Facial Moisturizers For All Seasons — Skin Quenchers You Can Use Year-Round
Mother Nature seems to be playing tricks with us East Coasters. First, we had an unseasonably mild winter with sporadic days of bitter cold sprinkled into week-long stretches of autumn-like weather. Then, spring arrived, only to retreat after two weeks of summer, plummeting us back into rainy, breezy, chilly stretches of time. And now, with summer around the corner, the weather continues to see-saw, its erratic behavior confounding us immensely, making us question what to wear, whether to pack and umbrella, whether to wear sandals or boots, whether to crack open a window or turn on an air conditioner… This erratic climate is also puzzling our skin as it struggles to respond to these environmental factors. This yo-yo weather,then, can aggravate our skin, leading to dehydration (or uncharacteristic oiliness), breakouts, flakiness, itchiness, and more. Fortunately,we’ve rounded up some moisturizers that transcend temperature and humidity, smoothing and hydrating the skin as dictated by the conditions in which you operate. With these creams, then, you won’t have to drastically change your skin care routine as seasons change and you’ll brave through this bipolar climate with stoically radiant, smooth, supple skin.
L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream, $42. Available at USA.LOccitane.com
After trying this superb moisturizer, I’ve actually invested in the entire Angelica line from L’Occitane. Light as air, the L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream smells fresh and green but also has a slight earthy quality and a touch of citrus. When I smell the cream, I envision a shadowy patch of grass with small blossoms cropping up in its midst, a river or stream only a few feet away. Aside from having a delightful scent, the cream feels silky on the skin and is rapidly absorbed, providing long-term hydration from deep inside as opposed to sitting atop the skin, never fully penetrating the epidermis. The magic ingredient in its formulation: organic angelica water and organic angelica essential oil from France’s Drôme region. This perennial herbaceous plant stimulates the skin’s aquaporins, proteins within cell membranes that regulate the flow of water, thereby improving hydration. Since collagen is mostly composed of water, this moisture power boost also results in increased skin elasticity, leaving your complexion looking radiant and supple.
Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Hyper Hydrator, $20. Available at Sephora.com
The Coco Lopez-like scent of this velvety moisturizer might seem fitting for the warmer spring and summer months,when beautiful beaches and frozen Pina Coladas dance in your head, but the Super Hyper Hydrator will quench your skin’s thirst all year long, delivering just the right amount of moisture. Coconut water hydrates while also gently exfoliating top layers of skin to reveal a more youthful, radiant complexion, while the medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) in this tropical fruit’s water work to reduce redness and inflammation. Cocoa seed butter, meanwhile, softens the skin and improves its texture, while sodium hyaluronate seals in moisture to make sure your skin maintains its uber beautiful, hyper hydrated appearance.
mybody Safety Blanket Gentle Hydrating Lotion, $60. Available at lovemybody.com
Designed for those with normal to sensitive skin, this moisture whip incorporates a proprietary mySBP octapeptide complex that improves Insulin Growth Factor (IGF) levels to repair the skin; SymCalmin, an oat0derived complex that boasts anti-histamine properties and can reduce redness and irritation; and borage seed oil,which is rich in gamma linoleic acids that work to relieve inflammations, treat eczema, minimize dermatitis symptoms, reduce itchiness, and smooth skin. As a beauty blogger, I’m often testing new products out and,while some can dramatically improve the appearance of my skin, others can wreak unbridled havoc. When the latter occurs, I know to reach for the mybody Safety Blanket Gentle Hydrating Lotion since it helps to calm my skin, restoring it to a Zen place.
Tom Ford Intensive Infusion Ultra Rich Moisturizer, $230. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
The genial Tom Ford has been steadily expanding his empire to encompass clothing, film (he directed the Oscar-nominated A Gifted Man), fragrance, color cosmetics, and now skin care. And, since the man can simply do no wrong (he sold $52,000 worth of products on the evening of Oct. 2nd, 2011, when his makeup line debuted at Bergdorf Goodman), it should come as no surprise that his most luxurious moisturizer is spotlight worthy. Oddly enough, very little information exists regarding the ingredients in the formula (press releases focus on vague terminology such as “nutrients” and “antioxidants,” never specifying their sources), so I can’t describe precisely why the cream is so effective (which frustrates me to no end since I take a very special interest in ingredient lists and formulations). But the bottom line is this: however shrouded in mystery it may be, the Tom Ford Intensive Infusion Ultra Rich Moisturizer replenishes and brightens the skin. The formula is extremely thick and dense so, unless you have really dry skin, I’d recommend using this cream as part of your evening skin care ritual. You’ll wake up looking refreshed and full of life, like the heroine in a telenovela (minus the perfect barrel curls and the lipstick, of course!).
Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer, $10.99. Available at most drugstores. Visit Drugstore.com
The leading skin care brand in the UK, Simple has conquered British beauties with its minimalist approach to skin care. The brand’s philosophy is refreshingly uncomplicated — what Simple stresses is that we need to be as concerned about the ingredients omitted from our skin care products as we are by those used in their formulation. In other words, oftentimes, less is more –particularly when it means no harsh chemicals, dyes, artificial fragrances, and possible allergens that could aggravate, rather than soothe, your gentle skin. The Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer is a testament to the value of this pared-down approach. Formulated with pro-vitamin B 5, vitamin E, glycerin, and borage seed oil, this hypoallergenic, sensitive skin-friendly product will hydrate your skin without feeling greasy or tacky. I’ve worn this moisturizer during the harshest of New York winters and, recently, I took it to Puerto Rico with me and, even on the hottest and most humid days, it kept my skin supple and soft without feeling balmy or stifling.
Korres Yogurt Cream, $32. Available at Sephora.com
You may associate it with morning snacks and parfait treats, but yogurt is much more than a protein-packed dairy concoction. In fact, the lactic acid in yogurt is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates the complexion, helping to remove dead skin cells, thereby revealing a new layer of smooth, vibrant, unblemished skin. In addition to hydrating the skin, this velvety moisturizer softens and strengthens the skin’s natural defense system while offering antioxidant protection via macadamia nut extract, vitamin E, and olive oil.
