Product of The Day: Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

Great skincare proves its worth within a week. While experts say that you must try a product for a month to really find out its efficacy, you can get a fair idea in a week or so. Chanel’s new Hydra Beauty Micro Serum is one of those products, which proves its efficacy in a few days of usage. It hydrates very well and can easily be used in place of moisturiser in this heat. Use only less than a pea-sized drop. I used a large amount the first time and the texture felt quite tacky on my skin. But when you use a tiny amount, it’s great, because it absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling moist - not oily.  

The first four ingredients listed are water, glycerine, propanediol, and butylene glycol. Water and glycerine are quite obvious and will provide hydration (duh), but I had to research the other two ingredients a bit. Propanediol has moisturising properties, but in addition, it also helps other ingredients get absorbed into the skin better. So, if you were using an AHA or antioxidant cream over this, it would be more effective. I sometimes dab my Zelens Power D Serum over this and find that they work well together and don’t feel heavy. I also wear my Obagi vitamin C serum serum first and then top it up with this product, and that feels very comfortable too.

The fourth ingredient is butylene glycol, which some people find a bit suspicious because it is derived from petroleum. However the FDA has approved this ingredient not just for application but consumption in food too. Butylene glycol also helps ingredients absorb into the skin because of its low molecular weight, plus, it’s known to hydrate the skin. 

In terms of texture, this is a transparent gel that feels ultralight. Buy this product if you want intense moisturisation that doesn’t feel tacky or sticky. It sits very comfortably under other layers of skincare and makeup. Of course its pricey (30ml for ₹7,000), but it will last at least a few months, as only a tiny amount is required. I prefer this serum to the Hydra Beauty Cream only because I find it more versatile, and it leaves my skin feeling plump and quenched.