You may have heard about the trend of gold in skincare and wondered what all the hype is about. Aside from looking great on your top shelf, products formulated with flecks of gold are good for your complexion. For starters, gold is a potent antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory so it works to soothe and protect the skin. It’s also instantly brightening—due to those glittering gold flakes. Yep, those karats are not just for your wrist—gold in skincare is here to stay. 

To find out exactly what gold can do for your skin, we road tested Australian skincare brand esmi Skin Minerals’s 24K Gold Nourishing Oil, which is imbued with… you guessed it… 24 karat gold. All esmi products are made right here in Australia and are vegan and cruelty free. You can see why this gilded facial oil would be part of esmi’s ‘Skin Treat’ range—it really is a treat for your skin.  

Here’s the lowdown…

A facial oil enriched with 24 karat gold leaf flakes, which promises a visibly firmer, more youthful complexion. Esmi says it “boosts skin elasticity, stimulates collagen production and improves blood circulation.”

$65 for 30ml.

To be honest, I was intrigued by the idea of using a facial oil with gold literally floating in it and what that would feel like on my skin. The first thing I noticed about esmi’s 24K Gold Nourishing Oil was how small the flecks of gold leaf are—I was expecting large pieces of gold foil and was pleasantly surprised to see they were flecks dotted throughout the oil. The oil comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a dropper, and when I applied the recommended 2-3 drops of oil to the palm of my hand, I could visibly see the gold leaf pieces. 

Once I massaged the oil into my face (after a good cleanse), the gold flecks were fully absorbed into the skin and disappeared before my eyes. I was left with glowing skin which felt super hydrated but without the greasy touch I’ve experienced using other facial oils. 

It also smelt amazing—in addition to the gold flakes, this oil is formulated with coconut, jojoba and avocado oils, as well as rosehip oil. Calming ylang ylang and geranium round out the ingredients, and while the scent isn’t too heavy it does smell super luxurious. 

The first night I trialled the oil I kept my routine very pared-back and that was all I applied. The next morning my skin felt incredibly soft to the touch and any roughness from dry spots on my forehead were gone. 

After trialling the product for 7 days, I noticed my skin looking plumper than it did previously. Overtime, the oil promises to boost collagen levels and improve skin elasticity, which are results I am definitely excited to see. 

I also enjoyed the simplicity of applying only the 24K Gold Nourishing Oil at night and still seeing great results. On alternate nights, I tried layering esmi’s Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum underneath, for when I really wanted extra hydration, and found pairing those two really beneficial. If you’re looking for the best products to use with the Nourishing Oil for your skin type, esmi has a team of Skin Service Specialists available through its website for a free (and instant!) skin consultation. You can ask the experts all of your skin questions and they’ll recommend the best products for your skin type. 

While I’m not big on oil during the day, I did trial the 24K Gold Nourishing Oil underneath my makeup and was pleasantly surprised at how it sat. This is only for those who love super dewy and quenched skin, because you obviously end up with a serious glow doing this! 

I absolutely love using this oil at night and plan to continue it in my routine a few nights a week—like its name suggests, my skin feels beautifully nourished and those long-term results from the gold flecks felt like a total bonus. 

Treat yourself. 

You can shop esmi’s 24K Gold Nourishing Oil here. Use code GPGIFT for a FREE mini skin treat of your choice when you spend over $60 *cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. Valid until 10 October, 2021.