We Try Embryolisse’s New Active Range for Busy Schedules
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
When we’re busy, a 10-step skincare routine can feel like a fantasy reserved only for well-rested people with well-balanced schedules (what are those!?).
Heck, even a 5-step routine feels like a luxury when we’re pressed for time.
But lucky for us, the beauty gods have once again gone above and beyond to deliver powerful skincare that works around the clock (so we don’t have to).
This time, it’s the new Active range from cult French pharmacy brand, Embryolisse.
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you may recognise Embryolisse by their Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser, a decades-long favourite of celebs and makeup artists.
While I wouldn’t exactly consider myself super ‘active’ — unless you count actively hunting down Melbourne’s best pain au chocolat — I do love a multi-tasking beauty product that simplifies my routine.
If it gives me five more minutes of morning cuddles with my cat (and actually works), then sign. me. up.
And it seems like a lot of you are, too, with #Skinimalism continuing to dominate our social feeds.
So when I heard the Embryolisse Active range cuts down beauty regimes to just two steps, I wasted no time in scooping up the samples to take home and test.
Read on for my honest review.
What Is the Embryolisse Active Range?
In a nutshell, Embryolisse Active contains three core products that have been specifically formulated for sensitive and dry skin havers (hello) pressed for time.
People like my sister come to mind, a mum of two under two who barely has time for herself let alone her skincare routine.
The range harnesses lamellar technology to imitate the skin’s barrier to better protect it against pollution and external aggressors.
It’s made with 95% ingredients of natural origin and is vegan and fragrance-free. Plus, its gentle formula also makes it safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Now let’s take a closer look at the products, shall we?
1. Embryolisse Active Smoothing Cream.
Fast facts:
- Vegan and artificial fragrance-free.
- A multi-purpose moisturiser that hydrates, smooths and brightens skin.
- Anti-stress, anti-redness and anti-pollution all while being antioxidant rich.
- Formulated with lamellar technology which protects the skin from pollution.
- Made with licorice extract and Patagonia root which soothes redness and irritation.
- Ideal for dry or stressed skin, but is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.
My Embryolisse Active Smoothing Cream review:
If the smoothing cream was a contestant on a reality TV dating show, we’d be the perfect match.
Dryness? Check. Redness? Check.
Pollution? If you saw the amount of dust my inner-city townhouse collects every day… check.
Stress? CHECK. There isn’t enough therapy in the world to cure my — and subsequently my skin’s — permanent Virgo-induced state of stress.
But you know what? The Embryolisse Active Smoothing Cream is a start.
I applied it following my usual cleansing routine and my dry skin soaked up its silky goodness.
So much so I found myself questioning whether I’d applied it or not. (I had, it just didn’t weigh my skin down like some moisturisers do.)
It felt soothing and nourishing, but not sticky or greasy.
Its lightweight formula glided over my skin and made a smooth, glowy base for my makeup (just like the Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré Moisturiser does).
Honestly, there’s not much to dislike about this moisturiser.
Its gentle formulation makes it suitable for all skin types, especially if you’ve been *blessed* with dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin like me.
2. Embryolisse Active Eye Contour Care.
Fast facts:
- Vegan and artificial fragrance-free.
- Cooling gel-cream texture that refreshes the under-eye area.
- Helps reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness.
- Formulated with damask rose and arjuna extracts to soothe irritation and improve elasticity.
- Ideal for people with under-eye concerns, but is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.
My Embryolisse Active Eye Contour Care review:
I’m going to level with you: I’ve only used eye cream a handful of times in my life.
Partially because I believed dark circles were more related to our genes and lifestyle choices (which they are, to some degree) and partially because I was a little… sceptical.
How could a tiny tube make me look like I had 12 hours of sleep when I’d actually stayed up binging Real Housewives!?
Now I’m not going to say that the Embryolisse Active Eye Contour Care does, but it definitely made me look more alive.
My under-eyes felt tighter, smoother and plumper. Is this what everybody had been talking about!?
After using it for a sold week I decided I couldn’t go back. Consider me converted.
3. Embryolisse Active Night Peeling.
Fast facts:
- Citrus-derived AHAs gently exfoliate skin overnight for a smooth and softer complexion.
- Formulated with shea butter, and argan and macadamia oils that nourish and hydrate the skin.
- Ideal for dull or dry skin, but is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.
My Embryolisse Active Night Peeling review:
As someone with dry and sensitive skin, I tend to tread lightly around skin peels for fear of waking up looking “like beef carpaccio” à la Samantha in that Sex and The City episode.
But, good news: the Embryolisse Active Night Peel is specifically formulated for people like me.
Unlike chemical peels that contain stronger AHAs like glycolic, Embryolisse uses citrus-derived AHAs that are gentler on the skin.
I applied it to my clean, dry skin, massaging its creamy, thick texture into my face until it liquefied.
It didn’t feel greasy and had a subtle citrus scent.
By morning, my skin had soaked it up and felt smooth and soft.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s super exfoliating. My skin didn’t visibly ‘peel’ exactly, but it did look more even and glowy!
For this reason, I’d politely point oily skin havers toward a stronger formulation for that ultra-soft, post-peel feeling.
But if you have dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin, then this peel may just be what’s missing from your routine.
Final Verdict.
On days when my skin isn’t behaving or my barrier is compromised, I’ll be reaching for Embryolisse’s Active range.
Its ability to moisturise, soothe, reduce redness and revive radiance in just two steps makes it a no-brainer for busy bees or those simply looking to streamline their routine.
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