Winter’s coming, and with it that wonderful condition I like to call “crocodile skin.” You know what I mean—dry, flaky skin that looks dull and rough and feels like rubbing a reptile. Thankfully, it’s not a foregone conclusion and you can prevent it AND make sure you look glowy AF by grabbing these 10 products (which I actually own and love and can’t get enough of).
Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream – $42
Basically anything by Fresh is legit, but I’m particularly fond of the Vitamin Nectar cream for several reasons. For one, it smells absolutely divine (a little like oranges but with something sweeter mixed in – it’s hard to explain!). For another, it really does leave my face feeling SUPER soft like a baby’s butt and super dewy and healthy looking in the morning if I put it on before bed. The mask is also good – you apply it and leave it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing and get a similar (albeit more temporary) effect.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion – $28
A total classic and good if you’re on a budget. This is more of a lightweight moisturizer than a heavy-duty one, but if you need something non-irritating and effective in keeping your skin supple and looking good, this is for you. I tend to put this on in the mornings I’m going to the gym since I don’t want anything heavy on my face but I also don’t wanna go full crocodile while on the elliptical.
Avene Skin Recovery Cream RICH – $35
They put rich in caps for a REASON, y’all. While $35 may seem like a lot to pay for such a small amount of product, trust me when I say this stuff lasts forever because you only need a tiny bit of it to cover your whole face. I go for this stuff when my skin is REALLY suffering from the cold/dryness of the heater in my place, and it works WONDERS. No matter how dry my skin feels at night, waking up is a whole different story when I use this.
Mario Badescu AHA & Ceramide Moisturizer – $20
Don’t get me started on Mario Badescu products. When I was an acne-ridden teenager, MB was literally the ONLY brand that cleared up my skin. I’d tried Proactive, Clearasil, everything on the market but MB was a game-changer for me and I still love the brand to this day. They make amazing products at awesome prices and I ain’t mad at ’em for it. The AHA & ceramide moisturizer here is a double whopper of glow-worthy skincare. The AHA gives you that radiacne and the ceramide is deeply moisturizing for even the dryest skins. I’m here for it.
Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Serum – $64
Real talk, I only found out that this stuff existed when I went for a facial at HeyDay and the esthetician used this on me. It smells like straight up oranges (i.e. delicious) but even better, it really does make my skin look glowy AF. I never buy the stuff that’s recommended to me when I get a service like a facial or a haircut, but this is the exception. It’s so good, you guys.
Konjac sponge with activated charcoal – $9.57
This one’s nice and cheap but I literally couldn’t live without it. Konjac sponges are great at providing some physical exfoliation without stripping off your skin like those nasty masks with microbeads in them. It’s super gentle and also a lot of fun to wash your face with. I tend to wet my face, lather on a cleanser, and then wet the konjac and rub it all around (though you could apply the cleanser to the sponge and do it that way too).
Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Sheet Masks x10 – $20.70
Don’t even get me started on sheet masks. I’m obsessed. An entire drawer of my dresser is taken up by masks and I tend to do them at least 5x a week, especially in winter. I really do believe they make a massive difference in moisture AND glow-factor, and none more than Papa Recipe’s Bombee Honey mask. There are several variations of this (ginseng is my other fav but they’re all good) but the original is A+. They smell literally like a giant pot of honey and my skin is RIDICULOUS after I use this. Trust me, you need it.
Etude House 0.2mm Air Mask x 15 – $15
Yup, more sheet masks (and we’re not done yet!). Etude House is one of the less expensive K-Beauty brands that all the young, fashionable girls just love because of the low price point and their adorable collections. While I feel like I’m kinda ageing out of the brand now, one thing I’ll never be too old for is their 0.2mm Air Mask masks. Literally try every single kind because they’re all amazing (they apparently do different things but I can’t really tell the difference between them – they all make my skin look bomb).
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream – $60
I’m basically in love with everything Drunk Elephant does (that canteloupe cleanser is my baby) but I think the Whippped Cream moisturizer is the ultimate. It’s super thick, which means a little goes a long way, and it also comes in a delightfully hygienic dispenser tub that you don’t need to dig your dirty fingers into to use (Kate Somerville also does this, which I love). Most importantly, it actually works to keep your skin deeply hydrated and feeling supple as hell. I’m a fan.
Biore Watery Rich Essence SPF50+ Sunscreen – $18.49
Ladies, don’t play yourselves. If you’re leaving the house, you need sunscreen on. I don’t care what time of year it is, whether it’s raining or snowing or there’s no glimpse of sun in sight—you need sunscreen, the higher the SPF the better (and look for a high PA++++ rating as well, which protects against harmful UVA rays as well). The Biore Watery Rich Essence is my all-time boo and I keep stocked up year-round. It’s thin, spreads easily, makeup applies well over it, and it keeps my skin from getting burnt/damaged, neither of which are very conducive to the glow. Do it.
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