Dawn Siler

What are the best moisturizers for seriously dry skin?

In the hotter summer months, my skin ain’t that picky. Any lightweight lotion will do. But as soon as the chilly winds roll around, my skin shows sign of cracking.

It feels a little tighter in the afternoon. It gets red (and not in that cute blushing way) more easily. It may even get itchy.

Maybe you’re dealing with that on a daily basis. If your skin’s naturally dry, prone to sensitivities, or subject to excess exfoliation, finding a moisturiser that gets the job done feels like looking for that elusive needle in a haystack.

Fret not, here are the best moisturiser for seriously dry skin (no matter the cause):

Best For Anti-Aging: Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream ($33.00)

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream is loaded with every antioxidant you can think of. These smart molecules patrol your body, looking for free radicals (the nasty buggers that give you wrinkles and dark spots) to destroy. Retinol goes a step further: it also boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm. If you’ve never used it before, be warned: it’s harsh on the skin and can cause dryness and irritation. Luckily, this cream is so rich, its moisturizing mojo will counteract the worst side effects.

P.S. If you’re already using a retinol serum, you do NOT need retinol in your moisturizer, too.

Available at: Dermstore, Nordstrom, and Paula’s Choice

Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It

Best For Sensitive Skin: Bioderma Sensibio AR ($24.90)

Got dry skin so sensitive, anything will trigger a rash? Bioderma Sensibio AR got your covered. Its blend of non-fragrant oils deeply moisturises skin, leaving it soft and supple for hours. Plus, it has its fair share of soothing ingredients, like ginkgo and green tea, that calm down redness and irritations. While they’re at it, they also help you fight off free radicals before they give you premature wrinkles. Did I mention it’s fragrance-free, too?

Available at: Dermstore, Escentual, Feel Unique, and Revolve

Related: My Full Review Of Bioderma Sensibio AR

Best For Repairing A Broken Skin’s Barrier: Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser ($35.00)

You’ll know if your protective skin’s barrier has broken down all over the place, trust me. Your face feels tight and dry all the time. It easily turns redder than a lobster. It itches like crazy and everything seems to irritate it. In the worse case scenario, even putting on moisturizer with the slightest touch is enough to make you cry. What’s a girl supposed to do? Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser is loaded with ceramides, fatty acids, and natural oils – all substances that naturally make up your skin’s protective barrier. When you put them back into your skin, they patch up any holes in your barrier, making your skin softer and healthier again. Bonus points: it sinks in quickly, too.

Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Nordstrom, and Paula’s Choice

Related: How To Repair A Broken Protective Barrier (And Why It Matters)

Best On A Budget: The Inkey List Turmeric Face Moisturizer ($12.99)

Packed with squalane and coconut oil, The Inkey List Turmeric Face Moisturizer has a super moisturizing, yet lightweight, formula that keeps skin soft, supple, and perfectly hydrated for hours on end. Plus, the combination of turmeric and oats is very soothing for the skin. It helps calm down redness and irritation. That’s pretty much it. It’s a simple formula, but gets the job done well without breaking the bank.

Available at: Asos, Cult Beauty, and Feel Unique

Related: The Complete Guide To The Inkey List Moisturizers: Which One Is Right For You?

Best For All Skin Types: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($15.99)

What if you have normal/oilier skin that gets drier in winter? You can switch to a heavier moisturizer during the colder months. Or you can get your hands on CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion and use it all year round. What makes it so versatile? Instead than oils, it uses barrier-boosting ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide to protect skin from harsh weather, germs, and anything else that’s trying to harm it. Plus, the lightweight texture sinks quickly in the skin, without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Available at: Dermstore, Feel Unique, and Ulta

Related: Are Ceramides The Key To Healthy Skin?

What do you think are the best moisturisers for seriously dry skin? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Call me demanding, but if I have to splurge on an expensive makeup remover, I expect it to:

• Remove all traces of makeup – including waterproof mascara – in less than a minute
• Be gentle, so it won’t irritate or sting my eyes
• Make me a cup of tea

Ok, maybe the cup of tea is asking too much. But a good makeup remover must fulfill the first two criteria, right? Clarins Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover… doesn’t. Here’s why:

What’s In Clarins Gentle Eye-Makeup Remover?

POLYSORBATE 20 & POLOXAMER 184

Clarins Gentle Eye-Makeup is a micellar water for your eyes. It uses the same non-ionic, non-foaming surfactants, like Polysorbate 20 and Poloxamer 184.

On the positive side, they’re gentler than traditional cleansers like Sodium Laureth Sulphate, so they don’t sting your eyes as much.

On the negative side, they don’t remove makeup all that well… The less powerful the surfactant, the more elbow grease it takes to get the job done.

Is the trade off worth it? If you have sensitive skin or need to get your makeup off in a pinch, yes.

Texture

This makeup remove feels like water. Looks like water. Acts like water.

Fragrance

It has an old-fashioned floral scent.

How To Use It

Pour a few drops on a cotton pad and gently wipe your eyes with it.

Performance & Personal Opinion

Remember I told you Clarins Gentle Make-Up Remover is basically water in a bottle?

If you’ve ever tried washing a greasy pan with water alone, you know where I’m going with this. It won’t work. Water and oil don’t mix, so the former can’t remove the latter.

Your makeup (especially waterproof mascara) contains oils. Water alone will smear the mascara around. It won’t melt it away.

I need to use a lot of product, cotton pads and elbow grease to remove makeup off my eye area. FYI, don’t think that I’m wearing heavy makeup, either. I usually skip eyeliner and opt for non-waterproof mascara.

But Clarins Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion can’t do anything against even the gentlest of makeup, like eyeshadow and primer. If they eventually comes off, it’s because of the all the scrubbing you have to do.

The eye makeup remover itself is very gentle. It won’t irritate or sting your eyes – even if accidentally gets inside them. But all that scrubbing? That is a recipe for irritation!

I could forgive this eye makeup remover if it only struggled against waterproof mascara. But it struggles to remove anything! What’s the point of it being so gentle, if it doesn’t do the job anyway?

Available at: Clarins counters

Have you tried Clarins Gentle Eye-Makeup Remover Lotion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Poloxamer 184, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Phenethyl Alcohol, Panthenol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract [V2221A]

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Kojic Acid is the underdog of skin-lightening treatments. It’s not as famous as azelaic acid, infamous as hydroquinone, or common as Vitamin C. Heck, most people don’t even know it exists!

But it often succeeds at fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation when others have failed. Take that, Vitamin C.

Should you give it a try? Let’s find out:

What Is Kojic Acid?

Kojic acid is a skin-lightener made by bacteria. No kidding. It’s a by-product of the fermentation process of rice that’s used for sake (the Japanese rice wine).

FYI, Japanese’s diet is rich in foods with Kojic Acid, like soy, miso, and strawberries. They believe (rightly so) it has antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles, dark spots, and other ugly diseases.

What Is Kojic Acid Used For In Skincare?

Kojic Acid is a skin-lightener that can fade away all kinds of hyperpigmentation, including:

Here’s what Kojic Acid CAN’T do:

Related: How To Fade Away The Dark Marks Left Behind By Pimples

Not sure Kojic Acid is the right skin-lightener for you? Click on the image below to subscribe to the newsletter and receive the “Skin-Lighteners Cheatsheets” to find out:

How Does It Work?

Kojic Acid is a one tricky pony. It lightens skin in only one way: it inhibits the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme necessary for melanin production.

Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its beautiful natural colour. But sometimes, its production goes into overdrive. Blame it on aging and sun damage. They damage your skin so it pumps out too much pigment here and there.

By inhibiting tyrosinase, you regulate the production of melanin, so it stops releasing any excess pigment. Now everything’s back under control, your dark spots slowly go back to their natural lighter colour.

Does Kojic acid soap work?

Kojic Acid works. But I wouldn’t get my fix from a soap. Two reasons:

1. Effectiveness: Kojic Acid works better when left on the skin. When you rinse off the soap, you wash it down the drain, too.
2. Irritation: Soaps have a high pH that’s too harsh for skin. It disrupts the skin’s protective barrier, causing dryness and irritation.

Is it worth to irritate skin for mediocre results? Stay away from soaps and get yourself a cream instead.

Related: Why You Should Never Use Soap To Wash Your Face

How Do You Use It?

You need to use Kojic Acid twice a day every day for at least a couple of months to see results. If you expect a big improvement from the first application, boy, you’re gonna be disappointed!

It’s also a good idea to use it in 3 months cycles. What does that mean? Simple. You use Kojic Acid for 3 months, then switch to another skin-lightener (like hydroquinone or Arbutin), for 3 more months. Later, rinse, repeat.

Can You Use Kojic Acid With Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Etc?

Yes – as long as your skin can take it.

Retinol, Vitamin C, glycolic acid, and niacinamide all have one thing in common: they help fade away dark spots. Using them with Kojic Acid will help you lighten any discolourations faster.

Question is, how much can you take? If you throw too much at your skin, you risk turning it into a dry, red, flaky mess. It’ll take a while to recover for that.

If you can take everything, here’s a good regimen to follow:

If you find this skincare regimen is too harsh for you, remove something. You do NOT have to use everything. You have to use what works for YOU.

Related: The Best Skincare Routine To Fade Away Dark Spots

Is Kojic Acid Safe Or Will It Harm Your Skin ?

Yes, Kojic Acid is harsh. At 1% and higher concentrations, it has “high sensitising potential” and can cause irritations and allergies. But that’s all you have to worry about.

Here are other concerns people have about kojic acid that are unfounded:

Can It Give You Cancer?

According to the CIR, “While some animal data suggested tumor promotion and weak carcinogenicity, kojic acid is slowly absorbed into the circulation from human skin and likely would not reach the threshold at which these effects were seen.”

We’re not rats or mice. Just because something is bad for them, doesn’t mean it’s bad for us. In the low concentrations used in skincare products (anything too high will irritate skin, remember?), Kojic Acid does NOT cause cancer.

Can It Make Your Skin Darker/Cause Ochronosis?

Ochronosis is a bluish discolourations some people with darker skin tones sometimes get when they use hydroquinone (Kojic Acid’s biggest skin-lightening rival).

I couldn’t find any proof that Kojic Acid causes ochronosis, too. Or that it makes your skin darker in any way.

But – and this is an important but – you need to use sunscreen religiously. Sun damage can darken your skin, especially if you’re exfoliating (it makes skin more prone to sun damage, including dark spots).

Can It Make You Breakout Or Give You Acne?

Kojic Acid itself isn’t classified as comedogenic, so it won’t make you breakout.

But if the product you use has comedogenic ingredients, you may still get a breakout or two.

Related: Comedogenic Ingredients List

Is It Safe During Pregnancy?

Yes, Kojic Acid is a safe alternative to hydroquinone during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Related: What Skincare Ingredients Should You Avoid During Pregnancy?

Is Kojic Dipalmitate A Safer Alternative?

Ever wondered why it’s rare to find a skin-lightening product with Kojic Acid? This stuff is highly unstable and goes bad quickly. It’s a pain to formulate with.

That’s why some brands use Kojic Dipalmitate. It’s a mix of kojic acid and palmitic acid that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s way more stable than Kojic Acid, BUT there’s no proof it can lighten dark spots and discolourations.

Don’t fall for the hype. Stick to the real thing.

Kojic Acid VS Hydroquinone: Which One Is Best?

Hydroquinone is the gold standard for treating hyperpigmentation. It works in two ways: It works by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase (the enzyme that controls the synthesis of melanin) and by increasing the cytotoxicity of melanocytes (it kills the cells that produce melanin).

Studies show that Kojic Acid alone is less effective than 2% hydroquinone in treating hyperpigmentation. But what if you use it with other skin-lighteners?

Another study compared the effects of Kojic Acid + Glycolic Acid VS Hydroquinone + Glycolic Acid. The results? Both combinations faded hyperpigmentation and melasma equally well, BUT Kojic Acid was more irritating.

Hydroquinone is the best skin-lightener of the two. But you can only use it in 4 months cycles. During the breaks, you can turn to Kojic Acid instead (as long as your skin isn’t too sensitive).

Related: Kojic Acid VS Hydroquinone: Which One Is Right For You?

How Does Kojic Acid Compares With Other Skin-Lightening Ingredients?

Finding the right skin-lightening agent seems like a mission impossible. There are a dozen treatments out there, how do you know which one to pick?

I’m not gonna lie, it’s often a matter of trial and error. Even when science proves something works, you never know how well it works for you until you try it.

But some treatments work better than others. As we’ve already seen above, hydroquinone is more effective than Kojic Acid. And Kojic Acid is more effective than mulberry extract and Arbutin (a natural form of hydroquinone).

I couldn’t find any studies comparing Kojic Acid to other skin-lighteners, like Azelaic acid. But given the irritating potential of Kojic Acid, I’d still try gentler skin-lighteners like Arbutin and Azelaic acid first.

Related: The Battle Of The Skin-Lighteners: Which Is The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?

Not sure which is the best skin-lightener for your needs? Click on the image below to subscribe to the newsletter and download the “Skin-Lighteners Cheatsheet” to find out.

What Are The Best Products With Kojic Acid?

• Glytone Dark Spot Corrector ($38.00): Hydroquinone + Kojic Acid. Available at Dermstore.
• La Roche Posay Mela-D Pigment Control ($52.00): Kojic Acid + Glycolic Acid. Available at Dermstore.
• Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense ($98.00): Kojic Acid + niacinamide. Available at Blue Mercury and Dermstore.

The Bottom Line

Kojic Acid may not be the best skin-lightener out there, but it’s still a good contender – especially when used with other brightening agents, like glycolic acid and niacinamide. As long as your skin isn’t sensitive, of course!

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.