(Gifted)¦ I’m not sure I like the idea of labelling it a New Year’s Resolution, because resolutions I make always seem to fail. However, I definitely need to take better care of my skin this year! Unfortunately, I’ve had problematic skin since my teens. As much as I’ve tried, I’ve never got away from acne and bouts of dry skin. I followed a really good skincare routine in the months leading up to my wedding in 2015 and noticed it improved a lot. I didn’t stick to it, though, and now my skin is probably the worst its been in years. I’ve also just turned 31 and can feel the threat of aging skin looming over me. So yes, it’s definitely time to start taking better care of my skin once more. With dry skin being an issue for me, particularly in the winter, the Obagi® Hydration Kit looked like a good place to start.
First Impressions
The kit includes Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturiser and Obagi Hydrate Moisture-Rich Cream. The packaging gives a medical and scientific impression with its minimalist white and blue design. However, I was a little disappointed as I thought it felt quite cheap. Nevertheless, it’s what’s on the inside that counts (and if using cheaper packaging cuts off a few pounds then I’m all for it!)
The facial moisturiser certainly feels high quality when you put it on your skin. It feels luxurious and instantly hydrating. You can gently rub it in very easily, perfect for mornings you’re in a rush and need to get on with your makeup quickly.
The moisture-rich cream isn’t as silky and has a more buttery texture (although it’s not at all oily). It doesn’t glide over skin like the moisturiser as it’s a cream. It has a neutral smell and is slightly more beeswax like in consistency. However, it also feels like it helps to hydrate skin instantly. I tested it on an area of my hand and it immediately felt softer and more supple than the rest, which felt slightly rougher and a little dry.
Benefits of Obagi Hydrate
Both products are designed to combat the signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet. The cream is designed to hydrate and firm the skin, providing hydration for 8 hours. Meanwhile, the moisturiser is clinically shown to improve the moisture content of the skin and provide hydration for up to eight hour. It is also designed to soothe dry, flaky skin and enhance smoothness on a variety of skin types.
So, let’s put it to the test!
Week 1
This is how I woke up on my 31st birthday on New Year’s Day having not had a skincare routine for ages. (Excuse the leggings on my head – I was trying a TikTok no heat curls hack). I have a very busy lifestyle and when it gets to bedtime I tend to forget or can’t be be bothered. However, the last time I got into a routine it worked wonders for my dry, acne prone skin. Also, I’m increasingly aware that I really should have started looking after my skin better already.
As you can see from the picture, my skin was really dry and tired looking. There was a red patch of dry skin above my left eyebrow which makeup looked awful applied on. I also had a couple of breakouts, including a painful spot just under my right cheek.
Week 2
For the first fortnight of the year, I applied the moisturiser in the morning and the cream at night just before bed. I could start to see an improvement in my skin. It looked less tired and my pores felt tighter. I didn’t get any major new spots and the ones I’d had at the start of the month were fading out nicely. Although the texture of the red dry skin above my eyebrow had improved, it was still a problem. At least with it being a smoother, less flaky texture, makeup applied over it better!
Week 4
So, annoyingly I came down with an awful flu-type virus a few days after the week 2 photo was taken. I was in bed for a couple of days and really lacking in energy over the weeks that followed. Perhaps needless to say, my skincare routine once again went out of the window at this point. Even just doing my normal day to day stuff plus a university assignment that was due was a struggle. My skin went back to how it had been at the start of January – very dry and flaky. So, I began again! After 4 weeks, here was the result:
Any breakouts that have happened have gone away really quickly. I’ve noticed that my skin tone looks more even and less tired. My skin can be quite sensitive to products and breakout, but this seems gentle and my skin seems to like it. Better yet, the dryness has improved so much!
Above my eyebrow isn’t very dry at all and the redness has practically gone!
Obagi’s hydration kit has definitely helped to improve my skin and reduce dryness. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you have concerns about dry skin, acne and/or aging skin.
Disclosure: I was gifted the aforementioned products in return for this review. As always, all views and opinions are honest and my own. All photos are unedited as I don’t believe you can get a honest impression of beauty products from airbrushed images.