Sarah Chapman Skinesis skincare review - dynamic defence spf 15 and eye recovery

I'm a firm believer that in order to enjoy colour on your face to the full you need to start with a good canvas. My skin is normal to dry, and doesn't break out on its own but is very reactive to products that don't agree with it (I'll get clogged pores and even cysts if the reaction is particularly bad.) 

I like the idea of the hippy organic skincare lines, but I've often found they don't deliver on either user-friendly textures (oily, or they ball up under foundation) or results. The Sarah Chapman line is a fantastic compromise; it's paraben-free and uses a lot of natural ingredients, but also has the high-tech ingredients that product real results. The packaging is great for a germphobe like me; sealed pumps. This does mean you do have to guess when you're close to running out though. The line is compact; an oil cleanser (haven't tried it, does smell nice though when I've mucked about with it in Spacenk), a serum in normal and concentrate formulations (the concentrate is not for drier skins, but for skins that need more work or are used to high-potency ingredients), dynamic defence (normal and concentrate), eye recovery and an overnight treatment oil.

These two products were a Christmas gift from my very understanding husband (who supports my skincare/cosmetic addiction in the same way I support his video game one), and I've used them consistently since then. I ran out of the dynamic defence a week ago, and the eye recovery is close to gone too.

The dynamic defence is a fabulous texture; it's rich but it sinks in well, leaving my skin soft but not greasy and it works well under makeup, leaving no white cast or residue. I sort of wish the spf was higher though - an spf 15 is high enough for use during the winter and most of the autumn and spring in the UK, but it's not enough for my pale skin on the very hot days we sometimes get in the summer (the texture might be a bit rich on very hot and sweaty days too, and I don't think an oily skin would enjoy this product at all.) This does have a fragrance, which is quite perfumey - monoi with some jasmine thrown in.  This is slightly weird to me in a facial product, as it seems more of a body product type of scent, but it hasn't irritated my skin. The scent-sensitive should patch test first. I've finished the tube, and I'm currently using an spf 30 from NIA24 which I don't like nearly as much. 

The eye cream is also amazing - it's light, but it has made a huge difference to the fine lines I was beginning to see under my eyes. The skin under my eyes feels a lot more supple since I've been using this (every day and night since Christmas, and I'm still on the same tube.) It hasn't made much of a difference to my dark circles (I have a six year old who thinks 6 am is a lie in, even at the weekends) but I have pale, fine skin so I'm naturally disposed towards dark circles and I'm good with concealer. It does make the concealer I use apply more smoothly. It has light reflecting shimmer particles in it, which I could live without (if this is enough to deal with your dark circles you don't really have any) but it doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the product or look weird on the skin.

I'd repurchase both of these products, and I'm interested in her serum after I've finished the REN ones I'm currently using up. For someone as fickle as I am, this is unusual (the fact I've actually used a product up is really saying something!) 

Sarah Chapman products are available from Spacenk, QVCuk and from the Sarah Chapman website directly. There's a nice trial set available with the cleanser, serum and dynamic defence in it. This is an expensive line, but it's not quite at that ridiculous £100+ a pot level, and it delivers results.