Vichy Aqualia Thernal Serum vs Idealia Serum (Which is best for you?)

I am a huge fan of both the Vichy Idealia Life Serum* and the Aqualia Thermal Serum* and  have recently been loving Vichy products as they address a lot of skin concerns especially dehydration and dullness. I was lucky to receive quite a few products from their range some of which I have reviewed on this blog.  I am aware that anyone who wants to try one of these serums may be looking to just purchase the best one for their skin hence I decided to do a little comparison post. I am not a skincare expert at all; I am just a regular girl who loves beauty products and loves to share her opinions on them. I have written separate reviews for both of them already if you are interested you can check out the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum here and the Vichy Idealia Life Serum here. Right, lets get on with the comparison...


Packaging
They both have amazing packaging which I adore and I must commend Vichy for this. They feel so luxe and much more expensive than they are. The bottles also stand really pretty on my dresser and even on my bathroom cabinet and they are made from glass which lends it its luxe feel. Both bottles come with pumps which is very handy as it makes it really easy to dispense. The major difference is the design of the bottles. The Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum has a transparent bottle which I like because it allows you see how much product you have left while the Idealia Life Serum comes in an opaque bottle. The good thing about both bottles is that you can remove the pump and still see how much product you have left.


Texture
I am all for light textures that sink in really nicely into my skin and these two serums offer this. The Vichy Thermal Serum feels super light and silky on application and it absorbs so easily. There is also a noticeable hydrating effect once it hits the skin and I love it for that especially on days when my skin feels dehydrated. The Vichy Idealia Life Serum feels more like a serum-moisturiser hybrid in the sense that it is slightly thicker than a traditional serum and lighter than a moisturiser. I really like the texture as it feels like my skin is being nourished. Based on their textures, I choose each serum depending on how my skin is feeling. If my skin is feeling super dehydrated, I would choose the Vichy Aqualia Serum while I opt for the Idealia Life Serum when my skin needs something nourishing and moisturising.



Formula/Application
Both serums offer a hydrating and radiant feel to my skin, however,  I have to give it to the Vichy Aqualia Thermal serum for being super hydrating. Its hydrating properties are long lasting and you can tell from the first application. It sinks in really easily into the skin and makes it look radiant. It does not have any particular colour on my skin but it goes on looking quite transparent (I still think it has a very light blue hue to it though).  On the other hand, The Idealia Life Serum has such a beautiful iridescent pink colour which makes the skin look so radiant and luminous. I know it is a cosmetic effect as a result of the ingredient Mica which is good at reflecting light. Nevertheless, it gives my face such a healthy glow which I adore and I always reach for it because I love the results I get.. I also like that the Vichy Idealia's outer packaging  has a dreamy iridescent design to it.


Ingredients
They both are infused with the Vichy Thermal Spring water which is always good to know as I have heard many great things about this Spring water. They are also both paraben free which I love about many French Pharmacy skincare brands. One of the major ingredients used in the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum is Hyaluronic Acid which retains water/moisture. This basically mean that it keeps your skin well hydrated by holding on to water molecules for a longer period. The Vichy Idealia Life Serum contains LHA and LR2412 complex which Vichy claim is capable of promoting good skin behaviour. LHA works in a similar fashion to Salicyclic Acid and it helps decongest pore, exfoliate and keep the skin blemish free and clear. I feel the Idealia Life Serum has ingredients that are better suited to my current skin concerns which is


Cost
They are both on the higher end of regular drug store products but they offer amazing quality that I dare say is on par with many high end brands. The best part is that they are always offers in Boots, Escentual and Dermacentre where you can snag amazing deals. The retail price for the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum is £22.50 while the Vichy Idealia Life Serum retails for £31.00. As you can tell, the Vichy Ideal Life Serum is slightly more pricey than the Aqualia Thermal Serum. I think this may be down to ingredients that are incorporated in the formula.


Which is best for what?
As mentioned earlier, I am no skincare expert or professional so I can only offer recommendations based on my experience with these two serums and how I use them. If your major skincare concern is dehydration regardless of your skin type (dry, normal, combination and/oily skin), I would highly recommend the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum. It is indeed one of the most hydrating serums I have ever tried and it is slightly reminds me of the Lancome Advanced Genefique Serum (only slightly based on its texture and hydrating effect). It is a blogger's favourite and I am yet to see or read any negative review about this serum. It is also perfect for Summer or if you live in a warm country as it would keep your skin hydrated. If you suffer from dullness as a result of your skin type, your environment, lifestyle, stress or any other habits, I highly recommend trying the Vichy Idealia Life serum because it infuses such an amazing glow and radiance to the skin. Whenever I have had a busy week, I always pop the Idealia Life Serum on because I know it would mask any dullness in my complexion. However, nothing stops you from having both serums at hand depending on how your skin feels. I once mixed both of them (I used the Aqualia Thermal Serum first and topped it off with the Idealia Life Serum) and my skin looked incredible.

	Vichy Aqualia Life Serum	Vichy Idealia Life Serum
Packaging	Blue glass bottle containing 30 ml of product and the bottle is transparent so you can see how much product you have left.	Pink glass bottle containing 30 ml of product which is opaque
Pumps	It has a nice removable pump that aids in dispensing the product.	It also has a nice pump that aids in dispensing the product.
Appearance	Light transparent serum which has a super hydrating effect on the skin	Light pink iridescent colour that infuses radiance to the skin
Texture	Feels light like a serum with a slightly wet feel as a result of its hydrating properties	Feels a little thicker than a serum but lighter than a moisturiser. It feels silky to touch
Ingredients	Contains Hyaluronic Acid which lends it its hydrating properties	Contains LHA and LR2412 which aid in keeping the skin clear, radiant and healthy
Thermal Spring Water, Paraben Free and Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Who is it best for?	For dehydrated skin concerns and it is suitable for all skin types including oily, combination-oily, normal and dry skin types.	For tired and dull skin concerns caused by stress, environmental pollution, etc and it is suitable for all skin types
Cost	£22.50  (There are usually offers in Escentual, Boots and Dermacentre)	£31   (There are usually offers in Escentual, Boots and Dermacentre)

Overall Thoughts
That's pretty much it! I hope you enjoyed this comparison post. There are one of my favourite posts to write because they take me back to when I was in school and had to do many comparison posts in my course work. I love being a nerd despite how unattractive it sounds. Have you tried any of these lovely Vichy Serums?...xx
*Gifted PR Samples + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here