This year’s heatwave is already here; the Scandinavia and Greece are on fire and many people have died. This week the temperatures went beyond 30 here. The entire continent needs some Siberian breeze urgently.

When it’s hot, I get sweaty and grumpy. There is no way I will be doing a full routine. Maybe in the evenings, but the morning routine is reduced to four steps: cleanse, tone, moisturise and protect. So I basically wash my face, spray some Serozinc, then I follow with a light hyaluronic acid product, and finally, I apply my sunscreen. Here are three products on which I rely during hot summer days.

Hada-Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion – Light

I’ve been using this one for a couple of years now. Excuse my old bottle, but I simply purchase refills instead of a new bottle each time. The ingredients here are pretty simple, water, solvent, glycerine and three types of HA, as well as some other necessary ingredients. It’s alcohol and fragrance-free. The lotion is just marvellous. I use the light version for oily skin, as I am afraid that the regular version could break me out, and I have never reached for any other (I should try different versions as well, there are so many). It really boosts up the moisture, I can tell the difference, when I use it and when I don’t. It is light, watery and doesn’t clog my pores or cause any breakouts. I can use it with other treatments and serums or on its own. It’s very multipurpose, in the winter I like to splash it on very dry areas of my body right after a shower, to build up the hydration. Honestly, everyone can use it because we all need hydration. It’s perfect for all skin types, but Hada Labo carry other lotions as well for, drier, more sensitive, mature, etc. skin types. So you may pick something more suitable, though, if you are in doubt grab this one and then upgrade to any other.

Ingredients: Water, DPG, glycerol, hyaluronic acid hydrolysis (nano hyaluronic acid), acetyl hyaluronate Na (super hyaluronic acid), hyaluronic acid Na, 2Na succinic acid, PPG-20 methyl glucose, succinic acid, methylparaben (dokodemo.world )

The Hada-Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion – Light is sold by Yesstyle.com [aff]. 

SVR Hydraliane Essence 

This product is quite similar to the one above. I am pretty sure SVR were inspired by Hada Labo’s products, like many western companies nowadays. This essence is a watery lotion that turns into more viscous constancy (still pleasant to use) resembling gel upon rubbing between palms, which makes it easier to apply. There is no age restriction or specific skin type that SVR target with this one, obviously dehydrated, but as above anyone can use it. It’s gentle and doesn’t clog pores. I must say that it helps to hydrate the skin a lot, especially when you layer other products on top.
Moreover, this essence contains a few antioxidants such as manganese gluconate, zinc gluconate (supposedly good for acne) and tamarind seed extract, which may make this product more appealing to some of you. There’s also fragrance, but the amount is negligible, as with many French pharmacy brands. So there’s nothing to worry about. To say it simply, if your skin requires hydration or you just want to step up the game – it’s a great product for that.

Ingredients: AQUA (PURIFIED WATER), PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, MAGNESIUM GLUCONATE, MANGANESE GLUCONATE, ZINC GLUCONATE, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, TAMARINDUS INDICA SEED GUM, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CITRIC ACID, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM LACTATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) (labo-svr.com)

This one retails for about €17 (200ml), but the price may vary.

Mixa HYALURO[+] – SERUM HYDRATANT INTENSIF

This product has a watery consistency like many French serums, think of Clarins or Darphin. It is very similar to the aforementioned products, maybe slightly less runny than the other two, but I didn’t notice it until I compared them on my hand. It hydrates very nicely, it can be used on its own or with other products. It doesn’t break me out or cause any irritation. This serum contains a bit of fragrance, and it’s detectable, but I don’t think it should be a problem. Most of Mixa’s products are formulated for sensitive skin so you should be fine unless you are very, very sensitive. As above anyone can use the serum, and you will notice the difference. There are antioxidants in this serum as well, such as copper gluconate (a great one), magnesium aspartate (not sure if it works on the skin), zinc gluconate (in a very low concentration, so I’m not sure if it will help much).

Mixa claim that this serum is hypoallergenic. Many people criticise brands for using this particular word because supposedly it means nothing. Well, in reality, it means something, according to the EU the term: 

“hypoallergenic” can only be used in cases, where the cosmetic product has been designed to minimize its allergenic potential. The responsible person should have evidence to support the claim by verifying and confirming a very low allergenic potential of the product through scientifically robust and statistically reliable data (for example reviewing post- marketing surveillance data, etc.). This assessment should be updated continuously in light of new data. 

European Commission, (2017) ‘Technical document on cosmetic claims,’ p. 15 [available at ec.europa.eu]. 

It doesn’t exclude the possibility of allergic reactions caused by products advertised as hypoallergenic, though. It is also good to know that ‘if a cosmetic product claims to be hypoallergenic, the presence of known allergens or allergen precursors should be totally avoided[…]’ (idem). It includes allergens listed by the EU and scientific literature, etc. For example, this serum contains fragrance. If the type of fragrance that Mixa use is not known to cause allergies, then it’s fine and the product can be advertised as hypoallergenic. However, if for example linalool was used, then the product couldn’t be considered as hypoallergenic because linalool is a known allergen.
So basically hypoallergenic means that the product doesn’t contain ingredients known as allergens and the ingredients (in the product) should limit the potentiality of allergies. So the next time someone says hypoallergenic means nothing, now you know that they are wrong. 

Ingredients: WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, P-ANISIC ACID, BHT, BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CARBOMER, COPPER GLUCONATE, DISODIUM EDTA, MAGNESIUM ASPARTATE, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, XANTHAN GUM, ZINC GLUCONATE, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE. (mixa.fr) 

This serum retails for €10.50 (50ml), available from Amazon.fr.