Now that that is out of the way, lets get on with it. First of all, I am elated that Borghese even wanted to send me anything. They are one of the brands I have always been curious about, but never tried. My grandma used a lot of their cosmetics back in the day and I think she was even more excited than I was.
They sent me three products from their Hydrology line. This line is all about water and maintaining the skin's moisture level. I am all about that this time of year. Here is what Borghese says of the products:
"Hydrology was developed to help maintain skin's proper moisture level and support its healthy, normal function. Suitable for women of all ages and skin types."
I can vouch for that. My skin tends to be combination/oily, and not one of these products make my skin feel greasy.
The active ingredient in this line is called Intelli-Quench3 Complex, to simply IQ3. IQ3 is packed with ingredients that do amazing things for skin, including hyaluronic acid, plant stem cells, antioxidants, and sea extracts. Each ingredient works together to protect and hydrate the skin.
I am going to include the prices in case you are interested in any of the products. They are available on the Kohls website. =) They are not budget friendly by any means, but certainly much cheaper than I was expecting.
1.) Reclaim Gel to Oil Cleanser $24 for 4 oz
This dual phase cleanser is designed to melt away makeup and dirt while hydrating and illuminating the skin. It is allergy tested, paraben free, and clinically tested. This is an okay product, but I am not really in love with it. I think if you only wear tinted moisturizer or a very lightweight foundation, it would work great for you. I always double cleanse my face, but when I use this I still have foundation coming off when I use toner. That doesn't happen when I use my Simple Micellar Cleansing Water or Burts Bees Cleansing Oil. However, I do love the fact that this is not greasy at all. It does not leave behind a film and it isn't heavy. This is only thing I wouldn't purchase, but I like enough to keep using. Oh, and it does have a fragrance, I don't mind it, and I even find it pleasant. I don't know how to describe it, other than it is similar to many other high end skincare scents. It just isn't overpowering.
2.) Relluminate Facial Oil $30 for 1 oz
I love this stuff! According to Borghese, it replenishes, boosts moisture, and soothes and protects the skin. It absorbs far more quickly than any other facial oil I have tried. This is lightweight and provides light hydration. A little goes a very long way. 4-5 drops is all you need. I use it morning and night after toning. I can see myself buying it. This is also paraben free. I didn't notice any fragrance with this.
3.) ReAffirm Day Fluide Broad Spectrum SPF 15 $27 for 1.7 oz
I have mixed feelings about this product. It works very well as a moisturizer because it is hydrating, but lightweight. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin greasy. I don't like that it is only an SPF 15. I always prefer an SPF 30 or higher. I am also on the fence about a couple of the ingredients, although they are considered safe: Avobenzone and Oxybenzone. Some recent studies have come out that question their safety, but there is not a ton of evidence. Chances are we can use these and never experience any issues, unless you bathe in the stuff everyday. I just want you guys to be as informed as possible. If you want to see the sites I read to get my information, they can be found here and here. I like this product enough to consider buying it after this bottle. I have had no problems, and it does an excellent job at preparing my skin for foundation.
I love the packaging for this collection. The blue and white color scheme is simple, but has a fresh and elegant feel to them. The bottles for the oil and day fluid are made out of glass, while the oil comes in a standard squeeze tube.
Other than the gel to oil cleanser and a couple of the ingredients from the Day Fluide, I love the Hydrology line and I would like to try more from it. I noticed that there is an eye cream and serum, so I may buy them to try out. Next time you are in Kohl's, check out Borghese. I really want to try out their Fango masks, too.
