Environ Skincare: Everything you need to know!

Everything you need to know about Environ® Skincare (by Clare Muir, director of training at the iiaa, Environ’s UK distributor)

Environ® Skincare has been a leading name in science-led, research driven skincare for over 30 years, as a pioneer in vitamin A skincare since 1990. Developed by Dr Des Fernandes, Environ® skincare is rooted in advanced medical science, with a philosophy of combining vitamin A with antioxidants and essential nutrients to nurture beautiful, replenished and resilient skin.

Long before retinol, a form of vitamin A, gained its buzz in the skincare world, Environ was leading the way with advanced skin innovations harnessing vitamin A’s impact on skin to deliver unrivalled, long-lasting results. As Dr Des Fernandes says, Environ® products create “beautiful skin for a lifetime”. This philosophy remains core to the brand today, and Environ’s ground-breaking technology and innovative products have secured numerous prestigious awards, and legions of dedicated fans including leading beauty therapists, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.

The Environ philosophy:

Using technologies and products informed by the latest skin science discoveries, Environ products work to create beautiful, youthful-looking and radiantly healthy skin. Vitamin A and its powerful benefits for skin are the foundation of the brand’s philosophy, and the brand combines the vitamin with antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients that target and solve specific skin concerns. The brand pioneered a unique “step up” system (read more about that below) to safely introduce active, impactful levels of these nutrients to the skin.

Environ doesn’t believe in quick fixes or fleeting solutions. Each product is carefully developed to deliver tangible, long-lasting improvements to skin health and appearance, revitalising skin’s natural functions and working at a deep level to create change in the skin.

Why vitamin A?

When it comes to skin, vitamin A is something of a miracle molecule. Dr Des Fernandes describes it as being like “oxygen”: skin simply cannot function without it. Thanks to its importance in so many vital skin processes, it has some impressive benefits when included in skincare. These include:  

• Promotes the effect of skin’s natural moisturisers: helping create a radiant glow.
• Strengthens the effect of skin’s outer layer: maintaining firm skin.
• Stimulates the production of natural proteins (such as collagen and elastin): keeping skin looking youthful and healthy.
• Increases cell turnover to revitalise skin health.
• Supports the effects of the skin’s immune system.
• Regulates oil production from the sebaceous glands.
• Normalises the production of melanin (skin’s pigment)

Vitamin A occurs naturally in the skin, but is broken down swiftly by factors including sun exposure. According to Dr Des Fernandes, research show that most characteristic signs of ageing (fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation) occur as a result of vitamin A deficiency in the skin – so replenishing your skin’s supplies of vitamin A is a vital step in keeping skin looking youthful and healthy.

The step-up system

Environ’s unique, industry-renowned step-up system helps skin to comfortably acclimatise to high levels of vitamin A. This progressive system helps skin become gradually more familiar with increasing doses of vitamin A and other active ingredients such as antioxidants, reducing the likelihood of a skin reaction and creating beautiful, healthy skin for a lifetime.

It’s important to speak to a skincare professional before you use Environ products, as they will help you decide which level of products is right for you, and when you can progress to the next step for even more dramatic skin improvements.

Your Environ Essentials

Create your ideal routine for youthful-looking, radiant and super healthy skin with a simple four step routine for day and night. These products are the ideal introduction to the brand, and working with your skincare professional you can tailor this routine to target your specific skin needs – stepping up and adding focused care products to achieve your skin goals.

Daytime:

• Step 1: Cleanse

The starting point to any skincare routine. Environ’s Mild Cleansing Lotion is a luxurious cleanser that refreshes skin, with ingredients to support the skin’s natural barrier and give a soft, velvety finish. For those with dehydrated skin or visible signs of ageing, the Hydra Intense Cleansing Lotion is a cream cleanser that delivers a moisture boost as it cleanses. Maintaining the natural pH of the skin, it helps to calm redness and irritation, leaving skin firm, and soft.

• Step 2: Eye gel

Target the delicate eye area with Environ's sophisticated Vita-Peptide eye gel, which is innovatively formulated to smooth fine lines and plump skin, while safeguarding the delicate skin around the eyes. Five different amino acids, plus vitamins A and E soothe and smooth, protecting skin’s collagen for a plump, youthful result. Antioxidants within the gel also help to protect from UV damage. 

• Step 3: Moisturise

Depending on where you are in your Environ step-up journey, your skincare professional will recommend one of Environ’s AVST Moisturisers. Starting with the AVST Gel, then ranging from AVST 1-5 with increasing levels of vitamin A to dramatically improve the appearance of skin over time. Each moisturiser features vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidants, which work together to give a more youthful looking complexion, minimising the signs of ageing and sun damage and creating beautiful, healthy-looking skin.

• Step 3: Sun Care

Sun protection is a vital part of any daytime skincare regime, but it is even more important when using a routine involving high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A increases the turnover of skin cells, and this means that skin can be more sensitive to sun than usual. Apply a broad spectrum SPF to exposed areas of the skin, reapplying every 1.5-2 hours to ensure protection. Environ’s RAD Antioxidant Sun Cream protects from both UVA and UVB rays and contains antioxidants which add an additional layer of protection for the skin. 

Night-time:

Overnight is the ideal time to help your skin recover from the stresses from the day. Targeted products can help your skin unwind and reset from the stressors we face every day – both emotional and environmental (such as UV and pollution).

Apply Environ®’s Focus Care Youth+® Seriénce™ Night Serum in the evening to protect, reset, relax and reconnect skin. The innovative formulation features a Malachite-Neuropeptide complex which has scientifically proven benefits for skin. Malachite extract is a powerful antioxidant, protecting skin and helping boost its immunity. This extract is combined with a blend of advanced peptides which work in synergy to help relax facial tension and expression lines, simultaneously helping to support collagen and elastin for a firm, smooth complexion and reduced fine lines and wrinkles.

For an additional night time boost, consider adding a calming face mask to your routine can help you to wind down even more. For when you have been out during the day, Environ’s Comfort+ Purifying Anti-Pollution Masque contains purifying and detoxifying ingredients such as Japanese charcoal, as well as numerous antioxidants to help reset and hydrate skin and minimise the damage from exposure to pollution.

For a luxurious alternative, the Tri-Botanical Revival Masque contains ingredients proven to refresh and rejuvenate skin. A combination of lactic, Asiatic and mandelic acids work together to stimulate the production of growth factors (such as collagen) in the skin, helping to firm and tighten as well as reducing the appearance of factors such as pigmentation. We like to call it a “face lift in a jar”.