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Beauty

Review: These lightweight hydrating products are great for Singapore’s weather

S / Skin

Review: These lightweight hydrating products are great for Singapore’s weather

Christabel Chua and Kimberly Wang tested a hydrating serum and cream for a week

by Vanessa Chia  /   August 4, 2020
Chanel skincare Christabel Chua Kimberly Wang chanel beauty serum moisturiser review

You know that glowing “chok-chok” skin we all want? It seems hard to achieve, right? But we found out that this complexion combo of youthful, radiant, bouncy, hydrated skin can be yours – if we do two things. Well, actually, it’s only one thing: Hydration. But from the inside (your body) and outside (your skin).

You have to get water into your body so it can get to your skin from the inside. That means drinking enough water throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty. And you also need to get water on your skin from the outside. That means using beauty products that hydrate skin and, this is crucial, help keep all that important moisture locked in.  

We’ve noticed that when our skin is well hydrated, it looks plumper and younger. The reason: Light reflects more easily off a smooth surface, which is what hydrated skin gives you.

A lack of water aside, lots of other things can cause your skin to be dehydrated: your diet, lifestyle habits, too much caffeine, lack of sleep, constant exposure to air-conditioning and even using the wrong beauty products (or using them wrongly).

How to hydrate your skin 24/7

What’s a little dehydration and how much can it harm my skin, you ask? Quite a bit. Some things we’ve noticed with our own dehydrated skin battles are a dull-looking complexion, more pronounced dark circles and annoying breakouts. 

Dehydration happens at the top layer of skin. It’s the layer that protects skin against environmental aggressors and oxidative stressors, which damage it. When your skin is dehydrated, micro tears happen. These are tiny, tiny gaps that let in free radicals, bacteria and other nasties, that may cause damage like lines, roughness and even pigmentation.

We also discovered that dehydrated skin is a skin condition that’s developed, and not a skin type (which is something you’re born with). So, even oily or combination skin can be dehydrated. 

How the Chanel Hydra Beauty range hydrates your skin

The Chanel Hydra Beauty range focuses on one thing: keeping your skin hydrated. It comprises 13 products, from masks to lotions and creams. 

Its star ingredient is the white camellia – Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite flower, also known for its incredible hydration power. Specifically, it is the Camellia Alba Plena from Gaujacq, in Southwest France that’s used. Why this one? Chanel scientists did extensive lab research on several types of camellia and they discovered that it was the Alba Plena that contained intensely hydrating molecules.

In the formula, the ingredient encourages skin to make more Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs) – they’re like your skin’s own moisture factory. It also makes the skin barrier stronger, so that moisture doesn’t leach out.

The white camellia works with antioxidant-rich blue ginger from Madagascar, which boosts skin’s protection against inside and outside stressors that contribute to moisture loss.

Tried and tested: Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum & Camellia Water Cream

chanel hydra beauty skincare review serum water cream

To put the Chanel Hydra Beauty hydration prowess to the test, beauty influencer Christabel Chua (@bellywellyjelly) and Mediacorp artiste Kimberly Wang stepped up to this review challenge for seven days. 

Here are their reviews:  

https://www.herworld.com/gallery/beauty/skin/chanel-hydra-beauty-serum-cream-review/
Review: These lightweight hydrating products are great for Singapore’s weather
Christabel Chua
image

“Since spending more time at home during this period, I’ve noticed that my skin has cleared up as I’m getting in more than six hours of sleep a day now.

I’ve always had issues with dehydrated skin due to my frequent travelling and stress breakouts. At times, my skin even flakes after cleansing because it’s so parched. I’m still facing these issues, even though I’m getting more sleep and drinking more water.”

Kimberly Wang
image

“After seeing a dermatologist when I was around 14 or 15, I discovered that I have dehydrated and sensitive skin, which also results in clogged pores and acne. So I learnt early on about the importance of hydrating my skin.

Pre-pandemic, my work hours ranged from six to 18 hours, including client meetings, shoots and events. Wearing makeup for long hours makes my skin even more dehydrated. In recent months, I went makeup-free 90 per cent of the time, but with daily mask wear, I can see my skin getting increasingly dull and irritated.”

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum, $200 for 50ml
image

WHAT IT IS

A lightweight serum with micro droplets that encase thirst-quenching active ingredients, keeping them fresh and releasing their power only when you apply it on the skin.

THE TEXTURE 

Christabel: I love how the Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum has a mildly cooling effect on my skin, and love using it in the day to prep my skin before work.

Kimberly: It’s extremely light. It looks like a gel but feels like water on skin.

THE RESULTS

Christabel: It took less than a week for me to see the results of using Micro Serum. The serum absorbs easily into my skin without leaving a tacky feeling.

My skin is more hydrated, for sure. And the serum has a cooling effect that keeps my skin calm and soothed. My face felt comfortable, smooth and supple, and looking plump.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the serum soothes my flaky skin, the result of skin dehydration when I travel.

Kimberly: A single pump is plenty to cover my entire face. Over the days, I can see that my skin is smoother and more plump, like it’s becoming progressively better at retaining moisture.

And while it didn’t address older skin issues such as wrinkles and pigmentation, Hydra Beauty Micro Serum did help brighten my complexion visibly. When the moisture is replenished, the dullness just fades away.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream, $96 for 30ml
image

WHAT IT IS

An emulsion-like moisturiser that contains iridescent pearl particles to give skin a dewy finish instantly, in addition to its long-term hydration effects.

THE TEXTURE

Christabel: The Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream doesn’t feel too thick, but when I apply it on my face, it packs a hydrating punch.

Kimberly: It looks like a rich cream but feels almost weightless on skin. It has a good in-between texture – light enough for me to still be able to use a facial oil underneath the cream, but also moisturising enough on its own.

THE RESULTS

Christabel: I noticed that using Hydra Beauty Micro Serum prior to applying the Camellia Water Cream helped soften the skin surface, laying the foundation for better moisturisation. It’s a powerful combination that I think it’s what makes the Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream work so well.

The first time I used it, I could see how hydrated my skin was. Then, after three days, I started seeing this radiance and subtle soft glow. My skin looked more even, as if it had been given a new boost in energy. By Day 5, my complexion looked more plump too.

My skin is more glowy and makeup glides on smoothly. I love the texture as it doesn’t feel too heavy, yet goes a long way to keep my skin nourished through the night for the day ahead. I recommend using both Micro Serum and Camellia Water Cream simultaneously to create a strong hydrating shield on the skin.

Kimberly: It gives my complexion a healthy, luminous sheen, and works great as a pre-makeup base. Plus, its 30ml size makes it really handy to carry around – I brought it with me to reapply during the day, and to freshen my skin after a workout.

I also love the distinctive floral fragrance. I’m usually not a big fan of skincare with scents because of my sensitive skin. But Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream was so gentle, it didn’t cause my skin to break out into a rash.

  • TAGS:
  • chanel beauty
  • chanel skincare
  • chanel skincare review
  • skincare review
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