One thing you’ll never hear me complain about is the arrival of another birthday. As someone whose mother died of breast cancer in her 50s, I know the hard way that getting older is a gift. My approach to aging has been to focus on being as healthy as possible on the inside, and assume this effort will show on the outside.
I must admit, however, that this laissez-faire attitude toward aging has translated to an inconsistent skin regimen (with the exception of sunscreen, always). This was fine for a while, but after going through the stress of starting a new job, a big move, and the small matter of a global pandemic, I didn’t love how it was all reflecting back at me in the mirror. I noticed uneven tone, melasma, and a full under-eye situation.
But I didn’t want to turn back the clock as much as to get organized and proactive about taking care of my skin. This led me to Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv, the brand’s most luxurious skin-care range. When the three gold products landed on my desk (one with a claim of an improvement in six signs of aging—intriguing), I vowed to get serious about following a regimen. And so far, the habit has stuck.
After cleansing in the morning and evening, I apply Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Serum, a feather-light formula designed to make skin look radiant and even-toned. Then comes Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Eye Serum, which targets puffiness, dark circles, and crepey texture; it’s applied with the brand’s Sculpted Ceramic Eye Wand, which attaches to the bottle with a tiny magnet—genius. Last is the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Soft Creme Moisturizer, lavishly hydrating, and the newest and most innovative of the line.
The moisturizer’s star ingredient is SIRTIVITY-LP™, a patented technology inspired by Estée Lauder’s skin longevity research (to reinforce its authority, the brand also launched its Skin Longevity platform, created with the hope of empowering consumers to rethink how they approach aging). According to the brand, the breakthrough science “helps reveal visible age reversal and ‘turns on’ a smoother, more vibrantly younger look.” Another key ingredient here is the company’s exclusive Black Diamond Truffle Extract (found in all three products, actually). As a frequent visitor to southern France, this tickled me: Yes, they are delicious shaved onto an omelet, but did you know that, according to in vitro testing by Estée Lauder’s scientists, truffles also have the power to help skin “stimulate its natural energy” and reveal the vitality within? Equipped with this impressive duo, the company maintains, the Soft Creme Moisturizer is clinically proven to improve radiance, dark spots, lines, smoothness, firmness, and post-acne marks starting in just 14 days.
Shop the Re-Nutriv Routine
Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Serum
Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Eye Serum
Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Soft Creme Moisturizer
The whole three-step ritual takes less than 10 minutes. I’ve quickly grown to love this twice-daily self-care moment, and after two weeks my face looks glowier and feels noticeably softer. My skin tone has evened out and brightened up, and the areas under my eyes and above my lips feel smoother and more elastic. That Estée Lauder has historically given more than $100 million dollars to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation—well, this only cements my newfound loyalty further.
I’ve got another birthday coming up soon, and I don’t plan on being anything but grateful. No one ages backward … but if I look a little fresher and younger than I did last year? No complaints.