French brand Thalgo was created by a pharmacist (Andre Bouclet) and utilises extracts from a variety of algae to address a wide range if skin issues. Thalgo make products for face and body, they have a men’s range, a suncare range and range of supplements. I have used a couple of products from the range but it was many many years ago but they are not the easiest to get hold of.
The Absolute Hydra Marine Concentrate is a seven day course of skincare which is said to too boost hydration due to the hyaluronic acid. It also has a range of bio active elements from the algae which are said to increase hydration by reducing the loss of water from the skin’s epidermis.
The concentrate is house in seven phials and each phial holds the day and night dose. here is my first issue with this product. Having two doses in the phial mean that you have to break off the cap, use a portion and then create a makeshift lid with the top of the phial tha tyou have just broken off. What a faff. I would have much preferred to have fourteen pouches. You use the amount in each pouch – no fuss no mess.
The concentrate has a texture, like water and it took me a couple of days to work out the correct amount to use. Half a phial was too much for my face neck and decollete so I ended up getting three applications in each phial… but the instructions say two applications. I found that when I used half a phial my skin got quite greasy (as opposed to hydrated) by the middle of the day.
With a third of a phial my skin was hydrated and plump and the effect on my skin was amplified when used at night. Whilst the effect was visible on my skin, it was not a significantly greater effect then other hydrating products that I have used. I am a person that seeks out products that have a hydrating effect so it may be that because my skin is not significantly dehydrated that impact of the product is minimised. I like this product but I did not love it. For me, I would use an individual phial as a booster rather than the seven day course. The packaging makes it great for travel and it you are not a fan of a hydrating sheet mask, this would be a good alternative. I think that this product would be a good option for people who are not skincare junkies and have a more dehydrated skin.