Can you believe that I’m still using a body butter in May?
I don’t think my skin got the memo we’ve moved to London. It behaves more like we’re living in the middle of the Sahara.
I know, I know, I should quit the steaming hot showers. But, they feel SO good. Me thinks I’ll keep them. The body butters, too. They sort of go hand in hand.
I’ve tried many over the years but none as thick as Vichy Ideal Body Balm.
(P.S. That’s a good thing. Me loves a thick body balm).
It caught my eye with its pink jar. It wooed me with his lovely floral scent. And it won my heart with its super moisturizing power.
Here’s everything you need to know about it:
What’s In Vichy Idealia Body Balm?
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM TO MOISTURISE SKIN
I know, I know. This isn’t what you wanted to see at the top of the list. But, it works. It creates a barrier on the skin that locks moisture in. No chance of it escaping and drying out your skin with this one playing guard.
Plus, it’s not even dangerous. Ok, it’s derived from oil, which isn’t something you’d want anywhere near your skin. But, before you can put it in a cream, it has to be purified. During this process, all that bad, toxic stuff is removed.
What’s left behind is a super moisturizing substance that keeps even the driest of skin soft and smooth for hours.
SHEA BUTTER TO STRENGTHEN THE SKIN’S PROTECTIVE BARRIER
This is more like it, isn’t it?
Shea butter is derived from the fruits of the shea tree. It’s full of hydrating fatty acids, including oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and linolenic acid. You know, all that good stuff that moisturizes skin.
Shea butter creates a barrier on the skin that prevents water loss, too. It does this better than mineral oil, which derms consider the gold standard for moisturizing skin.
Plus, it may have antioxidant properties, too.
Related: Why I Love Shea Butter
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SOIDUM HYALURONATE TO HYDRATE SKIN
One of the best humectants out there. Humectants is a fancy way of calling anything that can draw water from the environment into the skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate (a form of Hyaluronic Acid) does it amazingly well. It binds up to 1000 times its weight in water, both in high and low humidity conditions.
It’s like a waterfall of moisture for your skin.
P.S. It doesn’t play alone here. Glycerin does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
Texture.
Thick. It takes a few minutes to absorb.
Fragrance
Floral and subtle.
How To Use It
Apply it straight after a shower. A little goes a long way.
Performance& Personal Opinion
Vichy Ideal Body Balm has a thick texture that spreads on the skin like a dream. It doesn’t sink in immediately but if your skin’s as dry as mine, it’ll thirstily lap it up quickly. It isn’t sticky so you can just put it on and get dressed.
It’s super, super moisturizing. I put it on in the morning and, by the time I hit the pillow at night, my skin’s still as soft and smooth as a baby’s.
Plus, it soothes skin and relives that annoying itch. If you have dry skin, you know what I’m talking about.
There really isn’t much else to say about this. It works. Period.
Who Is This For?
Dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
- Acne-prone skin
- Combination skin
- Normal skin
- Oily skin
Packaging
A huge pink jar. Not the most hygienic, but the most practical for such a thick balm.
Does Vichy Idealia Body Balm Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| A skin firming body balm formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, LHA and 10 essential oils for the body, including jojoba oil, sunflower oil, rose hip oil, apricot kernel oil. | Mostly true. It has all this stuff, but it can’t firm skin. |
| See firmer, smoother, more radiant skin. | Skin is smoother and radiant, but not firmer. |
Price & Availability
£18.00 at Look Fantastic
Do You Need It?
If you have Sahara-dry skin, yes!
Dupes & Alternatives
- Lancome Nutrix Royal Body (£41.00)
Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zeamays, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Alcohol Denat., Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Myristyl Esters, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Zea Mays Oil, Tin Oxide, Ci 15985, Ci 77891, Ci 77491, Cera Microcristallina, Stearic Acid, Paraffin, Mica, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Tristearate, Ribes Nigrum Oil, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Coriandrum Sativum Oil, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ammoniumpolyacryldimethyltauramide, Disodiumedta, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Oil, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Parfum, Code F.I.L. C168232/1.
