Has your skin been like sandpaper recently? Mine has. I think it’s a combination of being ill and run down, plus the storms and cold weather, plus the central heating being on. It’s not really a recipe for happy skin.
The only plus point is that it’s a great time to be trying out products for dry skin, starting with a lovely range from Eloquence Beautycare. Eloquence are a new brand based in Chester in the North West of the UK (a great city, but never try to park there).
The secret ingredient of the Eloquence range is Sacha Inchi Oil, which comes from Peru and is part of the Argan oil family. Sacha Inchi Oil is a bit like flaxseed oil, in that it contains around 50% omega-3 fatty acids.
The Sacha Inchi plant has grown in the Amazonian rainforest for over 3,000 years and is also known by an adorable nickname: the Inca Peanut. It’s rich in proteins, antioxidants, iodine and Vitamins A and E and is especially good for dry skin.
So far the Eloquence range includes:
- Nourishing Treatment Oil
- Purifying Facial Cleanser
- Firm & Tone Serum
- Firming & Moisturising Eye Gel
- Protect & Repair 24 hour Cream
Despite oil being the star ingredient, for the most part these are creamy rather than oily products. I think sometimes people get put off oil-based products because they assume it will lead to a greasy face but that’s not usually the case (or if it is, you’re using too much product).
The oiliest product here, as you might guess from the name, is the Nourishing Treatment Oil. This is a good all-rounder which can be used on skin, hair and nails – I’ve been using it in the shower to stop my skin getting dried out. Works a treat.
All of the Eloquence Beautycare products contain no artificial perfumes or colours and no harsh chemicals. As well as the featured Sacha Inchi Oil, you’ll find a range of other natural oils including sunflower, coconut, grape seed and olive oils. The serum, eye gel and cream all contain hyaluronic acid too, so you can see why it’s ideal for dry, sensitive skin. All in all, this is designed to be a gentle and non-irritating range with the emphasis on natural ingredients.
For most of the Eloquence products, you only use a very small amount (the packaging recommends using a pearl-sized amount, which in my experience works out to about 1 pump). So it’s all quite compact, making it a good range to pack for travelling.
The Purifying Facial Cleanser is only a 20 ml size which is more like a tester size for a cleanser, but it really does work with only a small amount of product. Use one pump and add water to foam it up before cleansing. It’s good if you want a less-drying alternative to foam cleansers, since you get the experience of washing your face without it feeling tight and dry afterwards.
The Eloquence Beautycare Eye Gel was my favourite in the range. This clear gel feels cool when first applied, and helps to reduce puffiness around the eyes. It’s lightly moisturising as opposed to heavy, so it’s the kind of eye gel you could use during the day without your eye make-up slipping all over the place. According to the recommended four step regime, this is the third product to apply but I put on first because I am a rebel. And also because I always apply eye cream first so that it doesn’t get mixed up with facial products and lead to irritation.
Step 2, the Firm & Tone Serum is designed to be worn under Step 4, the Protect & Repair 24 Hr Cream, but I found that the two of them together was veering into the too-rich side for me, and left my face a bit shiny. This is fine for when you want a really deep moisturising treatment, but not so good under make up. So I switched to either the serum or the moisturiser, but not both. There is a very, very light lemony scent to both, so I wasn’t surprised to see Citrus Oil in the ingredients list – watch out if you are sensitive to this ingredient.
As you can see, the packaging is the same across the range and consists of a lovely Spring-fresh bright zingy green with silver accents. And if Sacha Inchi Oil becomes the new argan/coconut/whatever oil, you can say you heard it here first.
Product information
This range is all available on the Eloquence Beautycare website, priced from £7.99 – £29.99, or you can buy the whole collection together for £75 (saving £18).
What do you think of this range? Have you heard of Sacha Inchi Oil?
*PR Samples