There’s no worse feeling than having tight, dehydrated and sensitive skin – especially when we’re still regularly using face masks in the pandemic. Here are some hydrating products to keep your skin moist and plump.
Pure Wonder Bath & Body Works Ultimate Hydration Body Cream
I love everything about this product, from the pretty packaging to the way it makes my skin feel super soft and hydrated. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, the cream is rich and luxurious and has a divine smell which had me hooked from day 1 – sweet but captivating.
It absorbs into the skin really well, leaving it feeling smooth and replenished. It does have a slightly sticky feel after application but the hydrating effects last all day. This is definitely my new favourite!
– Juliet Keys
Kumuya Saturate Nutri Moisturiser
Expectations for hydrating products for dry skin are high nowadays, with resveratrol and tripeptides widely promoted. This product is also vegan, free from preservatives, parabens, toxins and mineral oils, and 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 ageing, sensitive skin needs a lot of hydration, but is also prone to reaction rashes and breakouts if products are too harsh.
It 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 so it just a good, clean and simple choice with natural ingredients to protect and hydrate the skin.
– Danielle Rossetti
Science Skincare’s Hydra Lotion, $99, and Hydra Cream, $122
I take hydration quite seriously. Mask wearing during the pandemic has resulted in me having dehydrated skin which has also become more sensitive. So, having the chance to try Science Skincare’s Hydra Lotion and Hydra Cream couldn’t come at a more opportune time.
First of all, I was glad that the hydrating products didn’t have a strong scent, which I usually dislike in beauty products – especially if they’re going to go on my face. The formula is thick without being greasy and it absorbs into the skin in seconds. I could instantly notice my skin feeling plumper; over time, it proved to ease the sensitivity and redness around my nose too.
The price point might deter you from purchasing, but personally, if a product’s efficacy is proven, I’m all for splurging a little.
– Zawani Abdul Ghani
By Philocali. Liquid Masque, $99
I have perpetually dehydrated skin, so I focus on hydrating products for dry skin, 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. 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 moisture-rich 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 product 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 one 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 for three weeks now and I can definitely see a difference; my dehydrated skin feels plumper just after applying and it doesn’t melt off during the day like some creams do. I just love it!
– Jacqui Young
Codex Beauty Bia Hydration Heroes Kit, $43
I’m in my mid-40s and I struggle with dry and sensitive skin. Both the exfoliating cleanser and moisturiser in this kit really address my skin issues but I must say I love the cleanser more than the moisturiser. 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 is also great if you have sensitive skin on your hands – I just wished it had a nicer scent, but overall, it’s definitely worth a try.
– Anna Tserlingas
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, dehydrated 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
Jill Lowe Cellular Repair Hydrator, $88
I was pleasantly surprised once I used Jill Lowe’s Cellular Repair Serum because most of the 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
This is one of the best hydrating products for dry skin I have tried – absolutely love this 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
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 hydrating product 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
This article first appeared in the May 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
If you have found this piece on hydrating products for dry skin helpful, you may also like our review of anti-ageing products!
Yi Min Huang
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