An Essential Summer Duo from Vichy Idéal Soleil | AD-Gifted

5 years of waiting for an in-shower aftersun and it's all kinds of dreamy...

Let's rewind to 5 years ago, I spent a hazy day at the lake and returned with blistered shoulders, great... Nothing really seemed to ease the pain of being sunburned, and the one thing I really wanted was a cooling aftersun I could use in the shower. Great, I'll just pop online and order one from... oh wait, it doesn't exist. When the press release popped into my inbox, I don't think I've ever been so excited (and as someone who rarely sees the sun, I certainly don't get excited about sun products!). When the products arrived, I was eager to try them out, especially as I had one slightly pink shoulder from being out the weekend before, and I jumped straight into the shower to put the Vichy Idéal Soleil Double Usage Aftersun Oil* (£13) to the test.

We all know I bloody love an oil product. Whether it's a body oil, shower oil, oil SPF... they just really seem to take the faff out of everything and make the task an absolute joy, as well as being super moisturising on the skin. The Vichy Double Usage Aftersun Oil is lightweight and silky and comes in a pump bottle (which can be a little awkward in the shower trying to pump and not spill the oil!). It smells beautiful, and is scented with ocean spray, white flowers, amber and musk for a gentle, fresh and summery fragrance that reminds me of being by the pool. It feels so luxurious on the skin as a shower treatment that I've been wanting to use it even when I've not been in the sun. It is slightly cooling when you apply it, and leaves skin feeling soothed and hydrated.

Being double usage, you can use this on wet and dry skin, and the formula isn't at all heavy. It contains shea oil, as well as apricot kernel, coriander seed, blackcurrant seed and echium oils. It is also paraben-free and is hypoallergenic so won't irritate sensitive skin. It makes for a gorgeous body oil that again you'll want to use every day! The only downside to it being oil-based however is that is doesn't go hand in hand with fake tan, as oils tend to remove the colour quicker. Additionally, I'm not super keen on the packaging. The oil texture has made the label peel off, and I haven't even kept mine in the shower. It's just not something I would expect from a more premium brand, but it's by no means a dealbreaker.

Also in the range is the Hydrating Mist SPF 50* (RRP £16.50, currently on offer for £12.38, go go go!). I mentioned before that I usually use a dry oil SPF rather than a traditional lotion as I find them that bit more nourishing on the skin, but this one has a really nice, silky feel. The mist is great for easy application, as I find it super easy to put on those hard to reach places like the backs of the knees and your back. It has a very subtle scent, which doesn't compete with your perfume. It sinks in really quickly and is invisible, so you don't get that white cast to the skin, instead it gives your skin a really healthy sheen. It is also hypoallergenic, alcohol and paraben-free, with a formula high in glycerin and Vichy Thermal Water to keep skin both nourished and hydrated throughout the day

Overall I've been really impressed with the products that I've tried from the Vichy Idéal Soleil range. It hadn't really crossed my mind to delve outside of the typical suncare brands you see in the drugstore, but having a more luxe brand makes applying the products more than just a necessity. They have much more of a skincare focus than simply giving you that sun protection, being super hydrating and feeling lovely on the skin. Although I still enjoy using the Dry Oil SPF I've used for years, I definitely would choose the Hydrating Mist over a classic cream SPF formula. I generally don't enjoy typical aftersun formulas either (go figure, I'm a self-confessed body lotion hater), so having something that I can use in (and out of) the shower really makes caring for delicate sunburned skin more enjoyable. I'll definitely be looking more into the range in the future as the prices aren't too high, and their Anti Sand SPFs sound like an absolute necessity for a beach holiday!

Have you tried anything from the Vichy Idéal Soleil range?

- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -