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Beauty
Our Favorite Moisturizers To Combat The Dry Season – 6 Women, 6 Different Faces, Only What Works
One thing I feel most of us can agree on is the desire for hydrated skin. Sure, there are more important things in this world to think about but as we head into fall and then winter (dun, dun, duuuuunnnnnn), most of us are going to need to put some extra focus on moisturization. I myself have fairly dry skin but also have a bit of an issue with milia (those little white bumps that you can’t pop, DO NOT TRY). This means I need a decent amount of hydration but have to be careful about using oils (due to possible congestion/milia). Also, exfoliating is key but enough about me. Other gals on the team have totally different needs! So we decided to have a little dish sesh on what our favorite moisturizing products are that help make our faces feel their best. I mean moisturized skin is happy skin, right? Let’s get into it.
Emily
Skin Type: Very Dry
As you know I have very dry skin, but also smallish pores which sounds good but it often means that it’s hard to get the moisture inside. I have to gently exfoliate a lot (I love the Pixie pads) and then I slap my face with 1/2 a vial of this hyaluronic acid (and Vitamin C serum of the same brand) and let that soak in. I still love ExfoliKate because of the immediate results that I get (smooth, glowing, soft, etc) but I change the moisturizer that I put on top of my ISIDN often. I have sensitive skin and will break out if it’s too thick but it’s also dry and I want something so moist (clearly I need help and no I don’t go to a dermatologist, but probably could). Anyway, these capsules make my skin so happy.
Caitlin
Skin Type: Dry & Super Sensitive
Lazy, lizard-skinned gals, this one is for you: after years of trial and error, I’ve whittled down my routine to TWO STEPS. Step one: this gentle oil cleanser that simultaneously exfoliates and moisturizes – it’s extraordinary. Not stripping, naturally derived, and it can remove makeup, too! I keep mine in the shower and use a few pumps every time I’m in there.
Step two: this all-in-one serum that (actually) replaces EVERY OTHER PRODUCT. It’s pretty pricey (though you can grab the travel size for $20 now!) and the dropper needs improvement (it can be a little difficult to use), but otherwise, IT’S MAGIC. 100% natural, lightweight, moisturizing, brightening, skin-clearing – the chemist behind this deserves a medal. I throw it on damp skin 2x per day and the scaly, sensitive patches on my face have disappeared!
And I can’t say enough about these sheet masks – they’re Korean, recommended by my local skincare store (and I live in Koreatown, so I’m getting the good recs right from the source!), and they lock in moisture unlike any other mask I’ve ever tried. I love bringing them on flights, on girls’ nights, or just throwing one on as a special treat after one of those full-body super-showers:)
Arlyn
Skin Type: Is “Can’t Make Up Its Mind” a skin type? No? Okay then…combination. Oily in the T-zone, sometimes dry around my eyes and cheeks
In a shocking turn of events, my face has been so dry lately (a drastic change from the oil slick it tends to be in these swampy months). I had just reupped my everyday moisturizer so I didn’t want to buy another one and waste this one. Instead, I bought this wonderful and affordable rosehip oil to layer underneath my moisturizer and I really, really love it. My face feels so well hydrated, not the least bit greasy (even if I get a little heavy-handed) as it absorbs so fast, and it wears great under makeup. I use it day and night, and have also been rubbing it into my hair ends when needed as well as my cuticles. It’s lovely and super affordable!
When my face is acting normal, my everyday moisturizer on its own really really great—plus it’s available at Target, which is so easy and accessible. It blends in and absorbs super fast, leaves my face feeling pretty well balanced (unless I’m using another product that is drying), doesn’t break me out, and works well day or night. Oh, it’s also great under makeup since my skin absorbs it, rather than sitting on the skin surface like some others I’ve used.
Jess
Skin Type: Normal to Dry
I’ve now been using Dieux’s New Air Angel Collagen & Peptide Hydrating Gel Cream for almost two months and I have been SO happy with it. It feels so great going on the skin and doesn’t feel heavy at all. Sometimes with lighter gel creams they just don’t hydrate enough but for me, this has been just the right amount. I do plan on buying their Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Barrier Repair Cream with Ceramides, which is richer, for these upcoming dryer months when I know I’ll need it. So glad I finally tried this brand and plan on it being a keeper:)
If you are looking for a lighter, overnight mask, this mask from Youth to the People is great! I always love how my skin looks and feels when I wake up and it’s so easy to sleep in. It drys fast and just feels like a thickish moisturizer.
Then this is not a rec (yet) because I haven’t tried it but apparently this eye cream is great for people who deal with milia! Anyone have any thoughts or reviews? Please let me know!!
Mallory
Skin Type: Combination
I have combo skin (oily in the T-zone but dry everywhere else) and typically, I switch between 3 different moisturizers. If I’m feeling fancy I use this guy in the morning and then this guy at night. The Olay one has vitamin c and is so creamy and luxurious plus my makeup glides right over it. The Neutrogena one is VERY hydrating which I love for before bed and it makes your skin real dewy. If I’m feeling like I don’t wanna spend that much on lotion though/sometimes you just need an everyday bare necessity lotion and that’s this guy. Tried and true. CeraVe never does me wrong so I always travel with the small bottle of this:)
Gretchen
Skin Type: “Normal” but can definitely lean oily
For me, I like a moisturizer that gives me hydration without leaving me feeling greasy. This stuff from The Ordinary has been working great for me for a while now. It comes out pretty thick, and a little goes a long way, but once it’s on the skin it feels so smooth and light. I love that it comes in such a big tube at such a low price point. I haven’t had to repurchase yet, but won’t hesitate when the time comes!
We hope this quick little roundup of what we love/works for our skin helps!! If you have any moisturizers you love drop them in the comments (and if you could add your skin type that would be extra helpful:))
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: **Introducing** Our Farmhouse Primary Bathroom Reveal (FINALLY)
I’m considering the Hemptress serum, but couldn’t find any reviews. Can you give more detail on why you love it so much? Thanks!
same – i really rolled the dice on it, but i was looking for something with 100% natural ingredients!
i used to have a 6-8 step skincare process – this serum replaced ALL of it (with the exception of cleansing). my skin looks better than it does when i was using all of those products, and it’s now simple enough that i NEVER miss my skincare routine (day or night!). the price is high but when i think about how much my other products used to cost, i’m actually saving money, too. (also forgot to mention that it is BRIGHT RED, so it’s also kind of fun to apply!)
i do wish there were more reviews from others with different skin types, but i’m such a big fan. it feels good to have a routine that i can always complete! like starting every day with an easy win :)
Love love love eminence! You only needs a little moisturizer on a damp face.
I have extremely dry skin and have tried lots and lots of products over the years on face and body. But now that I realize that my skin is my largest organ and that it “drinks” whatever I put on it, and that chemicals in products can lead to cancer, I have been trying to find products that are effective and natural, plant-based, and as affordable as possible. For my face, I like Annmarie Skincare and also Purity Woods. For body, best thing I have found so far is Native body lotion. It doesn’t feel greasy, makes my skin feel great and stay that way, and is about the same price as drug-store lotions.
I’m here to shout out Mallory for giving us recs that are affordable and easy to access.
My girlfriend gave me an oil cleanser for my birthday and wow is it incredible! I’m truly in love.
After flailing around trying to optimize my skin routine with all the various products for my 43 yr old face I finally discovered dermatologist Shereene Idriss. Her Insta videos were thorough, informative, and fun. When she came out with her own line of skincare last year I took the plunge and, you guys, my skin has never been happier! Dr. Idriss serum + vitamin C moisturizer in AM/PM has transformed my face, and it’s available at Sephora. 10/10 recommend!
I am a big La Roche-Posay Toleriane Face Moisturizer fan!
Good to know about the Rosehip Seed Oil as an option for when my face needs extra love.
I will also change face cleansers when my skin says HAAALP I’m dry! My favorite gentle and non-drying one is the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser.
Yes I use that same cleanser, too! Though I recently tried the whole line up from Primally Pure (before they changed their packaging, branding and some product offerings) and really liked that too but a VERY different experience. It’s oil-rich, which my face (even though it can be oily and dry at the same time) really likes.
I love all the info…affordable and easy to use….I am really surprised to see that nobody is using anything with an SPF. Skin cancer can get anyone at any age. I use a daily moisturizer with a 30 SPF I use it everyday rain or shine, 365 days a year. Please start using sun protection!!?
From my knowledge, most of us use a separate SPF. I tend to use my moisturizer both day and night, so I don’t need unnecessary SPF. I have specific facial and body SPFs I layer on every day.
I live in a very dry area, and love the face oil from Hydropeptide. It’s not cheap, but it’s amazing. Liquid gold. All of their stuff is amazing!
Discovering the Weleda line has changed my life! Skin Food Light is a good nighttime moisturizer, and the classic Skin Food is what I use on winter nights. It skews greasy, so maybe not everyone’s favorite, but I love how soft and hydrated I feel the next day.
Ladies…you have to try the Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer Cream. It’s life changing. I don’t say that lightly! I have an entire shelf of creams I’ve tried in the last year. This stuff is IT
My fav was a Garnier moisturizer that was discontinued, and I tried a few fairly expensive ones to try to replace it with meh results. Sobel SkinRX was okay, but for the price I thought I could do better. My biggest requirement is a moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid – it cuts down on the flaky, tight dryness I really struggle with in the winter. As a cheaper option to tide me over, I bought the ELF Holy Hydration and LOVE it – smells nice, good packaging (the pots are so annoying when my nails are a little grown out, just give me a pump please!) and does exactly what I need it to! Plus the lower price and easy access at Target means I don’t feel like trying to skimp on how much I use. I also, like Emily, find that it helps a lot to lightly exfoliate – another vote for Pixi Glow tonic, or in the summer I switch to their Rose Tonic because I am less dry and trying to avoid extra sun sensitivity from actives. I also use Biossance Lactic Acid Serum about once a week – it’s very similar to Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, but… Read more »
I have dry, sensitive skin and rosacea. Beyond Ivermectin cream for my rosacea, I mostly use The Ordinary products (cleanser, toner, serums) and castor oil. My skincare has never cost less and I feel like my skin is looking a lot more moisturised.