Darphin Hydraskin Rich

In the last month, I have definitely noticed the gradual shift in the season. On that front, my skin is the ultimate gauge because it literally goes from one extreme to the next. Now that summer is kinda (finally!) over, my face has gone from ridiculously oily to a little too dry. Not tight and itchy dry, but dull and dehydrated dry. Interestingly enough, I actually get more acne prone during this period than when my skin is at its slickest. To combat this in-between season skin, I have decided to go a little richer than usual, which I always love. Mattifying moisturisers are great for the during the day but at night I like to really pamper my skin with a richer face cream, you know- the whole sensory bedtime ritual to really kickstart the repair and nourishing overnight. And for this reason, I have gone for Darphin's Hydraskin Rich. 

I did a little research prior to the purchase and it was the first time that I would try a Darphin product. They are a French brand specialising in skincare made from botanical ingredients and essential oils. I'm always on the lookout for good natural based skin care these days, and so on that note, let the purchase begin! The 50ml jar retails at £34 which is not that bad considering I would classify Darphin as Premium skin care.

I was initially torn between the Rich and Gel consistency, but I knew my skin needed immediate hydration either way. I was happy with my Clarins Hydramatte for the day (or more often than not I'm would wear an oli-free tinted moisturiser) but I was actually out of night cream, so in the end I went for the rich formula for this purpose.  

Clearly, I have used quite abit already but I like to really lay it on thick (-ish) in the evenings!

It's been three weeks since I started using Hydraskin Rich as my night cream and I am loving the results. I pair it with my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair II (separate post soon!) if I'm feeling REALLY dry, but as it stands, the cream is a dream. As with all skin care, this cream does have some star ingredients in it, and these include:

Butterfly Lavender: Butterfly (or French) Lavender essential oil is an ancient skin care ingredient prized for its many benefits. It's fragrance has a calming and restorative effect. It is also anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and an anti-irritant, as to help soothe the skin which can be quite temperamental. 

Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea)*: According to my research, Glasswort has skin brightening and antioxidative properties which are essential in skin rejuvenation.

Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica)**: Cogon Grass is rich in potassium which helps regulate intercellular pressure and retain water in the epidermis. Kind of a big deal this one!

Shea Butter: Shea Butter is a known African treasure, used to moisturise even the most driest of skins.

It's got a subtle fragrance, a mixture of lavender and mango extracts that is very soothing and calming to the senses. The consistency is lovely and velvety, but surprisingly not as heavy as I had anticipated. After massaging, my skin is immediately plumped and I am left with a soft and dewy glow. I feel it really replenishing my skin with the hydration it needs and in the morning, my skin looks visibly brighter and less dull. The jar does come with a spoon type dispenser, which I have lost in the mess that is my dressing table, so if you are a germ freak then you are in luck. As for me, I just have to cleanse my hands before moisturising. I probably won't use it for day just yet but the seasons are about to shift and I may just have to looking forward into the colder months ahead :)

Have you tried this product before? Share your experience below!






sources: * National Centre for Biotechnology Information, ** NvWah Beauty Investigator