This Vegan Moisturizer Is Every Bit of Nourishing As It Claims [Review]

Last Updated on June 18, 2023

I’m always so pumped when I try out a new moisturizer that’s formulated with wellness in mind. Let’s be honest, mainstream vegan skincare brands are still not a thing. But Clay & Olive, the newly launched black-owned skincare brand is here to fill that gap. Among their array of products is the Deep Hydration Cream, a vegan moisturizer for face and neck. I tested the moisturizer over a couple of days, and I’m totally here for it.

They say first impressions last; it’s certainly been the case with this cream. Generally, you’d expect a moisturizer to often be bland looking as formulators only really focus on how it performs. However, the Deep Hydration Cream is not only functional but seriously sensual.

Upon opening, I was greeted with a rose-colored whipped cream with a super luxe scent. The texture was silky-smooth and creamy. And upon application, the rosiness dissolved into a faint white which eventually became translucent. Someone in R&D was clearly paying attention to the experiential aspect of a skincare routine. The whole experience was reminiscent of a spa treatment I once had at the Hilton. I felt empowered. This was truly self-care in a jar.

In terms of consistency, I’d scooped about a finger-full of product at first, only to realize that it’s so rich that you only need a pea-size scoop for your entire face. This is so efficient as it means it’ll last longer before you need to replenish it. If you’ve ever tried Facetheory’s moisturizers, it’s a similar texture but without the heaviness.

If you have dry to combination skin, this is the moisturizer for you. This is due to its richness and abundance of oils and butters. Not only are they incredibly nourishing, but they also offer a range of skincare benefits. Licorice root extract, for instance, helps to ease inflammation and treat pigmentation, while sunflower and jojoba seed oils contain antioxidants that are effective at treating signs of aging. Being a vegan moisturizer, it mainly contains plant-based ingredients that improves the skin. Lastly, it’s water-based which means that your skin remains hydrated throughout the day.

Although it’s meant for day and night use, I’ve resolved to wearing it purely as a night cream. This is because I almost always don a full face of makeup during the day, and the moisturizer is a bit too heavy to wear underneath it. In saying that though, if you choose to wear this under makeup, there are ways to get around it.

An effective solution is to wait 10 minutes for the moisturizer to absorb into the skin before proceeding with sunscreen and makeup. Extensively, exfoliating once a week, as well as using an Essence before your serums and moisturizers, help fast-track skincare absorption. You can also warm the cream up with both hands before spreading it on your face and neck; this helps it absorb much quicker into the skin.

The dry-down is perhaps my favorite part – the moisturizer settles into a silky matte finish. This takes away the heaviness you typically get from nourishing moisturizers formulated for dry skin. With the Deep Hydration Cream, I didn’t get that icky feeling of a heavy moisturizer blanketed on my face.

Overall, I really love this cream and will reach for it on my drier nights and winter months. The cherry on top is the fact that it’s a truly vegan moisturizer that makes me feel good about myself and the environment.

About the brand
Clay & Olive is an ethical skincare brand with products that do not contain gluten, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, GMOs, or silicone. They are vegan, not tested on animals, and proudly black-owned.

You might also be interested in: 6 Black-Owned Sustainable Skincare Brands You Should Know