Environ Skincare · Vitamin A Skincare
Vitamin A is the Skin's Oxygen — And Environ Delivers It
South African plastic surgeon Dr. Des Fernandes had a radical idea: that virtually everyone is chronically deficient in the one ingredient skin needs most. That idea became Environ Skincare, and the skincare world has never looked back.
In the 1980s, Dr. Des Fernandes began observing something consistent in his surgical patients: skin exposed to sunlight was measurably, repeatedly depleted of vitamin A. Every time ultraviolet rays strike the skin, they destroy the vitamin A stored there, yet most people were applying next to none back. This discovery led him to formulate the first vitamin A-based skincare system designed not to strip the skin, but to replenish, protect, and systematically strengthen it from within.
Today, Environ Skincare, available at Paul Labrecque Salon & Skincare Spa, is used in professional skin clinics and by discerning skincare enthusiasts worldwide. The AVST moisturiser range forms the backbone of one of the most scientifically rigorous at-home systems available anywhere.
The Step-Up System: Patience, Rewarded
What makes Environ uniquely credible is its commitment to gradual vitamin A introduction. Rather than plunging the skin into high-potency retinol which risks irritation, redness, and barrier disruption, Environ's Vitamin STEP-UP SYSTEM™ begins with a low concentration and increases it methodically over months. The analogy the brand uses is apt: this is strength training for your skin. Progressive, intelligent, and sustainable.
"Vitamin A is to your skin what oxygen is to your body. You cannot bank it. You must replenish it daily — and Environ is the system designed to do exactly that."
The system starts with AVST Moisturiser 1, which contains the lowest concentration of vitamin A in the form of Retinyl Palmitate. Once your skin adjusts, typically after two to three bottles, you step up to AVST 2, then 3, 4, and finally 5. Each level builds on the last, targeting concerns such as dullness, pigmentation, dehydration, and the visible signs of ageing.
The AVST Range: Know Your Level
Starting Point
AVST Moisturiser 1
The gentle entry point into the Environ system. Low-concentration vitamin A begins normalising skin, improving fine lines, and evening tone within weeks of consistent twice-daily use.
Retinyl Palmitate · Vitamins C & E Shop AVST 1Mid Level
AVST Moisturiser 3
Moderately high levels of vitamin A with added peptides — targeting uneven tone, deeper fine lines, and sun damage with visible, cumulative improvement.
Vitamin A · Peptide Complex · Botanicals Shop AVST 3Advanced Level
AVST Moisturiser 5
The final and highest-concentration step. The most potent AVST formula reduces fine lines, smooths texture, and promotes a radiant, healthy-looking glow for long-term use.
Highest Vitamin A · Antioxidants · Peptides Shop AVST 5If you have oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, the AVST Gel is an excellent alternative to the cream-based moisturisers. It delivers the same vitamin A benefits in a lightweight, water-based formula that absorbs quickly and feels comfortable even in warmer months.
Why Vitamin A is Non-Negotiable for Your Skin
Vitamin A is the most extensively and consistently studied skincare ingredient in existence. Its benefits are extraordinary in both breadth and depth. At the cellular level, it communicates directly with skin cell receptors, normalising how they behave: speeding up cell turnover, stimulating collagen production, regulating oil gland size, and evening out pigmentation from within.
According to Dr. Fernandes and the Environ philosophy, skin not receiving daily vitamin A is essentially operating in a state of deficiency and the effects of that deficiency are exactly what we associate with aged, sun-damaged, and problematic skin. The AVST system is not a treatment; it is daily nourishment.
Ingredients That Drive the Results
How to Begin Your Environ Journey
Consult first. The skincare specialists at Paul Labrecque offer personalised guidance to identify your correct starting point. Sensitive or reactive skin typically begins with the AVST Gel; most others start at AVST 1.
Cleanse and tone first. Apply your Environ moisturiser after pre-cleansing, cleansing, and toning. The prepared skin surface maximises vitamin A absorption in every application.
Twice daily, every day. Morning and evening application is essential. Vitamin A is depleted daily by UV exposure, replenishment only works when it is consistent and uninterrupted.
Step up when your bottle finishes. Move to the next level when you complete your current one but not before. If your skin shows any redness or irritation, stay at your current level for another full bottle.
Always finish with RAD Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. Vitamin A increases photosensitivity. Broad-spectrum sun protection every morning is non-negotiable when using any Environ product.
Pro Tips from the Paul Labrecque Skincare Team
- Do not rush the step-up. The system's effectiveness depends on your skin building genuine tolerance, not being pushed through levels too quickly. Two to three bottles per level is the guidance for a reason.
- Pair with the Environ toner. The Botanical Infused Moisturising Toner prepares the skin's pH and surface before moisturiser, measurably improving vitamin A absorption.
- Add the C-Quence Serum once you are established at AVST 3 or above. The combination of serum vitamins A, C, and E with AVST dramatically amplifies anti-ageing results.
- Photograph your skin every four weeks. Environ results are cumulative and gradual, side-by-side comparison photos are often the clearest way to see the transformation happening.
- Buy from an authorised stockist. Environ is formulated for freshness and potency. Purchasing from Paul Labrecque guarantees authentic product with valid expiration dates and proper cold-chain storage.
What Consistent Use Delivers Over Time
Environ clients who have followed the step-up system for twelve months or more describe a consistent set of improvements that go beyond surface appearance: skin that feels structurally stronger and more resilient, recovers more quickly from sun exposure and environmental stress, holds moisture more effectively through changing seasons, and simply looks younger not altered, but genuinely healthier.
Independent skin analysis on long-term users of high-dose vitamin A systems consistently confirms measurable increases in dermal density and collagen density. This is the promise of evidence-based skincare: not a miracle, but a method, one that works precisely because it respects the biology of your skin and gives it what it was always designed to need.
