Although I wouldn’t say I have dry skin, in the winter, my type as I knew it, goes out the window. I usually fall under the normal to combination camp, with bouts of sensitivity every now and then. But come winter, I’m just dry. Constantly dry. Dehydratingly dry!
The constant transition from frigid winds to heated buildings (and vice versa) is mostly to blame. The back and forth (and back again) always throws my complexion for a loop. What was otherwise dewy and plump looks and feels matte and cracked.
So over the years, I’ve learned that I need to up the ante when it comes to moisturizer. Once Halloween hits, I put away (or hit pan on) any lingering lightweight lotions from the warmer months and replace them with thicker, richer creams.
“Make sure you’re using a cream and not a lotion,” board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD, previously told Allure. That’s because these types of products have higher oil content and thicker textures, which makes them ideal for soothing distraught skin during the frigid months.
And with an ingredient list jam-packed with nourishing butters (shea and mango), hydrating avocado oil, and moisture-locking glycerin, you’d think Obagi Medical Hydrate Facial Moisturizer’s texture would be more thick custard than Greek yogurt. It’s actually somewhere in the middle, which is great because it’s easily blendable, layerable, and overall lovely to wear.
I’ve upped the number of times I wear it, too. ”If you’ve been using a cream at night, make it twice a day, and use it both morning and night,” Dr. Day said.
Here’s how I use it: After washing my face (with a double-cleanse), I apply my prescriptions topicals (Tretinoin and azelaic acid), then gently smear (and massage) two pea-size pumps onto my face. I start at the top of my forehead and work my way down to my chest. When applying in the morning, I always fall it up with sunscreen—even if it’s gloomy out!—while at night, I lock it in with an occlusive balm.
You can find the Obagi Medical Hydrate Facial Moisturizer, along with other editor-loved products, in the January Allure Beauty Box.
