You don’t see me writing about mainstream skincare products often because I can’t stand all the silly promises they make, like, “Only our product can make you look ten years younger!” or “Our exotic ingredient xxx will keep your skin beautiful forever!” But the well-researched literature for the Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Moisture skin care line convinced me to attend their launch and try the products for myself. After a week of trying just the gel, I’m becoming more and more convinced that Hydro-Boost truly delivers the two things it promises – well-moisturized skin, and eliminating the problems that come with skin dehydration.
Despite my obsessive research skills, there’s still a lot I don’t know about my skin, and I learned a lot from the Hydro-Boost launch. For instance, I didn’t realize that oily skin is actually the result of dehydration (and pimples are its indirect effect). Skin gets dehydrated because of factors like stress, caffeine (eep!), sleepless nights – basically, everything that occurs during a busy work week. Skin cells make up for this dehydration by producing oil, and the overproduction of this oil can clog up pores and cause pimples. Although drinking water and eating well can restore some hydration to the skin, using moisturizers is the most direct way to replenish the skin’s lost moisture.
Most moisturizers are made using a combination of oil and water – water moisturizes, while oil keeps the moisture locked in. However, Neutrogena’s Hydro-Boost Moisture range is far more sophisticated than this, for two reasons:
Key ingredients
Hydro-Boost has three key ingredients. Instead of regular oil, it has olive extract, whose combination of fatty acids is very similar to the moisture shield produced by the skin. To provide moisture it uses purified hyaluronic acid, a natural compound that binds to water molecules and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Finally, glycerin works with the olive extract to bind the moisture on the skin’s surface.
Progressive release system
Exotic ingredients are really easy to write marketing spins about; what made Hydro-Boost more interesting to me is its 12-Hour Progressive Release System. The hyaluronic acid is condensed and formulated to release moisture steadily for a span of 12 hours. Think of it as a water reservoir for the skin that provides moisture to dry skin cells as they need it.
The Hydro-Boost line is made up of the following products:
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser – Cleanses and balances the skin’s moisture level. The rich lather foams away impurities, while a special hydrating agent restores skin’s natural moisture balance. For day and night use. 150ml / P445.50
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Clear Lotion (Toner) – Immediately tones and refines skin without causing tightness. It gives a shower of fresh hydration for a dewy complexion. Use after cleansing, for day and night. 150ml/P458.00
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel – Its purified Hyaluronic Acid and Olive Extract continuously release moisture to the skin’s surface while boosting skin cell’s ability to retain water. For day and night use after clear lotion or essence. 50 g/P 830.00
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Essence – Intensely moisturizing and deeply revitalizing, this rich essence has powerful hydration properties to keep skin plump, bouncy and supple. For day and night use, for intense hydration. After using the clear lotion, and before using the water gel, massage evenly to the face. 30 ml/ P999.00
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mask – Boosts skin’s moisture level 14 times. It is made with smart-fit fabric with 14,000 micro-holes to deeply infuse 25% more hydrating essence. Use as needed, at least once a week for deep and immediate hydration results. May also be used in the evening after cleansing and toning. Apply the mask and leave on for 15 minutes. Remove the mask and massage the remaining essence into your facial and neck area. Do not rinse, sleep with the essence. No need to apply water gel after sing the mask. 1 pc/P198.00
Neutrogena Hydro-Boost products are exclusively available at Watson’s and SM Department Stores. I was given the complete line, but I’m still mustering up the courage to try anything other than the Hydro-Boost Water Gel (which I totally love – but more on that in a future blog post). I’ve been using almost all-organic skin care for so long, and I’m a little paranoid about breaking out after using chemically-laden products!
In any case, I’m giving away the complete Hydro-Boost Moisture Skin Care line to one girl so you can try it out for yourself. Here’s how you can join.
1) Be a Metro Manila resident, because the package has to be picked up at the Ogilvy office at Fort Bonifacio.
2) Take a look at the photo above. Which of these skin sins are you guilty of doing? Leave a comment telling me about it. (Me, I’m totally guilty of all of the above!)
3) You have until Friday, June 10, to join.
4) As usual, the winner will be picked randomly and announced Twitter so you might want to follow me.
That’s it! Expect my review on the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel very soon. :D
Yikes. There’s a lot that I’m guilty of, hahaha… my poor skin!
I’m definitely guilty of the following:
1. skipping lunch to dive straight into work
2. stress
3. skimping on sleep
4. skipping on skin care regimen before sleeping
5. long exposure to air conditioning rooms
I’m guilty of
#2, stress! and
#3, skimping on sleep!
Just because I couldn’t control myself :-S
Thanks for this. The description seems promising, and I would really love to try out a new and innovative skin care line! :)
It would have to be stress! I try to have as much grace under pressure as I can. But there are just times when things & unexpected situations get me sometimes heated up & leave tell-tale signs of a nervous breakdown. But at the end of the day I’m still in control & keep things on track. :)
All of the above!!! Hard to be a working mom, I tend to neglect myself coz of all the responsibilities.
Skimping on sleep, stress, too much coffee!
Too much coffee, stress, long exposure to airconditioning rooms, Skimping on sleep. OMG. I feel sorry for my skin ;(
Looking at the photo, I felt my throat dry up in anxiety. I do every single thing on the list :( Ugh. No wonder my skin looks awful.
I am now surprised my face doesn’t crack up when I smile.
My skin sins are:
1. Stress
2. Skimping on sleep – this I do a looot. Especially nowadays.
3. Skipping on skin care before bedtime – a lot of times I get lazy after washing my face, goodbye moisturizer. Syempre paggising, dry face. Ugh :))
I am guilty of everything but most especially drinking too much coffee and skimping on sleep. My poor skin. =(
1. Leaving for work without sunscreen protection.
2. Stress.
3. Long exposure to airconditioning rooms.
4. Skimping on sleep.
5. Skipping on skin care regimen before bedtime.
And my skin is naturally dry to begin with! :o
This is an interesting product!
Skipping on skin care regimen before bedtime tops my list (at least for those “sins” that I have control of!). I always have this schedule of staying up late to accompany my boyfriend on his “work from home” and american time job that i end up going home too sleepy. The least that i want to do is to wash my face because my sleepy mode would go away and i’ll end up with my eyes open until like super late!
Oooh. I’ve always been on the lookout for a good moisturizer that’s oily-skin friendly. Might give this one a try :)
I know I am abusing my skin and I am guilty of all those harmful activities from sun up to sun down.
Leaving work without sunscreen protection. I don’t like the sticky feel of lotion that is why I can’t follow a regimen. I do use moisturizers though, with little SPF.
Too much coffee. I lotsa love coffee. It soothes my nerves. I didn’t know it has harmful effects on my skin.
Skipping lunch. I do skip lunch not to work, but to go on a “diet”. I know it’s not good so I am trying to control the amount and quality of food intake instead of starving myself.
Stress. Hah! Seems that death and taxes… and STRESS are the most certain things in this planet.
Skimping on sleep. Previously I try to skimp sleep to lose weight. Now, I gain weight because I indulge in sleep.
Skipping on skin care regime during nighttime. My online facial regimen is to wash face with white soap. That and nothing else.
Guess I am guilty as charged of skin abuse. I am now trying to focus on my skin care, and try to combat these action/non-actions to my skin.
I think the most abusive thing I have done out of all of those mentioned above is long exposure to airconditioned rooms. I’ve had asthma as a child and the heat triggers asthma attacks. Even if I already got older and my asthma has gone away, the heat still affects me terribly (growing up beside the AC really took a toll on my tolerance to heat), so I always spend almost the whole day inside an airconditioned room. :3 Result? Dry skin. *sigh*
i guess me being a bum right now will make my skin a little better? no skipping of lunch, no stress, no long exposure to air conditioned rooms, and i get to have all the sleep i want. haha! BUT my love for coffee will be my number one enemy i guess. will.try.to.lessen my coffee and chocolates intake! haha!
Lauren! I feel the same way, been using organic moisturizers for the past 2 years I’m scared other products might break me out. But I am liking the gel moisturizer because it *might* be a good dupe for the Clinique Moisture Surge, who knows :)
I’m guilty of:
- skipping lunch to dive straight into work
- skimping on sleep
- stress (of course)
- and I do use sunscreen but I rarely reapply!
Waah!
I hope I win! *crossing fingers*
I haven’t tried Clinique Moisture Surge but I seeeeeriously love the gel! My skin has gotten a lot less oily since I started using it, plus it works great as a makeup base. :D
My skin is extremely abused due to the nature of my work. I’m guilty of 6 out of 7 items on the list!
1. Leaving for work without sunscreen protection because sometimes I wake up way too late for my own good.
2. Stress because as a cancer nurse, I am surrounded by death, pain and suffering almost everyday.
3. Long exposure to air conditioning rooms because the entire hospital is air conditioned.
4. Skimping on sleep because I work in shifts!
5. Skipping on skin care regimen before bedtime especially when I get home from a tiring shift.
6.Skipping lunch to dive straight into work because well, nurses do not really have fixed lunch or dinner breaks.
*air conditioned rooms
I’ve recently switch from Coffee to Tea, so yay for that! But I’m guilty of everything else! Especially the last one! Ayan tuloy, breakout galore ngayon. :(
I thought tea made me safe from caffeine, but it turns out it actually has more caffeine than coffee! The only exception is floral herbal teas like chamomile.
Hala! I think I’ve been using the wrong products as well. I’m really oily but I rarely dont get pimples. No wonder I’ve been breaking out like crazy lately. :/
Anyway, I’m also guilty of lacking sleep, stress, rarely applying sunscreen, staying in airconed rooms.
ugh! all of the above! well not the coffee, but i drink tea all the time, so, almost the same thing right? i need this skin care line badly.. hehe..
I am guilty of:
1. going out without sun screen, thinking that I have a medium skin tone will be an excuse not to use sunscreen. Also, I find sunscreens to leave and icky feel.
2. Stress – even if i am just at home, I am feeling a little stressed because of the things to come my way in a span of 3 weeks.
3. LOng exposure in AC room – I am definitely guilty of this. My toddler sleeps in the afternoon and I put him in an AC room because of the heat.
4. Skimping on sleep – yes i am guilty of this because my hubby just left the country and because of different time zones, I am awake until the wee hours of the night.
5. I do skip night regimen because of laziness…
Oh wow, I am totally guilty of leaving the house without sun protection, skimping on sleep, and skipping my skin regimen. Usual moisturizers are really sticky and heavy, which is a pain because Manila heat makes my face feel so trapped. As for sleeping less and not applying products at night.. Well, I just blame it on summer laziness. It’s so easy to get rid of the usual routine because there’s no schedule to be followed. At least when there’s school, everything is step-by-step.
This seems like a really interesting product, Lauren! Crossing my fingers on this one! :)
Guilty of leaving for work without sunscreen protection!
I can’t find a sunblock which won’t make my face shiny. :(
My Deadly Skin Sins:
1. going out without sun screen
4. stress!!!
6. skimping on sleep
7. skipping night regimen :(
Zeng, Makati
Totally guilty of STRESS and skimping on sleep. Stress because of work and skimping on sleep because of watching koreanovelassss. :p
Guilty of not using sunscreen, stress, and skimping on sleep.
Oh how I wish I could take good care of my skin.
I’m guilty of:
-Too much coffee.
-Skipping lunch to dive straight to work.
-Stress
-Skimping on sleep
-and sometimes skipping on skin care regimen before bedtime
OMG! I’m a skin-sinner.
Cheers to all the women who know they’re doing bad things to their skin but can’t do much about it! :)) I am guilty of:
1. Not putting sunscreen before leaving the house – I can’t. I tried everything. I tried Neutrogena SPF 50 (made me break out), Pond’s (gave me milia), Aveeno SPF 30 (oily for the whole day plus pimples on my chin and forehead). I have yet to find the right sunscreen.
2. Coffee is a necessary evil, especially if I (3) stay up all night with friends and have to get up early to go to work. And since I stay up late I tend to (4) ignore my bedtime regime. :(
5. I don’t skip lunch but I tend to skip breakfast and just grab a quick coffee before work.
6. Air-conditioning and Stress = daily work routine.
Need I say more? Well, I’m pretty lucky my mom passed on her nice skin genes to me, but that’s no excuse for not taking care of my skin. Right now, all I’m doing is Verbena soap and Vitamin E so I would really love to try these products out to see if they are what my skin’s finally waiting for. :))
*I’m gonna be using my neglected Twitter account just for this :))
Skipping lunch and facial regime! I just jump straight into bed to sleep. :))
I’m guilty of all :( nyay!!!
Definitely guilty of all of the above. Work these days seems to be a routine of waking up groggy, getting caught up in the flurry of paperwork and emails, trudging home too late and too tired to even wash my face.:(
Hi i wanna try this product since i have a dull looking face and usually gets oily during mid of the day. Is it ok to use only the cleanser, toner and water gel only? coz its kinda pricey for me if im going to avail the complete set, since im just an ordinary girl who used to stay at home. oh and have u tried using their fine fairness? I dont know which of the two shall I avail. Can you give some advice? Thanks