I’d been wanting to tell you about this hydrating serum for a while now, but it kept getting shelved for one reason or another or was pushed aside for one obligation or another but no longer! I’m usually very picky about pharmacy brand serums – very few ever make the cut for me. But this one does.
Its the Vichy Aqualia Thermal hydrating serum or to give it its full name Vichy Aqualia Thermal Fortifying & Soothing Serum 24hr Hydrating Concentrate *whew* I’d had it for a while stuck in a corner, but I took to it when I noticed that I was running out of my Estee Lauder Hydratrionist serum really fast and I needed a backup.
What it is, is a hydrating serum so it goes on after cleansing and toner (if you use it) and before moisturizer. I use it in the day and sometimes at night too. And its earned itself a semi-permanent place on my dresser. Nothing’s permanent you see, since I’m fickle so semi-permanent is about as good as it gets!
The serum comes in a glass bottle and the texture is rather viscous and an opaque texture. Its not sticky though. One pump is enough for me and it sinks into my skin very quickly, leaving it feeling plumped up quite nicely. It contains silicone but I don’t get a silicone feel to it.
I do have a gripe with the bottle being a little too opaque for my liking. I would prefer if it was transparent so I can see how much is left. Or rather, when I should replenish because I like to take advantage of sales y’know. As I’ve noted, its not sticky, it keeps my skin feeling hydrated all day under my regular moisturizer, and its good stuff.
I will have to emphasize one point – this product is not a moisturizer by itself. If you apply it and feel its sufficient for you, then good. But its not meant to be used alone. It should be used together with a moisturizer. I have been using this with a hydrating moisturizer like the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free gel cream in the day and these two make a potent combination. Foundation slips on like a silk coverlet on the skin. Lovely! Its a little pricey for something from the pharmacy though but it sometimes goes on sale or comes in a value price set so its worth looking out for it then.
In a nutshell
A hydrating serum that helps boost hydration and moisture levels in the skin. To be used together with moisturiser, not in place of moisturiser. It absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving it feeling sticky. A pump is quite sufficient for most people and a bottle can last quite a while.
Pros: Good sturdy packaging, Serum is light and absorbs quickly into the skin, Helps my skin feel and stay hydrated all day
Cons: Pricey
I was going to call this a budget alternative to the Estee Lauder Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier which functions on the same principle. However, at RM130/30ml vs RM210/50ml I realized that there was hardly any difference in price. The difference is only when you get this one on sale or in a value pack.
So, are they alternatives? For me yes. I am happy to use and suggest either product. If you don’t want to fork out a lot of money for the Estee Lauder one, this Vichy Aqualia Thermal serum does the job just as well. Granted, 30ml doesn’t seem like much, but used day and night, I think you should be able to keep it going for at least 2 to 2.5 months. If you use it just in the day as I do, then you can expect it to last up to 4. For a smaller capital outlay I think its fair 🙂
Ingredients: AQUA/WATER • GLYCERIN • DIMETHICONE • SERINE • ALCOHOL DENAT. • PROPYLENE GLYCOL • PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL • GLYCERYL ACRYLATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER • DIMETHICONOL • SODIUM HYALURONATE • AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • CITRIC ACID • BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1 • PARFUM/FRAGRANCE
Have you used this product before? I just looked at the ingredient list and I realize that based on previous reader interactions in the comment box, things like alcohol denat, dimethicone and sodium hyaluronate send up red flags for quite a few of you, so TAKE NOTE! 😀 It does however not bother my skin and since it does what it says its meant to do, I’m happy to stay with it… semi-permanently of course 😉
Paris B
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Fortifying & Soothing Serum 24hr Hydrating Concentrate retails at RM130/30ml at all Vichy counters in most leading pharmacies
rinnah says
July 28, 2011 at 9:10 amI just started using Hydrationist this week and my skin absolutely loves it! 🙂 This will go on the KIV list for when I run out since it could be a pharmacy end alternative…
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:34 amYay! Glad to know your skin likes Hydrationist 😀 If you measure price/ml they actually work out the same or about the same you know 😉
Jeen says
July 28, 2011 at 9:15 amHey Paris
I’m not sure if anyone has told you yet but the latest posts are not showing up if you access the site through https://www.mywomenstuff.com. They only come up through the feedburner.
The most recent post if I go through https://www.mywomenstuff.com is the tsuya tsuya review.
Just a heads up. Keep up the excellent work 🙂
Christyn says
July 28, 2011 at 9:54 amhi Jeen,
it works fine for me as the latest posts (as of now, it is this Aqualia serum review) are showing as usual on https://www.mywomenstuff.com.
maybe it’s just a problem on your side?
xin says
July 28, 2011 at 9:22 ameh? have never seen it at the pharmacies before, or maybe i just haven’t paid enough attention 😛
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:34 amLOL! Look under Vichy’s product range. It should be there with the rest of the Aqualia Thermal range.
Lily says
July 28, 2011 at 11:27 amI was getting a little excited and then I saw the ingredients. Alcohol =( Oh well, I’ll just stick to my Shiseido’s White Lucent serum. I just started on Estee Lauder’s Advance Night repair as an extra boost for night time and I’m loving it. Both these serums are totally awesome! Haven’t tried the Hydrationist though. I will once I run out of Shiseido’s 🙂
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:35 amHydrationist is different from the Shiseido White Lucent serum though. I believe the latter has whitening properties. Hydrationist is strictly for hydrating only 🙂
prissy says
July 28, 2011 at 12:08 pmI like the texture, it absorbs quickly in my skin, not sticky at all and feel good….It is 24hr hydrating, so i apply once a day mostly at night, especially if you sleep in a air cond room……
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:35 amYay another fan! 🙂 I don’t know if it actually works for 24 hours but I like how it keeps my skin hydrated all day long especially under makeup and in an air-conditioned office!
Dee says
July 28, 2011 at 12:35 pmThis looks good! Thanks for sharing! Have not tried it yet though..
Was using Dr Wu Intensive Hydrating Gel with Hyaluronic Acid (bought in TW) as a night cream.
It’s too pricey in SG so I bought the Vichy Gel-cream (can’t recall the exact name, but not Aqua-Gel) from this Aqualia Thermal series. Working well for me too 🙂
Maybe I should get the serum to UP the “oomph”! 😛
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:39 amLOL Perhaps if there’s a sale on, you could take a look at this serum. I find that using it with a gel cream does up the oomph factor 🙂 I hope it works for you because sometimes, things like this don’t work for everyone 🙂
Dee says
August 1, 2011 at 12:48 pmHaha oh dear, silly me. Indeed it IS the Aqua-Gel that i’m currently using. *blush*
Went to check out the serum at Watsons and it’s pricey too.. with no discount at the moment LOL. Am debating whether to go for an anti-aging serum or hydrating serum. hmmm….!
Rainy Days & Lattes says
July 28, 2011 at 1:07 pmGreat review 🙂 I don’t like that it is too opaque too… I need to know when I’m running out =p
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:39 amThanks! And yes, I hold it up to the light to estimate how much I have left… and constantly surprise myself at how much is left!
alene says
July 28, 2011 at 3:20 pmhaha thanks Paris for the heads up! i less than 3 u! anyway my face is now happily accepting SHA! i use it everyday now. but it used to accept alcohol but now it doesnt….fair exchange i guess. =P
this does look good tho, i’ve been searching everywhere for a good hydrating serum. but sigh.
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:40 amYou have very strange skin Alene 😛 But i’m glad to know hyaluronic acid no longer breaks you out – would be a pity since there are so many products with hyaluronic acid in it these days! Its like the catch word of the day 😛 Pity about the alcohol. Maybe the next time your skin renews itself, it’ll accept that too 😉
Jamilla Camel says
July 28, 2011 at 5:32 pmI love using these sprays in hot weather – they are so refreshing!
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:41 amI gotta agree. Vichy thermal sprays work very well for me in the heat too 🙂
natalie says
July 28, 2011 at 5:40 pmdid a lil calculation, seems like RM210 for 50ml for hydrationist is slightly cheaper than this. lol
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:41 amYup. Hence my note that this is not a budget alternative. It just offers an option for those who don’t want a big capital outlay unless of course you pick it up on discount. Then, the price difference will be there 🙂
S says
July 29, 2011 at 12:52 amI have this serum too and boy does it work wonders! =) Yay for Vichy!! It’s a shame it’s so pricey in M’sia though!
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:42 amYay! Yes its a pity about the price but that’s what sales and value sets are for! 😀
Shay says
July 29, 2011 at 7:36 amI am almost done with my estee lauder hydrationist barrier fortifier (got it based on your review!) but got a khiel’s anti aging serum instead. I’ll try this next coz u made it sounds so good.
Btw, can you do a post on your skincare routine?
ParisB says
July 29, 2011 at 10:43 amOoh which Kiehl’s serum did you get? 🙂 I’ll do up a post on the stuff I use soon. Keep meaning to coz I keep getting asked LOL!
Shay says
July 29, 2011 at 9:48 pmI got the acai something one. Btw! I used half a bottle of this hada labo whitening essence for damage control on the Italian sun last year to no avail. BUT after using the khiel’s midnight recovery concentrate (also saw on your blog!) together with the essence underneath, I got boosted results almost immediately. I got back my pre-italy skin tone before finishing the last qtr of the bottle. Very pleased with the results and many nights of good quality sleep!
ParisB says
July 31, 2011 at 3:09 pmOh the Acai serum. I didn’t try that one – wasn’t too taken in by the toner mist. Am glad to know the MRC helped your skin! I love it with everything 😀
Simonne says
October 2, 2011 at 11:10 pmHehe I bought this today with a cleanser free gifts
Thanks for reviewing this product. Initially wanna get the EL but could not find them at EL US website