For those who need the moisture, but not the grease.

Having oily skin and living in a tropical country means two things:
1. My skin gets super greasy and shiny.
2. It reacts (badly) to thick, creamy moisturizers.

Now I know it’s super important it is to moisturize skin, especially oily skin – if you don’t give it the moisture it needs, it goes into overdrive and produces even more oil, making matters soooo much worse.

Therefore, I love gel moisturizers – especially during the day. They are light, absorb easily and don’t leave my skin all greasy.

When I ran out of my favourite gel moisturizer (Forest Essentials Light Hydrating Facial Gel Pure Rosewater), I decided to try something new for a change – hello Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Crème! The packaging looked so luxurious – as is the price tag! But then again, you don’t expect anything less from Chanel.

I’ve been using it for a while now, and I must admit, it’s really lovely. Here’s what I love about it:

The texture:

It’s a bit thicker and creamier than the gel moisturizers I’m used to – maybe that’s why it’s called a ‘gel cream’. It does gets absorbed nicely and my skin feels really plumped up and supple seconds after I apply it.

The dewy finish:

It leaves a slightly dewy finish on my skin – which I absolutely love!
My skin has a sheen. It’s not that oily shine, but more of a watery one.

Most people with oily skin look for a matte finish, which I really dislike because it looks unreal and unhealthy too. For me, glowing skin should be fresh and dewy – just like a baby’s. And this is something Chanel does really well.

It doesn’t break me out:

It gives my skin that much needed dose of moisture without those dreadful pimples.

A little goes a long way:

I don’t need to use too much product. A pea-sized amount is more than enough for my entire face. This means that it lasts longer than most other gel moisturizers, where I need more product.

Con:

However, there is something I don’t particularly like about this gel-crème.
It’s heavily fragranced, which also means its got alcohol.
I personally like products that smell clean and natural – but then again, Chanel is not a natural brand to begin with.

And I’m definitely not a fan of alcohol in skin care products as it’s not good for your skin in the long run. So that’s a real bummer for an otherwise great product.

MY VERDICT: I like it a lot! It feels luxurious on my skin (Chanel always nails that!). And skin plumps up, has a healthy sheen and looks really good after using it. The added fragrance is the only letdown (though I must admit, it does smell good). Will I get another jar? I think I just might!