Believing that we can have beautiful skin at every age, we were delighted to hear that Ark Skincare has recently announced a total of five wins at the prestigious 2016 Beauty Shortlist Awards. This British Skincare brand treats the skin by age and concerns, using active natural ingredients. By doing this, it ensures a highly effective personalised skin treatment for each and every individual. Suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin, Ark Skincare tackle everything from breakouts and redness to pigmentation and dullness, so it was no surprise to hear that the brand had scooped up so many awards…

THE AGE DEFEND RANGE WINNER FOR THE BEST AGE-TARGETED SKINCARE BRAND (40+)

The best-selling Age Defend range wowed the judges for its brilliance at maintaining beautiful skin in your 40’s. Bursting with Blue Lotus, Kiwi and Passion Fruit lipids, this range provides vital nutrients and greater antioxidant protection for the 30s and 40s. Alongside its ability  to boost the skin’s collagen production, it also minimises any redness, leaving you with a calm and supple complexion!

THE AGE DEFY RANGE WINNER FOR THE BEST AGE-TARGETED SKINCARE BRAND (50+)

Ark Skincare’s age defy range was a firm favourite with the judges with its ability to support skin 50+, with the most innovative skin brightening and firming ingredients including Vitamin A, Red Algae and Starflower. Not only will this range deeply quench, firm and brighten the skin’s radiance, it’ll also leave your complexion toned and super radiant!

THE AGE DEFEND REPLENISHING MOISTURISER FOR THE BEST DAY MOISTURISER (35+)

Chosen as the number one product on the market for 35+ skin, Ark’s Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser contains Co-enzyme Q10 and is packed with a whole host of natural moisturising agents including Shea Butter and Olive Oil. Smooth out wrinkles, plump and tone the skin, and help diminish signs of premature ageing.

THE AGE DEFY NOURISHING MOISTURISER FOR THE BEST DAY MOISTURISER (50+)

With 97% of 100 women revealing that they would prefer to use the Age Defy Moisturiser over their usual moisturiser, the judges were equally as impressed and awarded the Age Defy Nourishing Moisturiser as the Best Day Moisturiser for women aged 50+. This powerful anti-ageing moisturiser helps combat the signs of hormone loss such dullness, dryness, uneven skin tone and loss of elasticity. This moisturiser also provides the perfect base for make-up!

HYDRATION INJECTION MASK FOR THE BEST FACE MASK (AGE DELAY)

Loved by beauty addicts across the globe, including beauty blogger and brand ambassador Susie Amy – the Hydration Injection Masque is the perfect weekly pick me up! This intensive multivitamin hydration injection masque provides the ultimate hydration that our skin craves. After just one use, skin looks rested, restored and with a radiant glow!

The annual Beauty Shortlist Awards are highly revered within the beauty industry so imagine our delight to discover we had won a total of 5 awards!

Here's what we won:

NEW: BEST AGE-TARGETED SKINCARE BRAND (Age 40+)

WINNER: Ark Skincare – The Age Defend Range

NEW: BEST AGE-TARGETED SKINCARE BRAND (Age 50+)

WINNER: Ark Skincare – The Age Defy Range

BEST DAY MOISTURISER (Age 35+)

Ark Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser

BEST DAY MOISTURISER (Age 50+)

Ark Skincare Age Defy Nourishing Moisturiser

BEST FACE MASK – age delay

ARK SKINCARE Hydration Injection Mask

Here's what the judges said:

“ARK is a skincare brand that completely and deeply understands skin’s intrinsic needs at different ages  – it’s one of our “ageless beauty” go-to, glow-more brands”

"ARK's Hydration Injection Masque would be up there with my top 5 Desert Island Skin Saviours...it transforms a dry, too-many-late-nights, fatigued complexion into fresh, more velvety skin thanks to ARK's  super-hydrating  Hyaluronic Acid Booster and vital skin vitamins A, B5, C and E. What I love about it is its multi-tasking abilities - it's one of the most comforting, effective "skin-drenchers" I know and it works wonderfully left on overnight...this product is a vital addition to my skincare kit now, suitable for all ages and all skins but a real must-have if you're over 40!"

Was your favourite ARK product a winner? 

ARK SKINCARE’s SkinPerfector Triple Action Exfoliator is formulated for all ages.

I love ARK!

I was talking to two of the judges last weekend about this brand, as their judging sheets all came in on Friday and there are some high marks in there! An across the board hit, and interestingly, almost every product got a very high rating from all of us which is quite rare, there’s usually one of us who puts a dampner on our enthusiasm!  So good for ARK.

What’s special about this? Fruit acid enzymes and a hybrid oil-milk formula with Abyssinian Oil help calm/clear any imperfections among other things, but a big thing with this product is cell regeneration – off with the old, in with the new (cells), one of the priorities you need in place for consistently healthy, more vibrant looking skin. Loaded with fruity AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) – OK Bilberry, Sugar Maple, Orange and Lemon if you need the details!), this one’s good.

I would only use this once a week but you can use it twice weekly. (Side note here – the root of many skin problems is over-zealous cleansing/exfoliating, you can wreak havoc with skin’s natural acid/ph mantle – the protective, hydrolipid top film –  and when you upset its natural balance…err..good luck! You could set yourself up for problems).  Sandblasting your skin is like hitching a ride on the road to ruin.

Massage lightly on to damp skin (avoid eyes) and wash off immediately if you’re in your teens or 20s, but leave it on for 2 mins if you’re in your 30s/40s and if you’re older you can let it all do its beautiful work for 5 (mindful, breathe deeply) minutes.  Remove with a hot cloth and pat dry (obviously!)

Great for dark spots, scars and uneven skin. By the way – check out ARK’s moisturisers, I think they’re excellent value and among the best out there. This is a brand I would include in my Desert Island SKINCARE Top 10 of all time because there are no “duds” in the range, which can happen with some brands – I’ve seen this a bit in our awards entries, you start getting excited about a brand then it has a terrible cleanser or disappointing serum…consistency is absolutely key – I’d rather pull a product and do a whole rethink re. the formula, than include a product that’s sub-standard when the rest of the range is so good – it lets the whole side down and if that “dud” product is the first one you try, you’re not going to be coming back to explore the rest of the range.

ARK have got it right.

£35/75ml

www.arkskincare.com

To read the full article click here: http://www.thebeautyshortlist.com/2016/02/18/bored-with-your-current-cleanser-5-new-clean-up-light-up-options/

Anti-ageing in your twenties is a difficult concept to grasp. Why should you care about anti-ageing now? Well… ageing of the skin really does start to happen in your twenties. Some of us can be quite cavalier to our approach in our skincare regimen during our twenties…many smoke, drink and don’t use daily sun protection, and only use skincare to address our basic needs, but as you age the skin starts to lose its elasticity. Levels of collagen (the building blocks of our skin) production starts to slow down meaning our skin starts to look crepey, dry, starts to sag, and fine lines start to appear. Not only that but we also start getting age spots, discolouration, uneven skin tone, redness… I don’t dare to go on. If you’re having to read this post, chances are you don’t have much of a scoobies about skincare and so I will briefly outline the importance of an anti-ageing regimen and give product suggestions based on the most basic routine. It really doesn’t have to be complicated, but lemme tell you that it all starts with protection.

Anti-Ageing really matters

Now…

Why does ageing occur at such a young age? Have you ever looked at a child’s poreless and smooth skin (not in a creepy way)? You’ll notice that you just don’t seem to have the same smooth canvas as theirs and the primary reason for this is free radical damage.

What’s free radical damage?

Free radical damage is caused by things such as the environment (stress, pollution, smoking, drinking and sun damage). Free radical damage causes a process of oxidation and causes stress to the skin cells causing them to die and mutate. When this happens our skin basically starts to look a bit shit.
 

Ark Skincare
 

So, how can I fix it?

The most important step of preserving your youth is PROTECTION (against free radical damage). You should try to protect yourself from free radical damage. Just recently, I was sent some amazing products by brand ARK. They’ve got a great cruelty-free line which is made up of individual products that are targeted for different age groups.

I love using uber luxury lines as I tend to treat my skincare as a bit of an OCD type indulgence, but to be honest, if you look for the key ingredients you can find some amaze products for half the price. Ark sits somewhere in the middle with me and I love the natural simplicity of the brand-nothing too fussy, just effective and affordable products that are optimised for each age group. I’ll talk you three a simple routine to help you understand anti-ageing a little better for us twenty somethings…

The Age Protect Skin Clear Cleanser contains really natural ingredients and has been designed to balance out oily and dry areas-something I’m really prone to. My t-zone and chin is normally oily, whereas around my nose and cheeks are a little drier. It cleanses the skin to help you avoid any bouts of adult acne, and feeds your skin with white tea (an anti-microbial) which will help to fight free radical damage.

The Skin Essential Hydrating Toner is filled with all kinds of gorgeous scrumptious antioxidants such as Blue Lotus which calms the skin and boosts elasticity. The way to fight free radicals and protect your skin is with anti-ageing antioxidants…as many as you can get your hands on. You can achieve this through eating lots of fruit and veg but research has shown that topical application can be just as effective, if not more so than oral consumption.

Don’t underestimate the power of a serum! Ark Skincare's Radiance Skin Response Serum is one that it is loved by many celebs and bloggers including MIC’s Stephanie Pratt and is fast attaining a cult status! If you consider yourself as a bit of a glowgetter, then this one is deffo for you! The amino acids help to even out skin tone, and it helps to reduce the appearance of age spots. A little goes a long way.

Last up is my fave step: Moisturising. Finish up with the Age Protect Skin Vitality Moisturiser. My favourite thing about this was the design of the bottle. You push down the lid and so it helps to avoid spreading bacteria over the bottle keeping your routine nice and clean. It’s full of Omega 9 fatty acids and vitamins to keep your skin plump and hydrated, and also contains Panthenol to help fight signs of acne and soothe irritation. It’s an effective moisturiser which will regenerate your skin and fight daily urban battles. Perfect for any city girl!

To summarise, make sure your products are loaded with antioxidants, and always ALWAYS use a product that contains SPF or a UV mineral filter-as the sun is the number one granny skin contributor! Don’t wait until it’s too late-start your anti-ageing regiment prompto. 

http://www.britishjet.co.uk/beauty/skincare/anti-ageing-routine-for-your-twenties

Planning a wedding is a little bit stressful. Wait, no, REALLY stressful. So take a break and. Melt away wedding planning stress with these gorgeous bath goodies, says Wedding Ideas beauty expert Emily Berryman.

7. ARK Body Beautiful Conditioning Oil, £35

100 percent natural and bursting with a whopping 25 mood-enhancing essential oils, this beautiful blend can be used as a silky body moisturiser, massage oil, in-tub treat or even as a fabulous deep conditioner for your tresses! And we do admire a little multi-tasking.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.weddingideasmag.com/feeling-frazzled-from-wedding-planning-we-can-help-you/

This made our day to see that the lovely Liv from FashStyleLiv beauty blog had picked our new Hydration Injection Masque as one of her favourite skincare products from 2015!

Another mask which I loved last year for how smooth it left my skin was the Ark Hydration Injection Mask * (£35 //review) which was new to me. I was so lucky to get a chance to try it and it's the closest feeling to what I would get in a spa. It smells so beautiful and it's strange but it really helps me feel relaxed whenever I use it.

We were so delighted when the stunning Stephanie Pratt from Made in Chelsea posted about how much she loves our Radiance Serum.

Stephanie posted the following image to her instagram account saying, "Ah my secret weapon has just arrived...thank you @susieamy, this is the bomb!"

Back in July the beautiful actress tweeted: "Obsessed is an understatement! [Radiance Serum is] a miracle in a bottle"

Stephanie was introduced to the product by her friend and fellow actress Susie Amy, who was eager to share one of her all time favourite skincare products.

Image copyright Instagram @officialstephpratt

Get Steph's gorgeous glow for yourself with ARK Radiance Serum. The secret ingredients to its efficacy are Red Algae, which brightens skin and fades pigmentation; Velvet Flower Seed, which helps skin to repair and regenerate; and Amino Acids which even out skin tone.

You’re getting married, congratulations!

Every bride wants to look their most beautiful on their wedding day. By starting a great skincare routine at least 8 weeks before your wedding, you can ensure your skin will be clear, radiant and healthy on your special day.

Here are our top 5 tips to make for stress-free wedding preparations:

1. Choose a Cleanser and Moisturiser designed for your skin’s age related needs.

Age Protect – for your teens and twenties - focuses on balancing skin, keeping it clear, healthy and protected against future ageing.

Age Defend – for your thirties and forties - aims to maximise collagen production and boost moisture levels for soft, supple skin.

Age Defy – for your 50s and onwards -  helps to brighten skin and fade sun spots for a more even, radiant skin tone, as well as providing deep nourishment to plump lines and wrinkles.

2. Sign up to bridal social networking site UKBride. This one stop shop for all things bridal contains Free Wedding Planning Tools, Tips & Advice and you’ll receive a free magazine. You can search suppliers, chat to fellow brides and browse over 5,000 wedding dresses. It’s free to sign up and you will be entered into a competition to win your dream wedding worth £25.

5. Keep skin calm and under control. Our DeStress Serum is the perfect product to ensure that your skin is stress-free, even if you’re not. This protective serum banishes redness, hydrates dry patches and keeps breakouts at bay.

4. Protect, Hydrate and Glow. If there’s one product you’ll need on your wedding day, it’s our SPF30 Primer. This multi-tasker gives skin a radiant glow without flashing back in photos, primes your make-up for flawless, all-day wear and protects your skin against redness and burning when you’re outside having your photos taken. It’s our no.1 Bridal Skin Saviour!

5. Spoil yourself. Organising a wedding is hard work so make time for yourself and get your skin in the best possible health by booking a monthly facial at the ARK Salon in Putney. We can also take care of your pre wedding prep including waxing, manicure, pedicure and natural spray tan. Click here for our treatment menu.

We hope our tips help you feel sensational on your wedding day. Wishing you the happiest day ever!

Hydration is so important, especially during the summer. Hopefully you’re already making sure to drink your 8 glasses of water a day, but what are you doing for your skin?

I have a terrible habit of not moisturising enough during the summer months. Not because I’m lazy, rather the heat makes me feel so sticky and gross. But neglecting your skin’s moisture leads to premature ageing, dullness and dryness. So it’s best to use products that maximise hydration without leaving you greasy-faced.

My skin has been looking dull lately. Especially around my lips and nose. And as such, whenever I apply foundation or concealer to those areas I end up looking dusty and flaky. Urgh! I’d rather go barefaced than deal with that.

The claim.

ARK’s website says that ARK Hydration Injection Masque contains will rejuvenate dull, tired skin and leave you with a smooth, healthy glow. The masque contains an intense blend of vitamins and other ingredients that work together to provide long lasting moisture, smooth your skin’s surface, fade pigmentation and regulate collagen.

ARK Hydration Injection Masque review.

Packaging.

My sample arrived quickly in a beautifully packaged in a good quality branded gift bag with a bow (seen below). Little extras like this make a huge difference when buying beauty products. Not only does it mean the item is ready to gift, but if the purchase is for yourself it really feels like a treat!

The product packaging is clean and simple. A plain white and grey box and a chrome-lettered tube gives a clinical finish. The flip cap (is that what they’re called?) is so much better than a screw on cap. A lot easier than fumbling around with masque-covered fingers!

The Masque.

This product smells so good! It has a pleasant, mild lemony scent. It empties out of the tube evenly so there’s no chance of wasting any precious product by spilling it. The formula has a viscous consistency and is different to any face masque I’ve tried before. Once smoothed evenly on the face, it remains sticky rather than setting like many other masques would. The box says that you can keep it on overnight for a super intensive treatment. This may be the case for back sleepers, but front sleepers like me would wake up with a messy pillowcase.

Treatment time depends on what age group you fall in to. The back of the box tells me I need to apply a thin layer and leave it on for about 10 minutes (recommended for age 30-50), but after application I got lost in the wonderful world of Pinterest for about 20 minutes (recommended for age 50+), so I did leave it on a little longer than I should have.

After removing the masque with a hot cloth my skin was noticeably more plump and incredibly soft. Really, I couldn’t stop stroking my own face. Slightly vain, but you would too…trust me.

Does it work?

Yes! 24hrs later my skin remains soft and moisturised and I woke up this morning with that youthful glow that the ARK website promised. This is the type of product you should use as a midweek pick up, or at the end of a stressful week at work. I’d imagine that this masque would come in handy during the winter months too, preventing your skin from becoming chapped by keeping it hydrated.

The plumping aspect of the masque has earned ARK Hydration Injection Masque a permanent place in my bathroom cabinet. My skin hasn’t felt this soft in ages!

http://cosmickick.com/beauty/beauty-reviews/ark-hydration-injection-masque-plump-up-your-skin/

We were so excited to see our products pop up in Harper's Bazaar this week. Celebrity make-up artist Alice Theobald prepped the skin of the beautiful Camilla Kerslake for her photoshoot. As Camilla is in her twenties, Alice used the Age Protect products, which have been designed especially for teens and twenties skin. 

See the full article here, Diary of a Soprano here: http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/people-parties/people-and-parties/camilla-kerslake-diary-pictures-rugby-world-cup#slide-2

We have an exciting vacancy at the ARK Head Office in Tolworth. We are seeking an enthusiastic Office Administrator with the following skills and attributes:

• Professional telephone manner
• Computer literate
• Responsible with a mature approach to work
• Calm demeanor under pressure
• Interested in beauty and skincare

Key Duties:

• Answering the phone
• General Secretarial duties
• Helping customers with orders
• Assisting with PR tasks
• Liaising with suppliers

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV and cover letter to tamsin@arkskincare.com

We are super excited to announce the launch of our Hydration Injection Masque, the ultimate weekly treatment for your skin.

Part of our new Skin Perfectors range which targets specific skin concerns, this intensive multivitamin masque quenches skin, plumps wrinkles and restores vibrancy.

Our rejuvenating treatment masque is the ideal weekly pick me up for skin which looks tired, stressed and lacking in radiance.

 Active Botanical Ingredients

An encapsulated blend of vitamins for maximum efficacy: Vitamin A to fade pigmentation; Vitamin B5 for smoothness; Vitamin C to regulate collagen synthesis and Vitamin E to prevent UV damage.

Hyaluronic Acid Booster drenches skin with moisture, optimising the circulation of water through all skin layers and providing 24-hour protection against water loss.

Sugar Beet and Abyssinian Oil intensely nourish the skin for a plush, luxury skin feel.

How to use:

Once or twice per week apply a thin layer to cleansed skin, avoiding the delicate eye area. Leave on as stated below, depending on your skin’s age-related needs then remove with a hot cloth:

Teens and twenties: Leave on for approximately 5 minutes.

Thirties and forties: Leave on for approximately 10 minutes.

Fifties and onwards: Leave on for approximately 20 minutes. Can be left on overnight for an intensive treatment.

 Your skin will look rested, restored and smooth with a healthy, youthful glow.

Discover the magic for yourself here

ARK is delighted to welcome Reflexologist Susie Amy to our London Flagship Salon. Susie will be in residence for one day per month; we suggest booking early to secure one of these exclusive, sought-after appointments. In addition to her passion for Reflexology, Susie is also a beauty expert, blogger and actress.

Reflexology is a complementary therapy suitable for all ages. It is based on the theory that different points on the feet and lower leg correspond with different areas of the body. Applying pressure to these points helps the body with naturally healing and enhances overall wellbeing. It is a deeply relaxing treatment and induces a deep state of calm; most clients drift off to sleep!

Reflexology is not only deeply relaxing, but can be helpful for conditions such as hypertension, depression, stress and insomnia. The balancing effects of reflexology make it particularly helpful for digestive disorders and sinus congestions.

Reflexology may be helpful for certain infertility problems, and difficulties in conception. It aims to balance and improve the hormonal environment for conception, stimulate ovulation and increase blood supply to the reproductive organs – as well as induce deep relaxation.

Although not recommended during the first three months of pregnancy, it is an excellent treatment in the second and particularly third trimester. During the last 6 weeks of pregnancy working into the reproductive reflexes, helps to increase the circulation of blood to the pelvis ready for delivery.

One hour Reflexology, £60

To book call 020 8788 8888.