Something’s got to give when the effects of decades of environmental damage and junk food combine with poor skincare to hit a watershed moment. It could be the realisation that everything is on the slide, fine lines start morphing into troughs or, maybe, the hideous fact that you can count more dark spots on your face than freckles. Those stubborn open pores are probably the icing on the cake. Enter a true holy grail - the evening facial oil that promises to come to the rescue and actually does. I’m talking about the Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil.
This product is my new skincare superhero. For the record, nothing is going to make me look sweet sixteen again, but an over-the-counter product that can help me feel happy in my own skin? Now that’s worth sharing.
First up, I’m 58. For 32 years, I lived an adrenaline-fuelled life in a cut-throat industry that drove me to wine and fags more often than it did an effective skincare routine. It pumped up my stress levels like a demon-possessed blood pressure monitor - on a minute-by-minute basis. There was very little in the way of ‘me’ time. In fact, skincare, per se, wasn’t in my vocabulary until I was in my 30s. And, even then, I can’t say I took it overly seriously - until Stage 3 breast cancer came knocking on my door and I suddenly found myself with oodles of time I’d never previously had at home. I discovered I actually enjoyed looking after my skin.
Since then, I’ve been on a quest to find reasonably priced anti-ageing products that don’t just make me feel good but help me to look ‘better’. Some of the ones I’ve been impressed by are featured on this website. However, very few have hit the mark as well as the Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil. Before I explain why, here’s some information about the oil. I must point out, I have no connection to the brand.
What is Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil?
This facial oil is a skin treatment designed to be used at night. It has been formulated to minimise just about every sign of ageing. Think of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, dark spots, large pores… The list goes on, doesn't it?
Vegan and cruelty-free, the oil sits comfortably in the ‘natural skincare’ market. It is sold in a 20ml dropper bottle, but a little goes a long way. Eco-friendly refills are available directly from London-based Disciple, which hand-fills orders. Of course, a skin treatment of this potency and efficacy is also sold elsewhere. Holland & Barrett and Look Fantastic are just two outlets that stock it.
So, what makes Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil so good? It’s all about the ingredients and how they are blended. For a start, retinyl is an unadulterated form of Vitamin A. It is revered for its ability to sink deep into the skin and repair damage many serums, for example, can’t reach. The treatment further contains rosehip seed oil, a fatty acid hero, as well as frankincense, prebiotic burdock root, blue chamomile, and jasmine.
The oil can be used with serums, either over or under, and can also be used as a substitute for a night cream. While sold in a small bottle, you only need a few drops to reap its benefits.
Unusually, Disciple is predominantly a wellness brand and was founded by a psychotherapist. Doesn’t it make a change to find a trending product that doesn't share its roots with an influencer or celebrity? This isn’t a ‘beauty’ label; it is a business focused on healing stressed minds and bodies. Even more unusual, Disciple’s founder still works as a psychotherapist in Harley Street - although there is a waiting list for appointments.
How I got dreamy skin
I got this product in a beauty advent calendar. I’d never heard of Disciple and only reached for the treatment because I wrongly assumed it was a serum. My eyesight isn't what it used to be! I realised it was an oil when I used it. The luxurious feel on my skin, so silky and hydrating without the ‘runny oil’ effect, and fresh, botanical fragrance made me want to learn more about what I’d just put on my face. I read the product description and reviews, before deciding: OK, so it’s decent. But I never expected it to be the best facial oil I’ve ever used. Full stop.
I wasn’t anticipating much; maybe I’d wake up with moisturised skin. That’s what I thought the first time I used it. When I drifted off into a yawning slumber, I recall a fleeting moment when I wondered what my morning look would be. As it happens, I got just shy of three hours’ sleep - the ’phone rang at some ungodly hour (an insomniac neighbour wanting to know if my other half could spare him a roll-up - no, he bloody couldn't!) and I was unable to settle back down. I held out zero hope of looking anything other than dog tired.
But, no, when I came to do my morning skincare routine, my jaw dropped. I looked fresh as a daisy! No sign of fatigue at all. When I scrutinised my face a bit closer, my pores were smaller than they were the night before and my complexion was translucent. I was genuinely shocked. Pleasantly, of course.
Every night since then, I’ve alternated using Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil with VitaSkin’s Vitamin A Rejuvenating Night Cream. I always apply a hyaluronic acid serum first. My dark spots are fading and I’ve retained that ‘wide awake’ look at 5am (I start work at 7am). The pores on my nose are definitely less noticeable, and sagging under my left eye is no longer pronounced. That’s a ‘result’, as far as I’m concerned.
Will I be purchasing the retinyl oil when the current bottle runs out? You can bet your bottom dollar, I will!
Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil retails at £35, which isn’t pricey when you consider how long a small bottle lasts and the results you can achieve. The oil is also said to be an excellent treatment for acne-prone skin, so it’s not just us ‘oldies’ who can benefit.
For a completely new-to-me brand, Disciple has knocked the ball out of the park. It has formulated a facial oil that is pleasant to use, doesn’t cost a fortune and makes good on its marketing claims. I don’t expect to find a miracle in a bottle, certainly not for £35, but a skincare product that can actually make me feel good about my complexion is pretty damned close.
Anyone using a retinyl or retinol product is strongly advised to wear high-strength SPF during the day. The content of this review is not a substitute for qualified medical advice. If you have a persistent skincare concern, consult your GP or a dermatologist.
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