Testing out retinol serums and creams had been next on my “skincare to-do list” – retinol seems to be a genuine super-ingredient that has been proven to help fine lines and wrinkles, increase collagen production and help the skin to look and feel younger; but then I got pregnant and vastly simplified my beauty routine, so that particular adventure got shelved until further notice. (Retinol is also quite frequently on the list of “things to avoid” when pregnant, and though it’s the prescription-strength products (retinoids) that I would have thought would be the worry, it seemed a bit silly to start using it just so I could write some beauty reviews! I was quite a worrisome Mum-to-be for the first two trimesters, but selectively so: I was paranoid about parsley (got my Mum to thank for that one) and peppermint tea (I have no idea why I stopped drinking that) but didn’t give up runny eggs if they had the red lion stamp on them and had shellfish nearly every day. Go figure.)
Anyway, I’m now dipping a toe into the “retinol pond” and the first products on my list are the serums and creams from Verso. Verso products claim to use a highly potent Retinol 8 “complex” that is eight times more effective than the typically-used form of the ingredient, but at the same time is more easily tolerated and less likely to cause irritation. I have to say that the risk of irritating my skin (the redness and flakiness that can be side-effects of using retinol) was the main reason that I hadn’t got started on my retinol-testing earlier, so I was very interested in Verso’s claims.
I’m happy to say that I haven’t experienced even a hint of irritation and that’s after nearly a week of layering up the eye serum, face serum and day cream. (Every other day for the serum, actually, but I’ve been going to town with the day cream application. I probably should have been more cautious, really!) I was also worried that my face might get dry and flaky – again, no sign of this either. In fact, I’ve found the serum on its own to be very moisturising and with the day cream layered over the top, almost too moisturising! It’s seriously rich stuff. I’ve switched to using the serum at night and the day cream on its own. It’s too early to see any proper results fine-line-wise, I think, but my skin most definitely looks and feels very smooth and plumped up. I need to get this over to my chief Retinol-tester, Rach, who has been comparing a few different creams (posts coming up) and is now very well-versed in the various ups and downs!
If you’d like to try the Verso line then you can find it at Cult Beauty here – while stocks last, they are offering readers of A Model Recommends a free full size Verso Day Cream (£85) with any spend of £60 or over on the Verso range. My recommendation would be the Super Facial Serum, because it is – as I’ve mentioned – very substantial for a serum, so you can get away with using just a very light moisturiser over the top. Or if your skin is in parched-mode (mine is) you can indulge in all of the richness and layer on something snazzy. I’m lovingly patting my face now, at 4.20pm, and my skin still feels really juicy – I applied the serum at 8.30am followed by a bit of Time Bomb Powerball moisturiser.
The eye serum is also lovely (and cheaper) but I think that you could very easily just use the face serum all over if you wanted a do-it-all product. Verso claim that the serum “dramatically diminishes the appearance of wrinkles – even stubborn, deep-set expression lines” so I’m intrigued to see whether or not my fine-eye-lines disappear, and also the frown line that seems to be adamant on settling in at the top of my nose! Verso also say that with continued use there will be a “visible reduction in pigment spots and scars” and that skin “soon becomes stronger, more luminous”. I definitely look less knackered and more…I want to say “ruddy”, but I don’t look red. What’s the term? In rude health? Fresh. I look fresh.
Use the code AMRVERSO to claim your free full size Day Cream – you need to pop the code in the section that’s marked FREE GIFT CODE. Do let me know how you get on, I’ll do an update post with my results too.
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