Skincare review: La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Serum

I'm sure you've seen reviews of this product already-
in case you're interested in my point of view, here's my two cents ;)

I've been using this serum on and off for the past two months, so as to allow it a good testing period before writing about it. Personally, I don't consider serum to be essential per se, more like an investment into a good quality beauty regime- if you're willing to spend some extra cash, that is.

In other words: while moisturiser is an integral part of a skincare routine, serum is not.
That being said, if you DO use a serum, your skin will thank you later. Here's why:

Serums consist of smaller molecules than those of moisturisers, thus enabling them to penetrate the skin deeper than regular day creams; they're mainly designed to deliver nutrients to the skin, rather than regulating its moisture level. That's why there's so many different serum formulations targeted to specific skin concerns like skin brightening,
anti-ageing, exfoliating, etc. Moisturisers on the other hand are meant to "lock" the moisture into the skin after cleansing.

Now that the difference between serums and moisturisers is clear, here's what I think of the La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Serum:

Marketed to dehydrated and sensitive skin, this serum is intended to offer extra moisture and reduction of fine lines due to dehydration. You can tell that the product is well made from the very first application: while some serums are sticky, smell bad, or have a weird texture that sometimes flakes off the skin (been there!), the Hydraphase Serum is a pleasure to use. It's a clear runny gel that feels like ice-cold water on the skin, quickly absorbing into nothing, while smelling fresh and clean.

As for its effectiveness: well, it was hard to notice any difference at first, purely because it's indetectable on the skin (to the point where you wonder whether it actually works). That all changed after I started using the Clinique 3-Step and I felt my skin getting "tight", as if it had lost a considerate amount of moisture. The Hydraphase Serum came to the rescue: I wore it under the Clinique moisturiser and, tada- my skin felt more comfortable and elastic, so to speak, while I still looked as if I've had put zero products on my face. Score!

To those that want to amp up their skincare routine with a concentrated but lightweight hydrating treatment, I would definitely recommend the LRP Hydraphase Serum! It's not a necessity in itself- though if you're willing to invest in a serum, this one is an excellent choice to start experimenting with.

So, have you tried any products from the La Roche-Posay Hydraphase range?
Are you in favour of serums in general?

* The Hydraphase Serum was sent by La Roche-Posay for review purposes. That doesn't affect my opinions, I'm being honest to my readers as always. *

Evi   xx