Innarah Defence Oil & Eye Treatment Creme

Innarah is a brand new brand for me and I was thrilled to have offered the opportunity to trail two of their products recently. My comprehensive blog is due to the comprehensive nature of these products and I hope you find some useless guidance here when trying to make decisions on in the complicated minefield of beauty products! The first of the tow products I will blog about is the Innarah Defense Oil.

Innarah Defense Oil

Natural oils have become staple part of my skincare regime over the years and I am always excited to have the opportunity to trial new brands. Innarah is a brand that I had not yet discovered and the Defence Oil certainly reigned in my intrigue due to their comprehensive description of the product.

As per Innarah’s description the product is described as follows: ‘This deeply nourishing oxygenated formula is a proprietary blend of oils and minerals combined using a revolutionary fermentation process’

It promises the following results….

• Provides deep hydration
• Anti-inflammatory
• Shields skin from the damaging effects of environmental aggressors and UV damage
• Delays the aging of essential skin cells

All Skin Types.

The rather stunning list of ingredients in this oil are as follows:

Kukui Oil, Coconut Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Jojoba Oil, Oregano Oil, Elk Antler Velvet, Chamae Rose, White Gold Ormus, Rose Otto Oil, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrrh, Agarwood, Blue Lotus, Carrot Seed, Bergamot, Jasmine, Patchouli, Melissa, Helichrysum, Arnica, Calendula, Marine Phytoplankton and Phytoplasma Minerals, Amazon Botanicals Herbs, Lemurian Quartz Crystal.

After reading this description and much more besides I was eager to begin my trial… I will apologise for my lengthy review now, however, this IS a product worth talking about for a surprising and conflicting set of reasons.

On receipt my trial size oil was housed in small clear glass bottle with a rubber squeeze top pipette for easy dispense of a liquid product. I was a little saddened and dismayed at the seemingly low quality sticker on the bottle but I assume that this is for a trail size product only… Packaging is a big selling point on a product but from reading on Innarah’s website I am led to believe that the full size product is in a dark violet bottle with different graphics so I chose to ignore this slight visual flaw.

I had noted on the description that due to the product containing herbal and mineral ingredients there would likely be sediment in the bottle that should be shaken before use…. sadly my disappointment grew at that point as my bottle was completely solid with no hope of using the lovely pipette. The only way I could remove the product from the bottle was by scooping it out with the pipette which is a slight packaging error. The solidified oil looked quite grainy with a texture similar to Vaseline. However, once placed in the palm it instantly melts into a beautiful clear oil that can be easily applied to the skin. I was saddened and disappointed that the only way I could use this product in its liquid form was by standing it on top of my radiator for a few minutes. This was fine at night when my heating is on but in the morning I had to resort to ‘digging’ the solidified product from the bottle as it quickly crystallised once more.

In its liquid form the oil has a beautiful free flowing consistency and dispenses perfectly with the pipette. The oil is clear and as instructed you only need a couple of drops to treat the whole face, neck and décolleté area (never miss out this crucial place ladies and gents). The oil absorbs rapidly, beautifully and instantly warms, soothes and hydrates the skin. Pure heaven!! Although the instructions state it is fully absorbed within 15 minutes I found that I could apply my usual day or night cream a few moments afterwards without incident.

The fragrance of this product promises heady aromas due to some of its well-known ingredients such as Rose Otto Oil, Sandalwood, Frankincense, and Myrrh. This was another surprise as the product is relatively scentless considering some of its ingredients. I am not a huge fan of highly fragranced facial products so for me I was quite intrigued and attracted to the scent of the oil. I can only describe it as a faintly earth scent which to me gave confidence in its naturally earthly ingredients.

The results of the oil are instantaneous from first application. My complexion was plumped, hydrated, soothed and radiant. Over a few weeks of use the results became stronger. It did not have a huge effect on my fine lines and wrinkles but I give it 100% for hydration and radiance and it certainly balanced my hormonal skin.

This where the story ends for me. I was very happy with the results on my skin but my overall impression of the product was affected significantly by the physical consistency of the product. For most women (and men) of working age, the ease of use of a product is key. I sadly would not have the time to have physically ‘melt’ this product each time I wanted to use it. It would be completely impractical for my daily beauty regime. Combined with the whopping £180.00 price tag, I fear this oil would require a few tweaks in order to make it desirable to the common market. Maybe just a different dispenser to eliminate the confusion of the crystalized state of the oil?

This said and done, it DOES do wonders for the complexion and is undoubtedly an impressive product but I fear this is not a product that would be affordable or practical for most consumers….

Innarah Eye Treatment Crème

The Innarah Eye Treatment Crème is the second product of the range that I have been very fortunate to trial. Innarah is a range that I have not used before, mainly and regrettably due to the rather high price tags attached their products. This said, I will always attempt to ‘stretch’ my budget if I find a hero product that addresses my ageing concerns. I am relatively lucky not to suffer many lines around my eye area even approaching my mid-forties, however, sensitivity due to long hours spent in front a computer and allergies are an issue for me and I regularly suffer from irritation and puffiness in the eye area. Because of this I have to be extremely careful when selecting eye products.

I received a sample of Innarah’s Eye Treatment Crème which boasts a rather impressive and comprehensive list of ingredients, all combined into one small pot. Innarah’s comprehensive description of this product states the following…

"A silky and luxurious, ultra-hydrating crème designed to improve natural functions of the skin in the delicate area around the eye. Our revolutionary Eye Treatment Crème, a proprietary complex of anti-inflammatory ingredients, helps strengthen the tissue around the eye, diminish the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, soften lines and wrinkles, and reveal healthier, more revitalized skin."

My first thoughts were pure excitement as this sounds like the perfect product for me! The Crème is said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits and contains a stunning array of vitamins and minerals. Perhaps one of the most intriguing ingredients is ‘Elk Antler Velvet’. This immediately had me running to the internet to research this ingredient. The trust WWW provided this information..

"Elk velvet antler use in the Orient dates back more than 10,000 years, according to the Meadow Creek Elk Farms website. Elk velvet antler use for health reasons is more than 2,000 years old and dates back well before the 1700s in European and English medicationsNaturally occurring in elk velvet antler are essential amino acids, fatty acids such as linolenic acid, various minerals including magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus, according to Meadow Creek Elk Farms. Also present are major structural lipids or fats, collagen (a protein fiber substance of the body's connective tissue), glucosamine sulfate, anti-inflammatory agents and proteoglycans, which are important for joint cartilage and elasticity."

Innarah states that no animal testing has occurred and I have it on good authority that our lovely Elks are not harmed during the harvesting of the velvet (thank goodness).

After my research I was excited to begin my trial. The Crème itself arrived in a small travel size pot and inside there is a slightly off white crème based product. The Crème has a slightly gel like feel. The medium consistency makes it easy to dab your finger into the pot to remove the product. After researching the full size product I note that this is also housed in a pot. I am not a big fan of this type of dispenser for eye products and dipping a finger into any product can cause contamination and over use. The price tag of this Crème would justify a pump dispense in my opinion. The Crème is fragrance and colour free which is perfect for a high quality eye treatment. Many products that claim to be fragrance free often have an underlying scent but Innarah’s Crème is truly ‘scentless’!

The Crème is very easy to apply and glides on beautifully without fuss. There is an instant soothing and refreshing feel and the delicate skin around my eyes readily absorbed the product without leaving a tacky and oily residue. Innarah states that there is an instant visual reduction in fine lines. I did not note this but was very impressed with the lightweight refreshing formula. My makeup applied easily over the top. I am usually very sensitive to crème based eye products and often find that they cause puffiness. This did not happen at all with this product and I was thrilled. Considering it claims to have an anti-oxidant and ant-inflammatory action this got 100% marks for me. Over a few weeks I have indeed noticed a reduction in puffiness and my eye area is sufficiently hydrated. I have not noted, sadly, a reduction in the fine lines however.

All in all, this treatment cream really is a delightful and effective product, which offers most of the stated benefits. There are visible results and for me this was mainly a reduction in sensitivity and puffiness. Would I be willing to part with £97.00 for 15ml of this product…. well sadly I would not. For ladies or gentlemen that have no strings on their purses or wallets I would say a hearty YES but for me, the results of this product needed to offer a little more to encourage me to purchase a full size product.

This truly is a wonderful and effective range of products however they will not and cannot appeal to all budgets. I have been impressed with the results of my trials but feel that there needs to be some 'extraordinary' results to justify the staggering price tag. If money is not an issue to you than I would recommend these products