kōtia Hydrating Day Cream SPF15

The kōtia Hydrating Day Cream SPF15 comes packaged in a card board box that reflects both the company colours and deer logo. The 50ml jar is brown (maybe not my favorite colour) and has all necessary information written on it. I loved the fact that SPF15 is incorporated, even though it should be higher to accommodate for New Zealand conditions in my opinion. It reduces however the amount of products you have to apply in the morning, and I am all for that. I wasn't attracted to the smell, but the texture is beautifully thick. Once applied, the creme is fast absorbing and leaves the skin feeling smooth and hydrated throughout the day. The skin looks healthy and plump after application for a few days and its great to know the company does not use parabens or testing on animals. I would be very interested to trial other items from the range, like the hand creme or night creme.

I was excited to try this day cream, particularly given its claim to fight oxidative stress and brighten the skin, and of course, because it's New Zealand made, which I love! I have a tendency to have dull and dry skin - a combination of stress, lack of sleep, and a hectic work life - so I had everything crossed I'd find some relief with the kotia Hydrating Day Cream and in the week I've been using it, I haven't been disappointed! The texture of the cream is very buttery and quite thick and it feels great on. It's easy to apply, absorbs well and I could definitely feel my skin was instantly and noticeably more moisturised during and after application. I applied makeup over the cream with no issues (no slipping or sliding, no difficulty blending) but I did notice that I needed to reapply powder in the afternoon with this cream. It seemed to bring out the natural oils in my skin much more than my usual moisturiser. On the days I didn't wear makeup my skin looked bright, soft and almost dewey (something I very rarely say about my complexion). I had a persistent and annoying dry patch by my eye that has cleared up completely since using this cream. I have certainly been impressed by the results, although I'm not sure I've noticed any reduction in the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles...I'm hoping this will come with longer use! I'll certainly continue to use this day cream. Everything from look, feel, smell and results was great! It's safe to say I'm a Deer milk and Kotia convert!

I received this product as part of a BR trial team. I am always interested in finding a great moisturiser, as I have combination skin that is often exposed to the elements being out on the farm. Kotia as a brand interests me as it is innovative; science based, and has diversified a New Zealand farmed product to reach a new market in the beauty industry.

The product arrived in a simple card box with minimal detailing, a simple product description, instructions and ingredients. Inside the box is a 50ml tub of cream, again, very simple but appealing.

Kotia claims that their Hydrating Cream SPF15 will provide protection from environmental factors, maximise skin vitality and boost complexion. I found this product VERY hydrating. The cream has a very thick consistency, but was easy to spread and rubbed in well. It left my skin feeling smooth and you could tell that there was moisturiser on your face, but it wasn’t greasy. The product lasted all day, and I didn’t end up with any dry patches as I often do. Even though I have not used this product long enough to know if it would help with vitality and complexion, my first impressions were very positive. I definitely felt a layer of protection throughout the day.

This product retails at $69.00, which I do feel is quite pricey for a moisturiser. However it seems to work as advertised, and feels like a quality product.

Bonus: Made in NZ, no animal testing, and there is a great section on their website about their farming practices, animal health and sustainability.

I would use again, although in reality, is a bit out of my price range.

I was super excited to be selected for the trial team for this product as it’s been on my list of “must try” products for a while now. First of all, I love the name! So great to see a kiwi business using Te Reo. The packaging is beautiful, a shimmery metallic looking jar with a lovely deer logo. I have to say the scent surprised me. For some reason I was expecting it to smell weird (perhaps because of the deer milk component) but I was pleasantly surprised to find it has a familiar pleasant scent reminiscent of older original face creams like Olay and Nivea. I feel that it did boost my skin’s radiance and it was definitely super hydrating. I love that it is spf 15 too. I find it hard to comment on any products anti-ageing properties as I can’t compare what my skin would look like in a year if I wasn’t using the product. Also a week isn’t long enough to notice a change in fine lines so I will update this review after a few months of use. The only reason I probably won’t purchase is that I found it a bit too rich and greasy for my already oily skin type. I would be keen to give the night cream and other products a go though.

Since I had my babies 6 months ago my skin has been unpredictable. Mostly dry and dehydrated but prone to oiliness and breakouts. I thought I'd give this product a go. The consistency is just like any good hydrating cream.. Its nice and creamy and thick. A little went a long way and was easy to apply. Some day creams are watery and just don't seem to do much but I felt like this product went on so easy and felt amazing as soon as it was on. My skin immediately felt smoother and softer and hydrated. In fact I kept running my hands over my face as It was so much nicer to touch! My dry areas immediately felt more hydrated and soft as well. It felt nice and moisterised but not waxy or oily in any way. It was my skin that felt soft and not just the top layer. This product lasted throughout the day as well.. It still felt just as smooth and hydrated after going about my day and reapplying it at night just made it better. I will continue to use this product to see if it continues to improve my skin as I'm loving the results already. I love the packaging.. Very simple yet appealing and the smell. Is pleasant too.. Not overpowering at all. I would say the price is reasonable and a little goes a very long way so would last a while. However being a single mum of two baby girls it will likely be out of my price range so would be unlikely to purchase it again purely due to the price. I wasn't out in the sun so never tested the SPF15 but I love that this had this in it.. Nice extra protection from the sun. All in all I think this is a great product and well worth trying if you have unpredictable skin like mine.

Im really enjoying this product. It comes in a generous tub. The packaging is nice. It smells quite pleasent. The application is gorgeous! It's so smooth and easy to apply not thick and not to thin. It definitely leaves your skin hydrated and the added spf doesn't break out my skin. It's for sure a product I will continue to use and most likely purchase again. A little goes a long way and a finger nail amount is enough.

The packing & container are understated but attractive, and the product having SPF was a bonus. I was not sure how I felt about using a product that contains deer milk but was prepared to try it. Using a pea sized sample of the cream it was easy to spread using your fingers, the texture feels rich and creamy. As it contained sun screen with a rating of SPF 15 it meant that I didn't need to use a separate sun screen. My skin felt soft and smooth after application and seemed to keep my skin hydrated through out the day. I have not noticed a significant decrease in my fine lines but will continue with the product for a longer period. I didn't notice a scent when using the product. Overall a lovely day cream that seems to hydrates the skin.

Ideal For...: Dehydrated skin

I'm always slightly apprehensive when using day creams, as they tend to contribute to the oily sheen that I've forever trying to avoid, particularly when wearing makeup. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one wasn't too bad. I only had a few days to trial the product, so only managed to use it under a BB cream - which in itself is a liquid and prone to causing shine in the second half of the day. Using Kotia day cream underneath was no worse (and perhaps even better?) than using the BB cream by itself, although it did seem to slightly dilute the BB cream, even when waiting 5-10 mins for it to 'sink in' first. The cream itself is non-greasy and absorbs pretty quickly, leaving my skin feeling slightly softer than normal. There's minimal fragrance, which I find to be a good thing. I applied it to the backs of my hands and decolletage as well. As I mentioned, it did give some hydration but I wouldn't say that it was super-hydrating. I've had better (and worse!). Looking at the price online, Farmers has it for $70. To me, that's really expensive and not something I'd be prepared to pay. Which is unfortunate, because I do like it.

I got an invite from Beauty Review to trial Kōtia Hydrating Day Cream SPF15 and I accepted. The 50ML round container came in a cute, little box. I thought the look of the product packaging was simple but appealing. The font on the box and the container is easy to read. The Deer logo on the top of the lid of the container is a nice touch and emphasizes the brand and product. The colour of the container is an appealing shade of brown with a matte but shiny tinge.

The application instructions on the back of the container were simple: Apply a small amount to a clean, dry face and massage in with your fingertips, covering your face and neck. I done so and the cream fast-absorbed into my skin. I only needed a small amount and could feel it hydrating my skin straight away. It has a silky smooth consistency with a faint fragrance that's not overpowering. There's a good amount of product in the container which will last ages if used in moderation.

Suitable for all skin types, this cream hydrated my skin all day. I noticed when I cleaned my face in the evening, my skin felt softer than usual. It has an added SPF15 to guard against UV which I like. Since trailing this day cream over this week, my complexion has enhanced with improved elasticity. I'm eager to use it daily and see more results. So far, so good.

I like that it is Dermatologically Tested and Made in New Zealand from New Zealand Deer Milk. I probably wouldn't purchase this or any other products in the range as I looked at the prices on the Kōtia website and it's quite expensive. $69 for this particular day cream in the range. The whole range does look lovely and the benefits of the Deer Milk is intriguing.