The moment I read the lovely Janine's review on Beauty Geek, I knew I had to have it. The need drove me to search in 3, yes THREE stores before finally snapping up the last bottle in a Guardian pharmacy located in Kelana Jaya LRT Station!It would seem most Malaysian girls suffer from oily skin. *sighs*
That was just over a month ago, and I feel ready now to post my review!
Claims
Vichy, is very much like another French skincare line named Avene. Both claim to be gentle and filled with healing spa thermal waters that will miraculously do only good things to your skin. Yes I am a trifle skeptical.
Vichy is under the L'Oreal group, and the site doesn't mention if they test on animals or not. Petra, any insights on this?
Now onto this moisturiser. It not only claims to hydrate while still providing a matte surface, it also claims to go to the root of the problem causing oily skin, and fixing it. Using made-up words like "Zincadone" and "Intrapore Technology" the bottle assures you that "after 4 weeks, skin is visibly transformed, pores and tightened and imperfections reduced". Big promises, huh?
So, does it do what it says?
The quick answer is, YES! Although not as dramatically as they lavishly claim. I found that my skin is noticeably less oily during the day (or morning anyway) with this product than without. On the occasions that I forgot to put it on I was greasing up, through my primer, and powders, a lot faster than when I did use this product.
As the effects have been so gradual, I'm hesitant to assert that it has reduced my skin's oiliness overall. But I do know that it has hydrated my skin continually and this has helped it calm down, and possibly be less oily. It really is hard to tell. I broke out badly recently due to a combination of hormones and Mac's Concealer *glares at the tube I will now never shift* And I do believe that this moisturiser helped clear things up faster, and aided skin healing.
I will say though that this moisturiser is a joy to use every morning. It's delightfully fresh, feels cool when applied, smells green and lovely, and sinks in rapidly leaving skin comfortably matte. It has never broken me out, and I think it does work to help clear and prevent breakouts. Unless of course you slap on a product that does the exact opposite (do I sound bitter?).
Verdict
Price-wise at RM99 it IS expensive for a drugstore product. But I don't even use a full pump in the mornings so I have a feeling it will last me a long time as a little goes a long long way. I recommend this and Ill probably repurchase if I don't start up a lemming for another product along the way. What can I say, I want to be loyal, but I'm weak.
8 comments:
I'm so glad you find the Normaderm moisturizer helpful, K! I think Avène and a line called La Roche-Posay (also under the L'Oréal umbrella) are more similar than Avène and Vichy, actually. Like Avène, La Roche-Posay has a thermal station in France. (http://imabeautygeek.com/2008/05/14/super-sensitive-skin-la-roche-posay/) What's a thermal station? It's a treatment facility that specializes in helping folks with horribly severe skin disorders that resist traditional medical treatments. Thousands of patients go each year to take special baths and showers in water that comes directly from an exclusively La Roche-Posay spring (or Avène at the Avène station -- the waters vary in mineral composition), and they find significant relief. At both Avène and La Roche-Posay, treatments are covered by the French government, which indicates the water has enough effect to be taken seriously. It's a weird concept to us because we just don't have such things here in North America -- nor in Malaysia, I'm guessing! But thermal waters and their healing properties have been accepted for centuries in Europe.
Sorry this is so long! I wanted to share! *grin*
Hey Janine, thanks for the info! I think La Roche-Posay has also made its debut in Malaysia. Interesting that the waters have government backing...
Lol. I'll answer this one for Petra. Vichy doesn't do animal testing but the L'Oreal group still tests on animals. There are two schools of thought on this: buy and let the profits go to L'Oreal or, buy only from the animal-friendly companies and send a message to L'Oreal where your interests lie.
What does your inner beagle lover say? ^_^
Lol, I figure if all the profits go to the non-animal testing bits of L'Oreal. the company will be convinced to stop testing on animals throughout.
Thanks Elizabeth :) Kahani, I agree with you - some people think BodyShop should be boycotted which is just idiotic.
Re Loreal - Elizabeth is correct that they have not implemented a ban on animal testing. Caring Consumer (think it is a PETA arm) has a list which acknowledges that some cosmetics companies are required to test on animals by law. If the tests they perform are to adhere to law, they still can qualify for the 'no testing' list. Which is fair.
Other companies which come under Loreal and which I avoid (sigh) Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena Rubinstein, Lancôme, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy (argh! no more maybelline mascara!)
Re Avene - I checked on Skin Deep and it's not sure whether Avene animal tests or not. Remember reading somewhere that French companies are less bothered about whether or not to test on animals; but I don't know whether that is fair. (am assuming here Estee Lauder, which owns Bobbi Brown is French - the two companies don't animal test :)) So it's pretty much the consumer's call.
re spa waters - i read somewhere (and i HOPE the formula's correct) that all you need for vichy spa water is some clean water (can't remember whether it's tap, boiled, filtered, mineral or specifically evian) with a pinch of bicarbonate. beauperts (beauty experts, hehe) might like to run a google.
Hi! thanks for the review. Recently purchased it after having heard so much about it. Can't wait to start using. :)
Hi! I already used it for 5 months and the result was so amazing!! My skin feel better than before as my oily skin got controlled (i used no more oil film) and the skin texture was more even. Now I also used its toner and Normaderm Night for pore minimizing. This product really really works on me.I love it!!
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