This article contains affiliate links* and PR samplesº My favourite Euro indie brand has brought out two new moisturisers, and of course I had to try them! So, today I am sharing my review of the two new Geek & Gorgeous moisturisers, Hydration Station and Happier Barrier!
Geek & Gorgeous has been around for a few years now, carefully and patiently developing one skincare hit after another. I really like the fact that they take their time when it comes to any product launch, despite being oh so excited for their promised sunscreen to finally grace our shelves! So far, the G&G lineup was lacking in creams and gels, with serums making up the bulk of the products.
But ah, no more! Just last month, two brand new Geek & Gorgeous moisturisers hit their webshop,* and I was lucky enough to get to try them out these past few weeks. Hydration Station, the lighter of the two creams, promises insta hydration and a pleasantly light texture, while Happier Barrier was formulated to target dry skin type problems such as flakiness and a compromised skin barrier.
In order to help you choose the right G&G moisturiser for your specific skincare needs, I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts on these two. And if reading isn’t your thing, you can also watch my review video on YouTube:
Alright, let’s dig into all you need to know about Hydration Station and Happier Barrier!
Geek & Gorgeous Moisturisers: Hydration Station Review
Hydration Station was formulated with combo to oily skin in mind, therefore it is the lighter of the two moisturiser formulas. I was instantly drawn to its super comfortable, slightly cooling gel texture, which is just right for my mature combo skin.
This gel cream contains 5% glycerin – an often underrated, super reliable and well-tolerated humectant – plus 1% Ectoin. Now, Ectoin is surprisingly unknown in the global skincare community and rarely highlighted as a key ingredient. A pity, given that it is so incredibly versatile, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and emollient (skin-softening) qualities!
Apart from the hydrating glycerin, Hydration Station also contains a humectant sugar molecule trio, plus Isosorbide Dicaprylate, another hydrator which also improves the skin’s ability to hold onto water, thus slowing down transepidermal water loss. Additionally, bisabolol and Allantoin soothe and calm down irritated, sensitive skin.
Here is the full list of ingredients for Hydration Station:
“Water, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Ectoin, Xylitylglucoside, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Glucose, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.”
Hydration Station is free from any ethanol/alcohol or fragrance, as are indeed all Geek & Gorgeous products!
I really enjoy the texture of this moisturiser so much! Geek & Gorgeous has always been elite when it comes to creating affordable skincare that still manages to feel elegant and comfortable, and Hydration Station is no exception here.
Despite being a gel-type moisturiser, this still feels rich and nourishing, without being too sticky or too rich. The gel base has a creamy-smooth quality to it, feeling more “compact” and not as watery-flimsy as skincare gels sometimes can. Thus, this is a great moisturiser not just for oily or younger skin types, Hydration Station also works great for us mature combo skin types that still uncomfortably teeter between first wrinkles and last pimples.
This gel moisturiser has no discernible scent and is definitely on the minimalist side, so if you enjoy something super elegant, complex and more luxurious, maybe Hydration Station will disappoint you a bit. However, if you prefer simplistic, function-based skincare that focuses on the importance of fulfilling the basic needs of your skin, this is such a wonderful moisturiser choice! It leaves my skin feeling and looking very relaxed, plump and noticeably well-hydrated. This never broke me out or felt like too much, neither did it seem too little for my mature combo skin.
Now, Hydration Station is definitely more hydrating than moisturising, and thus only suitable for dryness issues if those aren’t too extreme, maybe as a summer moisturiser for dry skin. For anyone with dehydrated, normal to oily skin and those of you who prefer gel textures, Hydration Station will satisfy all your basic hydration needs.
And, did I mention that the 50ml bottle is also really affordable? You can purchase Hydration Station through the Geek & Gorgeous online shop* for only €8.80, that’s roughly $9!
Geek & Gorgeous Moisturisers: Happier Barrier Review
Happier Barrier is the richer moisturiser out of the new G&G cream duo, with a more nourishing formula strongly on the emollient side. As the name suggests, Happier Barrier focuses on skin barrier repair and healthy skin barrier maintenance, with ingredients that mimic and/or replenish the natural lipid barrier of the skin.
The key ingredient which lends this silky cream its richness is 7% squalane, an oil-like substance usually won from olives that is very similar to the natural composition of our skin’s oils. Thus, squalane tends to be well-tolerated even by oilier or sensitive skin types. Squalane also feels less sticky-rich than plant oils and sinks into skin faster overall.
Here is the full list of ingredients for the Geek & Gorgeous Happier Barrier moisturiser:
“Water, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Ceramide NG, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.”
Apart from the squalane, Happier Barrier also contains a lipid mixture that resembles the lipid barrier of the skin, plus ceramides, which are also a natural part of the skin barrier and keep our skin supple and smooth. This moisturiser also contains green tea extract, rich in polyphenols, plant compounds known for their high antioxidant content. Green tea extract also soothes skin and combats premature aging caused by UV ray damage (it is not a sunscreen though!). Of course, just like Hydration Station, Happier Barrier is free from alcohol or fragrance.
So, Happier Barrier is very noticeably richer than Hydration Station, a silky-smooth cream that feels very nourishing when applied to the skin. It reminds me a bit of the Cica “barrier creams” that many Korean brands have brought out, enveloping skin with an emollient, supple barrier to prevent hydration loss. This richness, however, does mean that Happier Barrier takes a bit more time to fully sink into skin compared to Hydration Station. Indeed, I felt that overall this cream was maybe just a tad too rich for my skincare needs, and I tend to mostly use it at night, when I don’t mind wait times as much.
Just like Hydration Station, this is a minimalist, simple formula that focuses on delivering nourishing, moisturising and skin barrier supporting benefits to the skin. I would not necessarily recommend this moisturiser for oilier skin types, even if you have skin barrier issues – Hydration Station will work just as well in calming down inflammation that causes barrier sensitivities in my opinion. Oilier skin will most likely find the texture too much, and I’m a bit worried that it could even lead to breakouts if you’re prone to them from richer formulas.
Truly, Happier Barrier works best for dryer skin types, or if you feel your skin is highly sensitised or damaged. Happier Barrier could also be a great moisturiser choice for you if you want to protect your skin from extreme winter weather, and if your skin tends to get very dehydrated in dry, cold climates. Just, be aware that for anyone with less than dry skin, the cream texture takes a bit to sink in compared to Hydration Station.
You can purchase Happier Barrier through the Geek & Gorgeous online shop*, where the 50ml tube retails at €10.80, which is roughly around $11!
Geek & Gorgeous Moisturisers: Which One Do I Prefer?
I think it has become pretty clear which of the two Geek & Gorgeous moisturisers I prefer! To me, Hydration Station is the slightly superior formula overall, but then I have to also stress that my skin type is combo to slightly oily, so Happier Barrier simply is a bit too rich for me. Hydration Station sinks in so fast and so thoroughly that it’s such a joy to use, leaving my skin smooth and plump.
Both Geek & Gorgeous moisturisers are very impressive products, especially at that low price point! They will work for a variety of skin types, plus I feel men will love them thanks to that unisex/genderless branding.
Let me know in the comments: Which Geek & Gorgeous moisturiser would you prefer to try out and why?
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°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.
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