Home > Darphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

Darphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

My little love affair with Darphin Paris…

Every now and then, I am sent beauty products that are sooo good and sooo effective (ahem…Darphin!) that I actually get off my wallet and go out and purchase them after their finished. You see, that is the beauty of being a beauty blogger: you eventually get to a point that you no longer have to buy skincare and cosmetics thanks to the constant flow of press samples to review.

Darphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle CollectionDarphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

That being said, I’m a loyalist. I have a core set of products that I am fiercely loyal too and never take out of the usual rotation. Well, that group of core all-stars has grown to include Darphin Lumière Essentielle Illuminating Oil Gel-Cream and Illuminating Oil Serum.

I was in the midst of the worst flu I’ve ever had which eventually turned into walking pneumonia. My skin took a huge hit – dryness, breakouts and my face was 50 Shades of Sallow.

Darphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

A box arrived on my doorstep and I mustered up the energy while gulping a shot of codeine cough syrup to tear into it. There laid a mint green, cone-shaped box filled with Darphin goodies. It was the first time I cracked a smile in about five days.

I immediately started using the Oil Gel-Cream and Oil Serum and started noticing a difference almost immediately. My sad skin soon looked glowy and bright and the Crypt Keeper no longer stared back at me when I looked in the mirror.

So, what makes these two products stand out? Read on!

Darphin Lumière Essentielle Illuminating Oil SerumDarphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

I have been using serums steadily now for the past couple of years and never really had a strong opinion on them. I knew that they were a vehicle to deliver an intense punch of moisturization in the form of hyaluronic acids, enzymes, essential oils, etc. They are basically products to provide your skin with more intense version of your moisturizer. That being said…I never really noticed a difference – until now.

The Lumière Essentielle Oil Serum packs a punch. The first thing I noticed is that its “slip” (that slippery feeling) was really nice. This serum is oily, but not overly so with its water-like weight, and felt wonderful when massaged it into skin. It has a bit of a cool sensation too which is great for waking this zombie up in the morning.

It has an incredibly fresh scent that I relish composed of tangerine, orange, neroli, rose, ylang ylang, cedarwood and ginger. I seriously love everything about this serum, right down to its pleasing apricot colour and little oil globules suspended in the mixture. Those oil globules actually are over 7,000 micro-capsulated essentials oils. Apparently, they are “artisanally blended drop by drop in a crystalline of marine extracts from the French Coast of the Mer d’Iroise”.  Don’t worry. I had to look it up too.

Darphin Lumière Essentielle Illuminating Oil Gel-CreamDarphin Paris Lumiere Essentielle Collection

I have never used a moisturizer quite like the Lumière Essentielle Oil Gel-Cream. It’s a very soft and luxurious cream that transforms into an oil upon application. My skin seriously glows after using. I loved how great my face looked so much that I actually started religiously moisturizing my neck with it too…something that I rarely did before.

After about a week of using both of these products together, I noticed a serious difference in my skin. It was way softer, brighter and my makeup applied better after using them. I noticed that foundation spread and set better and best of all, the nagging patch of eczema I had on my cheek disappeared.

In an unheard of move, I actually went out an replaced both products after I finished them. Correction – I replaced both products BEFORE they were finished, as I had an anxiety attack at the prospect of going without.

Now, I will admit that Darphin is not readily availably in my city and unfortunately, the Darphin site does not ship to Canada. Very unfair!! I eventually found the entire line at Shoppers Drug Mart’s beauty Boutique (a godsend). I happily forked over the $94 for the gel-oil cream (ouch) and $105.00 for the serum (double ouch), but hey – this face is worth it.

What are your go-to miracle face products? Please share in the comments! I LOVE reading about this stuff!

*Thank you to Darphin for providing press samples in exchange for my honest opinion. To my readers – I mean it…this moisturizer and serum is so good that I went broke replacing them out of my own pocket.

Dominique Baker
Dominique Baker

Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.

Find me on: Web | Instagram

15 Comments

  1. February 24, 2017 / 2:30 pm

    That serum sounds so luxurious! Skin troubles when you are sick is the absolute worst!

    • Dominique
      Author
      February 24, 2017 / 2:45 pm

      Girrrrllll – you are telling me. My skin always breaks out while I am sick and I end up looking like a ghoul. This stuff seriously saved my face. I promise you, I have never in my life spent this much on skincare. It is truly worth it!

  2. Crystal Marie
    February 24, 2017 / 3:08 pm

    I haven’t heard of this before. Beautiful packaging.

  3. February 24, 2017 / 6:32 pm

    I love reading your beauty reviews! This product sounds amazing! Skincare is critical to keep my girlish looks! The Lumière Essentielle Oil Gel-Cream is something I definitely want to give it a try!
    xo Debbie | http://www.tothineownstylebetrue.com

  4. February 25, 2017 / 1:56 am

    Such beautiful photography and an introduction into a brand with which I wasn’t familiar. I’m really into using serums right now so I might have to try this one 🙂

    Beth || http://www.TheStyleBouquet.com

    • Dominique
      Author
      February 27, 2017 / 8:45 am

      Hi Beth! Thank you for the kind words! I have to say – I love photography and glad my skills are getting better day by day. Trust me – you’ll love this serum. I hope you get the chance to try it!

  5. February 26, 2017 / 11:16 pm

    I have been wanting to try the Darphin skincare! Heard so many amazing things about it, can’t wait to get my hot little hands on it!

    • Dominique
      Author
      February 27, 2017 / 8:44 am

      The line is truly incredible. Never get sick of using their products!

  6. February 27, 2017 / 12:05 am

    its expensive but I don’t mind spending money on effective products. the product that is always in my rotation is sulwhasoo concentrated ginseng renewing cream but it is SO effective that I cannot stop using it! Thanks for the review! the product sounds amazing.

    • Dominique
      Author
      February 27, 2017 / 8:44 am

      Wow, Victoria! I’ll have to check this out. Thanks for the heads up and for reading! xoxox

  7. February 27, 2017 / 12:06 am

    I have been wanting to try this! Also — your photography here is AMAZING.

  8. Lisa
    July 21, 2017 / 6:14 am

    Ouch!! That is expensive!! I’m in Italy and paid 100 euros for both. I have to say even double the price its worth it. The equisage eye cream is also amazing!!! It is the first eye cream that I can say has tightened and brightened my eye area. I am addicted to Darphin.

    • Dominique
      Author
      July 21, 2017 / 1:44 pm

      Lisa – I’m with you. I adore this line. Thanks for your kind comments!

  9. Carmen
    February 6, 2019 / 7:24 am

    I love Darphin! You should try the kiwi mask, it’s so hydrating but light at the same time. And I’ve been using their Intral line for years, and I believe my skin would be dry and red all the time without them (I have rosacea and really dry skin). Also, the protection shield is great, it’s supposed to protect skin from both sun and pollution. The only other products that really wowed me when it comes to skincare is the Lierac Hydragenist line, but I haven’t used those products during the winter yet so I don’t know whether they’d work for me then. I’ve tried using La Roche Posay, but the hydrating creams just weren’t hydrating enough so that might give you an idea as to the amount of dryness I experience 😂
    Also, it’s so sad that it’s hard to come by Darphin where you live, I know what it’s like since most products from the US and Canada aren’t readily available in Croatia, but I truly don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t get my hands on my Darphin creams!

    • Dominique
      Author
      February 6, 2019 / 9:56 am

      Hi Carmen! So nice to meet a fellow Darphin Lover! I have yet to try the Intral line. I don’t suffer from redness or dryness, so I usually stick to their light products from the Hydraskin and Lumiere Essentielle lines. I have also been using their Rose Nourishing Cream which is stellar! Have you tried their Lumiere Essentielle mask? It’s a two in one: one side is gel, the other is more clay-like. So hydrating!!

      Lierac is a line I haven’t tried yet either, but I will keep my eyes peeled. Thanks for that tip and thank you for reading! xoxoxox

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