Meet Environ Skin Care’s high performing new Retinol Boosters

I swear in my life I have tried about every single ‘hope in a jar’ out there, spending god knows how much on 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 (AKA Vitamin A). Some are so potent that can completely change your skin overnight, but not all are created equal. And many come with unwanted side-effects that leave users feeling tight, dry and just generally less-than-glowy.
Long before other skincare brands recognised the power of Vitamin A for healthy skin, the founder of Environ, Dr Des Fernandes - a world renowned plastic and cosmetic surgeon - was already doing a deep dive into the powerful ingredient. The idea behind Environ came about in 1980, when Dr Des was deeply moved by the death of two patients from skin cancer, both in their early twenties. He became passionate about raising the quality of skincare as a whole, and began his research into high potency Vitamin A to provide high performance solutions.
Environ continues to embody this passion, employing pioneering scientific research and unrelenting development. Many companies now use the same research for their own product ranges, but none have the experience, the history or ... the passion.
Which brings me to Environ Skin Care’s latest innovations in the field of all-thing-retinol, two new Retinol Boosters advancing their unique ‘Environ Algorithm’ to deliver youthful skin longevity. Dr Fernandes’ life’s work has been researching vitamin A’s impact on skin health, expanding the intricate understanding of what happens to skin biologically and chronologically through life. He says that “cellular ageing is not fixed to the pace of chronological time – it can be sped up and slowed down”, and science has proven that the biological age of one’s skin is vitally dependant on maximising vitamin A micronutrition. “All the information needed to prolong the health span of skin lies within our skin cells,” says the doctor. “We understand the specifics of cellular language and work with adequate micronutrition to stimulate youthful cellular behaviour throughout life”.

So what’s the tea on the new Retinol Serums then, and how exactly do they work?

Called Focus Care Youth+® Retinol Serum and Retinol Serum Forte, Environ’s two new intensifying Retinol Serums are recommended as add-on boosters to daily vitamin A topical replenishment, and there to be introduced when the skin is acclimated to medium or high concentrations of vitamin A. Clinically proven to improve the appearance of wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, hydration, skin tone and texture, they work synergistically with the skin’s natural processes to affect a safe, effective, and balanced range of natural retinoic acid stimulation. Muti-faceted and unique, the new formulations intelligently combine retinol plus other retinoid forms to optimise the effects of natural retinoic acid on youthful cellular behaviour. Potent antioxidants are also included in the formulas to assist with diminishing the effects of oxidative stress, the specialised boosters promoting natural moisturising properties (love that) and enhancing skin barrier resilience (love that even more).
Environ’s Global Medical Advisor, Dr Ernst Eiselen says: “Looking at the total cosmetic market, all retinols are not equal as their precise formulations have critical differences in relation to how much vitamin A the skin will get or how irritant they will be.
“The new Environ® Retinols have ultra-sophisticated formulations to provide the highest efficacy with the lowest risk of irritation. Slow starts when introducing them is not to avoid irritation, but to avoid retinoid reactions - there is a fundamental difference between the two. The former is a direct and immediate reaction because of specific formulation or pH for instance, while the latter is slower to develop, usually takes a few hours and may be prolonged with more inflammation. This also takes longer to clear up.” Essentially avoided then, for the best possible end results and optimal skin health.
Environ’s Algorithm is rooted in the intricate understanding of complex skin physiology and evidence-based scientific research, a unique and accurate step by step process that guarantees achieving beautiful skin for a lifetime. Who am I to argue with that?

Available at authorised Environ Stockists now and strictly recommended for use under the guidance of a trained Skincare Professional (find one at www.psb.net.nz), both of the new formulas come under the Focus Care Youth+® banner and are: Retinol Serum 30ml RRP $120.00 and Retinol Serum Forte 30ml RRP $151.