Elizabeth Arden SUPERSTART introduces probiotics in skincare
While we know Elizabeth Arden mostly for its feminine fragrances (White Tea remains a personal favorite since trying it last year), they’re not one to be left behind on color cosmetics and skincare.
The introduction of the SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster has inspired a full-on SUPERSTART collection. This collection features skincare technology that focuses on improving the radiance and appearance of the skin’s topmost layer, the stratum corneum. The line heavily features probiotics, which aims to strengthen skin’s own natural defenses leaving your skin feeling resilient and refreshed.
“In order for skin to function properly and protect itself, it needs proper pH levels and healthy microflora levels,” explains Janet Curmi, Elizabeth Arden Vice President of Global Education and Development. “Billions of natural microflora, comprised of both health and unhealthy bacteria, reside on the surface layer of the skin. Probiotic skincare can help to reduce water loss, increase moisture in the skin, and leave skin looking smooth, radiant and supple.”
With that, we get the SUPERSTART Probiotic Cleanser (Whip to Clay) (P1,750). This cleanser has the signature probiotic complex of the SUPERSTART line, aimed at reinforcing natural skin protection. Additionally, it has pink and green clays to remove impurities, while glycerin stocks you back up with moisture. This whipped mousse cleanser is left on dry skin for 1 minute and transforms into a mineral-rich mask. When massaged in circular motions with warm water, it lathers up. As a person with dry skin, foaming cleansers AND clay masks shake me. I could feel this product tightening around my skin intensely, and I experienced sensitivity after washing it off. Even in the name of science, I couldn’t bear more than two trials.
The SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster (P3,500) is a skincare booster meant to be applied before a serum or moisturizer. It also features the signature SUPERSTART probiotic complex that supports skin’s microflora and fortifies its natural defenses. Several herbal extracts such as sea fennel extract (antioxidant), flaxseed extract (sustains lipid levels), and glasswort extract (reduces water loss) are all combined to strengthen the outermost layer of skin. My dry skin absolutely loved layering this with the rest of my skincare routine! The texture doesn’t sink in as deeply as my Korean-inspired 5-step routine, but it does help me feel like the rest of my skincare binds better to my skin.
Lastly, to really seal the deal, the SUPERSTART skincare collection has added the SUPERSTART Probiotic Boost Skin Renewal Biocellulose Mask (P3,000 for 4 masks). It’s infused with a double dose of the SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster’s probiotics while the superfine biocellulose mask fibers (which are 1000x thinner than human hair) derived from fermented coconut water hug each and every facial crevice like a second skin. The mask additionally features glycerin (humectant,) sodium hyaluronate (a moisture magnet), and a blend of ceramides 1, 3 and 6, cholesterol and phytosphingosine (essential lipids found in the skin’s barrier.) The biocellulose mask made a huge difference, and the mask + essences absolutely felt vacuum-sealed onto my skin. I was baby-supple for the rest of the day, even after I rinsed the sticky essence off.
Since I’ve only done trial run, it’s difficult to say how the long term effects of a probiotic-centered skincare routine can help skin. I imagine though that people who have sensitive, oft-irritated skin are the ones who can benefit greatly from the SUPERSTART line’s fortifying action. On a very basic level, I’m a fan of the consistencies of the formulations and how they all layer together! The Booster is a personal favorite, and I can definitely see how it inspired a full collection!
