FACE OFF: FACE CREAM

Every so often I have a minor freakout about keeping my skin hydrated. I even keep a face lotion at my desk to reapply throughout the day (what? Oprah does it!) There's no better time for rational fears than right before a harsh New York winter, so this week's face off is about finding the face creams that can stand up to the job.

Suffering from dry skin is a bigger issue than you might think. Why all of the fuss? I promise that I'm not overreacting: As your skin ages it's more prone to water loss, so the better your face cream is at preventing that, the better your skin will look now and in the long run. This isn't to say that oily skin isn't at risk too—no matter what your skin type is—staying hydrated is vital. These two lotions are meant to do just that and I've given them a test drive to make sure they live up to the hype.

The Product: Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Sure Gel

The Promise: A hydrating infusion to prevent daily loss of water and strengthen the skin barrier.

The Result: A full twelve hours later, glowy skin that looked like I had just applied my moisturizer!

Use It: If you have oily skin or super sensitive skin and live in a colder climate. The key ingredient is Hyaluronic Acid that binds moisture molecules to your skin for 24 hours (it holds up to 1000x its weight in water). It's free of paragons, alcohol and fragrances—making it safe for someone like me whose skin tends to freak out from perfume-y lotions. Come wintertime, this one will protect you from the harsh elements.

Buy It: $38 here

The Product: Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream

The Promise: Improvement in the appearance of firmness, lines wrinkles and deep hydration for those wishing for a lighter texture.

The Result: Several hours later, my skin still looked and felt hydrated.

Use It: If you live in a warmer climate or if you have oily skin. The key ingredient is the "Resurrection Flower" that's known to survive up to 31 months of dehydration and return to life. It hits all of the major points that a good moisturizer should (cell turnover, barrier function, and hydration) but it's meant for oily skin. Most moisturizers are of this kind work better for dry skin, but feel too heavy for this skin type. 

Buy It: $60 here

In case you missed it, last week we discussed the merits of a shampoo-change.