The Beauty Diary: 5 best moisturisers for dry, winter skin
During cooler months, skin can become sore, dry and flaky – but a skincare product loved by experts, that costs less than $20, will fix it right up.
It’s that time of year when my skin loves to throw a tanty.
No matter how much love I show my face with extensive skincare routines and regular facials, as soon as the temperature drops below 20C, my face has a full-blown meltdown.
Winter makes my skin dry, sensitive and often flaky – and I’m not alone.
Dr Ryan De Cruz, a Melbourne dermatologist, said this happens when humidity levels drop, causing our skin to dry out.
“We all want to keep cosy, but extra clothing layers, heaters and hot water bottles can accelerate the skin drying process,” he told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary.
“If you notice your skin is rough, flaky and less supple it may signal it’s time to amp up your hydration regime.
“Redness, patchiness, irritation and itchiness are also signs your skin is suffering from severe dryness.”
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To help combat this, Dr De Cruz suggests using a gentle, soap-free and hydrating cleanser to wash your face.
“Keep showers and baths to less than six minutes and avoid very hot water,” he adds, explaining you need to begin your skincare routine (read, apply serum followed by moisturiser) immediately after your shower or bath.
He also suggests wearing layers to avoid artificial heat that dries skin and drinking plenty of water.
With a solid, reliable moisturiser being an essential for keeping skin happy during these chilly months, I thought I’d share a few of my favourites.
CERAVE MOISTURISING CREAM
Available at Chemist Warehouse
Price: $18.39
This no-frills beauty brand is adored by skin experts for its simple and effective formulas and loved by shoppers for having very affordable prices while being incredibly effective. While there’s a whole bunch of products from CeraVe I could list off as essentials – this cream is definitely the cream of the crop. Made specifically to rehydrate even the driest of skin, it works well thanks to it's a mix of hyaluronic acid and three types of ceramides, a killer combo that draws moisture to the skin then seals it in. It applies quite thick, but it sets in quickly and doesn’t leave skin greasy or slick. But best of all, it packs a punch in the moisturising department. It’s also sensitive skin approved and can be used all over the body.
SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. PROTECT + REPAIR MOISTURISER
Available at Mecca
Price: $99
For those who like to add an extra skin boosting benefit to their hydrating face cream, I present to you the boss of squeezing a little bit more from your skincare. This is a highly hydrating face cream that also has a dose of “gold standard” vitamin C, that leaves my skin bright and glowy. As it’s an acid, sensitive skin can be irritated using it, but this contains a lipid-soluble form which is far less aggravating – another reason why I’m giving it a thumbs up. It glides on beautifully, sits well under make-up (not that I’ve worn any the past two weeks – thanks Sydney lockdown) and is fast-absorbing. It’s high-levels of hydration come from the hylauronic acid and squalane that takes its moisturising abilities up a notch. Really love this product and will definitely buy it again.
OLAY REGENERIST ULTRA RICH FACE MOISTURISER
Available at Chemist Warehouse
Price: $59.99
This cult moisturiser has earned a loyal fan base, with some even comparing it to La Mer but at a fraction of the price. Now this “ultra rich” variation on the popular face cream has just launched and it’s perfect for winter. It has a thick, buttery texture that melts into your skin and leaves it feeling lovely and moisturised. After skin feels super smooth and firm but doesn’t leave an icky residue and it doesn’t dry out throughout the day. It’s also fragrance free, which I know lots of people look for. While $60 isn’t the cheapest – I find this brand is regularly on offer in Chemist Warehouse so hopefully you can often pick it up at a good price.
KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL CREAM
Available at Mecca, AdoreBeauty and www.kiehls.com.au
Price: $51
An oldie but a goodie for great reason – it’s lightweight, super effective and has an army of people who swear by it – including me – meaning you literally can’t go wrong. It applies with the feeling of gel rather than cream and leaves skin silky soft immediately after use. When I have those dreaded dry patches, this will quickly fix it right up. And I love that it doesn’t have fragrance in it, which can irritate sensitive skin, especially in winter when the weather is making our faces grumpy. Will use over and over – can’t rate it highly enough.
MILK MAKEUP VEGAN MILK MOISTURISER
Available at Sephora
Price: $59
This vegan beauty brand recently launched in Australia to much hype – but is it worth it? While I’m yet to test out some of the cult Milk items, this moisturiser has made it into my rotation and it is staying there. It’s known for being a fun, easy to use brand and you can see why from this neon yellow tub that certainly stands out in my bathroom cabinet. The fragrance-free cream feels luxe on application with its milky, lightweight texture. It sinks in really fast, keeps my face hydrated all day (even when using a heater – sorry Dr De Cruz) and is also really nourishing. Love it.
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