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I’ve mentioned this a couple of times in the past few months, but I have been doubling down on moisture for my skin ever since I had a facialist tell me (much to my surprise) that my skin was dry! I honestly had no idea — it’s not flakey or red or anything, just runs dry. I’ve tried probably a dozen moisturizers over the past few months, and these are my absolute favorites:
01. InnBeauty Extreme Cream — Mr. Magpie and I both love this and for most of the summer and fall I used this as my daily moisturizer (currently using The Outset, mentioned below, but will definitely toggle back to this in future months). Don’t let the slightly garish packaging put you off; I was initially deterred by the marketing because it read very “Gen Z” or younger to me (sorry, but it’s true!), but this is an excellent daily moisturizer. It’s very similar to Augustinus Bader, which I’ve also tested in the past — Bader is a great moisturizer but I just couldn’t get over the price tag especially when I find InnBeauty so similar. InnBeauty might be a tad more oily / unctuous / heavy than Bader but overall a similar product. Deeply hydrating, almost has an oil-gel-like feeling when applying, scentless. Mr. Magpie says it’s like “wearing a filter” because it makes your skin glow.
02. UBeauty Super Hydrator (seen above) — A Magpie once wrote to say she had a makeup artist do her makeup for her wedding, and she ran off to apply this before they got started, and the artist was absolutely shocked at what it did to her skin and begged to know the product. I think about that random anecdote every time I apply this. It leaves your skin so plump and glossy! I don’t think this hydrates skin as thoroughly as InnBeauty but it leaves the top layer of your skin looking like a glazed donut. It also works beautifully beneath makeup IMO.
03. The Outset Nourishing Squalane Moisturizer* — The week before Christmas, I simplified my morning and evening skincare routine to The Outset’s three-step micellar gel cleanser, collagen serum, and squalane moisturizer (sold as a bundle here). This is ScarJo’s brand and she swears it is all she uses on her face. I am very impressed, and very happy. It’s a very gentle, nourishing sequence, which appealed to me because I am now using the LED mask (several weeks in, I’m a believer in this) and Dr. Dennis Gross peels in a strict regimen and want to otherwise keep my skincare simple. (I do, though, layer on extra moisture after the three step process.). I really love the moisturizer. This is a great product if you want something simple, clean, gentle — it’s much lighter than moisturizers one and two above but does a fantastic job all the same. Not as heavy but absorbs invisibly and really seals in moisture.
*Quick aside that their viral lip oasis was restocked!
04. Mother Science Molecular Genesis Moisturizer. Technically I’m not supposed to share this until tomorrow but giving you an early scoop – this incredible moisturizer will be released tomorrow but I’ve been using as the last layer in my moisture routine for several weeks now and am completely obsessed. It’s thicker than the previous three moisturizers, and is clinically proven to “effectively repair the skin barrier for dramatic smoothing, firming and hydration of the skin.” I cannot stop touching my skin, which I know is terrible, but it is SO unbelievably soft and conditioned thanks to this moisturizer. I use in the AM after Vitamin C and the Outset trio, and in the PM after the Outset trio and a layer of this facial oil. It is so rich and soothing. I love the way it feels like you’re sealing in all the goodness. Huge fan!
Runners up: I use these final three items more sparingly / specifically, but I really appreciate both of them for specific use cases.
+The first is Rhode’s Glazing Milk, which I use like a primer right before I apply makeup on most days. My process is often vitamin C, The Outset trio, and the Mother Science moisturizer, and then I make breakfast, work out, etc, and apply this just before putting on makeup. It’s more of a fluid but it really feels like it “sets” your skin for makeup, and evens out the canvas.
+The second item is Ursa Major’s Alpine Rich Cream which I use when I’m feeling super dry and/or sometimes apply as the last layer before bed, almost like a sleeping mask. If you need something super heavy, this is the Mac Daddy. Thick, rich, deeply hydrating.
+The third item is Dr. Dennis Gross’s Blur + Repair Cream. This has such a beautiful, almost whipped, texture and sometimes I’ll apply before redoing makeup in the evening or even as a top layer over makeup to sort of refresh things if I don’t feel like redoing everything. It’s a beautiful product but I find I prioritize 1-4 as daily moisturizers and will use this more sporadically. I do think it creates a halo-like or filter-like effect on your skin, blurring imperfections.
Related note: my favorite eye cream remains UBeauty. I know, it’s $$, but nothing else compares to how it hydrates non-greasily. When my eyes are puffy (or when I’m traveling and short on space), I love the $20 caffeine eye cream from BeYou. Totally incredible for depuffing. Recently, I have been using the Tula stick recently, and I do love the application style (so easy to swipe on) but I don’t find it’s quite as hydrating.
What about you? What are your favorite moisturizers?
P.S. How do you get your kids to eat?
P.P.S. 11 small ways to slow down.
P.P.P.S. Love in ways big and small.