Even if you don’t wear wear makeup at all, it’s highly likely that you will moisturise the skin on your face nearly everyday.
Moisturising is an essential part of self-care in 2019, whether you’re man or woman, young or old. Moisturiser is potentially the most democratic product on the beauty market in that it is for all. Along with toothbrush and toothpaste, a hairbrush, soap and a razor, we can’t live without it. When neglected, our skin can become cracked and dry. A good moisturiser an important cornerstone of your morning regime, whether you’re a beauty-die hard or a modern minimalist.
However, selecting the right moisturiser can require a PHD in chemistry. With millions of products on the market these days, it can be very difficult to know what to part with your cash for. Is a tub of Nivea really the same as the La Mer moisturiser cream (as was very famously publicised by The Daily Mail in 2013)?
The best thing to do, rather than getting caught in the hype, is to sit down and think about what you like in a product for yourself. Some people cannot wear fragrance filled moisturisers whereas others like the uplifting experience of scent on skin. Whoever you are, you need to think about how the product will behave in different climates, depending on where you live and what temperatures it has. Moisturisers should be switched depending on the time of year and the weather. Therefore, it is likely you will need at least two creams or gels to fulfill the needs your skin has in both Summer and in Winter (with Spring and Autumn being optional). My personal favourite moisturisers are sisters not twins. They have a wide range of textures, that set them apart from one another, but serve my skin when it needs a drink, no matter what season.
In Spring, I like something light and easily absorbing, such as Clinique’s very classic Moisture Surge range. I’ve been obsessed with this very hydrating gel-like product since I was young and used to steal it from my mother’s shelf in our bathroom cupboard. Back then, I liked it because it didn’t overwhelm my young skin and for skin which is requiring a simple fuss free solution, I still recommend it. It has a light, musky scent to my nose, even though it is fragrance free. It works well for many skin types and won’t leave a greasy film on the skin.
In Summer, I’m converted to the more recent Clinique release Dramatically Different Moisturising Hydrating Jelly. I used this while sailing around the Greek Islands last year in October, and while it was late Summer, it gave me everything I wanted from a hot weather serum-like moisturiser. High on hyaluronic acid (an ingredient which holds ten times its own weight in water and is naturally found in the human body) this product was perfect for my minimalist regime at sea. If you want something for skin that needs intensive moisturisation or topical pro-aging care, you might want to skip this. However, it packs bang for buck and at a whopping 125ml at $70NZD you won’t run out all Summer long.
Autumn calls for a more comforting approach altogether, and I naturally find myself shifting away from gel-like formulations to something richer. Spicy scents, comforting textures and botanical based products are the order of the day. I love Aesop products, and have done since I first tried them on a trip to Queenstown with a friends family in 2007. At the time, I was working at New Zealand Aesop stockists WORLD as my Sunday job which is how I discovered the range. I immediately fell in love with the simple packaging, brown bottles and amazing quality products and in particular the Camellia Nut Moisturiser. Over ten years on, I would gravitate to something a little less weighty, such as the Mandarin Hydrating Facial Cream. This smells like Autumn in a bottle to me, when the first citrus fruits appear at farmers markets all around New Zealand. A classic comfort, you’ll enjoy a lightly hydrating formulation that cools, tones, and balances the skin. Contains a blend of purifying citrus-derived botanical oils. I own the $76 120ml jar.
Finally, in Winter I think the maxim: ‘Treat yo’self’ can be applied without guilt. You might want to indulge in something which has gotten rave reviews but isn’t yet available on our shores such as the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. This is a rich cream which delivers instant glow and oomph. It’s beautiful 1930s' style jar is to die for, and it should be reason enough to part with your cash alone (and a not insignificant amount). Known for her coveted ‘Tilbury Skin’, Charlotte first mixed her Magic Cream moisturiser for models’ tired, dull skin during fashion week. With a POWERFUL, magical, unique combination of oils and actives, this luxurious moisturiser is instantly hydrating, soothing and gentle on your skin. According to their website the magic ingredients are:
• Hyaluronic Acid: Helps to seal in moisture, creating the appearance of dewy looking skin
• Vitamins C & E: Vitamin C helps brighten and even the complexion. Vitamin E transforms dull, tired skin to hydrated, happy skin
• BioNymph Peptide Complex: Helps stimulate collagen, fight free radicals and reduce the appearance of wrinkles
• Rosehip Oil: Hydrates skin for a radiant glow
• Camellia Oil: Softens skin for a bouncy, supple finish
• Aloe Vera: Moisturises and comforts skin
• Frangipani Extract: A floral extract with moisturising benefits and a delicate, calming fragrance
• Shea Butter: Deeply nourishes and softens skin
Personally, I find in hot weather this moisturiser melts a bit, and stings my eyes, making me tear up a bit and then stinging my eyes more. I did not like it at all times when I was travelling, purely for that reason. However, in Winter it is practically perfect in every way because your risk of sweating is drastically reduced and does deliver the most va-va-voom skin you ever did see. I have this one in the 50ml Jar.
Moisturiser is a very personal choice and in my opinion the best way to choose one is to get your hands on some samples and trial a product before you drop big bucks. You can spend very little to too much on a moisturiser. But always remember to keep things simple, and seasonal.