Glorious Staples: Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté Moisturizer* Review

With my combination, easily dehydrated skin, finding a good day time moisturizer can be a b*tch. Too rich of a formula and I'm an oil slick within a couple hours. Too matifying, and the dry areas on my face look wrinkly and cakey by the end of the day. Which is why I was so surprised to fall in love with Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté Moisturizer Cream for Normal and Sensitive Skin* ($22 for 1 oz tube, also available in a 1.5 fl oz jar).

Nuxe's Crème Fraîche de Beauté claims to be a '24HR Soothing and Hydrating Moisturizer' and promises to leave skin 'fresh, soft and plumped'. And it does exactly that. There isn't really any advanced anti-aging or pigment-reducing technology involved in this moisturizer; it contains some tried and true moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and plant oils (macadamia, safflower, sunflower, soy and sweet almond) as well as plant extracts from aloe, orange blossom, oats and more.

It's a simple, no-frills moisturizer that just gets the job done. The texture of the Crème Fraîche is quite thick (definitely more cream than lotion) but it spreads and melts into the skin easily; I especially like to pat and press it into the skin. It doesn't completely disappear on the face like some more lightweight, gel formulas; there's still a fine moisturizing layer left over but I find it doesn't feel heavy or sticky and doesn't interfere with make-up application. This moisturizer leaves my skin soft and plump, and the effect lasts throughout the day and actually helps my foundation not break down on the more dehydrated areas around my face. The tube packaging is easy to use and sanitary, and I only need a small blob (the size of a pea) for my whole face.

One thing I'm not completely in love with when it comes to this moisturizer is the scent. It contains quite a strong floral fragrance (Nuxe says it's orange blossom) that lingers just a bit too long for my tastes. Not that there is anything wrong with orange blossom in itself; I just find it interesting that a product marketed for sensitive skin would contain so much fragrance. It doesn't irritate my skin though, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I would definitely recommend the Crème Fraîche de Beauté if you have normal/ combination skin type and are looking for just a good, basic moisturizer that could be used in the morning and evening, perhaps to layer with more active serums or other treatments. It's definitely one of the more moisturizing creams I've tried that still feel light on the skin and don't exacerbate my oil production. For other skin types, Nuxe also sells an 'enriched' version for dry and very dry skin, as well as a 'light mattifying' version for combination skin - this one also sounds promising for the hot and humid summer months.

As promised, I'm working on that skincare routine post for you guys - I'm thinking of breaking it down into two posts for the morning and evening routines (because I'm quite high maintenance in terms of number of products used). Stay tuned for those! Have you tried any skincare from Nuxe? I've been a huge fan of the Reve de Miel lip balm for years now but have never thought to check out the facial range - now I'm thinking there may be some gems hiding in there...

Disclaimer: Product featured in this post is a press sample I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the product featured were purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!