Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer // Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter // Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil // Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches // Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream

 

 

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream

Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse Solid Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Cream

My skin is generally pretty normal, maybe a little shiny in the t-zone (blotting papers are my friend). My skin loves humidity, and the dry heat and cold wind of Winter make my otherwise normal skin into irritated, dry skin, if I don’t adjust my routine accordingly. Now, before I break down the 8 featured skin care products to soothe your dry skin, I want to mention that there are a few staples of mine that are missing from this — First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum (Hyaluronic acid retains moisture, colloidal oatmeal soothes irritation), Darphin Orange Blossom Oil (my favorite oil but I ran out when we shot this),  Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer (I specifically use this at night, as it’s heavier/greasier), and many a sheet mask when I’m watching tv or on my computer. That’s not to say that you have to use all of these products, but many of these work best when paired together. Moisturizer alone will not repair dry skin as well as moisturizer paired with a hydrating serum or an oil and a great eye cream — and an eye mask can do wonders, plumping and moisturizing that sensitive under eye area. So if you have dry skin and are looking for some skin care product recommendations, check out some of my favorites, pick up some samples, and give them a go. As with any skin care products, there are no one size fits all — so I always advise requesting a sample to try before you buy. I repeat: don’t be afraid to ask for samples!

1. Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer: How I would describe this moisturizer is very wet. And I mean that in a good way; it just feels hydrating and soothing on dry skin. But it absorbs without any residue, leaving my skin feeling nice and soft. I have a handful of moisturizers that I rotate between (mainly Avene, Kate Somerville, Kiehls, Drunk Elephant) depending on my needs. One note: since it’s a thinner consistency, you have to be careful when you use the pump or else you’ll not only waste product, it might also go flying. I usually put my hand over the opening and gently press so I don’t waste anything. This is great for daytime or nighttime, though I usually go for something heavier at night or pair this with serum and the Water-Max Sleeping Mask for maximum hydration – and I always sleep with a humidifier nearby!
2. Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask: Speaking of the sleeping mask, this is perhaps my favorite Winter skin care staple. Think of this as a super hydrating icing on the cake. As the name implies, it’s meant to be worn overnight. After cleansing, toning, eye cream, applying any serums and/or oils and your choice of moisturizer, apply a few pumps of the sleeping mask on top to lock everything in and maximize their benefits. My friend once fell asleep with a clay mask on her face and woke up with extremely dry, tight skin (ouch!) and this saved her skin. She called it magic.
3. The Body Shop Shea Body Butter: It’s not just my face that needs TLC in the Winter, my whole body gets so dry that normal lotion turns to water when it hits my skin. When I need something super thick and rich, I always turn to their body butters.
4. Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil: Somewhere along the line, oils got a bad rap that they didn’t deserve. My skin thrives on oils, and this Argan Oil is amazing for dry, flaky skin.
5. Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches: Pure Luxury is the perfect descriptor for these eye patches; they’re cooling and soothing and feel like heaven after a long day. I often treat my nighttime skin care routine like a mini spa day, cleansing and toning and then taking time with special treatments like masks and these targeted eye patches. I wear these while watching tv, reading, or working on the computer and then follow with an eye cream to keep the sensitive skin under my eyes super hydrated and smooth. I also love that this comes with 30 pairs, so you can make them last a pretty long time.
6. Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream: Speaking of eye cream! I have a handful that I go between, but lately I’ve been using this one from Caudalie, which is silky and hydrating, sinks in beautifully and has a brightening effect. There’s nothing worse than cakey under-eye concealer sitting on top of dry patches, so don’t neglect the eye area!
7. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream: If you prefer a thicker cream moisturizer but can’t stand any residue, this is the moisturizer for you. This has the same kind of packaging as Kate Somerville’s Nourish, though it makes a little more sense for this much thicker cream (I still love you, Nourish!). A little bit goes a long way, and as the “whipped cream” name implies, it applies with a lightweight and airy finish, despite its rich and thick consistency.
8. Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse Solid Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Cream: The last thing you should be doing when you have dry skin (or ever, actually) is stripping it with a harsh cleanser. But at night, you should be double cleansing to make sure you get all of the makeup, grime, and SPF off your face before you apply anything else. Otherwise, you’re just treating dirty skin (gross). Caroline Hirons is the queen of the double cleanse and a skin care guru, and oh how I love Pixi (Pixi Glow Tonic is a staple for me and their makeup is lovely), so of course I wasn’t surprised that I love this double cleanse, which comes with a solid oil and a cleansing cream. In the morning, one cleanse is fine (I use Avene Gentle Cleanser). At night, go in with the oil to break down your SPF and get rid of your makeup, then do a second cleanse with the cream. Then, your skin is ready for all of those lovely treatments that will help you wake up with healthy, hydrated skin.

photos by Amy Schneider of Beauty Steals Inward.