Review of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

I was so excited when I received the email from Influenster that I was selected to try out the new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer. I like Neutrogena products for the most part, although I don't have many of them in my collection.

This product retails from about $15 on Amazon to nearly $19 in some drugstores for 1.7 oz. That's pretty pricey for a drugstore product. In comparison, the Josie Maran Argan oil and the Boscia Tsubaki I typically use every day are $48 for 1.7 oz, so I guess the Neutrogena one is still a good value.

Of course, something is only a good value if you like it and will use it, right?

First impressions were that the packaging was pretty. It came in a box and the jar appeared to be glass, although it is a heavy plastic. Better, probably because it will not break, but I like my skincare in glass jars. Call me a snob. Go ahead. Just kidding.

Here's the product in the box. 

When I opened it up the first thing that I did was read the ingredients. The first few ingredients are dimethicones - or silicones. Not a fan of those in my moisturizer. I like things that are going to sink into my skin - not just lay on top of it. I don't consider silicones to be hydrating. Just think - shampoos and conditioners containing silicones make your hair feel really good the first few times you use them, but after a while, the "cones" just build up in the hair and you end up having to use a clarifying shampoo (or if you're like me, you just don't use a shampoo or conditioner containing silicones). Anyway, I feel like silicones are good for makeup primer because they give that barrier between your skin and the foundation, but in a moisturizer I just don't get it. 

Also, this product has Blue Dye No. 1. What? Why? There is just no need to add an artificial color to this product. Last time I checked, water isn't blue. It's clear. Moving on...

My next beef with this product is the fragrance. I hate anything that lists "fragrance" as an ingredient. "Fragrance" can be a mixture of dozens or hundreds of chemicals. Yuck! I don't want that on my face. The fragrance isn't even a good one. I might be able to get past it if it smelled like laundry or just fresh, but it is very "cloying" and smells seriously like someone you don't want to get stuck in an elevator with! 

Here's the ingredient list:

Ok - so you may be thinking, "Did she even put this product on her face?" 

Yes. 

For about 15 minutes and then I had to wash it off of my face. 

First off, it did what I thought - it did not sink into my skin. It dried, but that was about it. I felt absolutely no hydration from this product. In fact, I still had dry patches on my skin. I applied it directly to my face after cleansing - so my pores were open to absorb it, but there was nothing to be absorbed. Plus, that smell factor kicked in and I couldn't get past it.

So, off it came and on went some Boscia Tsubaki oil in its place. I think I heard my skin say "Thank you." 

That all said, I don't want to discount this product for those of you with oily skin. It may provide enough hydration for you, but with this crazy winter we are having, my skin needs all the hydration it can get and this product did not provide it. Again, you may like this product if you like wearing heavy fragrances on your face. 

This is my honest opinion. I am someone who is very sensitive to artificial fragrance and this is not something I want to keep putting on my face. I feel the dye and fragrance will irritate my skin and it just does not provide enough hydration for me. 

Disclaimer: I received this product free to test from Influenster. All opinions my own.
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