La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Riche

More than 2 years ago, I wrote a review about La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Ultra face cream. This cream was my favorite face cream for years, despite the fact that it caused an allergic reaction when winter struck. I have found that the Toleriane Ultra cream is a great spring/ summer cream for my skintype, but for winter: not so much. I solved that problem in the past by layering my skincare. I first used a moisturizer and then topped it up with the Toleriane cream. But that all changed at the end of summer, when I noticed my pharmacy had started carrying a new type of La Roche Posay line: the Hydraphase line. I picked up the Hydraphase UV Intense Riche cream and have been using it all winter.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Riche

To start off, I have to tell you that this cream has now replaced the Toleriane Ultra cream in my winter skincare routine. I use this as my day time face cream WITHOUT layering a separate moisturizer and have been fine all winter. It has not caused any break outs, rashes, or other skin discomfort. Needless to say I am in love. It contains an SPF of 20 and retails for around €20. It is only available at pharmacies as far as I know, at least here in Holland that is the case.

This is what the La Roche Posay says:

Hydraphase UV INTENSE Rich

High Performance Rehydration for Sensitive Skin. Long-lasting efficacy. UV Protection.

Tight Cellular Junctions Technology: Hyaluronic Acid Fragments ensure epidermal cohesion to infuse and lock water in for ultra long-lasting hydration. Adapted to sensitive skin.
The filtering system helps protect skin against damages caused by daily exposure to UVA & UVB rays.

What attracted me in this product is the promise of rehydration. My skin isn’t dry per se, but it needs all the moisture it can get. My cheeks are lined with milia, that especially in winter, can worsen if not properly taken care of. It is also the reason why Toleriane Ultra stopped working for me: it was too light and not nourishing enough come the drier winter months. I have found that with cream, as long as I used diligently, the milia do not worsen during the colder months and my skin feels much more nourished and well maintained.

The cream comes in a handy pump bottle. This is not only handy, 1 – 2 pumps is enough for my entire face, it is also hygienic. The packaging is simple and fuss free. I like that: no fancy packaging that has you confused. You just take off the cap, pump once or twice and apply onto your face.

The ingredient list is quite long and mindboggling to be quite honest. The Hyaluronic Acid is at the bottom of the list, so I’m not sure home much it will do. There are some silicones from what I can tell, water, obviously, and some perfume. This cream is not formulated especially for sensitive skin, so it does have some ingredients that could cause your skin to react. Mine didn’t, but it might as well have.

However, I cannot detect any irritants that have caused me problems in the past such as dehydrating alcohols. La Roche Posay is a brand that is formulated for sensitive skin. Even if the product is not labelled as such, there are as few ingredients as possible and all of which have to be hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. According to the website, the fragrance used in their products is also hypoallergenic. The added 20 SPF is just an added bonus to an already amazing package.

The product itself is very thick. The texture reminds me of a high SPF sunscreen. It takes some effort to evenly spread the product, but once spread out the product is absorbed by the skin quickly and leaves no residue behind. The first time I used this I was surprised at the effect it gave. Initially I thought I had an allergic reaction, but I didn’t. I felt something, and was surprised by it. The best way to describe the feeling is to compare it to applying after sun lotion to sunburnt skin. My skin absorbed that moisture straight away and what I in fact felt was my skin leaving out a sigh of relief: ‘finally, I get some moisture’.

I just reread parts of the Toleriane review and I saw that when I tried a tester for the Hydraphase I did not like it as it just sat on my skin. At the time I used those testers in the middle of summer, so it is no wonder that I didn’t like it. However, what I have found is that I need both of these creams in my life to make my skincare work for me. I need my Hydraphase in fall and winter: when my skin gets dry and becomes more special needs. Very soon, when temperatures start to rise, I will be repurchasing the Toleriane Ultra as it is perfect for summer: lightweight and gets the job done. Or maybe I should try the Hydraphase Light and see how that goes?

All in all, I am loving this La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Riche and what it has been doing for my skin. I didn’t include before and after pictures of the effect as my skin hardly changed in a visible way, but it feels so much better now. It feels nourished and it is a great base before applying make up too. Needless to say, this product has become a staple in my beauty supply. Or rather: it is my holy grail day time face cream.

What is your favorite face cream for day time?