Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsThick and rich, not thin like a lotion
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
I have been looking for a lower-cost alternative to an active facial moisturizer for a long time. I wanted something that had hyaluronic acid (to help retain moisture in the skin), squalane (a derivative of something the skin makes naturally, plus it's antioxidant, plus it has some antibiotic properties to help with zits), and niacinamides (anti-aging, skin smoothing, and also helps prevent moisture loss). Finding these in one product that wasn't $30-40 was a TRIAL, let me tell you.
(Side note: Someone else said "this product has hyaluronic acid and acid is bad for skin so do not buy this". This person has not done research into what ingredients are beneficial in skin care, they're just reacting to the word 'acid'. You want hyaluronic acid in your moisturizer. Google it.)
But, e.l.f. to the rescue. This product does come in a fragrance-free version if that's your jam, but the scent of the product is light and not cloying (there's no reason to have fragrance in any skin care product unless the base scent is nasty so I took off a star for that). While I rated the "lightweight" aspect of this very low, I want to explain it this way:
This is a thick, silky, rich cream. It does not feel lightweight. EXCEPT that it disappears almost instantly. I have much thinner lotions that feel lightweight but linger on my skin for a few minutes. Holy Hydration does not make you feel like you have a thick layer of goop on you that you have to wash off. It also IMMEDIATELY makes my skin feel like supple velvet. I usually apply it at night, and even by morning my skin still feels super-soft.
Frankly, I like the effects so much I've started to use it on my neck, upper chest, hands, and elbows. I'm going through it a little faster (a little goes a long way), but it's worth it for the results. Five stars. Buy it.