Hello all! – The Hungarian Brand Geek & Gorgeous, that creates Fragrance + EO Free, mostly-vegan + Cruelty-Free skincare (see my previous reviews from the brand HERE), released two moisturising creams for different skin types with different needs.
So, in this review, we will explore the texture of these products, their formulations and compare their texture as well as provide any other dupes and K/J-beauty alternatives!
Available at: Geek & Gorgeous 101 Website: HERE
Hydration Station Cream
Available at: The G&G Website: HERE
Volume: 50ml
Price: £7.55
What is it + What does it do?: A ”light” and ”refreshing” moisturising and hydrating gel-cream containing the gold standard of hydration: 5% Glycerin and the new, skin-protecting Ectoin, to create healthy, dewy and plump skin. This also aims to soothe the skin.
Direction: Apply after serums in the AM and/or PM.
How long does this last?: 24 months (after being made + unopened) and 6 months once opened.
Vegan?: Yes
Cruelty-Free?: Yes
EU-Allergen-Free?: Yes
Malassezia Suitable?: Yes
NOTE: What makes Hydration station different?: It doesn’t contain Fatty acids, fatty alcohols and silicones (nothings wrong with these ingredients and these are included in Happier Barrier), however the reason that these are excluded is to make this cream suitable for those who break out from moisturisers and who have Malassezia folliculitis).
Fragrance + EO Free?: Yes
pH: 4.5 – 5.5
Aimed at: Normal, Combination, Oily Skins. This is aimed specifically towards those who have ”Fungal acne”.
Key Ingredients: Ectoin (A skin protectant which provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, barrier-repair functions + well-ageing. The key function of Ectoin is protection. Its well-ageing properties include an anti-wrinkle effect (reduces wrinkle depth) via 2% Ectoin) and also helps protect the cells form UV damage (Studies: LINK / LINK).
Other key ingredients: 5% Glycerin (water-binding moisturiser found in the skin. It is a humectant and helps keep the skin happy) / Isosorbide Dicaprylate (Hydrator that works well with Glycerin) / Aquaxyl (sugar-based humectant. This increases the skin’s water-holding capacity). Bisabolol + Allantoin (Soothing).
Full Ingredients: Aqua (Water), C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Ectoin, Xylitylglucoside, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Glucose, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Note: This has less emollients than the happier barrier cream (i.e. The Happier Barrier has a more Oil:Water ratio compared to the Hydration Station Cream).
Texture
The company describes this as a ”Light Gel-Cream”, and I would agree! As you can see from the swatch video below. This is a gel-cream hybrid and I wouldn’t say it’s very watery, but it is certainly more watery than the Happier barrier cream.
Sticky?: No
My Experience and Review: 4/5 – this has been a comfortable cream for my oily-combination skin. Would I like it to be more watery? Yes (so it’s even more cooling and soothing when rubbing into the skin), but I am happy that this doesn’t make my skin feel like it can’t breathe. This has not irritated or stung my skin, and has not balled up.
Overall: I think Oily-Combination / Combination and Normal skins would enjoy this, but Oilier skins and especially those living in hot and humid weathers, may prefer something even more watery (see my recommendations/alternatives below).
Dupes?:
- The Be Plain – Multi Hyaluronic Acid Cream (Swatches + Review HERE) – This is very close to the Hydration Station, albeit – slightly more watery (also Fragrance + EO free + Cruelty-free).
Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
- The Numbuzin – 1 Purple Complex Moisture Balancing Soothing Cream is a Fragrance + EO Free Cream that is watery, soothing and skin-repairing. It is even lighter and more watery than the Hydration station cream.
Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
Video: Numbuzin Brand – Swatches + Review (Includes the Purple Cream)
- The Isntree – Chestnut PHA 5% Clear Cream is a watery gel cream (more watery than the Hydration station cream) that is also gently exfoliating and helps retexturise the skin (Fragrance + EO Free).
Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
- The Purito – B5 Panthenol Re-barrier Cream (Swatches + Review HERE) is a Fragrance + EO Free Gel-cream that is perfect for Oily-Combination skins, particularly in the winter. It’s slightly thicker than the Hydration Station cream however.
Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
More Moisturiser Reviews:
Happier Barrier Cream
Available at: The G&G Website: HERE
Volume: 50ml
Price: £9.26 (Slightly more expensive than the Hydration Station cream)
Vegan?: Yes
Cruelty-Free?: Yes
EU-Allergen-Free?: Yes
Malessezia Suitable?: No (This is a difference between the Happier Barrier and Hydration Station)
Fragrance + EO Free?:
pH: 5.0 – 5.6
What is it + What does it do?: An emollient and nourishing moisturiser that’s relatively lightweight, containing Green Tea Polyphenols, Squalane and Skin-identical lipids (fatty ingredients) to restore and reinforce the skin’s barrier.
Directions: Apply in the AM and/or PM.
How long does this last after opening?: 1 year (unopened since production) / 6 months (after opening).
Aimed at: Dry, Normal, Combination Skins (Not aimed at very very dry skins – the Real Barrier Extreme Cream or Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask (Review HERE) may be more occlusive).
Note: This is especially good for those who are looking to repair and reinforce their skin’s barrier.
What do I think?: I agree with the above. This also works well for Sensitive skins.
Key Ingredients: 7% Squalane (Oily liquid that exists in the sebum of human skin. It’s moisturising and helps soften the skin. It is also compatible with acne-prone skin) / Green Tea + Squalene (Antioxidants + Soothing) / Squalane (Skin-identical + Emollient) / 3% Jojoba Oil + Macadamia Seed Oil (Emollients that are found in the skin naturally and helps with barrier repair) + Ceramide (also found naturally in the skin – keeps the skin barrier healthy + hydrated) / Bisabolol + Allantoin (Soothing) / Saccharide Isomerate (Skin-identical + hydrating).
Full Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Squalane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Ceramide NG, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Note: This has less humectants (watery) ingredients and more emollients than the Hydration station cream.
Texture
This is a rich, yet somewhat lightweight cream that is definitely moisturising. It is smooth but takes a while to absorb fully into the skin. It also feels a bit too heavy/unbreathable for my skin.
Greasy?: No.
Balls up?: No.
My Experience + Review: This cream is not aimed at my Oily-Combination skin, and so I don’t find it comfortable to wear (takes a while to absorb into the skin). It’s a bit too emollient and not watery enough. It doesn’t feel as hydrating as the hydration station. That being said, I think this would be an excellent cream for Dry skins and especially those living in Cold and Dry climates (and would be a great makeup primer). I do appreciate that this is unscented and that it definitely is moisturisng.
Note: Instead of throwing this away, I use this as a very good hand cream, particularly in the dry months as it’s unscented and doesn’t irritate my hands.
Dupes
- The Krave – Oat so Simple Water Cream (Swatches + Review HERE) – is a Fragrance + EO Free, Vegan + Cruelty-Free cream that is slightly more watery than the Happier Barrier Cream, but it too contains Squalane and it too is still quite emollient and unlike the Happier Barrier cream, it is meant to suit those with Malassezia.
Available at: Krave Website: LINK / Soko Glam: LINK
- The Glossier – Priming Moisturiser (Swatches + Review HERE), is a Fragrance + EO Free, creamy moisturiser that feels ”whipped” and lightweight. It isn’t watery, but it is lightweight.
Available at: Glossier: LINK
- The Indeed Labs in-Ceramide Cream (Swatches + Review HERE) is lightweight, airy and creamy, with a feeling of little hydration and water (cruelty-free).
Available at: Look Fantastic LINK / Ulta: LINK
Indeed Labs Brand Review (Includes the in-ceramide Daily Moisturiser Cream)
- April skin Artemesia Cream (Swatches + Review HERE) – A thick and emollient cream that suits more Normal-Dry Skins (Fragrance + EO Free. Vegan + Cruelty-Free).
Available at: Stylevana: LINK
- The CeraVe – Moisturising Cream is a Fragrance + EO Free, basic cream containing Ceramides to help restore the skin’s barrier. It is very emollient and particularly works for Normal-Dry Skins.
Available at: Cult Beauty: LINK / Target: LINK / Beauty Bay: LINK
- The Curel – Intensive Moisture Facial cream (Swatches + Review HERE) – This is a slightly more greasy, emollient cream that is loaded with Ceramides (Fragrance + EO Free).
Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
Curel Brand Review (Includes the Intensive Moisture Facial Cream)
Note: If you would like to see some more moisturiser comparisons, then check out my review of all three moisturisers from The Ordinary.
Overall
So, which is best?: For my Oily-Combination Skin, I much prefer the Hydration Station Cream. It has a higher Water:Oil Ratio, meaning that it is more lightweight, more refreshing and more comfortable (absorbs quicker into the skin) to wear. It is closer to a gel-cream than a regular cream.
However, this does not mean that Happier Barrier is a bad cream; on the contrary, I recommend it definitely to Normal and Dry (and Combination) skins. It is a great cream that rivals both the Glossier Priming Moisturiser and the very famous Makeup Primer, the Embryolisse Cream.
In Conclusion: I really enjoy that both creams are fragrance and essential-oil free, Vegan and Cruelty Free. Neither are sticky, neither are tacky and neither ball up. I look forward to seeing if G&G will release another cream (perhaps an even watery, more lightweight hydrating cream) for the summer. You can check out my other G&G Reviews HERE.
Available at: Geek & Gorgeous 101 Website: HERE
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
Follow me on IG for Updates!
Note: I earn a small commission when you purchase through affiliate links, which helps me purchase products for review + also help improve the Blog! If you would like to support me, thank you ever so much! and if not, that’s fine – I hope you enjoy my posts!
My Skincare Regime 
2 thoughts on “The Geek & Gorgeous 101 Moisturisers: Hydration Station + Happier Barrier – Swatches + Review (+ Comparison – Which is best?)”