Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Review

To begin I should tell you my skin type: I am oily - dehydrated, slightly enlarged pores through cheeks, nose and forehead. I have some redness and old acne scarring (though not too bad). My skin's texture is very rough and dull.

I was gifted this product from a friend, had I not been gifted it I probably wouldn't have brought it myself simply because I was all about the mattifying aspects of life. I often strayed from products boasting hydrating claims but that was before I knew better. This little tub of cream/gel is wonderful. I adore the texture, it's very light weight and sinks in beautifully. It's actually perfect for my skin even though I'm oily - I used it as a night cream and didn't wake up looking like a total grease ball. Now this didn't do any wonders for my redness, scarring or pores but it didn't claim to, it did exactly as it said - hydrated. My skin looked fresh all day after having this applied at night, it wasn't too much dewy-ness for my liking which is one of my biggest pet peeves with hydrating products. Will I buy this again? No, not at this time simply because I have started an entirely custom made routine but if I was ever in a pinch and needed a good night cream I would definitely pick this up!

My skin varies as to how sensitive it is seasonally. In summer it's a lot less sensitive so I can only use this then. If i use this in winter instead of the gel-cream formula my skin goes red and textured, I believe due to dyes and perfume. If I use this in summer, it's just fine and works quite well. Light and hydrating, a little goes a long way, absorbs quickly.

Purely because of the fragrance, I wouldn’t buy this one again. It smells good but I have sensitive skin and if your barrier is compromised it will probably burn and irritate your skin like it did mine.

Otherwise it is non comedogenic and great for oily combination skin, as is the gel cream too!

Finally I think I have found a product that combats my dry skin! As soon as I put it onto my freshly cleansed skin it just sank it. It wasn't greasy or oily but instantly felt my skins moisture levels had doubled! After a few hours my skin felt even more moisturized (Like it states). It is also a fantastic base for my make up as I felt my make up lasted longer with this as a base.

I have to admit, first off, that I haven't used Neutrogena products for years and have been negative about them, so it's fair to say I wasn't expecting much. Whether that means I'm unduly pleasantly-surprised or unduly looking-for-reasons-to-keep-hating-Neutrogena, I really couldn't tell you.

I used the Boost in place of my normal day moisturiser, and have used it for about 10 days now.

Immediate feel of it worried me - my skin felt quite 'tight' - as it does after astringent/toner. However, actually touching my skin was an OMG moment - it hasn't felt that truly soft in years.

NB: I'm pretty sure the box said 'apply liberally' and I have been doing that - I wouldn't want to use my normal amount of moisturiser with this product.

Under make-up (I do use primer as well) it worked as well as pricier moisturisers.

The only other 'negative' is, as far as I can tell, there's no SPF - which would make this a no-go for me over summer, which is a pity because I think that's when it would feel/work best.

If you have read my past reviews on products you will know that I am a a bit of a brand snob - I blame my Dad when I was a teenager he bought my sisters and I Chanel No 5 for Christmas while my Mum was in hospital (she was moritified) and after that I was hooked on quality - the pretty bottle and advertising helps! However I have trialled a number of products lately that I have found to be quite good - products that this brand snob usually aligns to cheap and cheerful. Neutrogena as a brand is definitely in this category for me but to be fair this particular product deserves better than that. So my review is this - packaging is lovely I am a sucker for the visually attractive and blue reminds me of water - yes the hydro boost connatation is not lost on me. I love blue and the calming effect so a winner on that front - the texture of the product is divine - again I am a sucker for gel products, I love how it feels when you put it on your skin. My skin definitely felt hydrated and remained hydrated over 24 hours - I tested this by not cleansing and moisturising at night. I have to admit that my skin felt best when I put my SPF mositureriser over the top and I definitely would not use this as a stand alone product but in conjunction with my normal routine I was pretty impressed! O for awesome Neutrogena

I was lucky enough to be chosen by beauty review to trial this product ( thanks beauty review! ). I expected a lot from this product as it promises a lot, 'doubles skins moisture in 1hr' had me hopeful it would deliver! I have normal to dry skin which lately has been more on the dry side with the change in seasons. I have been using this product for nearly two weeks and I was impressed from the 1st use! I have been using this every night and in the morning when I haven't required an spf moisturiser. The texture is lovely! I love the luxury of the gel formula and it sinks into my skin leaving no sticky or greasy residue( a must! ). My skin definitely feels much more moisturised and seems to be more 'plump' and luminous in appearance. It hasn't caused me to break out like so many new products do for my skin. All in all I really like this product as part of my everyday routine & will be sure to repurchase when I run out!

Packaging : box and jar are vibrant, very eye catching Product: texture is smooth and smells amazing Test: after reading the box i was a little worried the product wouldn't last (box says apply generously) but i was to find that thought very wrong. the water gel spread so well, i only needed a small amount to cover my face and neck and it was really easy to apply. Right away i noticed a difference my face felt just like i had moisturized, its great if applied right before going out, but i did find that it didn't last the full 24 hours, my skin did start to dry out again after about 4-6 hours, applying more did help. i have noticed with using it my skin is more soft to start of with and then using it makes it better. i just wish it lasted a bit longer. i also have very sensitive skin and was worried i would have issues with it but i didn't which is great

I have been using this everday in the morning for the past week and it has really hydrated my skin. I have sensitive combination skin (more dry at this time of year) and I haven't suffered any breakouts as a result of adding this product to my daily routine. It has moisturised well and I replaced my usual Neutrogena day moisturiser and have noticed a difference in my skin as it seems to really love the water gel and it really does make a difference within an hour! I'm not completely convinced about the progressive release system yet but my skin isn't as dry at the end of the day so perhaps it does work! The only negative comment I have about this is that I don't like the smell - it isn't a bad smell, it is just an odd one. Otherwise I highly recommend.