Samy Hamada, research and development director of Aesop
Tell us more about the Lucent Facial Concentrate, what are its benefits and who would this product best suit?
SH: Lucent Facial Concentrate is a potent hydrating serum formulated to replenish and balance the skin. Skin-balancing, anti-oxidant Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Stablilised Vitamin C) and barrier-supportive Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) are included to help even the appearance of skin, while Sodium Carrageenan boosts moisture and provides sustained hydration. Additionally, essential oils of Rose Otto, Sandalwood and Frankincense are included for their renowned nourishing properties.
Lucent Facial Concentrate is ideal for those who desire concentrated doses of skin-supportive vitamins, intense hydration and nourishing botanicals with a light finish. The serum is suitable for use as a standalone hydrator year-round, which may be particularly relevant to those who reside in climates with high humidity, such as Malaysia. The quick absorption and nearly non-existent residue make it ideal for a humid climate, where customers might favour a light, non-occlusive hydrating product over oil-based hydrators or heavy creams.
What products from Aesop would you pair with the Lucent Concentrate to get optimal results?
SH: For those seeking a regimen in a warmer climate like Malaysia’s, we recommend cleansing the skin with either Fabulous Face Cleanser, a gentle cleanser formulated to support most skin types, or In Two Minds Facial Cleanser, which is formulated specifically for combination skin. Follow with B & Tea Balancing Toner to prepare the skin for hydration, and massage Lucent Facial Concentrate into the skin.
As we are in the middle of Australian summer at the moment, I am currently using Lucent as a standalone hydrator, but in the winter, for boosted hydration, I would layer it with a further Aesop hydrator, such as Perfect Facial Hydrating Cream or Damascan Rose Facial Treatment. Whichever the climate, I always like to finish with a gentle application of Exalted Eye Serum around the peri-orbital area to replenish and support the delicate skin surrounding the eyes.
What was the biggest obstacle to overcome when creating the new Lucent Concentrate?
SH: Creating exceptional products is a science as much as an art, and it’s important to ensure ingredients are delivered in a way that will be of tangible benefit to the skin.
Vitamin C can sometimes pose a challenge in this regard. In its raw form, Vitamin C is highly unstable and susceptible to degradation when exposed to certain factors, such as UV light. The issue with using Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in its raw state is that as soon as it is added to a formulation in this way (in acid form) it is rendered useless, meaning it would be of absolutely no benefit to the skin.
For this reason, we have included Generous measures of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate in this formulation, a stabilised derivative of Vitamin C, which is converted into Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) by endogenous enzymes in the skin. This allows us to ensure a meaningful inclusion of this important, skin-supportive ingredient in Lucent Facial Concentrate.
Is there a particular star/new ingredient to the serum that makes it so effective?
SH: Lucent Facial Concentrate contains generous measures of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Stabilised Vitamin C) to help balance and even the appearance of the skin, and can also help to address the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Meanwhile Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) supports the skin barrier, and Sodium Carrageenan boosts moisture and provides sustained hydration.
What is the Aesop Healthy Skin Approach?
SH: Since its founding over 30 years ago, the value of time has been central to Aesop’s philosophy of skin care. Quality ingredients, treated with the utmost respect, are used in formulations refined through years of acquired wisdom and experience.
As with lifestyles, diets and beyond, we understand that tending to the health of the skin is an ongoing endeavor. We invite our customers to embrace a process and approach of continuous—but gentle—care and support, giving ongoing attention to their skin, understanding its individual nuance and needs, rather than giving focus to a specific end-goal or result. This attentiveness requires time and space, endeavoring to find a moment in the day for personal reverence—and reverie—to listen to its minor fluctuations and responses as it passes through the seasons.
Each addition to the Aesop range is crafted with a steadfast commitment to unhurried innovation, superlative knowledge of the skin’s physiology and a penchant for rigorous scientific enquiry. Such time-honoured formulations offer topical advantages and sensory satisfaction from the moment they meet the skin, at which point the emphasis on patience takes another turn; namely, via measured application and repeat usage.
How would you recommend a new customer at Aesop to build their own skincare routine at Aesop?
SH: For those looking to build a routine, we warmly invite our customers to visit us in-store—these are spaces where you can not only experience our products, but also receive sincere, well-informed and hospitable service.
The experience within any Aesop store, and our relationship with our customers, is never a simply transactional one: it is also educational, prescriptive, and sensorial. We host our customers in calm, warm, comforting spaces that look, feel and smell good—where they can sit and have some tea if they wish, and receive informed advice from our trained consultants.
Our consultants have a meaningful conversation with each of our customers to understand their concerns, skin type, environment and preferred textures. They are invited to explore the formulations with us: demonstrating each product at the sink, allowing customers to experience how it feels on their skin, has become a hallmark of the Aesop consultation.
