I don’t want to age myself but I have to admit that I was really excited to turn 30 this past January. My 20s were, how shall I put it…challenging. Years 20–29 were full of uncertainty and what felt like an endless amount of searching for who I wanted to become. You know, the normal growing pains every 20-something-year-old feels. Suffice it to say that I was more than ready to leave that period of my life behind and embrace the shiny new decade full of promise that 30 offered.
What I failed to consider were the ways in which I’d start seeing that decade. Joints that never gave me problems now ache, I can no longer stare at a computer all day without getting a migraine, and when I get out of bed in the morning I sometimes want to stiffly stretch in the same awkward, pained manner as my middle-aged dog. See what all of you bright and chipper 20-somethings have to look forward to?
My skin also appears to have gotten the memo about the ticking clock and has significantly changed in both texture and in terms of what it requires to stay looking plump and moisturized. Lucky for me, ARK Age Aware Skincare, a British skincare brand that treats skin concerns by age, reached out to me and offered to help ease my skin’s transition into this new decade.
After researching ARK Age Aware Skincare I knew we’d make a great match. The company offers professional, salon grade products using natural formulations. Their products are designed to assist skin through the two main transitional periods in the aging process when hormone production significantly shifts, changing how the body functions. The first time this happens is during our late 20s to early 30s. If you’ve been following my blog for a while now you know this is something I’ve struggled with greatly.
ARK took a scientific approach in creating their products by looking both externally and internally to determine how shifting hormone levels impact what our skin needs. Their results led to the creation of age-specific product ranges that address the unique set of skin requirements that each passing decade brings.
The kind people at ARK sent me two products to try a few months ago, ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturizer and ARK Hydration Injection Masque. The timing couldn’t have been better, as I received both right as we were heading into the dry summer months.
ARK Age Defend Replenishing Moisturizer comes in a unique pump container and has a thick and luxurious texture. The product contains shea butter and olive oil to help keep skin moisturized and Vitamin A to assist in cell turnover. It also includes kiwi and passion fruit lipids, which are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids, and Blue Lotus, a powerful antioxidant.
A little of the moisturizer goes a long way, especially during the day. In the past, I have shied away from products containing shea butter, and olive oil for that matter, as I have had negative reactions. I have not encountered any reactionary irritation with this moisturizer which is highly unusual for my sensitive skin.
The real hero of the two however is the ARK Hydration Injection Masque. This product is GOLD and kept my skin glowing through the summer, through international travel, and now through the transition into fall.
The product contains Vitamin A to keep skin supple, Vitamin B5 to smooth, Vitamin C for antioxidant protection and Vitamin E to soothe irritation. The mask also includes Hyaluronic acid which drenches skin in moisture and helps protect against water loss. It’s essentially a moisturizing vitamin pack for your face and I could not love it more.
After applying the mask a couple of times a week for the last few months I can tell a massive difference in my skin’s hydration level. I’ve also found the mask does a fabulous job of soothing stressed complexions (hello, international travel). My skin has previously always reacted either immediately upon getting to Europe or immediately upon landing back in the US and I didn’t see so much as one spot or hint of redness this time around.
If you’re noticing that your skin needs are evolving as you age, I highly recommend checking out ARK Age Aware Skincare’s website. Their site is a fabulous resource, containing a plethora of information about the aging process and what you might expect from your skin at each decade. Even if you aren’t entering into a new phase of your life, their natural products would undoubtedly help your skin transition into the next season as they mine.