As I said in an earlier post, I’ve been on quite the quest this year for a new winter skin care routine. My face has reacted quite poorly to the ups and downs of the weather, in the form of dry, flaky patches, tightness, itching, and obnoxious little whiteheads. So, while I fell back in love with Eucerin (in the form of their Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme) for a nightly dose of super hydration, I found that it was a little too thick for daytime application. Skipping a morning moisturizer wasn’t an option, so I needed to find something lighter-yet still hydrating-to apply first thing before my makeup.
Garnier promises that this ultra lightweight, oil-free refreshing formula will lock in moisture for 24 hours. It looks a little weird in the pot-kind of like green slime-but its actually really nifty! (And that green tint does not transfer to your face; it applies clear.) I’m not sure why they chose to call it a “Gel Cream” because the texture is definitely gel-like, without much creaminess to it. It did not somehow transform from a gel to a cream on my face, which I might have slightly been hoping for, but it did sink in fast, without leaving behind any tacky residue (which I find gels are prone to).
There is a light, somewhat refreshing, sweet aloe scent to this product. I really like this moisturizer! I’ve been using this every morning for about two weeks now and I’m happy to say it is living up to its claims. It absorbs fast and leaves my skin feeling well hydrated. When I take my makeup off in the evening, I still look fresh and am not noticing any flakes.
Formulation and Texture
As this formula is meant for Normal/Combo skin, I can’t say that this product alone would work as well, especially considering how dry I’ve been. When summer rolls around, I look for skincare that's going to hydrate, refresh and rejuvenate my skin all while feeling light, airy and weightless. It's a tall order as many moisturizers are heavy, creamy and meant for cooler temperatures. This delightfully hued moisturizer has been my summer skincare must have for five years already. I actually did a very quick post about it back in 2012 (check it out here), but it's definitely time for a refresh, if you will!
What hasn't changed in all that time is how much I absolutely love, love, LOVE this moisturizer. My skin definitely tends to be drier in the summer months. And, even though it's typically warmer and drier in Los Angeles than in other cities I've lived, the added heat takes an excessive toll on my moisture levels. Well, a couple weeks with this baby and my skin is C-R-A-Z-Y soft. This is thanks to a combination of antioxidant pyrus malus water and apple fruit water in addition to an oil-free, lightweight formula including glycerin, nymphaea alba flower extract.
I’m pretty skeptical about the 24 hour thing, but I always am. In the winter, I have a few dry patches on my skin, but my t-zone and chin get pretty oily even during the cold weather. It’s pretty difficult to find a moisturizer that caters to both my dry and oily zones. I heard gel creams were pretty good for this, and I’ve tried a few for myself, but I never actually got a full-sized gel cream.
This comes in a nice, sturdy jar that’s clear, so you can see how much of the cream you have left. A lot of people think that this sort of packaging is unsanitary, but, for a night cream, I’m fine with it. I always wash my hands before using it, anyways. This 50mL jar will probably last me about 6 months. There’s a little separator inside, and some kind of glue inside the lid that I think is supposed to stick to the separator and take it off with the lid whenever you open it. The gel itself is a nice aqua green colour, but, in smaller amounts, it looks clear (As you can see from the swatch above). It does have a perfumed scent, but nothing too bad. At least, not for you.
This gel absorbs pretty quickly and although it doesn’t leave behind any greasiness, it does feel slightly sticky after application. This feels pretty refreshing upon application. Unfortunately, this gel isn’t as moisturizing as I hoped it would be. I think it’d be great for anyone with just overall oily skin, or for combination skin during the summer, but it didn’t do much for my dry patches. This didn’t cause me to breakout or anything, though, which is for sure a good thing.
This comes in a somewhat heavy jar. Price: Great buy! Only around $6-$8. This has the most unique texture for a moisturizer. Its pretty much just a gel. I don’t know why they put cream in the name because its only a gel. It’s very lightweight. Its a good moisturizer for oily skin. Its oil-free, not at all greasy, and does not leave a sticky residue. Its fast drying if you wanted to use it before applying foundation.
Effectiveness and Claims
I’ve been using this for about a month, and I thought it was time to finally review it. I got this for about $9.99, which is a pretty good price for a moisturizer. I’d read mixed reviews about this product online, and decided to chance it and try it our for myself. This claims to not only have anti-oxidants, but lock in moisture and smooth skin for 24 hours.
I have dry skin with slight oil in my zone. I think if I had oily skin it would be perfect. However, I was looking for a little more moisturizing. I have been getting kind of dry lately on my forehead and cheeks, and it definitely helped that, but has not cured it. I think I need more of a thick cream.
This has been working pretty good for me. I have dry skin with slight oil in my zone. I think if I had oily skin it would be perfect. However, I was looking for a little more moisturizing. I have been getting kind of dry lately on my forehead and cheeks, and it definitely helped that, but has not cured it. I think I need more of a thick cream.
I loved it when I originally reviewed it and I love it now. This is an oil-free moisturizer in a gel-like formula. Without the aid of anything else it does seem to seal moisture into skin and locks it in so skin is left feeling smooth, soft, and crazy hydrated all day. It has a pleasant fruity floral almost apple-like fragrance. It contains a hell of a lot of alcohol. Really it should strip and dry out my skin terribly but someway, somehow it doesn’t. Alcohol doesn’t do skin any favors particularly in regards to aging and yes, I really shouldn’t love this as much as I do but I can’t help it.
The dry skin formula seems to triple the benefits of the original so skin feels even more hydrated and moisturized after use. Overall, Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream Dry Skin is a win for me.
Skin Type Suitability
I really like this moisturizer! I’ve been using this every morning for about two weeks now and I’m happy to say it is living up to its claims. It absorbs fast and leaves my skin feeling well hydrated. When I take my makeup off in the evening, I still look fresh and am not noticing any flakes.
As this formula is meant for Normal/Combo skin, I can’t say that this product alone would work as well, especially considering how dry I’ve been. When summer rolls around, I look for skincare that's going to hydrate, refresh and rejuvenate my skin all while feeling light, airy and weightless. It's a tall order as many moisturizers are heavy, creamy and meant for cooler temperatures. This delightfully hued moisturizer has been my summer skincare must have for five years already.
I think it’d be great for anyone with just overall oily skin, or for combination skin during the summer, but it didn’t do much for my dry patches. This didn’t cause me to breakout or anything, though, which is for sure a good thing.
I would purchase this if I had oily skin or combination. It is effective and has a great texture.
I think it’ll be a great little summer moisturizer for the muggy, humid days where you need some hydration without overdoing it. I unfortunately cannot compare this to Moisture Surge as I have never tried it in person, but I can say that they do seem eerily similar! The high alcohol content is the only factor that keeps me from recommending this as a year-round staple.
Scent and Ingredients
There is a light, somewhat refreshing, sweet aloe scent to this product.
The first thing I noticed was that alcohol was the third ingredient on the list. I know it may not sound terrible at first, but seriously, alcohol is the third ingredient on the list of a moisturizer formulated for dry skin. That’s a little scary, right? Okay, okay, I’m over-reacting a little. I’m not going to sing the praises of anything involving that much of an ingredient that doesn’t really do anyone any favors, but still-for a summer-only moisturizer, this has promise.
It does have a perfumed scent, but nothing too bad. At least, not for you.
It has a pleasant fruity floral almost apple-like fragrance.
GARNIER SKINACTIVE MOISTURE RESCUE REFRESHING GEL CREAM REVIEW!
Overall Opinion and Repurchase Intent
I really like this moisturizer! I’ve been using this every morning for about two weeks now and I’m happy to say it is living up to its claims. It absorbs fast and leaves my skin feeling well hydrated. When I take my makeup off in the evening, I still look fresh and am not noticing any flakes.
Sadly, it’s not moisturizing enough for me. So, depending on how it performs during the warmer months, I might repurchase this some other time.
I would purchase this if I had oily skin or combination. It is effective and has a great texture.
Whew, that sure is a mouthful. I was browsing the shelves at my closest Rite-Aid when I happened upon one lonely box of this stuff. Let me start off by saying that my skin, like everyone else’s, changes a lot during the summer-and often without warning. During the colder months I’m as dry as the Sahara desert, constantly slathering myself in greasy moisturizers and oils just to combat the flakes/cracking/etc. As soon as that first heat wave hits, though, all hell breaks loose. Suddenly my once-mildly-even skin tone turns into a patchy minefield of redness and hormonal acne with random bouts of oil.
I loved it when I originally reviewed it and I love it now. This is an oil-free moisturizer in a gel-like formula. Without the aid of anything else it does seem to seal moisture into skin and locks it in so skin is left feeling smooth, soft, and crazy hydrated all day.
Overall, Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream Dry Skin is a win for me.