This Skin-Plumping ‘Watery Oil’ Sells Every 26 Seconds—But Does It Live Up to the Hype?

Confession: I put off using super-potent skin-care products throughout my entire twenties. Sure, for much of the decade I doused my skin with sunscreen (I burn easily), chugged nearly twelve cups of water daily (it’s my only drink of choice), and never slept with makeup on (for fear of staining my pillowcase). But none of those things were actual efforts to keep my skin intact—they just happened to be part of my daily routine. Now that I’m 30, though, my skin is beginning to show initial signs of aging, and while it’s nothing drastic, new laugh lines have me interested in skin-plumping ingredients more so than ever before.

Naturally, when I heard about a skin-care product that sells a bottle every 26 seconds, my ears perked up, and I knew I wanted to try it. The Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil ($95 for one ounce) is a serum-meets-oil-meets-toner hybrid packaged in a dreamy glass bottle and accompanied by an extra-long dropper to ensure your skin can drink up every last bit.

Users of Guerlain’s Abeille Royale skin-care range will already be familiar with two of the elixir’s hero ingredients: Ouessant honey and royal jelly, both of which are derived through sustainable practices from bee byproducts and offer skin-nourishing properties from amino acids, proteins, lipids, and vitamins. Together, the duo is meant to tackle issues of skin elasticity that come from UV-damaging exposure, but my dry, needy skin was also happy to see glycerin on the label, which is a humectant known to attract moisture. The oil is purported to smooth uneven texture, plump skin, and boost skin’s radiance, all while diminishing the appearance of fine lines.

Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil ($95)

Shop now: Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil ($95)

First impression: The oil is super fragranced, so if you’re ultra-sensitive to scent in your skin-care products, you may find this option off-putting. The brand instructs you to shake the bottle before applying to evenly distribute the micro-drops of oil that burst onto the skin when applying (yes, it feels as fancy as it sounds). Were it not for the fragrance, I’d swear I was applying pure water onto my skin—it’s that lightweight. The consistency feels like an essence, so for someone like me with extremely parched skin (and used to thick ingredients as a result), I was a huge fan of its non-greasy feeling.

I applied it at night, and my dry skin drank up the Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil quickly, which meant I didn’t have to wait to follow up with my other products (though, to be quite honest, I don’t really feel the need to apply anything on top of this, as it makes my skin feel super hydrated). Any traces of dry patches were instantly erased, and come morning, my skin definitely looked more plump and glowy.

As for those aforementioned laugh lines, they’re still hanging around, but are less noticeable underneath makeup. Ultimately, the fact that this product effectively hydrates and makes my skin look dewy without leaving behind an ooey-gooey, thick residue has made it a treasure in my collection. Plus, the line-softening benefits are definitely noticeable with consistent use. If you’re looking to seriously up your skin-care game (and improve your skin’s texture in the process), I find it worth the hefty price tag.

Speaking of dry skin, here’s the advice of a dermatologist on how to deal with dry patches from wearing a mask: