I stumbled across ARK Skincare on Twitter a few weeks ago and loved the concept. So often I’m stumped as to what skin type I am. The traditional way of categorising skincare products is by oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, combination skin and the absurdly named normal skin. My skin can be any one of these depending on the weather, the conditions within my home (central heating etc), and (let’s face it) how stressed I am.

ARK Age Aware Skincare is prescribed by skin age rather than skin type. There are two main transition periods in the ageing process where there is a dramatic shift in hormone production and a significant change in the way the body functions: late 20s to early 30s and late 50s to early 60s. ARK has looked at the skin externally and internally during these transition periods and divided its skin therapy into three “age appropriate” product lines ARK Skincare

This makes perfect sense to me. My skin is certainly different now to how it was in my 20s. Then, my skin was blemish-free and largely non-changable. I’d use cheap high-street products & make-up and have no problems at all. Now, my skin is prone to oiliness and there’s some definite sun damage that is visible when my face is make-up free. I’m lucky to not have any real lines yet (I still sometimes get IDed for wine), but I am far more skin-aware than ever before.

ARK kindly sent me some goodies to trial from their Mid 30s to 50 “Maintain” range:

During this phase our skin is starting to show signs of ageing as fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear and some of us notice sensitivity as we encounter more external and internal stresses. It’s time to maintain the integrity of the skin with vital nutrients and greater antioxidant protection. ARK Skincare

This sounds perfect for me. My skin is definitely more sensitive and prone to itching when I switch from product to product. I also tend to pick more natural and organic products now as I know my skin will thank me for it. The transition from warmer to colder weather has also definitely had an impact and I’ve noticed some dry patches on my cheeks.

I was sent an Age Aware Discovery Pack which is a beautifully presented selection of trial sizes for those wanting to experience the range. Each sample was 30ml so plenty to really introduce your skin to the appropriate collection. As they come in a dinky little travel bag (perfect for using as a cosmetic bag) this would make a great stocking filler for mums and grandparents. In my pack (or prescription as Ark Skincare like to call it) is the Age Maintain Conditioning Cleanser, Age Maintain Renewing Exfoliator, Age Maintain Soothing Masque & Age Maintain Nourishing Moisturiser.

So what did I think?

Age Maintain Conditioning Cleanser

Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids to boost skin’s moisture. Blue Lotus, the ‘sacred flower of anti-ageing’ is a powerful antioxidant which helps skin firmness and elasticity. Moringa Oil is rich in Vitamin A and C and gently removes make-up and grime while retaining essential moisture

I usually use a cleansing lotion rather than a facial wash as I find washing my face a bit of a faff, but to be true to the review I’ve been using this for the past two weeks twice daily. I’ve since discovered my usual cleanser is too abrasive and too chemically (usually my face will feel clean but it is left red). ARK Skincare’s Age Maintain Conditioning Cleanser was therefore a bit of a revelation.

It’s surprisingly gentle on my skin and even removes tough eye make-up with ease. My skin is left feeling really clean and hydrated. My face does feel a bit ‘tight’ until I apply toning lotion, but it’s certainly much fresher and I’ve noticed far less residue on my cotton wall when I use my toner. The redness on my skin has eased considerably and I’ve been blemish-free throughout the entirety of the trial. Best of all, the oily areas on my t-zone are gone.

The website claims it also has exfoliant properties but it’s so mild it’s barely noticeable. It’s certainly not scrub-like and there are no grains that might irritate your skin and delicate eye area.

My only slight criticism is that the instructions for use advice you to work up the cleanser into a lather. I find this is near on impossible as it doesn’t foam up. It certainly doesn’t affect its efficiency though (and I actually prefer it!).

Full price is £23 for 200mls which is comparable to Clarins, Clinque and other ‘counter-brands’. You pay for what you get; a highly effective, gentle and results-proven cleansing solution. You can offset some of the cost by ditching the eye make-up remover though.

Age Maintain Renewing Exfoliator

Multifruit Acids gently remove rough, dead skin cells for bright, smooth skin. Prickly Pear is a natural exfoliator to speed up the elimination of dead cells. White Clay increases circulation to boost exfoliation without stripping skin’s essential oils.

I was expecting this to be a facial scrub. Unusually however, it’s actually a masque (of sorts). You apply the exfoliant liberally to dampened skin, leave for 5-10 minutes to dry, then rinse clear. Again there are no harsh grains or anything to indicate your face is being exfoliated.

Somehow however, this actually works. It’s incredibly refreshing and you experience a pleasant tingly sensation as the formula dries. Upon rinsing I noticed that dozens of imperfections had disappeared. Little dry patches and naturally greasy areas where my foundation will accumulate had completely cleared. It’s a very effective alternative to grainy scrubs - although I must admit I do love a good scrub! There’s definitely something to said for ‘no pain, no gain‘ - maybe I need a need a brain reboot.

This product is £29 for 75mls. Although I appreciate you’ll be using this product less (it’s a weekly treat for your skin rather than everyday) I still think this is slightly expensive. Currently however you do get a free masque with this product (Age Maintain Soothing Masque - see below, usually £26) so you are getting a each product for a very reasonable £14.50.

Age Maintain Soothing Masque

Boerhavia Diffusa is a calming Ayurvedic herb which reduces sensitivity and redness. Zi Cao is an anti-inflammatory herb found in Japan, which soothes skin. Blue Lotus, the ‘sacred flower of anti-ageing’ is a powerful antioxidant which boosts firmness and elasticity.

I’ve only used this product once throughout the trial. I had an allergic reaction to a cheap BB Cream and hoped it would soothe the itching.

Used in much the same way as the exfoliator above, you simply apply to cleansed face and neck, leave to dry for ten mins or so, then rinse clear. A blend of blend of Vitamin A, C, E and F will then calm sensitive and irritated skin. The product also boasts it’ll diminish the look of lines and wrinkles and promote skin firmness and elasticity.

The is the real jewel in ARK’s crown in my opinion. It sorted out my reaction to the BB Cream in seconds and left my skin kissably smooth. It was after a quick treatment of this that my other half commented how beautiful I looked (sans make-up) - trust me, this is a rare occurrence. He must have been commenting on its luminosity as this was the winning factor of this masque.

Priced at £26, I’d pay this happily for the 75mls. Given I’d only use it when my skin is playing up, I suspect it would last me a entire year. Remember this is free with the exfoliant above.

Age Maintain Nourishing Moisturiser

Vitamin A helps keep skin strong, plump and increases collagen production. Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids to boost skin’s moisture. Blue Lotus, the ‘sacred flower of anti-ageing’ is a powerful antioxidant which boosts firmness and elasticity

Prepare to be shocked. I’ve literally used this twice daily throughout the trial, my skin is noticeably gorgeous and the smell of this bad boy is divine (think Cowshed ‘Moody Cow’) - yet this is the product I’d be least likely to buy again.

Why? Because the other products work so well in tandem with each other that this largely becomes redundant. I never thought I’d say this about a moisturiser but I’m pretty sure my skin would stay beautifully soft and hydrated without it. I’d rather invest in a mild SPF (speaking of which, ARK have SPF solutions too…). If this had SPF in it, I’d be raving about it especially given it’s aimed at us 30+s who have inevitably sustained some sun damage are are more susceptible to it.

I can’t think of any negatives other than this. It sinks in easily, is perfect for sensitive skin types and have caused me zero irritation (a major theme for my skin). My skin is practically cheering from happiness, but I do need that sun protection that this product sadly doesn’t offer.

Oh and £27 for 50mls is a little disappointing given this is a twice daily relationship.

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So there you go! ARK Skincare, I salute you. My skin is a fan and I’ll be buying again. It’s a no-brainer really; when you find something that ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

You can check out your own skin prescription on arkskincare.com, and see what everyone else has to say on Twitter and FB. £30 for a discovery pack is a small price to pay for something that could completely change your skincare regime for the better.