training” your skin to be the best that it can be. It targets skin concerns like no other, even taking things like the environment many of us inhabit into consideration when creating something new.

This makes Lucent Facial Concentrate the perfect solution to the humid climate that has been creeping its way into the New Zealand landscape over the past few years, and the reason why it is already a huge hit in Asia, The task of finding a moisturiser that hydrates without being heavy and cloying can be a challenge when it’s steamy outside your door, but this new baby can be used alone as a lightweight hit of moisture if you’re in humidity and on the oily side, as well as in a variety of other ways. 

When used over other serums as a moisturiser, it has the lightest, almost watery texture that literally sinks into the skin and dries to a comfortable matte finish. Key ingredient niacinamide - AKA Vitamin B3 - along with sodium carrageenan, which is an algae extract, helps attract and lock moisture into the skin without leaving behind anything remotely greasy. This is especially important because skin loses moisture through the day as you go from air-conditioned offices and stores to humidity outdoors, and keeps skin feeling comfortable all through the day.

The other key ingredient in there is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate – a stabilised version of Vitamin C, which helps brighten the skin and protect against external aggressors. It effectively tackles free radicals like pollution that can cause damage to collagen and elastin, while the aforementioned niacinamide calms the skin and helps boost collagen production.

Last but by no means least, nourishing oils of Rose Otto, Sandalwood and Frankincense ensure that dedicated use of this beautiful serum will help improve the skin’s overall appearance and health. Perfect.

So, after that rave it will come as no surprise that I have added this beauty to my list of All Time Favourite Aesop Products, joining such luminaries as Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque, Fabulous Face Cleanser and Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. I’ve been using it religiously since it came across my desk - with a moisturiser on top to combat surface dryness - and can honestly say that it has been a joy to apply. 

Lucent Facial Concentrate is inshore and online now, RRP NZD $150 for a 60ml (beautiful) bottle.