Nothing Else Performs Such a Miracle as a Good Night’s Sleep and Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment!

Here’s a secret: sometimes I don’t really want to review something not because I’m lukewarm about it, but because I am too attached. Blogging about beauty involves constantly trying new things, but sometimes I’m actually really happy to stick to what I know and love, like Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment! To put simply, it’s a dry oil, and probably the heaviest but the best I’ve ever tried! If I have anything important the next day or just feel my skin needs some extra boost, this is what I take out of my arsenal!

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment comes in a dark glass bottle with a dropper. It contains 25ml (0.9oz) of product. It claims to contain nine anti-oxidants, and deliver potent hydration and supreme protection to skin when used on its own or blended with your preferred moisturizer. It is also supposed to assist in balancing patchy or dehydrated skin, leaving it smooth and supple.

The packaging is simple and functional. I’m not too sure why certain anti-oxidant products don’t come in fully-opaque bottles, as anti-oxidants could be damaged by light as well as air. However, I’ve tried some products that claim to be anti-oxidant yet don’t come in fully-opaque packaging, and they work very well so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

The oil smells predominantly of lavender in the bottle, though it’s only the 9th on the ingredient list. On the skin the smell is a bit peculiar, though I can’t really link it to anything on the ingredient list. While it may not be everyone’s definition of pleasant, it is all-natural and not overwhelming. The texture is much thicker than other dry oils I’ve tried, and it almost feels like a gel on the face.

(Look at this ingredient list. I love the fact that there’s nothing dubious in it, and I’m sure many of you do, too!)

It’s simple to use this oil. The instructions state that up to 5 drops should be massaged onto clean skin, or blended with moisturizer. It should be used two to three times a week. Despite the fact that I love this oil to bits, I would not exceed the recommended frequency. Anti-oxidant is not something that can be dubbed “the more the merrier,” as an excess could be harmful. Also, this treatment gives skin such a boost that I prefer to keep for special occasions/dull-skin days instead of letting my skin get used to something so potent. One thing I do wish to mention is that it does contain lavender oil which some believe to be cytotoxic or an irritant. My personal stance is that it has more to do with concentration and frequency than the mere fact that it exists in the product. I have done some research on the Internet and found little follow-up of the original research that labels lavender oil as cytotoic, though this ancient tried-and-true ingredient has generated some other debates in the meantime (potential irritant, cause of photosentivity reactions and so on). Again, I would not write a product off because it contains lavender oil, but I do not want to overdo it either.

Here is what I do. I find the oil is absorbed faster if I mix it in a water-based serum, such as the Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum. I only got sample packets so I have not tested this product out separately, but mixing the dry oil with it emulsifies the oil and speeds up absorption. I found that 4 drops of oil is my sweet spot. It is a generous amount for face and neck. When mixed with the serum and warmed up between my palms, the mixture becomes whitish. I then start patting it all over my face and neck till it is more or less gone. You will get an oily sheen, but it doesn’t feel too sticky. When used alone, it is harder to spread it out and it feels much thicker on the skin. However, I guarantee it will be absorbed and do its job by the time you wake up in the morning!

(Here is the ingredient list of the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum if anyone is interested)

While I refuse to use anything that doesn’t have a good texture during daytime, at night I couldn’t care less. I am not bothered by going to bed with greasy skin at all, particularly because I know what I’ll see in the morning! I use the treatment as a lotion. I have tried to use it alone, mix it with the serum and apply that with nothing else, and layer another water-based serum underneath it: the result is uniformly fantastic! I always wake up with skin that is plump, smooth, healthy, and radiant. It is really absorbed overnight, as in the morning I can’t see any “oil” on my face. I don’t even avoid the areas around my eyes and lips, and I can tell you even these delicate areas are big fans of this oil! If my skin is acting up, this doesn’t really help with getting rid of acne faster. However, it does somehow calm the skin down. Most importantly, it feels like I’m putting everything the environment and stress take out of my skin right back! Anti-aging is not yet my concern, but whenever I use Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment, it feels like I end up with the skin I should have had 10 years ago the next day!

Bottom line: While it is a bit of an investment (do note this bottle will last you a very long time), I would recommend Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment to people with all skin types (I am convinced that even those with oily skin could benefit from a dry oil), particularly those whose skin suffers from environmental stress, a stressful lifestyle, and dehydration. I would count myself lucky for having pretty OK skin to begin with, but even then this product makes a dramatic and positive difference! I can only foresee it being more and more appreciated in the coming months, when my skin becomes duller and drier with the weather!

Are you also a fan of dry oil? What dry oil have you tried? Do you use any anti-oxidant products in your skincare regime?

Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx