Liquid Gold

Apparently, oil and water do mix. And the result is liquid gold.

No, it's not some odd kind of alchemy. It's a combination of Argan oil from Morocco and Gamarde les Bains water from Southern France in an age-defying wrinkle-diminishing serum aimed at cellular renewal for dry, irritated and reactive skins.

The intensely nutritive qualities of Argan Oil combined with the thermal spring water come together in this anti-ageing serum, Gamarde Nutrition Intense Serum Argan ($92.00), along with Lavendin, Rosewood and Vitamin E.

Gamarde, a range of Certified Organic French skincare is now available in the New Zealand market for the first time exclusively through the website www.organicandbeautiful.co.nz. New Zealand is the first market outside Europe to have access to Gamarde online, which uses the precious Argan oil in its products.

It felt beautiful on my skin and is lightly lavendar fragranced and has a 'dry' oil, non-greasy touch. The 30ml pump dispenser lets out enough to do your face after cleansing and then the back of your hands.

Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world due to the small and very specific growing area of the Argan tree, in south-west Morocco. It is creating a buzz in the beauty industry due to its reputed anti-ageing properties, which have helped create a global market as a high-value product, and may be the endangered Argan tree’s best hope of conservation. Argan Oil is well documented for its high nutritive, moisturizing and regenerating properties for the body and face as it contains 80% monounsaturated fat with Omega 6 fatty acids and natural vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant.

Gamarde les Bains Water is rich in sulphur and noted by the French Academy of Medicine for its epidermal benefits and has been appreciated as a gentle skin tonic for nearly 500 years. The water is praised for its dermo-protective and anti-free radical properties. It issues from a clear, thermal spring in Gamarde les Bains, in south-west France.

Gamarde is suitable for all skin types, from a baby’s vulnerable new skin to more mature skin. One applies the Nutrition Intense serum in the morning and evening and massage gently into the skin. It has Cosmebio certification and all Gamarde products are free of parabens, genetically modified organisms, synthetic colouring, are never tested on animals, and are 100% natural.