** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

My skin is weird (like me). It’s dry, but some spots can get oily. And when I run my finger across the oily spots, I also see my skin flaking. Even still, I would classify it as dry. (One time, the lady who was threading my eyebrows actually commented on how dry my skin is. Kinda embarrassing.)

In my search of a moisturizer that hydrates without clogging, I decided to give Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Care a try. I like Vichy and am usually fond of their products, but this moisturizer…I‘m not overly enthusiastic about.

Claims: BUSTED

X 24 hours of continuous hydration
√ Refreshing & lightweight cream
X Skin feels supple & comfortable
√ Skin feels soft

Key Notes

• Name: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Care
• Amount: 50ml
• What I Paid: $36 (CAD)
• Price Per Unit: $0.74/ml (CAD)
• Where to Buy: Drugstores

The Review

I really like the consistency of the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream because it goes on very smoothly, and a little bit goes a long way. So the price of $36 isn’t a huge factor in this sense because you don’t need a lot to moisturize your whole face…if it worked better.

I use the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream as a night moisturizer only since it doesn’t contain SPF. (If you want this to be a day cream, make sure to wear sunscreen underneath.) And my skin feels dry in the morning, so I know it doesn’t provide 24 hours of continuous hydration. This isn’t something I have a huge issue with – I always use a moisturizer with SPF before I go out anyway.

What I don’t like about the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Cream Light is how slowly it gets absorbed. I don’t notice it if I go to bed right after I put it on. But some nights, I like to stay up (to write reviews and take photo swatches :P). And I’d notice how sticky my face still feels…half an hour later. The cream doesn’t fully absorb into my skin right away, even when I use a cleanser and a toner beforehand. It’s not tacky to a point where my hair gets stuck on my face or anything, but you can definitely feel it.

I don’t put on a lot, but no matter the amount, I always feel like I have excess moisturizer on my face. It’s not an entirely comfortable feeling. Again, this isn’t something I would notice if I just went to sleep right away. The moisturizer doesn’t stain my pillow or anything. But for a $36 moisturizer, I expect much more. My skin is soft when I wake up in the morning, but not softer than it would be if I used any other moisturizer or facial cream.

Final Verdict: 5/10

This isn’t a completely horrible moisturizer. It’s light, it doesn’t cause me to break out, and the smell is subtle. However, it is slow to absorb, and once absorbed, it doesn’t last very long. I’m sure I can find a facial moisturizer that hydrates my skin just as well, while costing much less.

Pictures:

Have a different opinion? Please share your thoughts!