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There is no denying that fall is well and truly upon us. The leaves change color, there is a chill in the air in the mornings and sooner or later we will have to turn the heating back on. I am more of a “sooner” person in that regard, given that I am cold whenever temperatures drop below 24 degrees, but so far environmental concerns have stopped me. At least that is what I like to tell myself: For environmental reasons.
Truth be told: Equally important is the fact that, once the heating is on, all the moisture will be sucked out of my skin, turning my face into “patchy foundation land”. To prepare for that day (because WINTER IS COMING) let me introduce you to the Instytutum Flawless Hydra Mist and the Instytutum Hydrafusion 4D HA Hydrating Water Burst Cream.
Both are designed to provide long term hydration while being lightweight and soothing, perfect for skin that prefers to act up whenever the seasons change.
But let´s look at them individually.
Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist
What the Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist claims
The cloudlike Flawless Hydra Mist instantly absorbs and quenches dull and dry skin with ultimate hydration, relieves dryness and provides a luminous, dewy, youthful complexion. Perfect for travel and use over makeup several times during the day.
Some facts about the Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist
Prize and size
One bottle contains 100 ml and retails for 45 $ on their homepage. The mist is very fine and the spray nozzle works just as well after six weeks than it did when I started using it. The bottle does not leak when you travel. I notice no scent and Instytutum states that the pH is at 5,5.
How to use the Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist
Instytutum recommends to spray the mist several times a day to provide instant hydration or use it as a toning step before your moisturizer. I actually prefer the latter, as I am not convinced that a face mist throughout the day without anything on top will actually help with dehydration. That doesn’t mean I never spritz it throughout the day though: It works amazing at freshening up the skin when your makeup looks a little worn and you want a fresh face, but no strong glow.
Used as a toning step I like the extra hydration and the soothing ingredients, so I often reach for it on retinol nights to help my skin with the irritation.
Ingredients of the Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist
Favorable ingredients
- Panthenol: B 5, humectant, penetrates into deep layers of skin, moisturizing, antiinflammatory
- Allantoin: Aminoacid, soothing irritated skin
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: Antiinflammatory, soothing
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration
- Biosaccharide Gum-1: Humectant
- Biosaccharide Gum-4: Humectant
- Pantolactone: Humectant
Other ingredients
- Phenoxyethanol: Preservative
- Disodium EDTA: Binding Agent
- Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative
- Sodium Hydroxide: pH adjuster
- Citric Acid: AHA/pH adjuster
Humectants and Panthenol, Allantoin and Aloe Leaf Juice for soothing.
Instytutum Hydrating Water Burst Cream
What the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream claims
The innovative lightweight gel-cream texture breaks open upon application for a burst of moisture, a hydrating overdose and so much more.
Some facts about the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream
Prize and size
One pot of the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream contains 50 ml and retails for 65 $ on their website here. The cream is blue in color, a little richer than your average gel and smells fresh.
Ingredients of the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream
Favorable ingredients
- Glycerin: Humectant
- Squalane: Occlusive, non-oily oil, natural in skin
- Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus armeniaca): Emollient, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Butylene Glycol: Humectant, penetration enhancer
- Undecane: Emollient
- Tridecane: Emollient
- Tocopheryl Acetate: More stable form of Vitamin E, antioxidant
- Panthenol: B 5, humectant, penetrates into deep layers of skin, moisturizing, antiinflammatory
- Hydrolized Jojoba Esters: Emollients
- Disodium Adenosine Triphosphat: Part of cell communication, soothing
- Pentylene Glycol: Humectant
- Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride:Occlusive, antioxidant
- Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract: Enzymatic exfoliant due to Papain, rich in Vitamin C
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer: Humectant, five times as effective as sodium hyaluronate
- Pantolactone: Humectant
- Ascorbyl palmitate: Vitamin C ester
- Hydrolized Sodium Hyaluronate: Fractured for deeper penetration, humectant
- Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate (a tripeptide marketed as Syn-Hycan), which has been shown to have biological activity by boosting the production of hyauronan (HA). HA is a very important molecule for the hydration of the skin, however the levels of HA in the body decrease as the body ages. It has also been claimed that TAUT stimulates the production of the proteins decorin and lumican. Decorin and lumican provide collagen fibres with greater structural support by binding the fibres together, to give the skin a fuller and firmer look
- Magnesium Chloride: Mineral, good for topical application
- Ascorbic Acid: reduces hyperpigmentation, important for collagen production, antioxidant
- Tocopherol: Antioxidant, reduces hyperpigmentation and improves skins elasticity
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil:Rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid, anti-inflammatory
Other ingredients
- Sodium Acrylates Copolymer: Emulsifier
- Phenoxyethanol: Preservative
- Lecithin: Emulsifier
- Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative
- Disodium EDTA: Binding Agent
- Sclerotium Gum: Gel like thickener
- Algin: Stabilizer
- Sodium Hydroxide: pH adjuster
- Benzyl Alcohol: Preservative
- Citric Acid: AHA/pH adjuster
Unfavorable ingredients
- Fragrance
- Alcohol
- Linalool, Limonene, Citronellal
- Benzyl Salicylacte: fragrance extracted from essential oil
- Alpha – Isomethyl Ionone: Fragrance, potentially irritant
- Blue 1 (CI 42090)
- Violet 2 (CI 60730)
Humectants, emollients, a few occlusives, Vitamin E, Vitamin C (but very low down the ingredient list). Also soothing Panthenol and Squalane and to distinguish it from your regular moisturizer: Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate (or Syn-Hycan), a peptide that aims to increase hydration and improve the quality of collagen fibers build in your skin.
Red flags for some might be the added fragrance (both as in fragrance and as fragrant components of essential oils), colorants and alcohol.
Do they live up to their claims?
Yes.
Both are hydrating and soothing.
How do they compare to…
The pixi Glow Mist
The Instyutum Hydra Flawless Mist is lighter than the pixi Glow Mist (or the pixi Rose Glow Mist) due to the fact that it does not contain any oils. The finish it gives when applied over makeup is also much more natural and less “glowy” compared to the pixi Mists, which is a major win for me.
I would also say that it is better suited at sensitive skin, as it does not contain any essential oils or fragrance.
Read my full review of the pixi Glow Mist here and of the pixi Rose Glow Mist here.
The pixi pHenomenal Gel
I admit that the only quality where the pixi pHenomenal Gel and the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream are similar is the texture, but I thought that this was worth noting. If you enjoy the pixi pHenomenal Gel in texture, you will love this one as well. But while the pixi pHenomenal Gel is aimed at soothing and balancing the skin, the Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream is much better at hydrating and probably not the best if your skin is already upset.
Read my full review of the pixi pHenomenal Gel here.
The Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel
Well, the name does sound pretty similar, and both are gel textures that target dehydrated skin. The Murad version is lighter than the Instytutum Water Burst Cream though, and uses different peptides as well as ceramides. Oh, and it is pink, not blue, so that will make a huge difference in your Instagram pictures! Jokes aside, I think the Murad Water Gel is better suited for oily skins and hot summer months, while the Instytutum Water Burst Cream will be better for normal to slightly drier skin types.
Read my full review of the Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel here.
Would I repurchase?
No.
As much as I enjoy the Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist (and I do, I am already halfway through my bottle), I think it is pretty expensive for what it is. Yes, it is a beautifully formulated face mist with a very fine spray, but a face mist can only do so much for your skin, so I wouldn´t be willing to spend 45 $ on it.
The Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream on the other had is much more reasonably priced. Yes, it still is expensive, but if you have money to spend and want some extras from your cream, I think it is worth purchasing. For me personally though something a little lighter is preferred when I want a gel, so I will stick with Murads offer.
Who do I recommend it to?
I recommend the Instytutum Hydrafusion Water Burst Cream to people looking for a hydrating gel that are more on the normal to dry side skinwise and, given the price and the added peptides, are no longer in their twenties. The Instytutum Hydra Flawless Mist is no must-have, as lovely as it is.
