Vichy Laboratories has been a recognized pioneer in optimizing skincare for nearly 77 years and is the #1 skincare brand in Europe. Vichy offers a wide selection of all natural, allergy-tested products. One of the main ingredients, Vichy Thermal Spa Water, contains 15 mineral salts and trace elements that dermatologists claim have tremendous positive effects on the skin. For someone who has dry, ultra-sensitive skin, this all sounds mighty impressive. European favorite? Check. Water that is filtered through the earth’s volcanic layers? Check. Allergy-tested and no breakouts? Check. Really pretty packaging? Check!

In the past, my problematic skin has led me to purchase a vast amount of products claiming to be the absolute best, the solution to all of my skin problems. I’ve tried both drugstore brands and luxury brands, products ranging from as affordable as $5.99 to a less than affordable $59.99. I have caked my face in all kinds of outrageous extracts and substances. Once I even bought mud in a jar (yes, MUD in a jar!) – but not just any mud. It was straight out of the Dead Sea and the removal process involved a special magnet that I had to swipe across my face. Besides being not at all pleasant, my wallet and face were not impressed.

When I learned about Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal products, my interest was piqued. Vichy holds a strong and long-standing reputation and it’s high-end without being astonishingly expensive. Certainly, it’s not the most affordable in the market but I was curious enough to find out if the price was worth the results.

The first product I sampled was Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Eyes.

Being 30 years old means 8-10 hours of sleep is a thing of the very distant past. I’m lucky if I can squeeze in 6 hours of solid sleep. Any less results in tired, puffy, dark circles under my eyes. Although I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I resemble an extra from the movie Dawn of The Dead, I’m at least halfway there!

Aqualia Thermal Eyes needs to be applied twice every day. Luckily, it comes in a compact tube that fits in my makeup kit. Not only that, it’s gentle enough to use even when I’m wearing my contacts. It has a gel-like consistency that’s cool to the touch. Vichy says that this product has natural ingredients (in addition to the Thermal Spa Water) that will help de-puff, soothe and fortify the tissues.

After two weeks of consistent use, I am thrilled to report that I have had very positive results. The darkness and puffiness have subsided. My eyes look a little more lively and a touch more youthful. And although I still don’t get more than 5-6 hours of sleep, I look as well-rested as any girl who enjoys an 8-hour long beauty sleep every night.

Next up was the Aqualia Thermal Cream 24-hour Fortifying Moisturizer.

The first thing I do when I test out a new skin product is to take a nice long whiff. Anything with a strong fragrance tends to get a big “Oh, hell no!” from my skin. For us girls with sensitive skin, we know fragrance usually means a break out, itchy skin, and/or that stingy feeling. It’s generally uncomfortable. The Aqualia Thermal Cream did have a fragrance but it was subtle, fresh and even kind of pleasant. With that, I let it pass my whiff test. But when I put it on my face and lay in bed, I immediately felt a soothing sensation. It was comfortable and cool once again but I didn’t start feeling real results until about 1 week in. With continued use, my skin feels softer, hydrated and looks brighter. The only downside? After applying, you might want to wash your hands before you start playing games on your iPhone. It took almost 5 minutes for me to wipe down my slippery phone.

These Vichy Aqualia products and others are available in participating retailers or online at: www.vichyusa.com