The product: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster

Ever since I started wearing makeup, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of a lit-from-within glow. I lust after the Guerlain Météorites ($63 USD) every season, and feel my heart fall as each rendition continues to contain silicones. And I long for their Météorites Primer, a beautiful vial of pink pearls that I just can’t justify spending $74 USD on. But no longer: Neutrogena has answered my prayers, bringing illuminating, hydrating pearls to the drugstore with the new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster ($19.97 CAD).

Neutrogena Hydro Boost’s effectiveness

Finding a good hyaluronic acid serum is harder than it seems. It’s a delicate balance between stickiness and hydration, and I always end up breaking out when formulas contain too much glycerin for my skin. My current go-to hyaluronic acid is outside my budget for a simple hyaluronic (SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, $82), so I’ve been open to stumbling upon a new one.

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster is all that and then some. It quenches even the driest of skin textures, leaving your skin feeling smoother immediately. Purified hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and olive extract work together in a “liquid crystal gel matrix” to hydrate and replenish the skin, fortifying it’s natural moisture barrier so that the effects last.

I love it. It’s part serum, part hydrator, and part primer. The pearls are glittering vitamin E capsules, and the booster’s super-smooth finish is paired with the signature fresh, aquatic Hydro Booster scent. For once, I feel like it makes a noticeable difference in skin texture and foundation application – which, as someone with relatively youthful skin, I rarely see.

LEFT: Bare skin / MIDDLE: With Neutrogena Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster / RIGHT: With Hydro Booster + foundation, blush, and highlighter

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost glow

Y’all. The glow from this thing is insane. It’s super finely milled and sparkles in a rainbow of cool tones.

The one thing that always holds me back from achieving my pearl-serum dreams is the risk of walking into a room sparkling like a disco ball, but this serum has the perfect amount of glow. It truly makes your skin sparkle the way that skin naturally “glows” in areas with tiny pores and good moisture levels. It’s so natural that I routinely use this to combat my partner’s insanely dry, rough skin — and it looks totally natural on him, smoothing dehydrated areas and diffusing the look of fine lines without hinting at all that there might be some shimmer involved.

I use one pump of this for my face and one for my neck and décolletage, but even if I go a little over or under, it’s always the perfect amount.

Full face with makeup & Neutrogena Hydro Booster Multivitamin Glow

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost verdict?

You absolutely need this. I have never gone through a serum this quickly before — but I can’t stop using this one. I apply it both day and night, and slather it on my partner’s face whenever he holds still for long enough. I’ve gone through 1/4 of this bottle in 3 weeks, because it’s the perfect pairing: a great product with a price that’s low enough that you don’t use it sparingly.

This is bar none my favourite hyaluronic acid serum, primer, and Guerlain Météorites alternative from the drugstore. I couldn’t recommend it more wholeheartedly.

Availability: $19.97-$24.99 CAD at drugstores and mass market retailers across Canada. $19.99 USD at Ulta and $14.99 USD on Amazon.

Also worn in this post

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony ($21 USD/$27 CAD)

KISS Faux Mink Lashes in Boudoir (these have a really thick band – they’re hard to put on, but give me a double lid when I wear them.)

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover ($27 USD)

Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15 in Porcelain (review here)

Lise Watier Brush-On Powder in Libertine ($30 USD)

Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder in Supernova ($29 CAD currently about half off at $15.25 CAD!)

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Johnson & Johnson Inc. has provided all product(s) and product information as promotional consideration in exchange for my review. I accept products only for editorial consideration on theNotice; never for a guaranteed review (positive or otherwise).