Review: Vichy Mineral 89 Serum

I’ve been waiting to review this one for a while, to see if any further pros or cons turn up, but three weeks in, it’s pretty decent. Does that mean it deserves a £30 price tag?

Images by Charisse Kenion

First of all, for me, the Hyaluronic Acid serum that I’ve enjoyed using the most, is probably Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum. It’s super gorgeous, light, hydrating and really feels like it’s doing my skin wonders. But, combined with the brand’s Cloud Cream, the overall cost is just over £100. For me, that’s just not feasible unless I’m in the states, buying it in a combo pack from Sephora, so I’m always on the look-out for a new HA serum. For me, a HA serum has become an essential part of my skincare routine; when it’s a good formula, it seems to hold in the moisturiser that follows, which is basically what HA is meant to do. A much-touted piece of info is that HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water - so there’s no point using one unless you’re going to top it off with your favourite moisturiser, followed by SPF. Put simply, HA binds to water, therefore keeping skin hydrated.

Over the past few months I’ve tried a few different HA serums but a couple had this really weird, medicinal smell, like an antibacterial cream you might use on cuts and scrapes; so off-putting that I ended up tossing them, which of course, is super wasteful. However, Vichy Mineral 89 Serum has had a ton of love on social, including one of my fave Cosmetic Doctors, Ewoma Ukeleghe, AKA @skndoctor over on Instagram. I saw it on offer a couple of weeks ago in the post-Christmas I-really-can’t-afford-it-but-it’s-on-offer-at-Boots-so-I-guess-I’ll-buy-it period. My first impression was that it felt amazing; I imagine that even the most sensitive skin types would enjoy the pleasant, soothing and cooling effects. There’s also a hint of fragrance in there I think, that seems to aid that sensation of refreshment; I think this would be the perfect serum to take on your hols when you’re feeling dehydrated from the sun, air conditioning or too many cocktails. With just 11 ingredients - including Vichy’s own Thermal Mineralizing Water - this is definitely a product to love if you’re into watching the amount of ingredients in your skincare.

It’s also great for layering with other serums and creams, and won’t affect your makeup in any way. So all in all, Vichy Mineral 89 Serum is good, it’s solid and the gel-like texture feels lovely, but once I’m finished with this bottle, I’m not 100 percent sure that I wouldn’t be tempted to try another brand first. Any suggestions? Let me know in the comments!

What’s your favourite Hyaluronic Serum?