#TakeControl with Vichy {Review}

Vichy kindly sent me 2 of their products to trial and I must say, I was extremely excited about getting my hands on these specific products. They form part of their #TakeControl campaign. The aim? To provide skincare products that provide oil control without the dryness. You gals know I’m all over oil control products.

Until recently I’ve really only cared about having the best makeup products, with little regard for the actual condition of my skin. So I’m embarrassed to say I’ve heard about Vichy, but never used their products. When I sent feelers out about the brand, I actually got quite a bit of positive feedback with people telling me they’ve been using their products for years! This made me really excited about trying out these products.

Vichy is a premium brand of skincare, bodycare, make-up, hair care and anti-aging products. Thermal spa water from the hot springs of the town of Vichy, France, is the only water source used in its formulations. Fancy stuff right?

First up is the Vichy Normaderm Aquagel Hydratant. The claim is skin balance, anti-oiliness and hydration. This product is suited to oily, combination and acne/blemish prone skin.

Included in its ingredients are:

• Salicylic Acid which is beneficial in the treatment of acne, so I love the inclusion of this, because I do get the odd spot around that time of the month. This month that odd spot came and went really fast, so I was really impressed to see the Normaderm in action.
• Another key ingredient is LHA which also has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anticomedogenic properties. The PH balance is similar to that of the skin, which means the skins natural balance is maintained.
• The addition of Glycerin ensures that the skin retains water and also combats oiliness.
• This is probably the most exciting ingredient, the Vichy Thermal Water. (Extract below, full article here )
  

  What made—and continues to make—this mineralizing thermal water so sought-after, is its unique content of 15 skin-strengthening minerals, including iron, potassium, calcium, and manganese. These minerals are gathered as rainwater jets through the magmatic volcanic rock, over 4,000 meters under the earth’s surface! While most mists and thermal waters simply soothe the skin, Vichy’s mineralizing thermal water from the French volcanoes takes it even further, not only soothing the skin, but helps protect it against external aggressors like pollutants and weather. This diverse blend of rare minerals possesses proven fortifying, antioxidant benefits to the skin. Additionally, unlike its counterparts, Vichy’s water helps to rebalance pH, creating a buffer effect that reinforces the skin against these aggressors.

I seriously need to arrange a bath inside that French volcano! Does it not just sound divine? The fountain of youth kind of vibe!

This also acts as a treatment product, as Vichy claims after 4 weeks there’s:
• Decrease of visible shine
• Reduction of pore visibility
• Skin is less prone to re-oiling during the day

Gals, I honestly adore this product. The formula is, as the name suggests, a clear gel formulation. It glides onto my skin leaving no oily residue or stickiness, but leaves me with a really healthy glow. My skin feels hydrated, really hydrated.I will report back after a month or 2 to see if the 4 week claims are indeed valid.

The second product I was sent is the the Ideal Soleil Mattifying corrective care cream. This is a triple action cream that targets blemishes, pores and mattifies the skin. This contains an SPF 30 and that fabulous thermal water mentioned above.

This has a runny sunblock cream sort of texture. Usually anything with an SPF I usually hate putting onto my skin, because with SPF comes grease (well at least that’s how I feel). Not the case with this cream. When you apply it, there’s not a hint of oil and you can actually feel (by touch) how it immediately mattifies the skin, but the skin does not look dull at all, there’s still a healthy glow. SAY WHAT? I know…impressive stuff <3 The cream is very light and it absorbs really fast. Incredibly fast actually. I immediately noticed that my pores appear smaller/less visible after using these 2 products.

I test this regularly on no makeup days and I usually survive about 6 hours with no oil. I know you gals are sick of reading this, but I am REALLY oily and I can sweat really fast. At work I’m walking stairs all day (19 of them one way…yes I counted) so I am really testing these products out to the max. Perhaps with less activity and sweating action you may be matte for longer than I am.

These products are honestly amazing. Coupled with my new favourite exfoliator (more on that in another post) at the moment, my skin is glowing. I recently went to a snooty makeup counter where the lady did not look like she wanted to assist me. Eventually she started working on my skin and she commented that my skin felt amazing and she didn’t need to apply a smoothing primer like she thought she would need to. A colleague asked me specifically what was on my bare face when I returned to work after my kids had been sick. Tired, 30 something old mom….and she had no idea I had started using these products just a week before that day. The proof is in the pudding…on the face of the pudding! I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now, but I will have an updated post after a month or 2 to see if it did assist with any of my blemishes.

Clicks has recently started the Autumn beauty fair so they have a Vichy promotion running.  I would definitely purchase these products with my own money.

Note: Even though these products were sent to me, all opinions are my own and honest. 

Have any of you tried Vichy products before? I definitely want to add to what I have, so please hit me with your favourites/must haves in the comment section below.