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I admit the Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream felt a little out of season for me when I received it, given that we are heading into winter here and most of my water based lightweight textures have been rotated out until next spring.
But as the brand is Australian it makes more sense – they are headed into summer now! And if you have ever visited Australia, you will know that depending on the region there, more lightweight textures are a good idea year round. (My last visit to Australia was 2012 and lasted only two weeks, so I haven‘t really seen much of it.)
Testing the cream over a prolonged period of time though showed me I was assuming something that didn’t end up being entirely true – I will get to that in a bit.
What the Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream claims
A luxurious water-based formula that provides intense hydration to last up to 5 days for an instantly plumper, bouncier-looking complexion that lasts.
Facts about the Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream
Prize and size
One pot made from frosted glass contains 50 ml and is available for 51 € on the website here. It is fragrance and essential oil free. (More info: Is fragrance in your skincare dangerous?)
Texture and smell
Although it looks and feels like your average gel moisturizer in the pot, it has more body than expected when you spread it on the skin. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t heavy by any means, but not one of the products that just disappears. The color is baby blue and the scent warm and sweet a little like roasted almonds.
How to use the Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream
While I initially thought, this would be more of a summer or morning product for me, after a while using it I have to admit it is more versatile than I thought. The richness it has on my skin made it comfortable for using it in the evenings on Non-Tretinoin nights, yet it was still lightweight enough to add another layer of hydration in the mornings underneath my sunscreen now that it is colder. (More info: How to use Tretinoin with minimal irritation)
My skin has a grown-up glow, it looks fresh, but not sweaty, and while it has some tackiness, it isn’t much and never caused any issues with pilling with products used underneath or on top.
Ingredients of the Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream
sii|h 0 0, Squalane 
sii|emo 0 1, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Betaine h, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer vc, Panthenol so|h 0 0, C13-15 Alkane solv|emo, Xylitylglucoside h, Anhydroxylitol h, Mentha Australis (River Mint) Leaf Extract, Urea sii|h, Trehalose h, Xylitol h, Allantoin so 0 0, Sorbitan Isostearate emu 0 1–2, Citric Acid buff, Malachite Extract aox, Glucose h, Sodium Phytate chel, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Serine sii, Biosaccharide Gum-1 so|h, Erythritol h, Disodium Phosphate buff, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin vc 4 4, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Potassium Sorbate pres, Potassium Phosphate buff, Sodium Anisate amic, Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Red Sorrel) Fruit ExtractHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
The High Tide cream combines quite a few different humectants, some more common ones like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate, others less frequently used like Urea, Xylitglucoside, Trehalose and other sugars.
You will also find Panthenol and Allantoin for soothing and wound healing, Squalane as emollient and the Pullulan, a polymer that dissolves in water and films a thin, flexible moisture barrier that can give a tightening feel to the skin – probably why I perceive it as having more body than I initially thought. (More info: The benefits of Panthenol in skincare explained)
The added plant extracts, Australian River Mint and Hibiscus Fruit Extract, do offer antioxidant benefits, but aren’t among the ones you regularly hear about.
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It is quite hydrating and that hydration lasts throughout the day. If it would last 5 days I can‘t say, I don‘t usually go that long without washing my face.
How does it compare to…
Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel
Just from looking at it in the pot, I assumed Alpha-H would be similar to this one, which is a lovely lightweight gel I love in the summer. Alpha-H has more body though and is better suited for drier skin types.
Murad contains ceramides as well as sh-oligopeptides, but no Panthenol.
You can read my full review of the Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel here.
107 Everyday Plump Hydro Cream
The Everyday Plump Hydro Cream looks much richer in the pot than it feels on the skin, so it is more like the one from Alpha-H once applied. It is marketed towards dry skin, but my combination skin gets on with it really well during the colder months, so don‘t dismiss it if your skin isn‘t.
In terms of ingredients it contains fermented vinegar (which is the brands thing) as well as Panthenol, Allantoin and Beta-Glucan for soothing, similar humectants as Alpha-H and Squalane as emollient.
You can read my full review of the 107 Everyday Plump Hydro Cream here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend it to?
Overall it is quite pricey, but offers more than you probably would expect. It manages to be lightweight, but at the same time rich enough to make the skin feel hydrated. I still am unsure if I would repurchase – I like it, but it takes a lot for me to be faithful to a moisturizer.
While I don’t think it is the best for very oily skin, combination or normal to dry skins will enjoy it.
Shop Alpha-H skincare here
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