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As much as I loved meeting Paula Begoun, it was when she said 'Don't even get me started on french pharmacy brands!' that I knew we would never be bonded by facial oils.
If I could only pick one country from which to buy all my skincare it would be France. And Darphin would be in my Top 3 (ooh maybe a top brand by country post is an idea?).
The hardest part of choosing a Darphin product for the Hall of Fame is keeping it realistic and not listing 5 straight off the bat. For this particular post, I also had the Intral range on my desk, and I've already added the Purifying Balm, the first product I properly fell in love with.
In the end, dear reader, I plumped for the 8-Flower Nectar Elixir. If you are a teenager, this may not be for you. In fact if you aren't concerned about lack of elasticity, dullness, fine lines and surface dehydration, one of the other oils would maybe be better. BUT: if you smoke, drink, live in the city etc - and are under 30, I'd still look into this. ANYWAY: back to the basics.
What is it?
'Purifies and rebalances your skin overnight so that wrinkles and lines are smoothed, your skin feels plumper and your complexion looks revitalised and more radiant.
Who is it for?
See intro paragraph but essentially anyone concerned with signs of ageing. All of them.
What’s in it?
Jojoba Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hexyldecanol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Jasmine Flower Extract, Iris Pallida Root Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Phytosterols, Date Seed Extract, Cranberry Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Patchouli Oil, Helichrysum Angustifolium Flower Oil, Lavender Oil, Orange Flower Oil, Beta-Carotene, Rose Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Rosewood Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol
Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
essential oils
Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
natural/vegan
Tested on animals/sold in countries that test on animals?
no/unknown
What's not in it?
mineral oil
synthetic fragrance
How do you use it?
'In the evening, apply five drops to face and neck'
That's great in theory, but this is an open neck so getting precisely 5 drops is harder than one might think. I tend to do a small 'dollop', like a 5p size - (dime for US peeps), therapist swipe, and massage into face.
What’s good about it?
It's just a really beautiful formulation that absorbs almost instantly, leaving no residue after application. Skin is plumped and glowing, fine lines disappear (if only for a while - obvs) and any products applied on top also seem to work brilliantly. Some people would have you believe that 'an oil is an oil' and that there are no differences between something like this and an oil you can buy from a health food shop. I politely disagree. The proof is in the processes.
This refines, smooths, softens, increases suppleness and elasticity, restores vitality, and ultimately nourishes and moisturises.
What’s not so good about it?
It's £95.00. But: it should last between 9 months and a year if you use it a few times a week in the evenings.
Where to use in your routine?
P.M. - over serums and under moisturisers. Although you can obviously use this on its own, I'm a big fan of layering and this is great for 'sealing' the deal over an active, thinner, serum. I like a little moisturiser over this but that's more for how it feels than any huge added benefit.
8-Flower Nectar is £95.00 from Spacenk.com and £94.00 from JohnLewis.com (at time of writing)
If you watch my vlogs you'll know that I went to Paris with Darphin recently to check out their revamped Institut on Rue Saint-Honore. I wanted to do some prep work for what will be my last 'southern' meet-up for a while.
On Thursday 3rd December, I am going to be working in the beautiful new Darphin space (pictured above) in John Lewis in Kingston-upon-Thames. I'll be on counter from 5pm-8pm talking all things Darphin and skin. And basically just everything in-between.
Darphin are throwing in some added extras too:
- With every two products bought on the day, you will receive an exclusive gift from Darphin.
- A chance to win a bespoke selection of Darphin products (£200 value)
- Complimentary Darphin Hand and Arm Massages
- Darphin gift wrapping
- Complimentary refreshments
I hope to see some of you there!
John Lewis, Kingston.
Thursday 3rd December
5pm-8pm (until they throw me out)
The event at John Lewis is sponsored by Darphin, my review is my review.
