AD – GIFTED | One of the best things about working from home is that I don’t have to wear make up every day. Only for Zoom meetings, so I don’t frighten my colleagues… But going bare-faced is only an option for me if my skin looks good, which is why my top skincare must have is a really effective face serum. What are the face serum benefits? Well, because they’re made with very small molecules in a high concentration fluid of active ingredients, your skin absorbs a face serum much faster and more efficiently than even the lightest moisturiser. So I was thrilled to receive the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops™, a lightweight, non-comedogenic, hydrating serum* that claims to leave skin feeling fresh, smooth and hydrated. Backed by science, and specifically designed to address a myriad of skin concerns, it sounds and looks amazing – but does it work?
Contents [hide]
- 1 Who are Obagi?
- 1.1 What are the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops?
- 1.2 Obagi Daily Hydro Drops benefits and ingredients
- 1.3 Obagi Daily Hydro Drops – how to use
- 1.4 Obagi Daily Hydro Drops face serum – does it work?
- 1.5 Obagi Daily Hydro Drops face serum – worth it?
Who are Obagi?
Founded in the US in 1988, Obagi creates skincare products to target the visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and hyper-pigmentation, as well as specific treatments for acne and sun protection. The company says, Our products are not tested on animals, and all Obagi products that are not prescription-strength are cruelty free.” And this includes one of their newest and most popular products, the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops.*
What are the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops?
Pure Obagi, the non-prescription arm of Obagi, believes that skincare is more than just correcting or preventing, it’s about unleashing your skin’s full potential. And this is reflected in their range of skincare products supporting different skin types (acne-prone, combination, dry, mature, oily, sensitive). With this in mind, their Daily Hydro Drops face serum uses Isoplentix microfluid technology to suspend the purest forms of Vitamin B3, Abyssinian oil and Hibiscus oils separately in a fluid serum. These little floating golden spheres of oil burst upon contact with your skin, allowing for instant absorption for a more radiant, healthy-looking glow with continued use. Hypoallergenic, dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops are free from emulsifiers, which means they’re suitable for sensitive or irritated skin too.
Obagi Daily Hydro Drops benefits and ingredients
The three ingredients that make the real difference in this cocktail of beneficial fluid are Hibiscus Oil, Abyssinian Oil, and Meadowfoam Seed Oil.
- Hibiscus oil is rich in anti-ageing and free radical-fighting antioxidants. The native flower of Malaysia, Hibiscus is incredibly moisturising, leaving skin feeling hydrated and looking radiant. Hibiscus oil is also rich in natural acids that gently exfoliate your skin and boost cell renewal.
- Abyssinian oil contains an abundance of beneficial nutrients, including Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, plus Vitamins A, B, C and E which help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. Lightweight in texture, Abyssinian Oil provides intense hydration without feeling greasy or blocking pores, thanks to its non-comedogenic properties.
- Non-greasy Meadowfoam seed oil creates a protective seal when applied topically, smoothing skin and locking in moisture, without blocking pores, It’s rich in the beneficial long-chain fatty acids that support the skin’s natural barrier function, retaining moisture, as well as protecting against free radicals, UV damage and other environmental factors.
I’m not going to pretend to understand all the other ingredients but, in the interests of a thorough review, here’s the full list:
- Water (aqua), Propanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl isononanoate, Butylene glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) seed oil, Pentylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Castor oil/IPDI copolymer, Parfum, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Crambe abyssinica seed oil, Hibiscus sabdariffa seed oil, Octocrylene, Disodium EDTA, Sodium hydroxide, Cellulose gum, Homosalate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Tocopherol, Amodimethicone, Beta-carotene (CI 40800), Green 6 (CI 61565), Violet 2 (CI 60725).
Obagi Daily Hydro Drops – how to use
I’ve written before about why using oil for all skin types, including oily skin, makes perfect sense. Oil treats oil, so the right oils can actually help, especially when contained in a higher water content fluid. Anyway, Obagi recommend using their Daily Hydro Drops morning and evening after cleansing. Thanks to the innovative pump action dispenser, you are in control of the exact amount of fluid that you need. Personally, I’ve found one pump sufficient to cover my entire face, neck and décolletage as it disperses so easily. As with previous serums, I’ve found the Daily Hydro Drops work best on damp skin, after I’ve used my beloved PMD Clean PRO facial cleansing brush.
Although the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops offer gentle all-day hydration, they don’t contain a sunscreen, so you need to let the serum absorb before applying sunscreen in the morning. And although serums aren’t designed to replace a moisturiser, you may find you don’t need to use a moisturiser after the Drops – I don’t use one in the mornings now, just at night.
Obagi Daily Hydro Drops face serum – does it work?
The Daily Hydro Drops face serum claims to provide a “pick-me-up” from a dull, lacklustre complexion, firming, lifting and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for hydrated, healthy-looking skin. Before I talk about whether or not it works, can we please take a moment to admire the gorgeous glass bottle and how pretty the suspended oil droplets look? (Flora thought they looked like fish eggs, but she’s still young so…)
As previously mentioned, the pump action dropper allows you to dispense as much or as little of the 30ml fluid as you need. And I have to confess, when I tried the serum for the first time I was completely wowed. It has a delicate, fresh, slightly floral fragrance that smells wonderful. And the fluid glides over my skin, absorbing quickly with no tacky feeling afterwards. My skin still feels like my skin, only better. Silkier, smoother, and plumper. Not only that, but it actually looks healthier, brighter, and more glowy. There’s no doubt that this is the best serum for glowing skin, improving my skin texture, and making my make-up free days easier than ever. If you’re looking for an easy glow up, this gorgeous serum is an incredible addition to any daily skincare routine. And with Skinimalism the new and upcoming beauty trend, it’s great timing too.
Obagi Daily Hydro Drops face serum – worth it?
The full range of Obagi non-prescriptive products are available to buy from Pure Obagi and selected online stores. And the price tag for the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops face serum is around £70.00. If you think that’s expensive, can I posit that you could pay that for a pair of shoes to wear once or twice a week. But you wear your skin every day. Putting this into more perspective, I’ve been using the Obagi Daily Hydro Drops twice daily for four weeks now and you can clearly see how much product is left in the bottle. A little goes a very long way. (Also, please excuse the elementary blogging fail of not taking pictures BEFORE I started using the product!) So yes, I believe it’s affordable luxury skincare that’s worth every penny. And more importantly, I think you’re worth it too, don’t you?
Have you ever tried a face serum as part of your skincare routine? Do you think you’d like to try one now? What are your skincare go-tos and must-haves that you can’t face the day without?
* This post features gifted items but all opinions are my own. Please see my Disclaimer for more details.
