Loreal Ideal Moisture Normal Skin Day Lotion SPF25｜Drugstore Price For Department Store Quality

OK! Let's cut the long story short. I really wasn't suppose to purchase this because there are about 21378934953 other face lotions piling up in my drawer. But, I have to admit that it's all for the guilty pleasure of ripping out new packaging, and the result is for the new L'Oreal Ideal Moisture Normal Skin Day Lotion SPF25 ($6.99 for 118 ml) to mysteriously (not really) pop up in my hands.

Part of the new L'Oreal Ideal Collection of facial cleansing and moisturizing products, this oil free lotion promises a whopping 48 hours hydration and broad spectrum sun protection.

Infused with a powerful floral fragrance, this is less than ideal for sensitive skin or anyone who dislikes heavy scents.

The user friendly packaging is extremely simple to use but a bit difficult to control the portion that comes out.

Its creamy texture is surprisingly lightweight and easy to spread. The high moisturizing content is quite obvious while working the lotion over the skin. This is very different from the typical cream products that are often thick and heavy. 

1. My bare face with only skincare products.
   
2. Apply the day lotion all over the face. For the best sun protection, reapply a second layer of the same lotion after 5 minutes.

3. The oil free formula still leaves somewhat of a greasy and sticky finish that doesn't disappear anytime soon. You may want to blot away the excess oil if no other makeup products will be applied.

4. Top it off with a foundation, and there should be no trace of the lotion underneath.

5. Set the foundation with a powdered product.

6. After about 3 hours, the lotion is still providing ample hydration for my skin to keep it from turning into a disco ball. However, I'm starting to see a bit of shine on my t-zone.

And finally at around the 6 hours mark, my skin's natural oil is peaking through. I can't agree on the claim of 48 hours of continued moisturization, but this is nonetheless an effective lotion that provides decent hydration for most of the day.

Overall, you really get the bang for the buck with this product. At less than 7 dollars, this huge tube should lasts for many months. The creamy lotion feels like a skincare treatment on the skin and contributes a modest amount of UVA/UVB sun protection. Although not at holy grail status, this moisturizing lotion should be comfortable for anyone with normal and combination skin. For extremely oily skin, this may be just a little lacking but is still a great choice if you are searching for a budget friendly day cream. And worthy to mention is the sheer consistency, which allows the natural skin to breath through effortless.

Have you encountered a product that delivers day long hydration? Would you believe L'Oreal's claim or is it just a marketing technique? Leave your thoughts in the comments.   ~Angela