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Tried & Tested: Elizabeth Arden Superstart Renewal Booster - Does It Really Live Up To The Hype?

Does Elizabeth Arden's Superstart Renewal Booster Live Up To The Hype?
Rosy Cherrington
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It's not every day a beauty brand launch an entire new category, rather than just a new product, but that's exactly what Elizabeth Arden did with their latest release.

Their Superstart Renewal Booster is designed to be used day and night ahead of your serums and moisturisers.

It is said to work by repairing the look and feel of the skin’s surface (the stratum corneum), therefore boosting the skin's natural defense and the effectiveness of your other skincare products - as a healthy surface layer will absorb ingredients better.

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Elizabeth Arden Superstart Renewal Booster, £45 from elizabetharden.co.uk

The product contains four key ingredients - sea fennel and flaxseed extracts, to help reinforce the skin's moisture barrier; glasswort extract, to reduce water loss in the surface of the skin; and a probiotics complex, to optimise skin's microflora.

These are pretty impressive claims, but does the product live up to them?

Here's what happened when the HuffPost UK Style team put Superstart Renewal Booster to the test...

Poorna Bell, Global Lifestyle Editor

Initially I wasn't a fan of the smell - it was slightly more fragranced than the creams and serums I use on my face.

In fact, I was sure it was going to bring me out in a reaction. But one week later, my skin was clear - with none of the usual rashes I tend to have from skin products.

Skin sensitivity aside, I tried the product for three weeks, and I noticed pretty much after a couple of days the difference it made. It made my skin seem smoother and plumper - and it certainly helped my skin handle the transition from summer to autumn much more easily.

As a mini experiment I stopped using it for a few days, and my skin definitely looked duller (I'm going to assume here it wasn't the bottle of Pinot Noir consumed the night before).

I added a squirt to my morning and evening moisturiser which was pretty easy to sandwich into an existing routine.

In truth, I often can't see the immediate benefits of most serums and the refreshing difference with this one is that I did. It's also the perfect heaviness for 30-something skin.

Would I buy it again? To quote the dog from the Churchill ads: "Oh, yes."

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Ellen Wallwork, Senior Lifestyle Editor

Over recent years my pre-makeup and pre-bed skincare routine seems to keep expanding, so at first I was skeptical about adding another product to the list, to be applied before my serum, moisturiser and primer...

But after just a couple of days I was a convert. The serum appears to boost the effect of every other product I use, meaning not only am I using less in each application, but my skin is looking smoother and brighter.

Every autumn I have to swap my light summer face moisturiser for a more intense winter one to stop my skin becoming flaky - and I am yet to find one that doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or bring me out in spots - but now with an application of the Elizabeth Arden Booster before my moisturiser, I haven't had to make the switch.

Rosy Cherrington, Style Writer

On first impressions, this stuff was amazing. Pressed for time before an evening out, and with no chance of completing my usual facemask and intensive moisturisation routine, I quickly applied the Superstart Renewal Booster using my Cailyn Cosmetics O Wow Brush (this beauty trick isKylie Jenner's secret weapon, after all).

Usually there's a high chance of my skin looking dry and flakey as soon as I apply foundation, but with this product it seemed to glide on smoothly and my face looked hydrated and glowing all night. Plus my makeup looked amazingly natural, like a second skin.

I excitedly started to use the product every day, as recommended, and that's when the trouble started. I should probably mention at this point, I have extremely acne-prone skin and it doesn't take much for me to have a breakout. Sadly, the Superstart and my skin did not get along in that respect.

My guess as to why? Most probably the flaxseed extract, which rates as a fairly high 4 on the comedogenic (pore clogging) chart. While ingredients like this don't affect most people, I'm someone who has to be extremely careful. Endless bummer.

Winter Skincare Tips
Smooth As You Soothe(01 of10)
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Extra-dry skin like on dry upper arms can trigger a flare-up of keratosis pilaris, that annoying rough skin, says New York dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. "Try a lotion with salicylic acid to exfoliate dead cells around your hair follicles and reduce the appearance of bumps." (credit:Shutterstock)
Handle With Care(02 of10)
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To prevent chapping parched hands, embrace wipe-off, soap-free cleansers and alcohol-free hand sanitizers."They're less drying than washing repeatedly with soap and water," Rodan says. "It's the wet-dry, wet-dry that really sucks the moisture out of your skin." When you do wash, choose a moisturizing soap-free cleanser or a hydrating antibacterial gel, then slather on lotion right away. (credit:Flickr:fairfaxcounty)
Glove Up(03 of10)
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Anything that creates an occlusive barrier (i.e., traps moisture) on skin helps lotions and creams soak in. So slip on some cotton gloves over lotion to help moisturize parched hands."Even wearing them for an hour can really soften up your skin," says Miami dermatologist Alicia Barba, M.D. (credit:Shutterstock)
Just Add Honey(04 of10)
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To soften stubborn dry patches on rough elbows and knees, opt for a rich, hydrating scrub. "I use a simple mix of honey and sugar," says Ford makeup artist Lisa Trunda. Studies show that humectant honey reduces inflammation, and sugar (applied topically) increases circulation in skin, says Miami dermatologist Jeremy Green, M.D. "This can be especially helpful in winter when blood flow is typically diverted from the skin to keep your core warm." (credit:Flickr:Drew Coffman)
Milk It(05 of10)
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If your arms or legs look scaly, try a 12 percent lactic acid lotion."Cleopatra used to bathe in milk because of the lactic acid," Barba notes. "It's an incredibly effective moisturizer, and it also works as a powerful exfoliant, so those scales go away." (credit:Shutterstock)
Layer Up(06 of10)
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For arms, legs and torso, start with a rich bath oil or moisturizing body cleanser, "something that leaves a creamy film on your skin," says Barba. Follow with a generous slathering of lotion once you’ve toweled off. (credit:Shutterstock)
Exfoliate Lightly(07 of10)
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"It'll brighten your skin, and your moisturizer can penetrate better if you don't have a 50-car pileup of dead cells," Rodan says.Pick super-gentle exfoliators when using for chest and back like tiny, rounded polyethylene microbeads. (credit:Shutterstock)
Treat Feet At Night(08 of10)
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For roughed-up feed, before bed, "gently buff away calluses with a hydrating scrub or pumice stone, and apply a thick, buttery moisturizer while feet are still damp," Barba says. (If this doesn’t help, you may need an OTC or Rx cream containing glycolic acid or urea that exfoliates while it moisturizes.) Then wear socks overnight. "If you do that religiously for a month, the changes will be magical." (credit:Shutterstock)
Keep Showers Short(09 of10)
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"A long, hot bath or shower might seem tempting when you've been out in the cold, but it will strip your skin of moisture," Green says."If you like warmer showers -- and who doesn't? -- keep them to no more than 10 minutes, and not more than once a day." (credit:Shutterstock)
Pick The Right PJs(10 of10)
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The softer your sheets and sleepwear, the better, but you needn't invest in silk. "Tightly woven natural fabrics like cotton or cotton flannel are best for patients with sensitive skin or eczema," says Zeichner. Avoid blends of cotton and synthetic fibers, which might be irritating. (credit:Shutterstock)
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