It’s common knowledge that stress, fatigue, pollution and other environmental factors all take a toll on skin, causing unsightly wrinkles and blemishes. What’s less clear is how to repair skin and prevent further damage. Members of Generation X – people between the ages of 35 and 55 – are at a unique stage where it’s most crucial to protect and care for one’s skin. After the age of 30, the skin loses moisture and produces less and less collagen with each passing year.

Fortunately, skincare products are becoming more and more scientifically advanced. Take Helena Rubinstein’s new Powercell range for example. This skincare solution is said to mitigate the effects of stress and fatigue by using Oceanic Crista, a perennial plant that is known for its ability to thrive in harsh environments. The plant produces a number of amino acids, soluble sugars, polyols and compound lipids – all of which are great for skin.

Fittingly, skincare brand La Mer (French for “the sea”) has also drawn inspiration from the ocean’s restorative powers. La Mer’s newest product, named simply The Concentrate, isn’t giving away its secret – it’s loaded with the brand’s proprietary “Miracle Broth” – but known ingredients include lime tea and marine plant extracts that help to revitalise and repair skin.

In a similar vein, Guerlain has tapped into the skin-rejuvenating properties of algae. Using a combination of black algae and golden algae extracts, the brand’s Le Soin Noir Léger cream (first released in 2008) has been revamped and improved for 2017. Ideal for Hong Kong’s humid climate, the cream is remarkable in that it fades from a pearlescent black hue to a completely transparent colour when blended into the skin.

Also topping the list of Gafencu’s skincare recommendations is Elizabeth Arden’s new Daily Youth Restoring Serum. These single-use, easy-to-squeeze capsules contain one of the brand’s signature ingredients: ceramides, which work to replenish the skin’s naturally-produced lipids. Boasting an improved formula, the advanced ceramide capsules are now even more effective at leaving skin feeling moisturised every morning.