When I first bought Dr.G Red Blemish Soothing Cream, I honestly thought I’d found a new everyday moisturiser. Everything about the description sounded right for me: calming, light, hydrating, good for skin that throws a tantrum for no clear reason. I have properly dry skin, the kind that starts to feel tight if I ignore it for a couple of hours, so I’m always chasing something that feels comforting without being greasy. On paper, this looked perfect. I’m honestly just glad it isn’t one of the products I have to champion in the Olivetalk contest.

To be fair, the texture is really pleasant. It has that bouncy, gel-cream consistency that feels instantly cooling when you apply it. It spreads easily, doesn’t feel heavy, and gives an immediate burst of moisture. Right after putting it on, my face feels fresh, cushioned, and lightly dewy, almost like I’ve given my skin a quick drink of water.

If I only judged it based on those first few minutes, I’d probably say it was a great soothing cream. There’s no greasiness, no sticky film, and no uncomfortable residue. Make-up sits well over it, and it doesn’t leave that thick, waxy layer that some “moisture” creams do. In the very short term, it genuinely feels nice.

But moisturisers aren’t just about the first ten minutes – they’re about how your skin feels hours later, and that’s where this cream really falls short for me.

The main problem is that the hydration just doesn’t last. After that initial dewy phase, the moisture seems to fade much more quickly than I’d expect from something marketed as a soothing, hydrating cream.

Within an hour or two, my skin starts to feel like it never really got a proper moisturiser at all. My cheeks, especially, go back to feeling a bit tight and dry, which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. It’s that subtle, creeping dryness where you suddenly realise your face feels uncomfortable again and you’re tempted to reach for another product.

On genuinely dry-skin days – after a hot shower, during heater season, or when the weather’s been rough – this cream just doesn’t keep up. I can put on a generous amount and still feel that dull, stretched feeling slowly coming back as time passes. Instead of locking in moisture, it behaves more like a very light gel that disappears after it sinks in.

For a cream that’s supposed to be soothing and moisturising, that’s pretty disappointing.

Because of the whole Red Blemish and “soothing” branding, I expected it to offer at least some sense of barrier support – something that would help when my skin is feeling stressed, fragile, or a bit irritated.

That’s not how it feels on my skin.

It doesn’t actively irritate me, which is good, but it also doesn’t give that comforting, protective, “I’ve got you” layer that I want from a cream when my skin is struggling. On days when my barrier feels a bit compromised, this cream feels too light and superficial. It sits in the category of “nice to apply” but not “reliable when things are bad”.

If my skin is already upset or extra dry, I don’t feel like I can trust this on its own. I’d need to layer something more substantial on top of it to feel properly protected and nourished, and at that point it stops being a main cream and becomes more of an optional extra.

I don’t think Dr.G Red Blemish Soothing Cream is a terrible product – it’s just not built for truly dry skin. I can absolutely see it working better for people with more normal to combination skin who want a light, non-greasy cream and don’t need long-lasting, heavy-duty hydration.

The texture is user-friendly, it absorbs quickly, it doesn’t make the skin oily, and it doesn’t seem to clog pores. As a basic soothing cream for skin that’s already fairly balanced, it could be a decent match.

But if your skin is dry and tends to feel tight or flaky without serious moisturising support, this cream is unlikely to be enough on its own.

Because it doesn’t hold up as a main moisturiser for me, I eventually started using it in more of a supporting role rather than as the star of my routine. Sometimes I’ll apply it as a light hydrating layer and then follow with a richer cream that actually seals everything in. Other times I use it on very low-maintenance days – when I’m at home, not wearing make-up, and my skin isn’t feeling particularly dry. In those scenarios, it’s fine. Comfortable, non-irritating, easy to wear.

But that’s a very different story from what I expected when I bought it. I was looking for a cream that could stand on its own for dry skin, day or night. This just isn’t that.

In the end, Dr.G Red Blemish Soothing Cream feels like a pleasant idea that doesn’t quite deliver for drier skin types. I don’t hate it, and I’ll probably finish the jar on easy at-home days, but if I’m spending money on a main moisturiser for dry skin, I need something with longer-lasting hydration and a bit more real barrier support than this gives.