Vichy Aqualia Thermal UV Defense Moisturizing Cream

This facial moisturizer uses Vichy's mineralizing thermal water which is rich in 15 minerals and helps to strengthen the skin's barrier to protect it from daily aggressors causing dry skin.  This formula is fortified with Vitamins E and B3 and boosts 48 hours hydration.  It is marketed as having an oil-free lightweight texture that is suitable for all skin types.  Also, it has broad spectrum UVA + UVB sun protection.

My Thoughts

I use moisturizer on a daily basis and have used many brands over the years.  This Vichy moisturizer rates in my favourites!  I loved the pump dispenser which is a much cleaner and more sanitary way of dispensing the product.  I found the moisturizer to be free of fragrance so it was not irritating at all in that regard.

The texture of the moisturizer was perfect--not too runny and not too thick.  I would describe it as a lightweight cream.  It absorbed very quickly into my skin and left no sticky or tacky residue.  My skin felt soft and supple after application and made the perfect base to apply my foundation.  I also loved that this product had an SPF 30 in it so I am protected from the damaging rays of the sun.

I used this moisturizer daily in the morning and found that it hydrated my skin all day long.  I do have oily, acne prone skin and this product did not aggravate these pre-existing skin issues.  My skin was not extra oily and it did not cause breakouts.

Overall, I am so pleased with this moisturizer.  It was a joy to use!  I would highly recommend this product to others, especially those with my oily, acne prone skin type as it worked beautifully.  I'm happy to incorporate this into my daily routine. 

I received this product free of charge for review purposes compliments of Topbox.  

Vichy Normaderm Routine for Acne Prone Skin

I was sent these Vichy Normaderm products to test on my acne prone skin.  Acne has been something I have battled for over 25 years!  I thought as I got older it would significantly improve.  I have tried everything from over the counter treatments to prescription pills and creams.  I even gave Proactiv a try with no effect.  While my acne has become more manageable, I still suffer from pesky breakouts.  I was happy to give these products a whirl, because why not, it can't hurt after all the products I've tried over the years!

Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel

This cleansing gel contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid and LHA. Together these ingredients work to remove excess oil on the skin, minimize the look of large pores, reduce acne scars and fight pimples and blackheads.

My Thoughts
I have used many anti acne cleansers over the years. This Vichy Normaderm cleanser rates up near the top of my favourite cleansers. The scent was fresh and clean. It lathers well which is an absolute must for me in a cleanser. The texture was perfect--not too runny and not too thick. I appreciated the pump dispenser as it made for a quick and easy way to dispense the product. I used this product in the morning. My skin is quite oily after waking up in the morning and this cleanser cut right through the oil to leave me with normal feeling skin. I noticed that after using this cleanser my skin feel soft and smooth. 


Normaderm Purifying Pore Tightening Lotion

This product contains the same active ingredients as the cleanser: salicylic acid, glycolic acid and LHA.  This product is like a toner that is applied to the skin after cleansing and is not rinsed off.  This toner mattifies the skin leaving it shine free, tightens pores, and fights breakouts with its antibacterial action.

My Thoughts
I always use some sort of toner/astringent after cleansing my face. I used this product after cleansing with the Vichy Normaderm cleanser. The product easily dispenses onto a cotton ball. To me this toner has a floral scent which is very pleasant considering the medicinal ingredients in it. I have found that while using this toner my pores look smaller than usual. I am very pleased about that!  I also find that it makes my skin look matte and keeps the oily shine away. My skin also feels softer and smoother. I'm pleased with the positive effects I have seen from this toner.


Normaderm Corrective Anti Acne Treatment

This product is a moisturizer but oh so much more than just a moisturizer.  It contains salicyclic acid + LHA to unclog pores and eliminate acne causing bacteria.  It also has Phe Resorcinol which helps to reduce the appearance of acne scars.  Finally it has Air Licium which helps to reduce oil production and minimize large pores.  

My Thoughts
I loved the pump dispenser as it makes it easy to pump out just the right amount of product.  It is also a more sterile way of dispensing the product as my fingers won't contaminate the product as it would in a jar.  The lotion has a fresh clean scent to it.  The texture is perfect--not too runny or too thick.  I used this lotion as the final step in my routine, after the cleanser and toner.  I found that the lotion takes a little extra time to absorb into my skin compared to other moisturizers.  It definitely does tighten my pores and make my skin look matte.  I do tend to get shiny skin within a couple of hours of washing my face and this lotion kept my skin matte a little longer than usual.  I also found that while applying my foundation with a brush, there was a little drag after I had used this lotion.  My brush didn't glide over my skin as smoothly as it usually does.  This is not a big issue and I have gotten use to it.  I do have multiple acne scars and some new scars from recent breakouts.  With this lotion I found that the new scars were less intense in colour but it had no effect on the older scars.   

Overall, I am happy to add this trio of products to my acne fighting routine.  While I continued to develop pimples while using these products, the pimples were smaller than usual and healed up much more quickly.  They were also less likely to leave a scar.  I am so happy with the results that I have swapped out the products I was using for these Vichy Normaderm products.

Do you suffer from acne?  Have you tried the Normaderm line of products from Vichy?




I received these products free of charge for review purposes.  #trywithtopbox  #freesample #freeproduct

Vichy Idealia Life Serum Review

I have been using the Vichy Idealia Life Serum for a week now. Initially when I saw this product labelled as a "serum" I wasn't impressed as I was expecting a clear, oily like product that I thought would exacerbate my acne prone skin.

This product however was nothing like I expected. It was white with a lotion like consistency. It absorbed quickly into the skin and did not leave a sticky or oily residue. My skin tolerated this lotion very well as it didn't aggravate my acne prone skin or make my skin any oilier than usual. 

The lotion is fragranced and reminds me of a green tea scent. It is pleasant and not overpowering. 

I was using this serum daily after cleansing my face. I found that the product moisturized so well that I didn't need to apply a separate moisturizer. In fact I had been dealing with some dry patches on my skin due to the harsh acne products I use and found that the dry patches were well taken care of with this product.

I have noticed that my skin is softer and smoother with daily use but haven't yet noticed any further improvements to my skin at this point. Perhaps with continued use that will change.

Overall, I really liked this product but cannot justify the price tag for the softer, smoother and moisturized skin that I saw. This product retails for $59 for a 30 ml pump bottle.  I feel there are other products on the market with a lower price tag that would be just as effective. However, I would recommend this product to anyone to try as it really is a lovely product.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor for review purposes.

Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep Review

I have been using the Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep for a week now. This product comes in what looks like a high-end container. It is a dusty rose colour with a silver lid. The top of the lid is a mirror which is kind of neat!

The product itself is a pink colour and is fragranced. The fragrance reminds me of the scent of a green tea perfume. The scent is pleasant but not overpowering. The consistency of this product is a cross between a gel and a cream.

I found that the product does not absorb immediately into the skin and leaves a somewhat sticky residue on the skin. Since I applied this product in the evening before bed, I didn't mind this feeling on my skin. I also applied this product immediately after cleansing my skin which did cause a bit of a tingly sensation.

I have oily, acne prone skin and while my skin felt oilier to the touch with use of this product (mainly in the evening), it didn't cause an increase in breakouts.

After sleeping with this product on my face, in the morning I found that my skin looked refreshed, hydrated and plumper. I have some pitted acne scars and they didn't look as harsh. My skin also felt soft and smooth. Even if I didn't get a good night's rest, my skin looked rested and revived. I would say the results were noticeable but not overly dramatic.

This product is pricey at $52 for 50 ml.  

Overall, I do like this product for the results I saw and would recommend it to others to try.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor for review purposes.

Vichy ProEVEN Advanced Daily Dark Spot Corrector

I have been testing the Vichy ProEVEN Advanced Daily Dark Spot Corrector for over a week. I've had a positive experience with this product thus far. The product comes in a tube which is convenient and easy to use. The product is a white opaque lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin and is non-greasy. I have oily and acne prone skin and this product did not increase the oiliness of my skin nor did it cause a break out.

The product is highly fragranced and while I quite liked the scent, others who are sensitive to scent may not appreciate this aspect. I would describe the fragrance as a perfume like smell.

I used this product twice a day in place of my regular moisturizer. It mositurized well and I had no need for an additional moisturizer. I found that this product helped to brighten my skin in a few uses and made my skin feel really soft and smooth. I noticed my make-up went on much easier due to the smoothness of my skin.

My skin tone seems to be evening out as well and it looks more uniform in tone and texture. As for a dark spot corrector I haven't seen any significant improvement in my dark spots. I have multiple acne scars on my face and those scars that have been there for years are not disappearing. I do have some newer acne scars that are a few weeks old and I did notice that one scar has been shrinking in size and getting lighter. Whether that is due to the passage of time or use of this product, I'm not sure.

Overall, I would recommend this product for the improvement in skin tone, texture and brightness but for dark spot lightening I don't see this as being effective yet. Perhaps with more time I will see some improvements.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor for review purposes.