It’s hard to believe, but the exceptional Age Benefit Cream is celebrating its 15th birthday this year! Over the last decade and a half, this beloved age-defying moisturiser has transformed the skincare routines of so many, delivering youthful radiance and rejuvenation to women across the globe. It’s the ultimate younger looking skin insurance policy giving you ‘your skin’ on its best day, every day and to embrace this special event, we have released a 100ml supersize of this best-selling cream exclusively to QVC for the month of February.
When you pick up this moisturiser, you might not realise the complex and careful work that has gone into its creation but it took a team of scientists eight years to create the perfect formulation (an art and science in itself) and the goal was simple: to offer an innovative solution to counteract the problems that can occur in hormonally challenged skin and address the key signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dryness and loss of firmness.
So much more than your run of the mill moisturiser, Age Benefit Cream is disrupting the age-old conversation (or lack thereof) around menopause, replacing 'anti-ageing' with 'well-ageing' and sets a new standard for how we think about and take care of menopausal skin.
Let’s face it, menopause brings about many changes in a woman’s life and that huge shift in hormones has repercussions of which can be felt everywhere from your mood to your skin. The tidal wave of surging and depleting oestrogen can knock even the most even-keeled complexions off kilter too. Oestrogen plays a significant role in maintaining elasticity, moisture, and thickness so its decline can lead to several visible changes in the skin.
1. Dryness
As we hit the menopause one of the most common skin changes that occurs is increased dryness. Skin relies on its natural moisture components like lipids, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and Squalane to maintain hydration and oestrogen helps keep these actives in abundant supply. As levels of this hormone decrease, the skin’s ability to stay hydrated diminishes. This can lead to skin feeling tight, flaky, or rough to the touch.
2. Thinning and Sagging
It is estimated that we lose around a third of our collagen in the first five years after menopause. This important protein sits in the dermis level of the skin and is what gives your face its lovely supple pillow-plumped texture. Without as much collagen in place skin loses its bounce. As oestrogen levels decrease, the skin can become thinner losing some of its firmness and elasticity and it begins to show the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging, especially around the eyes, jawline, and neck.
3. Increased Sensitivity
Menopausal skin can become more sensitive due to changes in the skin’s barrier function and pH level. A change from the naturally acidic, healthy barrier leaves skin drier and easily irritated. Closely connected, one of the more commonly known menopause symptoms is hot flushes where blood vessels in the skin suddenly dilate increasing blood flow which creates heat and flushing in response to erratic hormone levels.
4. Breakouts and Acne
While menopausal skin is often drier, some women may experience an increase in breakouts due to fluctuations in androgen hormones. These hormones can trigger an overproduction of oil, leading to clogged pores and acne, especially around the jawline and chin.
5. Age Spots and Hyperpigmentation
With the decline in oestrogen and slower skin regeneration combined with thinner skin, sun damage becomes more apparent during menopause. Oestrogen regulates pathways associated with melanin synthesis and the decline in this female hormone causes melanin to be overproduced. Age spots, also known as sunspots, can appear on areas that have had more sun exposure over the years, such as the face, chest, and hands.
With nearly a century of Parisian heritage the Gatineau philosophy remains the inspired marriage of the finest natural ingredients with the latest science. We believe ageing is a privilege and Age Benefit Cream is the Rolls Royce of remedies that addresses the unique concerns of oestrogen-deficient skin during menopause. This unsung hero will allow you to experience what it means to be strong in your skin from the pure science under the skin to the external benefits seen on the outside.
The secret to its success lays within the clinically proven scientific formulas together with a supremely indulgent texture to re-ignite skin’s youth and vitality. This powerful ingredient catalogue includes the signature complex of ‘Hibiscus and Artichoke Extract’ which flows throughout the range and helps tackle collagen loss, dryness, lack of radiance and uneven skin tone. Not only is the Hibiscus Flower stunningly beautiful to look at it is also known as the ‘anti-ageing plant’ as it has a magical reputation for increasing skin elasticity and suppleness due to its ability to inhibit the activity of the enzyme elastase which is responsible for breaking down our skin’s precious elastin.
And a natural skin ally, Artichoke extract is a treasured tool as it reprogrammes the growth factors (naturally occurring proteins that play a vital role in skin renewal) in the skin to support the skin’s natural repair and regeneration mechanisms. As we age our body’s natural production of growth factors decline leading to visible signs of ageing like uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles and skin slackening so Artichoke is a treasured addition as it supports collagen and elastin production to reveal a firmer, smoother looking skin.
What’s more it calls on a blend of red algae to wage a war on sun damage and spots, tackling everything from texture to tone. Menopause is known to be a trigger of hyperpigmentation, but these powerful marine actives interrupt the communication between skin cells called keratinocytes and melanocytes (melanin producing cells) inhibiting melanin production leading to a brighter, more even complexion.
And here to bestow endless hydration is a replenishing dose of three skin identical ceramides (I like to think of them like grout between your skin cell tiles) which play a crucial role in maintaining skin’s integrity acting as a protective barrier in the epidermis to lock in moisture and shield against environmental damage, With aging and with time the natural level of ceramides in the skin declines, in fact by the time you turn 40 skin has lost about 60% of its natural ceramides’ lipid content and the complexion becomes dry, dull, less protected and prone to ageing. Flooding your skin with these ceramides helps to keep the skin barrier in tip-top health helping to lock in moisture, protect against environmental factors and keep sensitivity at bay.
As our skin succumbs to ageing, so does a thinning of the epidermis which brings with it increased skin paleness and a decreased barrier function. Think of your skin like the foundation of a house - if your foundation starts to crumble, the house and the bricks and mortar will do the same. Calcium is one of the most important minerals in the body and is vital to maintain the foundations in the skin so a lack of this important mineral can affect its appearance making it appear fragile and aged. The addition of Marine Calcilium is a welcome one as it not only fortifies thinning skin but helps to it regain strength whilst creating a more resistant barrier.
And while it can be tempting of the ‘more is more’ approach when applying moisturiser to a dry and parched complexion, a little goes a long way when it comes to our Age Benefit Cream. It’s not about the quantity of the formula; it’s about the quality. Blending nourishing Shea Butter with protective Sweet Almond Oil, this regenerative moisturiser extends a luxurious olive branch to skin on the brink of dryness and in need of moisture as these ingredients seal in skin-softening benefits and keep harmful free radicals out.
Where decadence meets scientific innovation, Age Benefit Cream has been globally recognised as an incredibly potent youth-prolonging moisturiser reversing all visible signs of ageing and supercharging skin’s ability to renew, repair and age-defy itself via a 360-degree approach. Reaching out the helping hand you deserve this is a dream come true for anyone adjusting to this natural stage of life and allows your skin to sail into menopause as cool as a breeze!
Lucy x