The Best Skincare Capsules
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Capsule products are by no means a new concept (Body Shop Bath Pearls, anyone?), but there’s certainly a place for them in the sustainability-focussed world of 2020 beauty (they’re biodegradable and reduce product waste) - so I predict we’re about to see a lot more of them popping (literally) up.
The premise is simple and appealing - a single serve of concentrated ingredients - simply twist off the top and squeeze into your palms to dispense just the amount you need. Convenient, travel-friendly, zero waste - what’s not to love? These are my favourites.
Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules - £69.50
These dual-formula capsules - pink in the morning and green at night - contain separate blends formulated to give a two-pronged approach to treating skin that’s suffering from environmental stressors. The rose-scented daytime capsules are designed to protect skin from pollution during the day (perfect for city dwellers) while the lavender-boosted green ones help to boost skin’s natural repair processes as you sleep. Both are oil-based formulas so I like to spend time massaging them into my skin - the lavender ones in particular have a very therapeutic effect which is ideal right before bed.
Eve Lom Cleansing Oil Capsules - £20-55
Having always struggled when travelling with cleansers (no matter what the formula, I always seem to get a leakage), these are an absolute godsend. They can also be purchased with a cute travel case which makes things even easier - especially if you’re flying. The formula is essentially the same as the brand’s iconic cleansing balm (a personal favourite of mine) but lighter, silkier, and minus the exfoliation. It provides the perfect slip for face massage and the beads (while deceivingly small) contain enough to thoroughly cleanse face and neck.
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules - £39
The fact that these have been around since the early nineties is testament to their credibility - nourishing, firming ceramides are far from new news, but are such an underrated skincare ingredient. They can benefit all skin types since they work by strengthening skin’s barrier function (keeping moisture in and bacteria out), but if dryness and dehydration are your primary concerns, they could be the solution to getting your skin back on track. If I’ve overdone it on the clay masks or retinol, just a few days of using these gives my skin the moisture boost it needs to feel soft and look glowy again. The solution within is a decadently thick oil which has the perfect slip for face massage.
Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules - £42
Retinol and ceramides are an absolute dream team. The hydration and nourishment provided by the ceramides counteracts any dryness or irritation triggered by the retinol, so you’ll see all the benefits (smoother, brighter, clearer skin), minus the side effects. The further added benefit of using an encapsulated retinol is that there’s no guesswork when it comes to measuring out your dose, and therefore no way to overdo it (win, win!). These have a lovely gel-serum texture which is perfect for layering beneath moisturiser - just remember to use SPF the morning after.
Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules - £42
Vitamin C is another ingredient that makes total sense to be delivered in capsule form. It’s typically incredibly unstable when exposed to light and air (which causes it to degrade) but the seal provided by encapsulation keeps it potent and fresh - 187x more potent than a standard vitamin C serum, in fact. I love using these when my skin is looking dull and is in need of an instant hit of brightness - the serum has a light dry-oil texture which sits around long enough for a quick massage before disappearing into skin - and again, there’s a double-whammy of ceramides included.
Oskia Super C Smart Nutrient Beauty Capsules - £62
Once again, vitamin C - this time in a slightly more complex formula that sees the skin-brightening antioxidant boosted with squalane for oil balance and vitamin E to protect against free radicals and oxidative damage. Anyone with dehydration issues or anti-aging concerns will benefit from adding these to their routine. I found them the most fiddly to use and ended up using scissors to open them, but they were well worth the faff.
