Capsule x Elizabeth Arden
After noticing that line between her eye get deeper and deeper with every Zoom call, Kelly Bertrand decides to take action and embark on a journey of lifting and firming – both for her physical appearance, and also her sanity.
There are two things I’m struggling with at the moment.
Ok well to be honest there’s quite a few more because it’s 2022 and everything, but right now in this moment, it’s two things.
One – my GOD, when did my skin start to look like wrinkled sandpaper, and two – as the most rain I’ve ever seen lashes Auckland on what already promised to be a gloomy morning because Mondays, amirite, it could be really easy to simply trudge through my day without anything to look forward to.
Thankfully, the solution to both issues is sitting on my bathroom counter.
Skincare, for me anyway, is as much about the self-care aspect as well as the physical transformation. For a few minutes every morning and every night as I slather on serums and creams, it’s MY time to do something a little luxurious and a little special for myself.
I love the ritual, the routine, the ceremony. But, as I enter my thirties with a decade of poor choices already behind me, I also need stuff that WORKS and actually does what it says on the jar.
I need lifting. I need firming. I need hydration. I need sculpting. So, as one always does when one needs help, I reached for an old friend, and her name’s Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Arden have long been known for excellence in skincare and their ceramide range is now iconic and for good reason (and who doesn’t love those tiny little capsules? Obviously, we’re obsessed.)
But now, the skincare giant has come out with a brand-new collection of Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Creams with five times the ceramide to replenish and restore the skin – and all the while, giving you that moment of everyday luxury that’s very much needed, for both the face and the soul.
The collection includes two day creams – one with SPF which you should very much use because we live in New Zealand – and a night cream, as well as the famed capsules.
Cool, but what’s in it and how does it work?
Elizabeth Arden aren’t stuffing around when they released this range – in fact, they promise that your skin will be visibly lifted, firmed and more defined (based on a study of 58 women after one week).
Instantly, you can tell the formula is super-light and super-fast absorbing, which is great when you’re time poor in the morning and you’re trying to get out the door, or for when you just want to flop onto your ridiculously expensive linen pillowcase at night.
They include Elizabeth Arden’s ‘3D FIT Triple Active System – the F meaning Firm and Lift, the I Intense Hydration, and the T for Tighten and Tone.
It’s the ceramides job to firm and lift – what is a ceramide, I hear you ask? Essentially, fatty acids that help protect the skin from irritants. They’re naturally found in your skin’s cells and are essential at helping your skin retain moisture. But of course, your natural stockpile dries up as you age, so your skin can become dehydrated.
As well as ceramides, red algae supports moisture retention and helps with the intense hydration, and then you have Edelweiss extract for helping to tighten to and tone.
Tetrapeptides (which contain four amino acids) helps with fine lines and wrinkles by helping to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin, while vitamin E nourishes and provides protection from harsh environmental factors.
Ok but did it work for you?
Um, YES it did. After two weeks of using the range (the Advanced Ceramide Capsules, the Lift and Firm Day Cream with SPF 15+ and the Lift and Firm Night Cream), my skin loves me again and I’m starting to be able to look at myself on a Zoom call again without noticing my sad and desperate skin.
Things are plumper, guys – no filler needed. It’s reminded me of what happens when you neglect your houseplants for a few days and they go all limp and sad, but when you water them, it’s like they’re a new plant. THAT’S what my skin feels like. I’ve noticed that the area around my chin seems to have tightened a little, and I actually have a little bit of a glow, so much so that for the last few days I haven’t bothered with foundation.
It’s a little too early to tell whether I can turn back the clock on all the times I’ve forgotten to wear sunblock and all of the late night rosés, but all signs are pointing to yes. Plus, I love the super-light formula and the delicious scent that’s not too overwhelming, but smells like luxury.
The range has also changed the way my day operates. Now, I’m excited to get out of bed and start my day because even if everything else goes to hell in a handbasket, I’ve done something for myself and helped shape my future for the better, one swipe of serum at a time.
I don’t know what it is, but bookending my day with skincare has made me feel a little more put-together, you know? Like I’m on top of all my stuff and I look like the strong confident woman I am.
If you’re looking for a new skincare routine that actually does what it says on the bottle and doesn’t just soothe your physical anxiety, but also gives you a little everyday luxury (and looks good on the bathroom shelf!), give the Advanced Ceramide range a crack, and treat yourself, girl!
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream, Day Cream with SPF15 (both $155) and Night Cream ($165) is available now in store and online
