Active ingredients in skincare are fantastic. I’m a regular user of retinol, Vitamin C, azelaic acid and niacinamide and have the photographic evidence proving the incredible impact they’ve had on my skin. Plus, there isn’t a dermatologist I know who doesn’t state these are ‘gold standard’ ingredients whenever I interview them.
However, though I might be a fan of the kind of functional, evidence-based skincare that slows the ageing process and, when used over time, has a visible impact on the tone, texture and appearance of skin, I am also someone who likes the feeling of skin being quenched and hydrated.
This is why the simplicity of a basic oil/water emulsion isn’t something to be underestimated. On nights off from active ingredients, on days when your skin feels dry, tight and drawn or when you’re so tired and weary you just want to saturate your skin with something that will feel soothing, calming and reassuring, it’s important to have a reliable one at your fingertips.
It’s my belief the investment in your skincare regime should be focused on active ingredients in serums, so it would follow savings can be made when choosing cleansers and moisturisers (although I did have to rethink this after trialling the REOME Three Suns Balm Cleanser, £55, recently). The added bonus of this skincare step is that it doesn’t need to be an expensive one and, in fact, some of the best moisturisers on the market are affordable and entirely inexpensive.
These are some of the best:
NIVEA Soft Moisture Cream 300ml, £8.69. Perhaps the most basic but also one of the most comforting hydrating textures you can find on the high street. A little goes a long way and with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil central to this water and glycerin led formula, there’s an instant feeling of ‘wetness’ on application that any skin in need of moisture will instantly ‘drink’ up.
Weleda Skin Food 75ml, £14.95. It took me a while to fall for Skin Food’s charms, although many makeup artists told me of its uses as a base for makeup and how it could revive even the most world-weary skin (read: tired/hungover/jetlagged) before a red carpet. Skin Food is thick but if you warm a little in the palms of your hands and press it into skin, you’ll see why it’s such a cult classic. If the original formula is too much for you then Skin Food Light 75ml, £14.95, delivers the same hit of hydration in a softer, more pliable, formula. Put either of these on before bed and you will be able to see the ‘plump’ to your skin in the morning.
E.L.F. Holy Hydration Face Cream 50g, £12.99. E.L.F. formulate some of the most reliable, and affordable, makeup and cosmetics on the high street and this is no exception. And while I may have said these formulas are simple, this one features hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide and Vitamin B5 so it’s doing a little more than just delivering that quenched look and feel. If you don’t like heavy moisturisers, this lightweight option is a must-try.
The Inkey List Omega Water Cream Moisturiser 50ml, £11.00. If you want hydration without the oiliness then a water-based moisturiser could be what you’re after. This formula contains omega fatty acids to help skin hold onto moisture and niacinamide to help control excess oil and even out skin tone.
Garnier Skin Active Hyaluronic Aloe Daily Nourishing Cream 50ml, £7.50. Soft, simple and absolutely does the job you need it to, while having the added benefit of being suitable for sensitive skins - which makes this a great choice for those nights off from your active ingredients. The sensation of hydration is instant and long-lasting and, as is the case with all these moisturisers, a little goes a long way.
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