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.  

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Hydrating Care Moisturizer

I found this to be a great moisturizer for my skin. I tend to have oily skin which is very acne prone. I have to be careful not to use moisturizers that are too rich or creamy. This moisturizer has a light, silky texture. It is more of a lotion than a cream which is perfect for my skin type.

The moisturizer absorbed quickly into my skin and did not leave a greasy or sticky residue. My skin had a matte finish to it and was not shiny at all like some moisturizers. My skin felt soft and smooth after application.  This product is unscented which is great for those sensitive to scents.

This product kept my skin hydrated all day and did not aggravate my oily skin. I did notice that I had three small, red, almost pimple like spots appear on my skin while using this moisturizer. They never developed into anything more and disappeared in a day or so. I can't be sure it was from the moisturizer as they may have developed anyway. Nonetheless, I had no further issues with continued use.

Overall, this is a moisturizer I am happy to recommend and add to my skin care routine. 

I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brightening & Smoothing Moisturizer

I use moisturizer on a daily basis so have used many brands over the years. I must say this Garnier moisturizer is one of my favourites thus far! I like that this product has a pump as it makes application easy. The consistency of the moisturizer is perfect. It is a lotion but it's not too runny. It absorbs quickly and easily into the skin and is non-greasy. It is nicely fragranced with what I would call a green tea scent.

This moisturizer does have an SPF 15 in it which is great if you're like me and wouldn't bother to apply a separate SPF on top of your moisturizer.

Within a few uses of this moisturizer I noticed how soft and smooth my skin was becoming. It made for an excellent base on which to put my foundation. I have noticed just a slight increase in the radiance and brightness in my skin. Hopefully with continued use I will see more of this benefit.

I do have oily and very acne prone skin and this moisturizer did not make my skin any oilier than usual nor did it cause any increase in breakouts. This is a moisturizer I would happily switch to and recommend to others. I do find the price high for a drug store moisturizer and thus would only purchase it if it were on sale.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor to facilitate this review.

Lise Watier HydraForce Hydra-Protective Comforting Creme Review #Getinthebubble

I was selected by GlamSense to test the Lise Watier Hydraforce moisturizer.  I received the normal to dry skin formula.  It retails for approximately $45 Canadian.

Skin Care Claims
According to the Lise Watier website the product claims to leave skin fortified and protected, soft, smooth and radiant. The formula's effectiveness is due to the power of the Gaspé Algae Extract.  This extract guarantees that the skin is left hydrated.

It also claims that instrumental measurements prove the skin is 3x more hydrated.  Furthermore, 100% of women confirm that skin is more hydrated, soft and protected against outdoor aggressions. (Source: https://hydraforce.lisewatier.com/en/)

The moisturizer is packaged in a 45ml jar.  I would prefer if this product was in a tube as it would make application easier and cleaner.  

The product is a creamy consistency.  To me it has a pleasant floral scent but it is not overpowering at all.  The cream absorbs fairly quickly and I find a little bit goes a long way.  If you use too much it will take too long to absorb and leave a bit of a sticky residue.

Along with the moisturizer was a device called a hydration tool that connects to your smart device.  You can then download for free the Hydra-Detect app.  The hydration tool measures how hydrated your skin is.  Pretty neat!

You place the hydration tool on whatever area of skin you want to test.  You can choose to test you hand, t-zone or cheek.  I chose to test my cheek as that is where I would be using the moisturizer most.

Initial Results

    

                   

           Before                                                                              After

I washed my face first thing in the morning and then tested the moisture level.  It was 30.4% which is a little dry.  I then applied the HydraForce moisturizer to my face and retested.  This time I got a result of 44.4%.  So the moisturizer really did hydrate my skin to an appropriate level.

Results after 14 days

              Before                                                                         After

After 14 days of using the moisturizer I wanted to see if my skin was more hydrated even before applying the moisturizer.  I tested my cheek again before putting on the moisturizer and got a result of 39.8% which is higher than the initial reading of 30.4%.  So my hydration levels went up even without having the moisturizer on.

After applying the moisturizer, I got a result of 47.9% which is higher than the initial result of 44.4%.  So the results prove that this moisturizer really hydrates and more so with continued use.

Final Thoughts
I really liked this moisturizer more than I thought I would.  I consider myself to have oily skin but the initial results showed my skin was a little dry.  So I guess even oily skin needs moisturizer.

I also have really acne prone skin and I'm pleased to say that during the two weeks of testing this product that I didn't get one breakout!  My skin was incredibly soft and smooth to the touch and looked more radiant.  Overall, this is a great moisturizer and I'm so pleased with the results I got.


Is Your Skin Hydrated?
If you want to see if your skin is well hyrated you can attend one of the events being held across Canada.  For more information and to find a location near you, visit the Hydraforce Lise Watier website.


I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer

I received a sample of the Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer to review.  I received a 15ml sample size which is a new size that will be available in stores in February 2016. 

The moisturizer easily dispenses from the pump which allows for an easy and clean application.  The product is more of a cream consistency and is lightly fragranced.  

This moisturizer claims to fight seven signs of aging:

1. Visibly smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
2. Evens skin tone appearance
3. Enhances brightness
4. Minimizes the look of pores
5. Visibly reduces age spots
6. Restores firmness
7. Replenishes moisture

After having used this product for 2 weeks I can honestly say I did not see all of the above results.  I did find that the moisturizer evened out my skin tone.  My skin tone was less red than usual and more uniform.  I also found the moisturizer did replenish moisture and left my skin nicely hydrated.  

As for the other benefits, I did not see any results.  I have very fine lines around my eyes but saw no change.  My skin still seemed to have a dull appearance.  I have large pores in the cheek area close to my nose but didn't find they were minimized with the use of this product.  I didn't notice any change in the firmness of my skin.  I actually don't have age spots yet so I can't really comment on that aspect.

Perhaps with continued use of this product I would see more of the claimed benefits.

I do suffer from oily, acne prone skin.  I'm happy to report that my skin did not get any oilier than usual but I did develop a few pimples while using this product.  Maybe it was too rich for my skin or maybe I was going to get those pimples regardless of what I used.

My final opinion on this product is that it is an excellent moisturizer but not a good anti-aging moisturizer.  I would recommend it as a good every day moisturizer but would skip it for its anti-aging benefits.

I received a free sample size of this product from BzzAgent to facilitate this review.