You always want what you can’t have — especially when it comes to beauty products. That’s why we’re getting the inside scoop from your favorite retailers on what’s selling out right now, how to sign up for waitlists, and where to go to find the next best thing. Because if everyone’s buying it, you know it’s got to be good.
Almost everything Zoolander said should be taken with a hefty grain of salt — except for one: He nailed it when he said: "Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty." Hydration is everything.
That's why just about every new skin-care product features a host of heavy-duty moisturizing ingredients — from oils and butters to hyaluronic acid and ceramides. And when it comes to choosing a cream, "nourishing" and "gentle" are the two main qualities we look for. Turns out, Birchbox customers feel the same way, because Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, $47.50, is one of the retailer's best-selling skin-care items.
The cream, which contains squalane, avocado oil, and apricot kernel oil, is seriously thick, but it still manages to sink in quickly without leaving any greasy residue behind. The best part? It never makes us break out, and it soothes our irritated skin, especially in the winter. Clearly, this is a product we have on rotation, but it's not the only rockstar in the category. Ahead, we've got four other killer hydrators to check out.
If you recognize this blue-and-white tube, it's likely because it's a staple in just about every major makeup artist's kit. The super-rich, yet extremely gentle moisturizer creates a luminous base for makeup and hides all evidence of dry, tired skin.
Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentré, $16, available at Birchbox.
CeraVe's AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is hands-down the best day-time cream we've ever tried. It absorbs quickly, hydrates effectively, and protects skin with an SPF of 30. Oh, and it's fragrance-free, which is key when you're prone to irritation.
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30, $14.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Our editorial assistant, Samantha Sasso, swears by this no-frills hydrator. "My skin is very sensitive, so something gentle and simple is ideal," she says. "It never feels greasy, either."
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream, $38, available at Sephora.
Clinique's Moisture Surge cream has a gel-like consistency that feels light and cooling on the skin. You can even pack on a few layers and use it as a five-minute moisture mask before tissuing off the excess and hopping into bed.
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, $39, available at Clinique.
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