little white truths

I bought this cream a while ago because it's had such great reviews and it claims to be intensely hydrating, which is something my dry skin needs - so when I saw the rave reviews (see eg Mecca's website), it went straight to the wishlist.

I've been using it overnight for the past two months and I'm pleased to say that I do really like it, although I'm not sure I would buy it again because it's super expensive for what it is and I've used other creams before that do the same thing for a lot less. More on that below.

Elemental Herbology claims/product details:

• A cult-favourite mask that delivers intense hydration and firms the skin for a radiant complexion
• An intensive hydration and repair mask that provides instant hydration for dry skin
• Helps to replace lost moisture, firms and plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Ideal for dry or mature skin, for use during the winter months or for frequent flyers
• RRP $97 AUD for 50ml

There's what it looks like below:

Verdict

This is a lovely product and I'm enjoying using it. While I don't think it's worth the price-tag, I still think it's good and I do recommend it if you have dry skin and want to splurge on something that's a bit special.

It's a cream product that has a thick, almost balm-like texture and a herbal scent. It applies and spreads well, and indeed it spreads better than you might think, given how thick it is.

I've been using mine every night for the past month or so and my skin does like it - it's rich, it's hydrating and it feels nice when applied, plus it has a protective element that lasts until morning because it coats the skin too.

Do note, though, that it's not quite as hydrating and nourishing as I would like. Because it leaves a coating, not all of the product is being absorbed - and I'm definitely aware that half of it doesn't sink in but instead lies on top of the skin.

What this means in practice is that it's not as nourishing as I expected it to be, and my skin doesn't feel as comfortable in the morning as I would like. In many ways it works best as a barrier cream that seals in my other skincare (so that skincare doesn't come off on the pillow), although yes it does hydrate a decent amount - it just doesn't do so quite enough for my dry skin.

On the claims: yes this delivers hydration but I wouldn't call it intense hydration; no I haven't noticed that it firms my skin or offers radiance; yes it does feel like it repairs and protects (it's soothing too); and while I do think it helps plump the skin temporarily, I haven't noticed any cumulative effect on fine lines and wrinkles over time.

Overall I do think this is a lovely product that meets many of its claims, and while I can see why people love it, it's not amazing enough that I would buy it again - especially considering the price. If you want a cheap alternative, I suggest La Roche-Posay's Baume5 (reviewed here), which does everything this does - only better - and retails for $16.95 AUD, meaning you can pick it up for less than $10 if you wait for one of Priceline's big sales.

Lovely, but not a keeper.