We hoped this winter might just never come. But instead, it was just late and made a dramatic entrance—a record-breaking 26-ish inches of snow here in NYC. For us, the cold brings up two issues: how to care for and nurture our skin as the cold dehydrates it, and how to best pamper when you’re stuck indoors!
We’re going to place our bets on the fact that readers of the Peach & Lily blog already moisturize—but, have you picked a moisturizer best suited for blustery, chilly weather with “feels like” -# degrees!?
First of all, there are two forms of hydration we can provide to our skin—humectants and occlusives. Humectants draw water from the lower levels of our skin— reserves in our body (i.e. water we drink), and draw them to the upper layers to rehydrate the skin. Occlusives, on the other hand, create a barrier, blocking the skin from losing water.
We’ve curated a selection of Peach & Lily favorites to lock in moisture and protect your skin from the bitter cold!
This cream contains a blend of seven fermented extracts—prized ingredients in Korean skincare (pomegranate, pumpkin, milk, rice, rye, soybean, and ginseng!) This cream is a powerful double-agent due to its powerful brightening capabilities (niacinamide!) and it’s rich texture which hydrates the skin—thanks to ingredients like Macadamia.
This #PLteam favorite is somewhat of a magic cream. Why, you might ask, is this unassuming tube just so good? Well, aside from the praises we always sing about Aromatica (it’s Korea’s only brand to achieve EWG champion status for toxin-free ingredients, this cream is safe enough for a baby) it’s also somehow thick enough to feel occlusive—almost like a sleeping pack when used as the last step in our regimen AND light enough to prime our faces for makeup on hurried mornings. Calendula is an ace ingredient when it comes to calming redness and soothing sensitive skin. We won’t question it—this cream can do it all.
Okay, so this rich night cream feels like frosting. It literally melts into the skin and works, while you sleep, to achieve three common skin goals: 1. it hydrates 2. it fights signs of aging, and 3. with the formula’s inclusion of brightening agent adenosine, it helps brighten and revitalize. The best part, still, however, might be the sheer joy and fun of application!
Skin Inc.’s customizable serums make us feel like the cosmetic chemists we sometimes dream of becoming. Each serum contains fresh capsules of its hero ingredient (in the case of this set that’s ceramides, hyaluronic acid and coenzyme Q10). The capsule storage system makes it safe for the ingredients to comingle. You mix them together in a pretty serum bottle to create your own targeted skin treatment. This kit is, of course, all about hydration. Hydrolized hyaluronic acid holds up to 1000 times its weight in water, ceramides are a molecule which helps strengthen the skin’s barrier to lock in moisture, and finally, the coenzyme Q10 serum is an antioxidant which protects against free radicals and contains anti-aging Vitamins C and E.
Our Sheet Mask Picks For Bundled-Up Sundays
This affordable sheet mask packs a bevy of nourishing ingredients making it a worthy bang for your buck! Avocado is known to help even the texture of rough skin and provide rich nutrients and moisture (see more below). But avocado isn’t the only skin perk in this mask—it’s got allantoin, trehalose, sc-glucan, and hyaluronic acid—a cocktail of hydrating, soothing, and brightening ingredients.
- Ariul, Avocado 7 Days Mask, $3.00
This mask is part of the (newly curated!) 7 Days Mask Set—one of which sells every eight seconds in Korea. These masks focus on one key ingredient, making them easy to shop for! To learn more about the specific benefits of Avocado, read our dedicated blog post here.
Honey deserves appreciation—in general (because, of course) and as a skincare must. The sticky bee-byproduct has been a known healing agent for centuries. It’s a natural antioxidant and anti-microbial, which makes it beneficial to acne-prone skin, too. It nourishes, moisturizes, and soothes skin that is dry, irritated, or red to reveal plumped, calmer, and moisturized skin.
Ariul’s Bamboo Water Mask imparts hydration (in contrast to the Ariul Avocado mask which focuses primarily on nourishment). This one is a no-brainer for a chilly on the outside, heater-air on the inside day at home!
This luxe mask is a special one. Made of natural cellulose fiber, it fits the face like a glove, and hydrates and clarified with algae extracts, essential minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. This is one of those masks where you will be amazed when you look in the mirror after taking it off. Prepare to glow!
Cheers to Radiance! and p.s. remember to turn on your humidifier! (Everyone in our office is in agreement about this one, which is easy on the eyes too)
