Darphin is a range created in 1958 by Pierre Darphin, a dermatologist from Paris. He worked in conjunction with a biochemist and a beauty therapist to develop a skin treatment range to suit women of all ages. If you love the thought of getting pampered but time does not permit a visit to the Spa, then Darphin skincare is, in my opinion, the next best thing. It is a range based on the benefits of aromatherapy - it feels good, smells gorgeous and treats your skin. Using it over a two week period I noticed my skin appeared brighter than it had been in a long time.

For my skin condition I was recommended the following face products, which I loved using:

Vitalskin Aromatic Cleansing Milk ($40 for 200ml)
Ginseng, pineapple and lemon make this milk a real pleasure to use. It leaves your skin feeling clean and smooth. If you prefer using a cleanser with water, there is an alternative called "Cleansing Emulsion" ($40 for 125ml). It is very similar in consistency and has the same fresh scent, and the only difference being that you rinse it off your skin - this one suited me better.

Vitalskin Aromatic Toner ($40 for 200ml)
This is No. 1 in my list of "top ten" toners. If I had to buy only one product from the range, this would be it. It is infused with rose and calendula oils and contains ingredients from plants like Gingko Biloba, known for their healing properties. The toner is a rich amber colour and the moment I applied it to my skin I felt uplifted by the smell and my skin felt very soothed and clean.

Arovita Cream ($115 for 50ml)
This has the signature scent as the cleanser and comes in a rich lemon coloured cream. It is very rich in texture, so I preferred to use this as a night cream as it added to the overall soothing effect that the range provides. I would use it as a day cream in the winter when my skin is drier.

Vital Protection Day Fluid ($75 for 50ml)
This is my other favourite product from the range. It contains extracts of Aloe and Vitamin E with a Sun Protection Factor of 15. You only need a small amount of the fluid and it sinks deep into the skin leaving a matte finish - a perfect base for foundation. Darphin suggest that Vital Protection Fluid can be used over the top of your moisturiser as an added protection in the sun or when your skin is particularly dry or dehydrated.

Vitaserum 40 for Eyes ($55 for 15ml)
This is a concentrated treatment for the eyes and is Darphin's top seller. It is designed to make your eye area brighter by getting rid of toxins and dark circles. When I tried it for the first time, I immediately felt the soothing effect on the eyes. Over a two-week period of use I noticed my eye area a bit brighter but no startling results; however, using it day and night over a longer period of time may bring more rewarding results - I'll let you know.

Although there are a few skincare companies whose philosophy is based on the benefits of aromatherapy, I haven't found one that suited my skin as much as Darphin. Some products in the range are expensive but I can honestly say that I haven't found anything that compares with the luxurious and soothing effect achieved by using these.

It is definitely worth going to a Darphin counter where you will be given a skin consultation and given sample size products recommended for your personal skin condition. If you are interested in trying the range and need help in finding a Darphin outlet in your area, please email me and I can give you details.

I hope to try the Darphin bodycare products and cosmetics soon, so look out for my review.