A few months ago I discovered two fantastic moisturisers (namely the Vita Mineral Radiant Day Cream and Frankincense Revitalising Repair Cream) from REN and quite rightly sang their praises. The lovely ladies at Alchemy Business Development took notice and offered to send me some products to try which might be a better fit for my skin type (dry, dry, dry). A few days later a package arrived and inside it I discovered, to my delight, the Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Oil, Ultra Moisture Day Cream and the iconic Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil. I couldn’t wait to get home so I could start testing them!
A little bit of information about the products before I get into what I thought. I’ll start with the Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Oil, as it is my favourite (don’t tell the others). This ultra-moisturising oil provides dry and dehydrated skin with a powerful shield to lock in moisture and leave the skin it looking soft and radiant. It’s packed full of bio extracts that repair, moisturise and protect the skin, making sure that none of those pesky free radicals get a chance to cause any upset. It is designed to be used both morning and night, but I have been using it in the evenings only (more on that later). The Ultra Moisture Day Cream has been formulated with a moisture replenishing complex which ensures that dry skin is soothed and optimally hydrated throughout the day. As with the Defence Oil, the bio extracts make sure that the moisture levels are maintained and that the skin is continuously protected. Lastly, the Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil: this rose-infused body oil is formulated to intensively replenish the skin, lock in moisture and give skin a healthy, youthful glow. It also protects against oxidative damage to combat the signs of premature ageing.
Rose O¹² Moisture Defence Oil
This is, without question, the most luxurious product I have ever used. It feels like a real treat, like a present for my face. This golden elixir melts into the skin, instantly hydrating, soothing and plumping up dry, dehydrated skin. It smells delicious, feels delicious, and the results are, quite simply, delicious. I started off by using it day (1 drop) and night (2 drops), but after a while my skin felt so hydrated that I felt I no longer needed it in the mornings. That being said, I started using it in the summer months, and I think that in the winter months I will revert back to using it day and night, as those are the months my skin suffers most. I have been using it over my serum, but before my moisturiser and I have found that the combination has been working incredibly well. Since using this oil, my skin feels more moisturised than it has ever felt – so much so, in fact, that I have stopped using hyaluronic acid altogether. I have noticed a huge improvement in my dehydration lines too (fabulous), and I think my skin looks more radiant before. Another pleasing effect is that when I get blemishes now, they don’t erupt like they used to (I suspect this is in combination with minimal diary though) – now they stay small and are gone within a day or two. If you battle with dry skin, I would highly encourage you to invest in this little gem. Yes, it is pricey, but I would happily purchase this if I knew I was going to be guaranteed happy, healthy skin.
Retails for R750.00.
Ultra Moisture Day Cream
If you have dry or dehydrated skin, this is just the most lovely, comforting moisturiser. It feels like you are cloaking your skin in a sumptuous blanket of moisture, and that feeling stays throughout the day. Whilst this moisturiser is intensive, it is not greasy in the slightest and leaves your skin looking *just* right, if that makes sense. You won’t look shiny or oily, but you will glow. As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t been using a hyaluronic acid serum in the mornings because I have found that, between the Defence Oil and this moisturiser, I no longer need it. This is somewhat of a skin milestone for me – I can barely remember a time when I haven’t needed hyaluronic acid! I did try using the Defence Oil and the Ultra Moisture Day Cream together for a while, but I found it to be a little bit too heavy – but, like I said, this combination might be just the ticket in the winter months, so I will keep you posted.
Retails for R450.00.
Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil
In a word: heaven. Regular readers will know how much I love body oil, and this is the Holy Grail of body oils. This little beauty was everything I expected and more – I love nothing more than massaging it onto my damp skin after a shower – it leaves me, and my entire bathroom, smelling like a rose garden. I also like to sometimes mix it in with a bit of my other body favourite, Kiehl’s Creme de Corps, for a really indulgent treat. It really helps your skin lock in moisture so that your limbs feel smoother and softer for longer. At the moment I am using it 2/3 times a week and I haven’t found myself needing to use any other body moisturisers in between – now that is saying something!
Retails for R525.00.