Review: Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Day Cream

I first read about Vichy's LiftActiv Retinol HA day cream product over at Beaut.ie, where they are firm fans of the entire Vichy range.  My first experience with Vichy didn't work out for me, but I'm pleased to say that this product has become a favourite. 

Billed as a cream with "immediate visible results", Liftactive Retinol HA contains Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol A Complex, as well as SPF18.  The retinol content was what drew me to the product; it's hailed as a bit of an anit-aging miracle ingredient, as it can increase the rate of skin turnover and increase collagen.  Despite being still a touch under thirty, I'm keen to soften the fine lines that have started appearing, and to ensure that my skin is well moisturised.

Read on after the cut to see how I got on.



 The cream is delivered via an innovative piece of packaging that I've never seen before; sealed in the main body of the tube, you dispense the cream by applying pressure to the nozzle.  I really, really like this - the product is kept fresh away from the air and from light, and there's no chance of contamination like there is with a pot.  I'm very close to the end of the bottle, and still finding it very easy to dispense - sometimes too easy in fact.  There's a lot of play in the multi-directionality of the nozzle, and this can lead to too much cream being dispensed.

The cream is of a medium weight, fairly thick texture and goes on very white - presumably because of the SPF.  The amount shown to the right is a little bit more than I'd usually use for my whole face and a little bit of my neck.  Once applied, it starts sinking in immediately, but after a few minutes there is still a slight residue on the skin, again possibly due to the SPF.  For me, this isn't a problem, as I like a bit of residue with a day cream so my foundation blends easily.  After 15 minutes though, the cream has completely disappeared into the skin, leaving it feeling soft.  This isn't a weightless product by any means; even after 15 minutes, you can still feel it on your skin with your fingertips.

Results wise, I can't say that I noticed any of the "immediate visible results" that Vichy claim, although after application my skin does look well moisturised and plump.  I've been using the cream for a fair few months now (with a break in the middle when I tested another range) and over that time have found that my skin texture has become more even and smooth, and definitely more hydrated looking.  The fine lines I'm worried about do seem a little blurred, but the effects aren't massively noticable.

Overall this is a pretty good day cream for my dry/combination skin; it keeps my skin moist and plump, is a good base for makeup, and has the all important SPF.  That, in combination with the innovative packaging, makes it a great maintenance product which I hope will keep my skin looking fresh.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can get it from Zest Essentials online, where it costs £26 for 30ml.