The Skincare Savant: My Favorite Daytime Moisturizers for Winter and Spring
Is your skin drier than the Sahara? You've come to the right place.
Welcome to the very first installment of The Skincare Savant, a love letter to my most favorite ritual and all of the captivating, indulgent and heavenly skincare products and other delights that care for your skin. In an era of transient trends eclipsed within moments, take comfort in knowing that caring for your skin will always be in. From the elegant moisturizers with enduring allure to the eye creams of your hydrating dreams, the soothing cleansers that wash away even our worst days, the enchanting new releases (and the few that are actually worth your attention), the usual suspects that I can’t stop talking about, the boring but essential basics, the occlusives that are the cherry on top of a delightfully decadent nighttime routine and so much more. The Skincare Savant is an ode to the practice of caring for your skin, from your skincare routine and beyond. You can find every installment of The Skincare Savant here. Let’s dive in — and buckle up, it’s a long one.
Programming Note: This post includes more goodness than an email can handle and will get cut off. Don’t miss a thing, read it here!
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Reminder:
I am not a dermatologist, doctor, licensed esthetician or credentialed expert. The opinions shared are my own and should not be perceived as medical advice. Everyone’s skin is different. I can only speak to my personal experience, and what works for me may not work for you and that’s okay.
My skin is akin to an arid climate in a record-breaking drought, meaning I have very dry skin. While my skin type influences my approach, experience and overall recommendations, there’s something for everyone here — no matter your skin type or concerns.
Have a topic you’d like me to address? Let me know in the comments below! 🤍
Season’s Greetings
It’s been a long winter (literally) and with spring nearly in sight, there’s a sense of joyful anticipation in the air — and a lot of pollen. And while it may be tempting to overhaul your skincare routine to reflect the upcoming season, I wouldn't make any major changes quite yet — as spring weather is notoriously unpredictable, especially right now. As someone with very dry skin, my morning skincare routine remains largely the same throughout the year with few exceptions.
But no matter your skin type or the current season, a great moisturizer that works for your skin plays an essential role in maintaining a happy, healthy skin barrier. While serums can deliver hydrating layers, moisturizer is the crucial step that locks it all in and makes that hydration last. And although I could spend hours dishing about the assortment of delightful moisturizers in my morning and nighttime skincare routines, none of us are emotionally prepared for that. Note, this post is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of my favorite moisturizers (we’re not emotionally prepared) or a deep dive on moisturizer in generally. Instead, today’s post highlights a few of my daytime favorites with a few recommendations on how to decide what’s best for you.
It’s incredibly hard to find a great or even good moisturizer that meets your unique needs, even for the most beauty obsessed consumer. And I think that’s part of a broader problem with beauty right now — there’s too much of it.
The beauty industry is a crowded space with a relentless cycle of new releases every second — but few categories feel more oversaturated than moisturizers. It’s nearly impossible to weed through the noise, the marketing and the sheer volume of products to find the ones that actually work for you. Every brand has a moisturizer, some of them seem to have at least seventy-two and everyone will tell you theirs is the best. But as someone who has spent years testing an embarrassing number of the most expensive, the most popular, the most innovative and the most endearing moisturizers out there, I have a lot of thoughts. And while some types of skincare products take more time to properly test than others, I generally know if I’m going to like a moisturizer pretty quickly.
Though I’m not an expert (see the disclaimer above), I am a seasoned consumer. And if you’re still on the hunt for a moisturizer you love (or if your holy grail is currently out of stock), I highly recommend making a musts list — or a list of the boxes a product has to check to make it into your routine. Refining your search to only the products that meet your needs (like skin type, budget, desired outcome, potential sensitivities and other personal preferences) can help you cut through the noise to develop a better sense of what you like and find what works for you more easily.
The selection of moisturizers below are some of my favorite daytime delights that are effective for my very dry skin. I hope this lists leads you to discover your soon-to-be favorite, inspires you to try something new and helps you to better understand what you’re looking for. Let me know what products stand out to you and if you have any questions in the comments.
In A League of Their Own
As someone with dry skin (because I haven’t said that enough already), I never really found gel moisturizers all that exciting or enticing — that is, until Dieux Skin launched Air Angel Hydrating Gel Moisturizer (save w/ myskinterest10). With many of the same delightfully plumping, hydrating and barrier boosting ingredients as Instant Angel, Air Angel is oil-free and has a lower level of lipids which makes the texture less rich and gives it the consistency of a silky, serum-like cloud. Air Angel was formulated for those with oilier and/or acne-prone skin but its unique versatility really sets it apart in my book. For those with dry skin like me, Air Angel acts almost like a hydrating serum that can be layered before applying your thicker moisturizer of choice. And that’s how I’ve used it ever since I received a lab sample in the mail last year. TLDR: Air Angel is a triumph that’s worth every penny, no matter your skin type. — save w/ myskinterest10
If I had to pick a moisturizer to bring with me to a desert island, it would be Instant Angel Skin Restoring Moisturizer — which has been one of the most essential, nonnegotiable staples in my meticulously curated skincare routine for over two years (save w/ myskinterest10). And despite testing hundreds (literally) of moisturizers in the years since, Instant Angel remains my favorite. As someone with skin akin to an arid climate, Instant Angel’s deeply moisturizing, nourishing, skin strengthening, plumping and barrier boosting formula is truly heaven sent. Filled to the brim with with hero ingredients — including moisture-attracting humectants like glycerin and urea, skin repairing blend of emollients as well as powerful amino acids (and much more!) — it’s both rich and lightweight all at once. In my experience, it plays well with every other product in my skincare routines, never pills (even when I apply several layers) and it works beautifully under makeup — all while giving my dullness-prone skin a healthy glow. If you want a moisturizer that acts like as a soft, nourishing cocoon for your skin, look no further than Instant Angel. — save w/ myskinterest10
Nat Note: Dieux expects to have Instant Angel back in stock in mid-March (fingers crossed). Until then, keep scrolling.
The Most Eggcellent Essential
In my experience, the most effective way to retain moisture is to apply thin layers of hydrating ingredients on top of each other. While this is mostly associated with layering essences and/or hydrating serums, I’ve become a fervent fan of layering my moisturizers as well — and nothing bests Superegg’s Sound Renewal Serum Cream (save w/ myskinterest). It’s impossible to overstate the impact Sound Renewal has had on my skin and my understanding of what a moisturizer should and could be. As someone with dry skin (have I mentioned that yet?), I used to think the only moisturizers worth using (day and/or night) were the richest and thickest. However, ever since I started incorporating Sound Renewal as an additional layer to lock in the hydration from my serums before applying a thicker moisturizer, I’ve seen an undeniable improvement in my skin. It’s become a main character on my Instagram, in every one of my skincare routines and is my not-so-secret weapon for hydrated, radiant and healthy skin. This serum-like cream is silky and weightless, and instantly plumps, nourishes and hydrates while also providing lasting hydration. It’s undoubtedly one of my favorite moisturizers of all time and everyone I’ve recommended Sound Renewal to has fallen in love with it (no matter their skin type). Whether you use Sound Renewal on its own or layer it with your other favorites, you can’t go wrong. It’s special!!!!!! — save w/ myskinterest
The Sensitive Skin Warrior
It’s rare that I fall in love with a moisturizer that’s intentionally made be used on both the face and body (read: I’m a snob) but Prequel’s Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream is an absolute game-changer. Not only is Barrier Therapy fragrance-free, sensitive skin friendly and deliciously abundant, it also contains 1% colloidal oatmeal which can help soothe sensitized and irritated skin. Barrier Therapy is both lightweight, rich and wonderfully hydrating all at once and it plays well with everything in my routine. It’s basically a really comforting bear hug for your skin and the perfect last step. On the days when I’m sick, my skin is irritated or don’t have time for my skincare routine, Barrier Therapy is able to keep my incredibly dry skin happy and healthy — and that’s quite a feat. I also find myself bringing it with me to my desk and other favorite spots around the house in case I need a little extra hydration (yes, it’s my emotional support moisturizer). There’s so much to love about Barrier Therapy (including the price!) and I can’t recommend it enough.
The Indulgent Emulsion
While few moisturizers truly impress me every time I use them (after all, they’re just goop for your face), iS Clinical’s Reparative Moisture Emulsion somehow does it all and then some (save w/ myskinterest). The Reparative Moisture Emulsion is easily one of my favorite daytime (and nighttime) moisturizers and is filled to the brim with peptides, antioxidants, growth factors (!!) and hyaluronic acid — along with other ingredients aimed at addressing various skin concerns overtime. Because it’s an emulsion (my personal form of cat nip), it transforms as you apply it and feels like it’s adding moisture to the skin while also locking it in for lasting hydration. While most emulsions are heavy, slimy and impossible for me to use in the morning — this has a completely different dense, serum-like consistency. It’s hard to describe but it feels like an indulgent blanket of hydration that is unlike any other emulsions I’ve tried. It really is shockingly lightweight on the skin. Plus, this actually dries down quickly and has an almost soft matte finish — making it ideal for those with oilier, acne-prone skin as well as dry skin. The Reparative Moisture Emulsion is oil-free, lightweight, works beautifully under makeup and never pills. I really don’t know how they did it but I’m so happy they did. — save w/ myskinterest
The Double Agent
For those desperately searching for a moisturizer that can multitask better than even you can after three cups of coffee, Allies of Skin’s Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment may just be the answer (save w/ myskinterest). While a lot of moisturizers designed to be a “one and done” step in your skincare routine can end up being somewhat fussy and disappointing, the Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment actually pulls it off. Marketed as a leave-on treatment of sorts, the Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment is formulated with a powerful blend of antioxidants and peptides, as well as other ingredients aimed at hydrating, brightening and protecting skin overtime. This light-to-medium weight cream layers well without pilling and doesn’t leave behind any residue (gross!). Plus, the Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment has a peachy, pinky hue (like a color corrector) that seems to help my skin tone appear more even and radiant — which is ideal for no makeup makeup days. — save w/ myskinterest
Back to (Better) Basics
While flashy packaging and buzzy marketing can make it easy to overlook an unassuming and somewhat boring classic, La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Ultra Soothing Repair Moisturizer will never go out of style. Formulated for those with sensitive skin that’s prone to irritation, the Ultra Soothing Repair Moisturizer is rich with ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin and thermal water to help repair and soothe the skin barrier. In my experience, this lightweight moisturizer absorbs quickly, layers well and provides lasting hydration and reprieve to even the unhappiest of skin. And trust me, this saved my skin several years ago. Despite having remarkably resilient skin, I had a bad reaction to a product I was testing and woke up absolutely covered in hives all over my face and neck as well as my chest, stomach and arms (though I’m still not sure why they spread beyond my face). After desperately searching my collection for something basic and sensitive skin friendly, I landed on the Toleriane Ultra Soothing Repair Moisturizer. It was the only moisturizer I used for weeks even after the hives had subsided because it’s so easy to love.
The Internet Famous
While I’ve long lamented my frustration with Rhode Skin, I’m a reluctant yet fervent fan of several of their products — and I recently realized it’s time to admit that I really like their Barrier Restore Cream, too. Though I still think this is Rhode Skin’s hero product, the Barrier Restore Cream is a delightfully boring, lightweight moisturizer that feels like pillow for your skin. With a mixture of peptides, niacinamide, antioxidants and the usual emollients, it’s not the most hydrating moisturizer in my collection but I’ve still gone through two tubes. Why? Because while I love complex and innovative formulas, I also really appreciate more basic moisturizers that are easy, effective and get along well with my skin and the other products in my skincare routine — like the Barrier Restore Cream. If my skin wasn’t quite as dry, I would love this even more (so it’s probably perfect for most people). In my experience, the Barrier Restore Cream is silky, layers beautifully and almost melts into my skin without pilling. For me, it’s further proof that beautifully boring skincare (especially a moisturizer) is more than enough.
Alright, ask me all the questions and tell me all the details. Want to know more about any of the products featured? What’s your favorite moisturizer at the moment? What did you have for breakfast today? What topic should I cover next? Don’t be shy, we’re all friends here!!
Until next time, follow along on Instagram and browse all of my favorite things. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.
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Love this read and in general, your Substack content so far Natalie! I’ve tried 4 of the moisturizers here, and agree they’re all great. It actually makes me miss IS clinical’s reparative emulsion a lot. The glow is unmatched. Curious if you have a go-to travel moisturizer. I’m always looking to streamline. I sampled the U Beauty Super Hydrator on a recent vacation and it was lovely. Might have to pick up a full size. :-)
This is so interesting!! I was just switching up my moisturizers and serums to deal with my dehydrated skin that I just cannot seem to hydrate. I’ve settled on more water-rich creams, sealed with a balm for now: Ingredients Face Serum, Osmia Face Cream, Stark Balm. I may need to try Air Angel if this doesn’t work - using it as a serum sounds like a good idea!! I love Instant Angel, but I wondered if I needed something with more water/hydrators (versus lipids).