Content created in partnership with Elizabeth Arden
The beauty industry has, for the past few years, been gripped by a move towards “clean” products – those that are made without parabens, sulphates and other chemicals deemed to be potentially harmful to human health. This has led to a rise in formulations made with natural, plant-powered ingredients, as well as greater transparency around what’s actually in the lotions and potions we liberally smear on our faces.
Elizabeth Arden, which has been a pioneer in results-driven skincare since 1910, has responded to this demand with White Tea Skin Solutions – its first clean and natural anti-aging skincare collection – which is designed to support the skin’s renewal process.
The hero ingredient in the new range, which is available now, is EGCG1, a potent and natural antioxidant found in white tea that has been found to reinforce natural collagen and improve the skin’s elasticity. This is extracted from young leaves that are hand-picked once a year, in the springtime, from farms in Fujian in China – one of the country’s biggest tea-producing provinces.
One potential shortcoming of using natural ingredients – and one of the reasons that brands have favoured synthetic alternatives for their products – is that they can be unstable, meaning there is inconsistency with how they react with the skin or that they don’t deliver the promised results. To counteract this, Elizabeth Arden’s team has bioengineered EGCG1 in order to optimise compatibility with the skin, strengthen the potency of the antioxidants within it and ensure they work outside of the bottle.
All the products in the new range are formulated with EGCG1 as well as other plant-powered ingredients: the Gentle Purifying Cleanser, which can be used by those with even the most sensitive skin, is blended with Myrtle Leaf, which leaves the skin soft yet doesn’t strip away moisture; the Bi-Phase Toning Lotion is alcohol-free and includes watermelon, lentil fruit and apple extracts; the Fortifying Bi-Phase Oil Serum has rainbow algae to firm and brighten; the Replenishing Micro-Gel Cream is mixed with angelica root extract for hydration; while the Brightening Eye Gel has sea oak extract to target dark circles.
The products ticks all the boxes in terms of being au naturel – but how do they do in all-important efficacy tests? While only new to the market – and therefore new to us – consumer studies show that the products visibly firm the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and give the face a natural glow.
What’s more, all the products in the White Tea Skin Solutions range are vegan-friendly, the key ingredients are sustainably sourced and are packaged in 100 per cent glass jars.
Elizabeth Arden’s entry into the clean beauty space is bound to make waves – just like the other cult, award-winning products in the brand’s arsenal. And in an industry that is notoriously murky, the new range sets a precedent for the other big players to follow.
White Tea Skin Solutions is available to purchase now. RRP from $56.
