My current skincare stash is made up of four silvery grey canisters that I have been tied to siamese-style for about five months now, ever since I had a facial at Sarah Chapman’s London clinic (I got in on a cancellation, FYI, because that place is p-o-p-u-l-a-r).
I don’t remember a time when I’ve used a set of products so religiously (and almost monogamously) let alone that are all from a single brand. So, you could say Sarah Chapman’s lotions and potions are working for me. I want to talk today about the two ‘creamy’ products, before looking at the two ‘oily’ ones another time. Spoiler alert: the Overnight Facial is a gorgeous facial oil, and the Ultimate Cleanse a fabulous, almost unbeatable balm cleanser.
My facial appointment came around right at the time my previous moisturiser was dying – like, cutting it up with scissors to get to the scraps kind of level. So I was in the market for a really good, basic moisturiser. I don’t want anything too fancy with my day cream; nothing too rich and heavy that it overloads my skin, but enough of a drink for my dehydrated face. Make it sit well under makeup and pack it up in either tube or pump bottle packaging – anything but a jar.
This is what Dynamic Defence is for me; a simple product done well – with the added bonus of SPF 15. I know formulations-wise, it’s anything but simple to create a good product like this, but a moisturiser should feel simple to the consumer. It’s your everyday staple, and needs to be unfussy and reliable. I love the packaging (but wish you could see when you’re about to run out) and this cream just does everything I need it to. The texture is light but you still feel it nourishing the skin. The scent (an entirely personal thing), while not dreamy like May Lindstrom’s Jasmine Garden, I find unremarkable but wish for a little something more. It’s not so rich that you have to pat it into the skin and allow time to absorb, not so light that you want to add another two pumps moments after application. The SPF mightn’t be enough to shield you from a harsh Southern Hemisphere sun (read, it’s not), but it’s an extra bonus to layer with your additional sun protection. I’m onto my second bottle of Dynamic Defence, so, in the words of Forrest Gump; that’s all I have to say about that.
I have written previously about Skin Insurance, a tinted SPF lotion, but want to touch on the Age Repair Serum today. Serums are a tricky thing to test, for most often the benefits you’re hoping for are long term rather than instant. Think improved texture, reduced pigmentation and fine lines, firmer, brighter, younger looking skin. The things that are perhaps easier to measure are how your skin feels after application – both immediately and over the following weeks and months. So what I can tell you about the Age Repair Serum is that it’s a lovely creamy, silky texture that applies nicely to the skin. There’s nothing worse than a sticky serum that is a chore within your routine, or one that leaves a filmy residue on your skin. A serum needs to be an enjoyable part of my routine in order for me to stick with it – and this is.
Age Repair Serum is formulated with collagen-stimulating peptides and vitamins and comes with a huge dose of scientific know-how from a founder with years of experience in treating women’s complexions – there’s credibility in that. Since incorporating Chapman’s products into my morning and evening routine my skin has never felt more hydrated and nourished, without the previously experienced breakouts that often come from upping the moisturising levels. We may not be able to get to her Chelsea clinic for regular facials, but more often than not your own at-home, regular routine is just as effective as one-off professional treatments, and I have no hesitation in recommending these products for your skincare repertoire.
Find Sarah Chapman at Cult Beauty