5 reasons to add the Aesop Lucent Facial Concentrate to your skincare routine

If you’re looking for a moisturiser that will hydrate without feeling heavy, brighten skin tone, provide antioxidant benefits and soothe stressed skin, look no further than Aesop’s Lucent Facial Concentrate. Launched this month, the lightweight serum is filled with skin fortifying vitamins, nourishing rose otto, frankincense and sandalwood oils as well as algae extract. I was one of the few to preview it before it hit stores this month and here’s what I found.  

It’s perfect for this weather
When you live in a hot and humid climate finding a moisturiser that hydrates without being heavy and cloying can be a challenge. The Lucent Facial Concentrate can be used over other serums as a moisturiser. It has a watery texture that literally sinks into the skin and dries to a comfortable matte finish. Key ingredient niacinamide or Vitamin B3 along with sodium carrageenan, which is an algae extract, helps attract and lock moisture into the skin. This is especially important because skin loses moisture through the day as you go from air-conditioned interiors to humid outdoors, and this is what helps keep it comfortable as you go about your day.

It’s great for city girls
Along with niacinamide, the other key ingredient is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate – a stabilised version of Vitamin C. Together these help protect and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier against daily external aggressors. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant effectively tackling free radicals that cause damage to collagen and elastin, while niacinamide soothes and calms the skin with its anti-inflammatory properties and helps boost collagen production.

It helps even and brighten skin tone
Thanks to Vitamin C that helps reduce pigmentation, and niacinamide that fights age spots and unifies skin tone, you can expect a brighter skin tone and smoother texture with regular use. A smoother texture will ensure light bounces off your skin evenly to give it that natural, healthy glow.

All skin types will benefit from it
Oily, dry, combination, mature – no matter what your skin type, the Lucent Facial Concentrate will work for you. Those with oily and combination skin types will enjoy the matte finish while its hydrating properties will help balance sebum production. If you have dry skin like me or mature skin, use the Lucent Facial Concentrate as a serum and follow up with your moisturiser (I layer it under the Perfect Facial Hydrating Cream). It will keep your skin hydrated and supple the entire day.

Works well with other products
When I want to give my skin a boost of hydration I mix a few drop of the Lucent Facial Concentrate with the Blue Chamomile Hydrating Mask and use it overnight. If I’m travelling to colder climes I will layer the Perfect Facial Hydrating Cream or the Damascan Rose Facial Treatment oil over it. I’ve also used it with other skincare brands and have found it to be just as effective.

There’s nothing I don’t like about the Lucent Facial Concentrate. Even the packaging – the brand’s signature apothecary-style bottles, which come with a pipette – keeps things hygienic. All in all a must have in my books.