What is it?
A hydrating serum.
Who is it for?
A serum for 'women with sensitive skin looking for deep and lasting hydration'. (Dear Vichy, Seems a tad sexist no? What about the boys?)
What’s in it?
aqua • glycerin •dimethicone • peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin • peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil • dimethiconol • sodium hyaluronate • phenoxyethanol • chondrus crispus (carrageenan) • ammonium polyacryldimethyltauramide • poloxamer 338 • disodium edta • caprylyl glycol • citric acid • biosaccharide gum-1 • acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer • parfum /fragrance
Ingredients listed on website?
Not one of the retailers that sell this in the UK lists the ingredients. Not Boots, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, Escentual or Vichy's own website. They are not even listed on L'Oreal's fancy new Derma Center store, it just says 'main ingredients'. What a wasted opportunity. I had to track them down via the USA. Were it not a much-requested review I seriously would not have bothered.
Personally, I don't think I'm being over the top to ask a retailer to take responsibility and LIST THE INGREDIENTS. We want to give you our money, we would like to know what is in the bloody thing.
Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients? glycols, fragrance
Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan? man-made
Tested on animals during production/sells in markets that require animal testing i.e. China? No/Yes
What's not in it?
parabens, mineral oil
How do you use it?
Apply onto dry fingertips, spread onto fingertips of the other hand, apply directly to skin.
Where to use in your routine?
Serum, post-toning, pre-moisturiser.
What’s good about it?
This gives immediate relief for a dry, dehydrated skin, It's 'wet', which sounds strange but basically means it's a water formula, whereas Hydraluron for example, is a gel texture. I would still use this the same way, under a moisturiser.
It won't be enough if you're dry, you'd still have to use a good oil-based moisturiser on top, but if dehydration is your main concern, and with the price point, I would definitely recommend that you check this out.
Sali Hughes is obsessed and synonymous with it.
What’s not so good about it?
This serum should not work. But it does. It contains glycols, silicones and fragrance. I don't mind them, but it's the kind of product that would give Beautypedia a hernia. Therein lies the mantra of one size most definitely does not fit all. If you don't like those ingredients, avoid. If you're dehydrated, and of the thinking 'whatever works', go for it.
Similar products?
Hydraluron
Hyalamide
Hydraquench - Clarins
(are we seeing a pattern here) :)
Exchange rate – does it punish the UK?
Not really. We're close enough to France. I imagine the Americans and the Australians are screwed though.
Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Serum is available in a lot of retailers in the UK priced anything from £17.00 - £22.00.
However, none of them list their ingredients so they can jog on for a link.
Step forward vichyusa.com.
