Hello Lovelies,
Using a moisturizer in the morning and at bedtime is absolutely essential to the health and happiness of your skin. Do you want fresh, glow-licious skin? Do you want your makeup to look flawless all day? Do you want to keep visible fine lines and wrinkles away? If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, then investing in a great moisturizer and using it consistently is a non-negotiable.
Lack of proper moisture will lead to a breakdown of your skin’s protective layer, which triggers inflammation in the skin. This inflammation will eventually lead to a breakdown of collagen and elastin (your skin’s support structure) which leads to visible signs of aging, flakiness, dullness, and even increased breakouts. Moisture is like a healthy meal for your skin.
One of the biggest myths about moisturizers that I want to debunk immediately is that if you have oily skin then you don’t need to use a moisturizer. Oil is not the same thing as ‘moisture’, and any skin type can suffer from dehydration. If your skin type is combination to oily and you skip moisturizer, then your skin says “Oh No! We feel dry, let’s make some oil to feel better”. I like to call it the ‘backwards effect’ because cutting back on hydration, in an effort to minimize oil production, leads to more oil.
photo credit: vivoderm.com
I decided to share three of my favorite moisturizer recommendations. These products do not have SPF in them so you can use them day and night. I always strongly suggest using a separate SPF product on top of your moisturizer from hairline to collar bone for full protection.
I discovered this product thanks to a sample in one of my Birchboxes last year. It comforts, heals, and hydrates the skin with ceramides. In the top layer of the skin, ceramides form a protective layer that plumps the skin and and helps with dryness. I like to describe them as moisture pillows that are able to withstand the impact of harsh environmental conditions (such as winter in New York City) and they help your skin retain moisture and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier. Ceramides are one of my favorite skincare ingredients because they are highly effective at treating eczema. This product also works very well under makeup.
Photo Credit: pinterest
Caudalie Premier Cru La Creme Riche
This is a luxurious anti-aging cream that my skin absolutely loves. If you have normal to dry skin and want to win the war on visible signs of aging, you will love this moisturizer too. You can check my original review of the La Creme Riche here. In addition to providing hydration, it also helps to increase radiance and is rich in antioxidants, and let’s not forget the firming benefits.
La Mer ‘The Moisturizing Soft Cream’
La Mer is a skincare unicorn. Men and women ask me all the time “Is that product for real? or “Is it really that good?” or “Is it really worth the money?” or “Will it make me break out”. I can honestly say it’s worth the investment, you will see results, and they have formulations that are great for combination/oily skin. So don’t worry lovelies….you won’t break out.
The first La Mer product I ever used was the Moisturizing Gel Cream. I started using it in mid-spring because I was about to finish my winter moisturizer. The Gel Cream is super light weight but incredibly hydrating. I also noticed that the longer I used it I noticed my skin was smoother and more supple, and my skin always felt fresh and moisturized over the course of the day. I recently tried the La Mer Soft Cream. It’s more creamy than the gel and I love the texture; my skin is pleased. The iconic formulation known as the Miracle Broth, deeply penetrates to strengthen the skin, increase luminosity, and recharges your complexion. If you are concerned with oiliness I suggest trying the Oil Absorbing lotion which is oil-free and leaves a matte finish to the skin.
I could talk about moisturizers all day but I will save some of my other tips for a future post, so stay tuned. Please feel free to leave a comment below about what moisturizer you are currently using and how it’s working out for you. And you can always send me a moisturizer question on Snapchat! (@sagebeautyblog).
XOXOX,
Lily Sage
Lily Sage Creates 