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Aēsop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream is a really interesting one and kind of breaks the rules when it comes to moisturising normal/combination skin.
I’ll be honest, the first time I felt this product in the Aēsop store in Marylebone, after telling the consultant my exact requirements and skincare needs, I was heartily annoyed. On looking and touching the product, it felt thick, overly rich and claggy; and once I’ve judged something, it’s judged for life.
Well I hate to admit when I’m wrong, I really really do, but after exfoliating, cleansing and toning the skin, this moisturiser treated my dry/combination skin type like a dream. It does feel rich for the first 5 seconds and I’m hesitant to agree with Aēsop’s “half a tea-spoonful” recommendation, but it does sink in, and pretty damn quickly.
So what’s so good about this £43 pot of wonder?
I’ll get the only two drawbacks out of the way first: there’s no sun protection but that can be easily supplemented, and if you have the large 120ml pot, you can’t throw it in your travel bag plus if you have stubby fingers like mine, it’s hell getting to the bottom, but, they do a great 60ml version.
With a base of Hazel Seed oil which is perfect for oilier skin types and is non-comodogenic (non-blocking), it packs in a bazillion ingredients designed to treat, condition and protect the skin.
Anyway, you’ll find a great citrus mix of lemon oil, grapefruit oil, tangerine peel oil and mandarin oil. These are fabulous in conditioning the skin to help it lower the production of surface oils. Wheat Germ oil, naturally loaded with tonnes of Vitamin E, protects against the oxidation effects of naturally occurring free radicals that can cause serious cellular damage.
Finally sesame seed oil, soybean oil and carrot extract help to repair the skin’s natural barrier function, taughten, tighten and lift the skin keeping it looking fresh and radiant.
On the skin Aēsop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream feels soothing and rich, but after 20 seconds or so it sinks in and leaves the skin looking radiant, not-shiny but dewy and with a natural glow. This is firstly a more healthy approach to moisturising oily skin, but also a better way to do it as those with oily skin types (including myself) often have an unnatural obsession with looking 100% matt, which does nothing for your complexion.
I finally have to add that even though this is absolutely perfect for oily/combination skin, it’s not suitable for spot/acne prone skin.
Aēsop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream is available in two sizes of 120ml and 60ml; both are available here from Aēsop online.
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