Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
It’s the middle of February, and while spring may seem like it’s just around the corner, chances are there are still a few weeks of winter left — and a few weeks of cold, dry air too. What that means for your skin is that you still need skin care that delivers deep hydration: products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and shea butter to help lock in moisture. Rebecca Tay discovers five facial moisturizers to help keep your skin’s winter resilience up until the warmer weather arrives.
RHODE SKIN BARRIER BUTTER
You’ve no doubt seen or heard of Hailey Rhode Bieber’s skin care brand, Rhode — if not because it’s consistently one of the top brands coveted by the kids these days, then for its reviews and celebrity endorsements. The latest product to launch is Barrier Butter, an intensive, deeply hydrating moisture balm that strengthens the skin barrier by sealing in moisture for 24 hours. Use it on wind-chapped cheeks, scaly elbows, knees, heels — basically anywhere that needs a little extra TLC.
Rhode Skin, rhodeskin.com | $61
DR. BARBARA STURM DARKER SKIN TONES FACE CREAM
Those with darker skin will be intimately familiar with their specific moisturizing needs, so it makes sense that Dr. Barbara Sturm partnered with actress Angela Bassett to develop her range of darker skin tones products. First launched nearly a decade ago, the line includes this face cream, as well as a face cream rich, which helps even skin tone, reduce dullness, fine lines and wrinkles, and promote a healthy glow, particularly for those with more active melanocytes — though it works well on fairer skin, too.
CHANEL NO. 1 DE CHANEL RED CAMELLIA CREAM
Didn’t know you could buy a Chanel product for three figures — let alone under $200? Part of its No. 1 de Chanel line, this Red Camellia Cream harnesses the brand’s signature flower to protect the skin’s moisture barrier and improve elasticity. Oligopeptides also help the skin look plump, smooth and more youthful overall, and best of all, the packaging is refillable, so your initial investment continues to pay dividends down the line.
Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com | $146
MERIT GREAT SKIN MOISTURIZER
Merit was founded by fashion and beauty expert Katherine Power as the antidote to the overwhelming world of beauty, and if this speaks to you, you’ll love the fact that every product serves a specific purpose — put simply, it does what it says on the tin. Case in point: the Great Skin Moisturizer, a weightless formula that absorbs quickly into the skin so it’s plump, hydrated and ready for makeup. Key ingredients include oat extract, hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and biomimetic emulsifiers, all of which also work together to continue releasing hydration all day.
E.L.F. COSMETICS HOLY HYDRATION! DAILY MOISTURIZER
Is California’s e.l.f. cosmetics the best-value beauty brand out there? Millions of videos and fans on TikTok would certainly have you thinking so. The cruelty-free, vegan drugstore brand is known for its affordability and huge range of skin care and makeup, so it can be tricky to figure out where to start. Our suggestion: try this cheap and cheerful daily hydration moisturizer, which has aloe, jojoba oil and shea butter for moisture, vitamin E to soften the skin, and grapeseed oil to even out the skin tone, before graduating to the brand’s colour cosmetics.
Shoppers Drug Mart, shoppersdrugmart.ca | $10.99