Airelle: Product Review

The Airelle™ Skincare natural line of anti-aging products claims to improve the appearance of fine lines in less than 28 days. Its products, which focus on collagen protection and restoration, are free of artificial fragrances, sulfates and parabens. In addition, they’re all made in the USA and without animal testing.

Airelle’s products utilize a proprietary formulation (called “Berrimatrix”) that combines blueberry extract, polyphenols, and botanical antioxidants and polyphenols.  Airelle states that the blueberry extract is shown to help protect against the breakdown of collagen after exposure to UV light, while the polyphenols and antioxidants help improve skin texture and protect against photoaging.

Airelle claims its products form a two-pronged attack on fine lines and wrinkles: (1) mitigating collagen breakdown to help prevent fine lines from forming and (2) hampering the action of free radicals with a collection of highly concentrated antioxidants. Free radicals are molecules that injure cells, including skin cells, by promoting inflammation, sun damage, and the development of (skin) cancer.

Keep in mind that the sun causes approximately 90% of skin aging.

Putting Those Claims to the Test

Full disclosure, Airelle co-founder Kasey D’Amato contacted me and offered me products to try out for in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received a sample size (one week) of the Exfoliating Cleanser and full-size bottles of the Intense Hydrating Repair Complex and Age-Defying Eye + Lip Treatment.

I’ve been trying out a slew of products, with mostly positive experiences, setting the bar high. But Airelle impressed me, especially because the products are chemical-free.

Exfoliating Cleanser

This cleanser uses Berrimatrix, glycolic, and bamboo microbeads to exfoliate. In general, I enjoy exfoliating cleansers because they remove grime from the face, but this product felt the best of those I have used, leaving my skin feeling fresh, clean, and smooth. The grit is very fine and the microbeads almost imperceptible. It is rough enough to debride dead skin cells and scrub off debris but seemed gentle enough for delicate skin without irritation or harshness. I chose to use it twice daily and loved the way my skin felt and looked.

Cost: 188 mL/$64

Intense Hydrating Repair Complex

Using a product that claims antiaging and moisturizing benefits is crucial to any skincare regimen, particularly as one enters her third decade of life! Airelle recommends using this complex both morning and night for best results. Mildly fragranced and elegantly textured, it felt serum-like but is viscous enough that it didn’t run off my fingertips. It dried quickly, creating a subtle sheen on my skin. I felt no oiliness, and I could apply makeup after application. I covered my face and the front of my neck well with two pumps, and with three pumps, I also treated my décolletage.

I used the product for 28 days, and I feel it fulfilled its promise to reduce lines in that time. My skin looks more taut and younger. I also didn’t experience any acne during my trial (unclear to me, of course, if this was cause or correlation). It is expensive, but it is consistent with other products that claim good technology in an elegant vehicle. I also believe a full-size bottle will last you at least six weeks when used twice daily, which may be more value than comparable regimens.

Cost: 50 mL/$116

Age-Defying Eye + Lip Treatment

I typically don’t apply eye treatments to my eyelids and crow’s feet region. I usually go with a single, daily antiaging product for my face, neck, décolletage, and area around my eyes and lips rather than investing in separate products. But Airelle claims this product is unique and an advisable extra step for those with particular concerns about the eye and lip regions.

First, it uses a roller ball, which surprised me. But it is a brilliant way to apply product to areas of delicate skin that may be damaged by palpating with fingertips. The delivery system also purports to minimize oxygenation of product.

I felt the roller ball also reduced overuse, extending the life of the product. I still have plenty left after four weeks of twice daily use.

Second, the vehicle feels like a very light serum –  oil-like rather than cream. I like a lighter product around the eyes. The product feels so light that I forget I’m wearing it, and it dries by the time I finish brushing and flossing my teeth.

Third, I could also use it around my lips. We often forget the perioral region when applying facial products. I have used products designed for and directly applied to the lip mucosa, but I’ve never encountered one that reminds me to put it directly above and around my lips. Fine lines form over time from sun damage and muscle movement, like occurs with talking, kissing, pursing the lips, and smoking (another reason to quit!).

Fourth, I feel it is effective. It appears to me that it tightened the area around the eyes (although I don’t suffer from eyelid puffiness, so I can’t speak to that). I see a reduction in the fine lines at the crow’s feet region and less lower eyelid redundancy. It is harder for me to tell whether I benefited around my lips, since I didn’t have significant lines around the mouth before using the product. Keep this refrigerated for best results.

Cost: 8.8 mL/$68

Before: Note the deep grooves at the crow’s feet region when smiling

After: Note how the grooves appear less deep and the lines, while still present, appear finer at the crow’s feet region when smiling. There’s still room for more improvement!