ARK Skincare Review: Age Defend Cleanser & Moisturiser

(sample) I had wanted to try ARK Skincare for quite a while so I'm really happy I've had the opportunity to try a couple of products over the past few weeks. Cruelty Free, vegan-friendly and utterly joyful to use, these two have been a welcome addition to my skincare stash but before I get into the details, here's a little bit about ARK.

The award-winning British brand are big on celebrating beauty at every age and use carefully selected bioactive natural ingredients in their formulas to complement and benefit different age groups. To help customers decide on the products most suited to them, ARK came up with a three step system.
Step 1 is age; there are three cleansers and three moisturisers that have been specially developed for three different age categories. Called the Age Intelligent range, these products are designed to treat age-related needs, so there is Age Protect, which is for teens and 20s, Age Defend for 30s and 40s and Age Defy for 50+.

Step 2 is concern; targeted treatment products called Skin Perfectors to treat specific concerns such as hydration, firming and clearing. Products in the Skin Perfectors range include serums, a masque and an exfoliator.

Step 3 is lifestyle; the Skin Essentials range is designed to complement and enhance the rest of your regime and includes a pre-cleanse, hydrating mist, primer with SPF30, eye cream and plumping lip cream.

As I'm in my 30s I've been trying out the Age Defend range which includes a conditioning cleanser and replenishing moisturiser and so far I've really been enjoying both products!

The cleanser and moisturiser both contain Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids which are rich in Omega 3 and help to retain moisture levels in the skin. Blue Lotus also features in both products. Touted as the 'sacred flower of anti-ageing', Blue Lotus is an effective antioxidant which helps to maintain firmness and elasticity.

The award-winning Conditioning Cleanser (£25) is designed to cleanse, nourish and aid the skin's natural exfoliation process via a soothing gel formula. The cleanser contains Moringa Oil which is naturally rich in Vitamin C and A to help create a radiant, glowing complexion as it cleanses away makeup and dirt. 'Conditioning Cleanser' is a spot-on name for this formula as it's very comfortable to use - skin feels nice and clean but not tight or stripped. The Conditioning Cleanser also rinses away easily (this isn't necessarily a washcloth job) and is just really pleasant to use overall. It's worth mentioning that it also smells incredible - sort of herbal and both invigorating and relaxing at the same time. I realise that makes very little sense but you're just going to have to trust me on this.

The other product in the Age Defend range is the Replenishing Moisturiser (£35). First and foremost, I really, really rate this moisturiser. From the packaging through to the finish of the formula, I'm very impressed! A cream formula with a slight gel consistency, the moisturiser has a Shea Butter and Olive Oil base enriched with Co-enzyme Q10 and skin plumping peptides including Matrixyl. Along with the aforementioned Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids and Blue Lotus, the Replenishing Moisturiser also contains Retinal Parmitate which is gentle enough for sensitive skin and works to increase collagen production and help to keep skin plump and resilient. Like the Age Defend cleanser, this moisturiser smells pretty amazing, which is always a bonus when it's going on your face.

I'm really impressed with both the cleanser and the moisturiser from the Age Defend range and ARK as a brand has certainly got my attention and I'm keen to have a play with more of their products. You can find out more about ARK and have a browse at arkskincare.com.