This repair treatment promises to accelerate skin renewal and reduce the appearance of skin ageing over night, so I absolutely jumped with joy when I was sent this to trial as it fits my skin to a tee.
It contains among others 0.5% active microencapsulated pure retinol to help increase collagen production and cell turnover, as well as peptides and vitamin C to help fight signs of ageing including uneven skin tone and discolouration. It also contains bioenergised copper amino acid complex to reduce wrinkles and improve skin firmness. To ensure that the skin doesn't get irritated from the retinol, the pack also includes a moisturising Buffer Cream, which you mix with the Retinol Repair. To start with, you can mix as much as one part Retinol Repair with up to three parts Buffer Cream until your skin is acclimated, and hereafter slowly reduce the amount of the Buffer Cream until your skin can tolerate using the Retinol Repair on its own, although you can continue using it with the either the Buffer Cream or with your preferred Dermalogica Moisturiser.
Before use, you cleanse your skin, and then mix the retinol and Buffer Cream in your hand, before applying to your face, avoiding the sensitive eye area.
My combination skin is used to regular doses of retinol, so I was very quickly able to reduce the amount of Buffer Cream used, and start using the Retinol on its own. And I have to say that from the very first use I was in love, although the love grew even bigger when I started using the Retinol on its own without the Buffer Cream, as then I really saw the benefits of the cream.
After just a few uses, and after each subsequent use, I could clearly see that it was making my skin visibly firmer and smoother, and although I doubt that they'll ever completely disappear, fine lines definitely seems minimised too. As well as increasing lines and wrinkles, I also have increasing pigmentation from previous sun-worshipping, as well as dark marks and scarring from past acne - and I have also noticed that my skin seems more even in skin tone, so both pigmentation and acne marks have also clearly faded, in particularly those newer acne marks from a recent breakout. Unfortunately I haven't seen any major difference in the acne scarring, but that said, these scars are also very old, so I doubt there's a lot that can be done about them. But overall when I use this Overnight Retinol Repair before going to bed at night, I wake to a skin that is looking healthier and more glowing in the morning, it is softer and smoother and in short looks like I've just had the longest beauty sleep ever, or like I've just had a facial.
What I also like is that I consequently feel that serums and moisturisers that I use the next day absorb much better in to the skin, and I also need to use far less foundation and concealer to achieve an even look.
I also find that it is brilliant that Dermalogica has been so foresightful as to include the Buffer Cream to ensure that there is no skin irritation, and so that you can tailor the strength and concentration of the Retinol to suit your skin's tolerance.
At $135 this is not a cheap product, but the 30ml bottle will last you quite some time as it is quite concentrated so you only need to use a little, and considering that you'd easily fork out $135 if not more on just one facial, it is really not that much after all! I definitely wouldn't hesitate purchasing this Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair again!
Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair 30ml and Buffer Cream 15ml, RRP: $135
Available from Dermalogica, RY, Adore Beauty and Active Skin
* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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