Hello lovely ladies,
Today’s review is on my first ever purchase from Ole Henriksen, a big name in skincare industry. This is an AHA-based night treatment. I have earlier reviewed 2 AHA toners for you – namely the Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 and the Peter Thomas Roth 10% Glycol Acid Toning Complex. I have also reviewed an AHA treatment for you – namely the REN Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial. So, let’s find out more about this Ole Henriksen product and why I needed to pick this up when I already had a band of AHA’s in my regime.
Product Details:
What it is: An exceptionally lightweight face gel for a youthful-looking complexion.
What it is formulated to do: This powerful gel seals in essential vitamins and minerals for deeply nourished skin. It supports natural cell turnover, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and smooths texture, resulting in a beautiful, radiant, youthful-looking complexion. It is formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. This product is vegan.
Ingredients:
- AHA complex: Helps cell renewal, diminish lines and wrinkles, smooth texture, and minimize blemishes.
- Algae extract: Nourishes the skin.
- Mucopolysaccharides: Binds moisture to the skin, hydrates.
Water, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Calcium Ascorbate, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Auranium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance.
Price:
GBP 42 for 50 ml.
My Experience with Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment:
My skin type: I am sorry but I have started to sound like a broken record – still, here goes…. I have combination to oily skin which gets dull and dehydrated very easily. I deal with open pores and hormonal periodic acne which leaves scars. I really woke up to skincare when I first started seeing signs of ageing in the form of sun spots – never having bothered to use a sunscreen my whole life, except when swimming.
So, I wanted to include AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) into my skincare regime to ensure chemical exfoliation of my skin to accelerate the natural turnover of the skin cells which in turn would help in addressing dark spots, skin pigmentation and increase radiance. First step for me was to use a toner – to get my skin adjusted to using AHA since toners are in touch with the skin for a very brief time. The fact that I went for the strongest toners is a different story! Anyway, coming back to AHAs – the efficacy of the AHA increases if an AHA-based toner is followed by an AHA-based treatment. So, while the REN Wake up Wonderful Night Time Facial is an excellent treatment, it’s not something you can use on a daily basis. It should ideally be used only a couple of times in a week. So, there was a need in my skincare to include a treatment product which I could use on a daily basis. So, I opted for this Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment.
Fragrance: There is no added fragrance in this product. So, all you get is a bit of chemical smell…nothing too off putting. It does not linger on. I actually don’t even feel it except when I explicitly tried to smell it for this review.
Texture: The texture is gel like. It spreads easily and absorbs quickly. It absorbs so quickly that you might be tempted to go in with a second layer. Do not do that! It is not a moisturiser or even a serum. It is a treatment and needs to be used accordingly.
Packaging: The product comes packaged in a transparent glass bottle of 50ml – only one size is available. While the bottle itself is compact, the fact that it is glass makes it slightly difficult to travel with. It has a pump dispenser – which can also be twisted to lock. All in all, a good hassle-free packaging which dispenses product easily and keeps the ingredients safe from coming in contact with the environment.
There were other treatment products on the market, one of the reasons I zeroed in on one was the packaging. It’s hygienic – no tub, etc; it does not allow contact of product with air, which can make the product deteriorate over time – in case of tub packaging or dropper packaging.
Efficacy: The product is a mix of glycolic acid, lactic acid, skin nourishers and hydrators. The mix of acids with the other ingredients ensures that the product isn’t too harsh on the skin. This in turn ensures that the product can be used on a daily basis without the fear of damaging the skin by being too strong for it.
The product does not sting on application unless I overdo it. Like I have mentioned previously, it absorbs so quickly that you may be tempted to go back for more. That is exactly what I did for a couple of times. You don’t need to do that. Do not think it can be used as a moisturiser. It is a treatment and has to be followed by a moisturiser.
Also, do a patch test before you start off and again – ease into the product. So, maybe use it on alternate days to begin with – for say two weeks, and then go in for daily use.
While the acids in it work on cell turnover, the Algae extract and Mucopolysaccharides work on providing nourishment and hydration to skin. This ensures that the skin is able to handle the acids better. This in turn ensures that the product is gentle not the skin, I have never experienced redness or burning sensation with this one.
Again, like the REN Wake up Wonderful Night Facial, do not expect miracle on day one. You will see a change but I am sure it will be barely discernible. So, give it time, use it over a fortnight to see visible signs of the changes it is producing on your skin. You will see your skin becoming brighter, a bit tauter, it will look and feel softer and the blemishes will start diminishing. Is it some miracle product? No, it isn’t. It’s just a product with good ingredients which will show up result with regular use. Like I said when I was reviewing the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Whitening serum, I would rather invest in something like this Ole Henriksen Treatment than going back to the Estee Lauder ANR because this one is a bit more pocket friendly and the results are quicker and way more clearly visible and even if I stop using it for a couple of days, my skin doesn’t suddenly become dull and sallow. Reason being, the acids are actually causing skin renewal and turn over. So, the effect isn’t cosmetic but is at a more grass-root level, so it lasts better.
It also helps de-congest my pores. I get lesser breakouts when I am using this than when I am not using it.
One last thing – when using AHAs, you have to ensure that you definitely use sunscreen during the day – not just on the days you have used the product but at least a week after. There is no way around this one.
Who needs this? People over the age of 30-35 years should consider including this in their regime, especially if they have oily/combination, acne-prone skin, or skin used to hormonal acne or bumps. The exception being anyone younger who has skin concerns like sun spots, blemishes, etc.; however, for younger lot, I would suggest meeting a dermatologist and/or nutritionist to identify the lying cause of the concern.
Pros of Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment:
- Lightweight texture.
- Absorbs easily.
- Contains glycolic acid and lactic acid.
- Contains a good mix of acids with skin nourishers and hydrators.
- Gentle on the skin.
- Skin feels soft, supple, clearer and brighter.
- The skin feels taut.
- Did not break me out.
- Non-comedogenic.
- Helps improve skin texture and radiance.
- Free from Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates.
- Potent and effective.
- Hygienic pump dispenser.
- The pump can be locked too.
- Helps in de-congestion of skin.
- Helps fight against breakouts.
Cons of Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment:
- Packaging is glass but considering the size of the bottle – fairly easy to travel with.
- There is no seal to the product.
IMBB Rating:
5/5
I am in such a stage in my skincare journey where I want to try newer stuff because there really is such a huge variety of products out there and you want to get what’s best for your skin and the most bang for your buck. Having said that, I do feel that this may go into my HG products list. This may well be a keeper while I try other things.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser
Ole Henriksen Night Invigorating Gel
Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub
Ole Henriksen Truth Facial Water
The Body Shop Pomegranate Invigorating Toner
Garnier Clean Invigorating Daily Scrub with Peppermint and Jojoba Beads
Forest Essentials Night Treatment Cream
Forest Essentials Night Treatment Cream: Jasmine & Patchauli
ahmazing…