Beauty Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Damask Rose skincare collection

On certain days, when the sun is shining ferociously down us, the last thing you want to do is apply a rich and thick moisturising cream, followed by the entire makeup routine. No, what you do want is to leave the house without having to do anything but what you do need is at least some sort of basic skincare routine that will protect your skin from all sorts of externalities.

For days like those, reach out to Crabtree & Evelyn’s Damask Rose skincare collection that promises to effectively nourish your skin in a lightweight and gentle manner – almost like applying second skin.

How does it work:

Infused with botanical ingredients such as French Damask Rose, Rose of Jericho and Hollyhock, the skincare collection features a relatively delicate formulation that seeks to boost radiance and keep the skin sufficiently hydrated. Additionally, those who love a lingering fragrance would be delighted with the products’ subtle scent of rose.

The products I used below are suited for normal to slightly combination skin.

Freshening Cleansing Lotion (approx. USD22)

To begin my daily beauty routine, I substituted my usual cream-based cleanser with this lightweight cleansing lotion that dissolves traces of light makeup and impurities, leaving my skin feeling fresh and not uncomfortably taut. The French Damask Rose extract is combined with aureobasidium pollulans which helps to clear dirt from the skin while the ice plant works its purifying magic.

Before using the product, shake the bottle to blend the oils and actives. Apply two to three drops to a cotton pad and sweep it all over the face, while avoiding the eye area. It may a leave a subtle sheen but not to the point of how traditional cleansing oils do. If you prefer, you may even massage the lotion with your fingertips. Afterwhich, remove the sheen with a cotton pad or a warm face cloth.

Relaxing Micellar Water (approx. USD24)

I’ll be honest and proclaim that toners are not in my routine, nonetheless I’m giving it a try after hearing how toning is an essential step to prep your skin before the moisturisers and serums go on.

After cleansing, apply to three drops of the toner to a cotton pad and sweep it over your face. The gentle and relatively calming micellar water works to tone the skin while at the same time remove leftover impurities and excess oil. After toning, you’ll find that your face feels refreshed, more radiant and visually plumper – this is permanently taking a spot in my beauty regime now.

Hydrating Day Lotion (approx. USD39)

Finally, after the skin has been appropriately prepped, all it needs is a good ‘ol moisturiser. So I followed with the Hydrating Day Lotion which is a lightweight moisturiser that boasts of skin-quenching botanicals to keep the skin hydrated for hours on end. Beyond the nourishing French Damask Rose, the formula contains dense green caviar and ice plant to further boost moisture levels alongside macadamia to improve the skin’s vitality and radiance.

Personally, I only had to pump once for a good dollop to spread all over my face. Apply it upwards and in circular motions to give your face a mini massage as well. While it says ‘day lotion’, I used it for the night time as well and would recommend it for normal to combination skin types.

Our Verdict:

For a good everyday skincare regime, I’d say this is the perfect set to start with. Whether you have dry, sensitive, normal, oily or combination skin, the range will have a set of products to suit your needs. After using the three products for a while, I did notice my skin becoming more radiant with each use and the scent of roses is definitely a welcomed mood-lifter in the mornings. My only point of contention would be that I need some getting used to with the cleansing lotion, especially since it leaves a subtle sheen. Nonetheless, with the toner, I can be assured that all traces of impurities will be removed so that’s still a win-win situation in my books.

Tarandip Kaur