Deep hydration without the heavy cream feeling is the whole promise here. Vichy Mineral 89 is sold as a daily “booster” that sits under the rest of your routine and helps skin look bouncier, smoother, and less stressed. People who use it keep coming back to the same praise: it sinks in fast, it feels clean, and it makes skin look fresher even on tired mornings.
This review is for women who are noticing tightness around the mouth, creasing under concealer, or that kind of dull, gray-ish look in the center of the face by lunchtime. It’s also for anyone who says “my skin is oily, but it still feels dehydrated somehow.” Mineral 89 is not a thick barrier cream. It’s a water-light hyaluronic acid serum with added minerals from Vichy’s thermal water to support the skin barrier and help it handle daily stress.
If your main issue is just oil control or breakouts, this might not feel like your top priority. If you’re starting to see little dehydration crinkles at rest, especially around the eyes and smile lines, this is the lane.
We’ll walk through what it is, how it feels, how to use it, what results people actually talk about, who it’s best for, who should skip it, and where it lands on value.
What it is and who it’s for
Vichy Mineral 89 is basically two big ideas in one bottle: hyaluronic acid for plumpness and bounce, plus mineral-rich volcanic water to help reinforce the moisture barrier.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant. It pulls water toward the surface layers of your skin so that fine dehydration lines look softer and the skin looks more “full” and less deflated. The mineral water part is there to support the skin’s natural barrier and help it feel less reactive to daily stress like heating, AC, weather, and pollution.
Who it’s for:
- Skin that feels tight after cleansing, even if you wouldn’t call yourself dry
- Early fine lines from dehydration, especially under the eyes and around the mouth
- Dull, tired-looking skin that needs healthy bounce under makeup
- Normal, combination, or dehydrated-oily skin types that hate heavy creams in the daytime
Who it’s not really for:
- Actively peeling, barrier-damaged skin that burns when you apply anything
- People who want deep wrinkle correction or firming
- People who want pore blurring or mattifying in the T-zone
This booster is not pretending to be a retinol, and it’s not pretending to be a silicone primer. It’s “make my face look awake and not crumpled,” in a clear gel.
Texture and feel
This is where Mineral 89 gets most of its love.
The texture is a thin clear gel that spreads easily without feeling gummy. It’s not milky, not creamy, and not oily.
First contact: Cool, watery slip. You can smooth it over your face with almost no drag. People say it feels instantly refreshing, especially in the morning.
After one minute: It sets down to a natural finish, not shiny, not greasy, not matte. People describe it as “my skin just feels bouncier, not coated.” There’s a light tack at first, which is normal with hyaluronic acid gels, but most users say that goes away quickly.
Under makeup: This is important. A lot of hydrating serums either pill under foundation or leave a sticky layer that actually breaks up base makeup by noon. Mineral 89 is usually praised for doing the opposite. People say it gives a smoother base and helps makeup sit better on cheeks and around the nose because the skin is more hydrated and flexible.
If you’re combination, this texture is nice because it gives water without adding an oily film. If you’re truly dry and flaky, you’ll probably still feel like you need a proper moisturizer on top. This is the water step, not the seal-the-water-in step.
How to use it
Think of this as step zero. People often call it a “booster” rather than just “serum,” and the way you slot it in reflects that.
Morning:
- Cleanse or rinse
- Apply Mineral 89 while skin is still slightly damp
- Follow with moisturizer
- SPF
- Makeup
Night:
- Cleanse
- Apply Mineral 89
- Follow with night cream or sleeping mask
Here’s why damp skin matters. Hyaluronic acid works best when it can grab water and hold it near the surface. If you pat this onto slightly damp skin, then seal it with moisturizer, you’re helping that water stay put. If you put it on bone-dry skin and then skip moisturizer, you can feel tight later, which is when people say “hyaluronic acid makes me drier.”
Where does it fit with actives like vitamin C or retinol? Most people layer it before those thicker creams and after cleansing. For daytime routines with vitamin C, you can do cleanse, Mineral 89, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, SPF. At night with retinol, cleanse, Mineral 89, retinol, then your richer night cream. The point is that Mineral 89 lays down a cushion of hydration so the rest of your routine feels less harsh.
Results timeline
Let’s set expectations in plain language.
Right after use: Skin looks fresher and a little more glassy, in a healthy way. Fine dehydration lines, especially those shallow lines under the eyes and along smile folds, look less sharp because the outer layer is now holding more water. Your face looks more awake. It does not look greasy.
End of day: People who use it talk about less of that papery, tight feeling around the mouth and chin at 5 p.m. Makeup creases a little less because your skin stays more flexible under it. If you usually get that tired, deflated look by late afternoon, this is where you notice the difference.
First week: The forehead and center of the face start to look smoother and more even in texture. You’re not fixing deep pores here, but hydrated skin tends to reflect light in a softer way, which reads as “healthier.” You might also notice that foundation sits better with less catching on dry patches near the nose and between the brows.
Ongoing: You’re building a habit of always giving your skin water and support before the rest of your routine. Over time that can help your barrier feel less reactive. The big win is comfort and bounce, not wrinkle erasing.
Comfort, irritation, and who should skip it
A lot of people with sensitive or easily stressed skin reach for Mineral 89 because it’s generally described as gentle and soothing, not spicy. It doesn’t come across like an acid exfoliant or a retinoid. Most users report no burning, no stinging, no watery eyes.
That said, here are the edge cases.
Very compromised skin: If you have visible cracks, peeling, or that hot, angry feeling around the nose or mouth corners, even water-based products can sting. When your barrier is already irritated, you usually need barrier rescue first. That’s closer to what we talk about in Allergy Season Skin Plan: Redness and Dryness, where the priority is calming and sealing, not boosting hydration layers.
Extremely oily skin: If your only complaint is shine control, Mineral 89 is probably not going to solve that. It’s not mattifying. It doesn’t pretend to shrink pores. It’s more about bounce and comfort, not oil control.
Looking for “filler in a bottle”: Hyaluronic acid can soften the look of shallow lines by pulling in moisture. It cannot lift deep folds and it cannot replace professional treatments. If your main goal is “get rid of this etched line right now,” you will be disappointed.
Overall, though, Mineral 89 has a reputation for being tolerable on skin that hates most things. A lot of women like it specifically because it doesn’t feel suffocating or perfumey, and it doesn’t leave that thick layer that makes you feel sweaty under makeup.
Value and alternatives
Why people buy it:
- Daily comfort: It’s that immediate “my face feels better” step when you’re tired, stressed, or running heat/AC.
- Makeup base: It makes skin look smoother under foundation without feeling like a silicone film.
- Lightweight feel: It gives hydration without a greasy layer, which is huge if you’re combo.
Who will feel it’s worth the money:
- Anyone in their 30s, 40s, 50s who’s starting to notice dehydration lines and makeup settling badly
- Anyone whose skin can’t handle heavy moisturizer in the morning but still feels tight by lunch
- Anyone who wants a simple “do this before everything else” product without rethinking their whole routine
If you’re super dry and want cushion, you might be happier pairing something like this with a more comforting cream on top. The kind of all-day moisture blanket we talk about in the TULA Skin Care 24-7 Hydrating Day & Night Cream review is a better fit if your skin just drinks product and still feels rough. If you mostly care about how makeup sits, you may like splitting duties: lightweight hydration layer first, then a grippy base where you actually crease, which we get into in Pore Blurring Primers vs Hydrating Primers: Which To Use Where and our Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide review.
If you just want a basic cheap hyaluronic acid and you don’t really care how it layers under makeup, you can definitely spend less. Mineral 89 is more about the total experience: hydration, barrier support, and a very wearable finish.
Final Thoughts
Vichy Mineral 89 is not trying to overhaul your whole routine. It is trying to slide in quietly and make everything feel and look better.
People who use it say their skin feels calmer, less papery, and more bouncy, especially in that noon-to-dinnertime window where dehydration usually shows up first. It layers under SPF and makeup without pilling. It doesn’t smother combination skin. It gives you that fresh, rested look even when you’re not rested.
This makes the most sense if you’re starting to see fine dehydration lines, dullness, or creasing under concealer, and you want a simple step you’ll actually stick to every day. If you’re extremely irritated, you probably need barrier repair before you mess around with anything else. If you’re only worried about oil control, this won’t do much for you.
For most tired, slightly dehydrated faces, though, this is the kind of quiet daily hydrator that earns its spot.
See also
If you’re trying to figure out whether you’re actually dry or just temporarily tight and shiny at the same time, read Dehydrated vs Dry vs Oily-Dehydrated: How to Tell at Home. That guide walks you through how to tell if you need water, oil, or barrier repair so you stop buying the wrong texture. If you struggle with redness and that hot, stingy feeling when the weather flips or allergies hit, the calming steps in Allergy Season Skin Plan: Redness and Dryness can help you avoid blowing up your barrier.
For people who want a more cushioned, all-day comfort cream instead of just a water booster, the TULA Skin Care 24-7 Hydrating Day & Night Cream review breaks down who gets the most out of that kind of moisturizer. If your main frustration is “my makeup slides off or creases by lunch,” our Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide review talks about grip and wear without choking your skin. And if you’re trying to split care by zone, the face-smoothing vs oil-control strategy from Pore Blurring Primers vs Hydrating Primers: Which To Use Where shows how to stop treating your whole face like it has the same needs.
FAQs
1. Is Vichy Mineral 89 a serum or a moisturizer?
It’s a hydrating booster. It behaves like a serum step. You still need moisturizer on top to seal that water in, especially if you’re over 30 or your skin runs dry around the mouth and cheeks.
2. How fast should I see results?
You’ll usually see the “plump and fresher” look right after using it. The real test is at the end of the day. If by day three or four you feel less tight at 5 p.m. and your makeup isn’t cracking into fine lines, it’s doing its job.
3. Can I use it around my eyes?
Most people pat it gently around the orbital area with no sting. If you’re super reactive around the lash line, start just at the outer eye area first. For quick under-eye smoothing before makeup, some people also like targeted patches, which we cover in the Skyn ICELAND under-eye patch review.
4. Will this clog pores or make me break out?
It’s water-light and not an oil-heavy cream. People with combination and acne-prone skin generally say it feels breathable and does not make them feel congested. It’s not marketed as an acne treatment, but it’s not known for suffocating skin either.
5. Can I skip primer if I use this under makeup?
Sometimes, yes. If your main problem is that foundation clings to dry spots or looks dull, Mineral 89 under your base can smooth that out. If your main problem is oil breaking through your T-zone, you might still want a targeted primer just in that area. We talk about that split routine in Pore Blurring Primers vs Hydrating Primers.
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