Is ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser the best moisturiser for your 30s and 40s?
I personally don’t think you should choose a moisturiser based on your age. You should choose it based on your skin type and needs.
If you have dry skin, you’re definitely in for a treat:
What’s In ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser?
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Let’s start with the basics. Glycerin is in pretty much ALL skincare products for a reason.
It’s a wonderful humectant: that’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin. Once there, this extra moisture softens, plumps, and brightens your skin.
That’s the base you want to build the rest of your skincare routine on.
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare
CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE TO MOISTURISE SKIN, TOO
Derived from coconut oil and glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is loaded with fatty acids that moisturise skin, leaving it softer and suppler.
Lighter in texture, it basically has all the moisturising properties of coconut oil without its comedogenic potential.
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SHEA BUTTER TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Shea butter is a godsend for dry skin. Derived from the nut of the Shea tree, this fat is rich in moisturising fatty acids and antioxidants.
Fatty acids are what makes it work so well: they create a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. Moisture is now forced to stay into the skin, hydrating it from within.
FYI, shea butter is even more moisturising than mineral oil (what derms consider the gold standard for moisturisation). Its effects lasts for up to 8 hours, if not more!
Related: Why Shea Butter Is The Best Moisturiser For Dry Skin
Texture
Lightweight cream. Sinks in fast without leaving any greasy residue behind.
Fragrance
It’s technically fragrance-free, but its essential oils gives a herbal scent with citrusy hints. It’s lovely (if you’re not allergic to essential oils).
How To Use It
In the morning, in between serum and sunscreen. At night, it’s the last step of your skincare routine.
Personal Use & Opinion
I personally use ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser in the evening. I find that, in the warmer summer months, my Vitamin C serum + sunscreen gives me all the moisture I need to go through the day. But in winter, I may sandwich this in between on days when my skin craves the extra moisture.
I love the way this cream feels on my skin. It’s moisturising without feeling heavy or greasy. Upon application, I notice my skin already feels a little softer and plumper.
When I wake up in the morning, my skin just looks healthy and fresh. My face also looks plumper, a feat that makes the fine lines around my eyes look smaller.
P.S. I did use it a couple of times during the day for review purposes. You’ll be happy to know it makes a good base for makeup.
Who Is This For?
It’s most suitable for dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
May be a tad too rich for oily and acne-prone skin.
Packaging
An airless jar. You need to press down the lid to make the cream ooze out. I love this type of packaging:
- It’s hygienic: You don’t risk contaminating it with bacteria every time you scoop some product out of the jar.
- It prevents spoilage: Antioxidants slowly lose their effectiveness when exposed to light and air. No chance of that happening here.
- It’s practical: It oozes out just the right amount of product you need, so that none gets wasted.
Does ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Containing clinically proven wrinkle plumping peptides, including Matrixyl, it smoothes skin, plumps and tones, and diminishes signs of premature ageing. | These peptides have been clinically proven to do this by the manufacturers. We still lack adequate studies on real humans. The cream can smooth, plump, and reduce signs of aging by moisturising skin. |
| Vitamin A from Retinyl Palmitate which converts to Retinol in the skin helps keep skin strong, plump and increases collagen production, whilst being suitable for use on sensitive skin. | It’s true Retinyl Palmitate is suitable for sensitive skin, too. That’s because it’s the WEAKEST form of Vitamin A. Yes, it turns into retinol, but retinol must turn into retinoic acid to work. It just takes too many steps to convert Retinyl Palmitate into a real wrinkle-fighter. |
Price & Availability
£42.00 at Feel Unique and Look Fantastic
Do You Need It?
If you’ve got dry skin, this is a good option to consider.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Pestle & Mortar Hydrate Moisturiser (£42.90)
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Ppg-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Fruit Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Passiflora Edulis (Passionfruit) Seed Oil, Actinidia Deliciosa (Kiwi) Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Bht, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Disodium Edta, Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzoic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Nymphaea Coerulea (Blue Lotus) Flower Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Trideceth-6, Polysorbate 20, Ubiquinone, Vanilla Planifolia, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Leaf Oil, Parfum (Pure Essential Oils), Acacia Dealbata, Tetradibutyl Pentaerithrityl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol.
