Hi friends!
Happy New Year, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet. We’re in the doldrums of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere which means dry, cracked and irritated skin (for the most of us). There’s no better time than now to cocoon ourselves in the comfort of a really lush moisturizing cream, so in today’s post I wanted to discuss my top winter moisturizer picks of the season. These are the pots and tubes I’ve had on rotation over the past few weeks that help to soothe and hydrate my very tight and stressed winter skin.
Let’s dive in!
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DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS GIFTED ITEMS (INDICATED BY ASTERISK) BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN.

My winter moisturizer picks. Clockwise: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream, Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyalyuronic Cream
Glow Recipe’s Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream* is the newest launch from this Korean indie powerhouse. I adore its lightweight gel-cream texture that manages to intensely hydrate the skin without leaving it feeling heavy with product. I can see this working for many different skin types, not just those with dry skin. This is my daytime, pre-makeup moisturizer, and like with all my moisturizers, I like to take a generous dab, portion it all over my face (forehead, cheeks, nose and chin) and neck for equal distribution, and gently massage it into my skin. It feels gorgeous, and makeup layers seamlessly over top with zero pull, tug or pilling. This also has refillable packaging (A+ to Glow Recipe!), so when you’re finished with the (inner) pod you just reorder another one and slot it into the (outer) pot.
Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is iconic for good reason. It’s a lovely occlusive yet somehow still lightweight lotion that’s designed to be the last step in your skincare routine. That’s because it contains a high percentage of mineral oil, which makes it very controversial in today’s increasingly clean-washed beauty industry, but also very effective at locking in the skin’s natural moisture and sandwiching in your serum and any other products you layer underneath. Think of it as a blanket laying over the skin; a barrier support against the cold, dry winter air. I have the 50mL squeeze tube version, but it also comes in larger sizes with a pump. It’s formulated for dry and very dry skin types (mineral oil should generally be avoided by oiler or acne-prone skins), so I apply it anytime, day or night.

These are my winter moisturizer picks from Glow Recipe, Drunk Elephant, and Clinique
The Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream* is definitely the richest and most luxurious of the three products listed here. If you want a real sensorial experience from your skincare you may want to give this cream a try. It’s pricey for sure ($60.00 for 50mL) but it’s a real treat. (Put it on your birthday or Christmas wishlist!) As with the entire Drunk Elephant line, the packaging is A+. It’s a pot but you don’t have to dig your fingers in to get the cream out; you take off the cap, push down on the top and a generous portion of the cream dispenses; the perfect amount for one pass over the face and neck. So it’s very hygienic, which we love. I mainly use this thicker cream at night, and it feels beautiful and so lush on the skin. If you’re not a fan of *feeling* your moisturizer on your skin, you probably won’t like this. But for this time of year I think it’s absolutely what the doctor ordered for me!
What are your winter moisturizer picks of the moment? I’d love to know!
xo, and be well, Erica
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