As winter ends and the hot, sticky months of summer begin, I've been gearing up my skincare routine to include more light, hydrating layers as opposed to thicker, more occlusive products. As someone with combination skin, I find myself consistently having to rotate products in and out of my regimen to fit my needs, but summer is usually when the oilies attack - my skin goes from winter tight and dry to oily in the t-zone but still dehydrated, so I've been on the lookout for a lightweight, yet decently moisturizing cream that plays well under makeup and doesn't exacerbate my problem areas. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be sent the new Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream and Serum from Peter Thomas Roth courtesy of Brandbacker for review, and let me tell you, it's definitely worth talking about!
A little bit about Brandbacker, because I really think you all should know - Brandbacker is an influencer platform that helps bloggers and those who have a reach on social media connect with brands. Much like Influenster or 08liter, Brandbacker has active campaigns for awesome brands (the campaigns I've recently been accepted to participate in are for Hask, Finesse, Neostrata, and D'OR24K). All you have to do on your part is connect your social media on Brandbacker (if you browse my blog, you'll see the Brandbacker logo under my affiliates section), and apply for the campaigns. If chosen, you'll receive an email stating that you're in (yay!), and then the brand will ship out your samples, and in turn you'll have to submit a blog and/or social media review. Most campaigns send out full-sized samples, but some offer monetary compensation, although I haven't been chosen or any of those (I believe there was a paid campaign offered by Derma E some time ago!). Basically, it's just another way for brands to get the word out about their products, and you get free swag and a chance to earn a little extra "beer money". Sounds great, right?
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum ($65, 30ml) - As soon as I saw this product launch, I was smitten. The concept is every combination/oily-skinned girl's dream - lightweight moisture/hydration made with 75% Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium PCA, and silk proteins, promising smooth, bouncy, hydrated skin. Get. On. My. Face. I was also happy to read that this product is also oil-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free; while I don't mind fragrance in my skincare, it's always nice to do without it in my opinion. Here's what PTR has to say:
"Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum is a super concentrated 75% Hyaluronic Acid formula that creates an invisible veil of deep, long-lasting hydration with Hyaluronic Acid, which constantly attracts and retains up to 1000% its weight in water from moisture in the atmosphere. Superpower humectants like Sodium PCA, sea algae, honey, and Yerba Santa from the Pacific Northwest help replenish the appearance of dehydrated, aging, and environmentally-damaged skin for a dramatically younger look and feel. Fine lines, wrinkles, and roughness are visibly diminished, while proteins derived from pure silk leave skin looking and feeling smooth and silky soft."
I don't know about you, but I'm loving the sound of that. Hyaluronic Acid is indeed known to be a hydration powerhouse; I actually use a Hyaluronic Acid serum daily (the Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion), so I was curious to see how this much pricier PTR serum would perform in comparison.
The Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum comes in a small, frosted glass bottle with a nice, sturdy pump dispenser. Initially, I was peeved at the tiny amount (only one ounce?!) for $65, but truth be told, although I'm frugal and prefer cheap-yet-still-effective products, I'm not one to turn my nose up at a larger price tag. If it works, and is beneficial for my skin, you best believe I'll be shelling out $65 for 30ml of product. If you're thinking I'm crazy to drop that much on skincare, you're absolutely right and I 100% agree with you - but sometimes, just like with more affordable skincare, some pricey skincare really does work (I know I'm crazy, don't look at the screen like that, lol).
Anyway, I digress - the serum comes in a very portable, travel-friendly bottle. As far as I know, this is Peter Thomas Roth's first hydration line. The thing I love about Peter Thomas Roth is that his products are very no-nonsense and straightforward; the Hyaluronic Cloud line follows this theme, using ingredients that are naturally present in our skin.
Actually, let's talk for a minute about Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is what is known as a Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which means that it is naturally produced and found in the uppermost layer of the skin; when Hyaluronic Acid is applied topically in the form of skincare/cosmetics, it elicits similar effects to when it's naturally produced by our bodies. When you apply Hyaluronic Acid to the skin topically, it draws water from the atmosphere into the skin, reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), helping maintain the skin barrier and plumping up skin to temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is different from, say, collagen, which when applied topically has very little noticeable effect outside of temporarily firming and plumping the skin, due to the fact that collagen is produced and found predominantly in the deeper connective tissue of the dermis, or the tough inner layer of the skin.
Years ago when I first discovered the benefits of using Hyaluronic Acid in skincare, there wasn't a ton of information regarding its use/effectiveness, meaning many western products didn't bother including it in the ingredients lists of their products. However. Hyaluronic Acid has been used for many years in Asia for its ability to hydrate and plump the skin, providing a better defense against environmental assaults and keeping the complex intracellular skin matrix in tact.
The Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum is light and easily absorbing, a bit thinner than a gel with a lot of slip to it. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily scentless, but the clean, fresh scent it does have is hardly noticeable. This serum claims to hydrate the skin for up to 72 hours after a single application, and, since I've tested this claim, I can definitely say that my skin stays hydrated a good 24-48 hours after applying. I do, however, live in an extremely arid climate that has virtually no humidity like, ever, so for someone who lives in a more humid/tropical climate, this little serum might be the only one you need. In comparison to my beloved Hada Labo lotion, I can definitely say that this serum definitely hydrates and plumps my skin just as much, however, there is one main difference: my skin feels more moisturized and looks healthier and firmer for longer, due to a slew of other beneficial ingredients that have been added, such as Lactobacillus/Olive Leaf Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces, honey, algae, and and hydrolyzed silk proteins, all ingredients which work to smooth, moisturize, firm, and brighten the skin.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Saccharide Isomerate, Sorbitol, Lactobacillus/Olive Leaf Ferment Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Algae Extract, Eriodictyon Crassifolium Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/ Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/ Silicon Ferment, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Urea, Sodium Pca, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.
Even with the shoddy quality of my iPhone camera, you can see the immediate difference this serum has in plumping up fine lines and hydrating the skin. After almost three weeks of continuous, twice daily use, my skin has been looking much smoother, softer, and firm, and I find that my skin doesn't dry out as quickly as it did before adding this product to my routine. I didn't expect much from this serum, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed by the results. My main gripe with this product is that is does tingle/mildly burn around the edges of my nose. The skin in that area is a problem spot for me though, and the delicate skin is usually broken from breakouts and is generally just sensitive. I don't experience any burning with my HL Gokujyun Lotion though, so I'm thinking this formula might not be as gentle.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream ($52, 48ml) - The Water Drench Cream is a bit more affordable than its serum counterpart, costing $52 for 48ml, or 1.6 fl oz of product. It contains a concentrated 30% Hyaluronic Acid, as well as ceramides/naturally occuring lipids to improve the appearance/texture of the skin. Here's what PTR had to say:
Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer drenches your skin with a liquid cloud of pure, endless moisture drawn right from the atmosphere. This concentrated 30% Hyaluronic Acid cream transforms atmospheric vapor into fresh, pure water from the clouds, providing your skin with a continuous burst of intense hydration that lasts up to 72 hours. Three molecular sizes of Hyaluronic Acid, a potent hydrator that constantly attracts and retains up to 1000% its weight in water from moisture in the atmosphere, helps replenish skin to make it appear more supple, full, and smooth. Ceramides help lock in moisture while ProHyal+ helps improve hydration for healthier-looking skin. Antioxidant-rich Elderberry helps defy the look of aging. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in visibly reduced, leaving a silky, hydrated, more youthful-looking complexion. Oil-free, alcohol-free, and fragrance-free.
Okay, so not the 75% Hyaluronic Acid content of the serum, but guys, ceramides. See, ceramides and me are pretty much bffls, and I can't sing its praises enough for how much it has repaired and helped maintain my skin.
Why ceramides are so legit: like Hyaluronic Acid, ceramides are naturally produced and found in the skin; topical application of ceramide to the skin helps replenish ceramide levels and improve the appearance and texture of the skin. There are a few different kinds of ceramides, but they're all supremely beneficial on an intracellular level: Ceramide 1 helps strengthen and improve the appearance of the skin, Ceramide 3 helps the skin retain essential moisture, and Ceramide 6 helps re-texturize and exfoliate the skin. My first foray into the wonderful world of ceramides was with the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream, and after that, I fell in love and have been incorporating ceramide-rich products into my skincare regimen at every chance I get.
The Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream comes in a heavy, frosted jar similar to the serum's packaging, with a sophisticated reflective lid. The jar seems to be made of a heavier plastic rather than glass. I was expecting a thinner, more translucent gel texture, but this moisturizer is actually pretty creamy and a bit more moisturizing than some other gel creams I've tried that were meant for oily skin. This is a good thing, though - although it's incredibly moisturizing, it sinks in quickly and isn't noticeable at all after application, meaning it plays well under base makeup and keeps my skin plumper and more hydrated for longer, without running the risk of leaving me with the awkward problem of nicely hydrated T-zone but dry-as-hell cheeks, an issue I constantly struggle with when it comes to moisturizers meant to combat oily skin.
The thicker gel texture takes on a sort of watery consistency after coming into contact with the skin (not quite like a water drop cream, but it does break down a bit and become more easily absorbable). As with the serum, you can see the immediate effects the cream has on the dry skin of my hands - my skin immediately looks plumper and more hydrated, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are diminished. This cream is definitely fragrance-free, as I can't detect any scent whatsoever. After using this cream in conjunction with the serum, my skin feels soft, supple, and bouncy, and it does actually stay that way for long after I apply. My face doesn't look greasy at the end of the day, but neither does it look dry and dull - this moisturizer gives me the perfect balance of moisture for my combination skin, perfect for hotter, more humid summer days. Me likey.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide EOS, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide NS, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Behenic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Ceteareth-25, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica.In addition to containing all 6 different types of ceramides (including ceramide 1, ceramide 3, ceramide 6, ceramide AP, ceramide EOP, ceramide NG, ceramide NP, ceramide NS, Phytosphingosine, and Sphingosine), the Water Drench cream also contains 3 different sizes of Hyaluronic Acid molecules, known as the ProHyal+ Complex. In research studies, smaller molecules of Hyaluronic Acid have been showed to provide a significant benefit to decreasing the depth and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (up to 40%), increasing hydration (up to 96%), and increasing skin firmness and elasticity (up to 55%) after 8 weeks of topical use. Both the ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid in this cream have helped maintain firmness and youthful elasticity in my skin, and I can definitely say that the fine lines that appear around my nose and mouth (and the one lonely one hanging around on my forehead) have been less apparent.
Final Thoughts: I am super impressed with both the Water Drench serum and cream - I honestly did not expect much from these products, simply because I already use quite a few products that contain Hyaluronic Acid daily, and since the Gokujyun lotion is so cheap (about $10-12 for a 170ml bottle), I definitely didn't see myself leaning more towards these products in my daily routine. I can definitely admit that I judged these products a bit too soon, because they accomplish exactly what my Hada Labo products do, with the added bonus of being much more moisturizing and giving my skin a more firm, bouncy, healthy glow. I will absolutely use both the serum and cream up, and I'd definitely consider repurchasing again in the future!
Have you tried any Peter Thomas Roth products? Do you have a favorite? Let's chat!
These products were sent to me courtesy of Brandbacker and Peter Thomas Roth free for review purposes, all opinions are my own. If you're curious about my press samples, affiliate links, and sponsors, please see my disclosure policies.
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