A good moisturiser in Singapore is different to a good one in a drier climate. You have to keep your skin hydrated and not lose too much water because of the heat, but it’s also got to be able to handle the humidity – otherwise we become a slippery mess! Here are some face moisturisers, face creams, hydrating serums and body lotions for dry skin – tried and tested!
Hydrating face creams and serums we’ve tried:
Nordic Formula Serum Power Glow, $268
I’m so happy to have come across Nordic Formula’s Power Glow serum. With sensitive skin, one has to be careful with new products – but this was love at first use. My face felt relaxed and nourished after the very first application. The serum hydrates the skin really well, leaving it smooth and healthy-looking without any irritation. It truly lives up to its name as you can see an immediate glow on your face, which I found very encouraging.
I apply the brand’s Daycream Defence Repair (with SPF 50!) face cream after the serum in the morning, but I find this hydrating serum quite sufficient on its own at night. The 50ml bottle lasts a long time – I’m still using my first one after a couple of months.
– Judit Gál
Serene Skinlab – Renew Serum, $98 and Renew Mask, $68
I love a good moisturiser for dry skin or hydrating serum that doesn’t clog my pores, especially in humid Singapore! And the Renew Serum and Renew Mask feel just like what my skin has been craving. With a watery-gel texture, the hydrating serum feels weightless and glides easily on, giving my face and neck a boost of hydration and a bit of firming up after my cleanser and before my face cream.
I also use the luxurious gel mask every other night, left on for over an hour. (You can also use it overnight.) All the antioxidant goodness gets quickly absorbed into the skin – it’s not one of those that just sits heavily on the face. The icy-cool texture eases any puffiness, and afterwards my skin feels hydrated and supple.
Both the hydrating serum and mask give a distinctly herbal, ginseng-y fragrance, due to them being formulated with plenty of Chinese traditional herbs. But it’s easy to get used to. There is also zero irritation or itchiness, which can happen when you add new products to your routine.
After a month of using both, my skin feels softer and more nourished – it’s even helped with some uneven pigmentation. I’m so glad to have found this skincare brand that’s suited to my sensitive Asian skin and will be keeping these two products on regular rotation.
– Cherry Lai
Kumuya Saturate Nutri Moisturiser, $119.90
Expectations for moisturisers for dry skin are high nowadays, with resveratrol and tripeptides widely promoted. This face cream includes them and is also vegan, free from preservatives, parabens, toxins and mineral oils. It has a long list of naturally sourced ingredients from aloe juice, squalene and shea oil to snow mushroom extract and citric acid.
I love these sorts of products as my sensitive, ageing skin needs a lot of hydration, but is also prone to reaction rashes and breakouts to face creams if the products are too harsh.
This good moisturiser for dry skin comes in a lovely green glass pump bottle which dispenses well. A very light creamy texture and mostly fragrance-free, it soaks in easily and the skin feels dewy afterwards. Suitable for all skin types, it’s just a good, clean and simple choice with natural ingredients to protect and hydrate the skin.
– Danielle Rossetti
By Philocali Liquid Masque, $99
I have perpetually dehydrated skin, so I focus on hydrating products, even though I have larger pores on my nose. Facial mists have long been a staple in my skincare regime as I can add them as an in-between product when I feel my skin needs extra hydration.
This Liquid Masque is much more than a hydrating facial mist. It’s a unique three-in-one spray formula that combines moisturiser, toner and mask for dry skin. Within a few seconds, it forms a collagen film that protects your skin and helps to retain its moisture levels. I found it works best in combination with a hydrating serum. If I used it before and after the serum, it noticeably improved the hydration levels in my skin in a way that no other mist I’ve tried before has.
– Karin Galley
OleHenriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer, $72
I had heard so much about this face cream that I was thrilled to eventually try it. The texture is like a gel, which I’m not normally a big fan of as sometimes I find them a little sticky. However, this face cream melts into the skin and gives a barely-there appearance with a subtle dewy glow. My skin feels like velvet after applying.
I’ve been using this good moisturiser for my dry skin for three weeks now and I can definitely see a difference; my skin feels plumper just after applying and it doesn’t melt off during the day like some creams do. It’s one of the best moisturisers I’ve tried. I just love it!
– Jacqui Young
Codex Beauty Bia Hydration Heroes Kit, $43
I’m in my mid-40s and I struggle with sensitive and dry skin. Both the exfoliating cleanser and face cream in this kit really address my skin issues but I must say I love the cleanser more than the face cream. It’s the only product I’ve tried so far that doesn’t dry out your skin. It has a nice creamy texture, so your skin feels moisturised even after you wash. The moisturiser for dry skin is also great if you have sensitive hands like mine – I just wished it had a nicer scent, but overall, it’s definitely worth a try.
– Anna Tserlingas
Jill Lowe Cellular Repair Hydrator, $88
I was pleasantly surprised once I used Jill Lowe’s Cellular Repair Serum because most of the hydrating serums I’ve tried were sticky or had a gel-like consistency. In the Singapore heat, sticky is not what you want!
The serum is lightweight, and really hydrates the skin for a whole day. While it says it gives 72 hours of hydration, what I have noticed is my skin still looks fresh after 2pm – because it’s usually in the afternoon when things start to go downhill, when tiredness kicks in and the freshness dwindles away. So, to my delight, this product helps me to look fresher past 2pm! It also calms down my skin and evens up my skin tone.
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
The Honey Collection Honey Essence Mist, $63.50
I love this face product! It’s beautifully packaged and helps protect the skin against pollutants while hydrating at the same time – not to mention making it smell sweet like honey. It feels like it encapsulates New Zealand’s pride in clean skincare in a bottle!
You can apply this hydrator any time – before or after your makeup. I always apply it after makeup, and it sets my face for the day. It hydrates and gives my skin a boost. It also claims to instantly shield and protect the skin against toxic urban pollution, free radicals and environmental damage.
This product works as an ideal pick-me-up – for example, when you’re heading into meetings where you want to look fresh and good. I use it throughout the day for hydration and to give my skin a fresh boost. Try not to get it in your hair, though, as it will make your hair stiff!
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
And some moisturising body washes…
SoapCeuticals’ Avocado & Calendula Bath Bar with Patchouli & Lavender Essential Oils, $19
In my opinion, nothing cleanses the skin better than a good bar of soap, so I’m always on the lookout for one. My skin is on the sensitive side, so I need to be quite careful with the products I choose.
Recently, I’ve been including SoapCeuticals’ Avocado & Calendula Bath Bar in my skincare steps twice a day – it’s for dry and sensitive skin, and I’ve found it very soothing. The bar is high-quality and absolutely gentle on the skin, leaving it refreshed, moisturised and soft. I’m well-liked by bugs and insects and am always full of bites, which leaves my skin extremely itchy and dry for a long time (even for weeks!) but after a couple of days of using the Bath Bar, I noticed that the bites healed quicker and my skin doesn’t itch at all!
I like that the bar doesn’t dry out on the shelf and is long-lasting. It’s 100 percent natural, contains patchouli and lavender essential oils, and is palm oil free and cruelty free. Use it with a soap net for an extra rich lather!
– Judit Gál
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, $21.90
When it comes to skincare, it’s often the most basic products like soap that I fail to give proper attention to. Aveeno’s Body Wash is a fragrance-free liquid soap that has a soothing effect on itchy, dry skin – aided by natural ingredients like oatmeal. The moisturising effect is apparent long after a wash and it makes me feel great for hours after! While it is fragrance-free, it does have a subtle earthy smell that I find quite pleasant.
– Dinesh Ajith
Bain de Soie Satin Moisturising Intimate & Body Wash, $52
I liked the Satin Moisturising Intimate & Body Wash from Bain De Soie because it works as a two-in-one gentle wash for your body and your intimate parts. It has a gentle soft fragrance that’s not overpowering, which I like. I feel like it’s extra important to feel fresh and stay clean in this hot and humid climate.
Bain De Soie’s product freshens up the body almost instantly and doesn’t dry out the skin at all. It’s also gentle enough to be used by women who have recently given birth.
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
Essence de Joie Revitalizing Hyaluron Intimate Moisturizer, $48
I’d never heard of a moisturiser for women’s intimate parts, but I have to say, perhaps it’s something more women should give a whirl. This intimate moisturiser smells floral – but not so much that you’d get a headache. I love that it’s also water-based, so it glides on effortlessly.
From the first application, I could already feel a difference in my nether regions; I never knew this is a product my lady bits needed! I use it after showering or, better yet, after shaving, and my skin feels a lot calmer and less irritated.
In fact, this product can also be used as a solution to nipple care and as a water-based gel lubricant alternative. I’m definitely impressed by the versatility of the formula!
– Zawani Abdul Ghani
Like this article on hydrating serums, face creams and good moisturisers for dry skin? Check out our Beauty section for more.
This article first appeared in the print edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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