Best Hydrating Skincare Products

Winter always seems to drag on, and last winter felt particularly long since we were all cooped up in our homes due to quarantine and Covid. But as the weather starts to warm and restrictions start to ease, it’s time for us to get back that Spring and Summer glow with a little selfcare. Here are the best hydrating skincare products and how to use them step by step.

Step One

Cleanse

Washing away the winter is a wonderful ritual. I suggest starting with something like Avene’s Gentle Milk Moisturizing Cleaning Lotion which doesn’t require rinsing, or my favorite, La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Soap Free Cleanser. While both products leave the skin clean and makeup free, your face also feels soft and not stripped.

Step Two

Exfoliate

While it may seem counterintuitive to follow up your cleanser by taking a layer of skin off, you’re actually preparing the face by removing dead cells that are preventing product from absorbing into the skin. I love the Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx™ Exfoliating Peel Gel. It is gentle enough to use a few times a week, yet effective enough to leave a clean and smooth layer of skin behind.

Step Three

Toner

When I was in high school and my skin was very oily I used to overdo it on the toner because the one I used stripped any sebum that was left after cleansing. Little did I know that only contributed to my skin woes. But toners today do not strip the skin like their earlier iterations. Avene’s Gentle Toning Lotion is known for its moisturizing properties.

Step Four

Face Mask

There are so many fantastic options on the market for moisturizing face masks, but I love the Ceramidin™ Facial Barrier Mask. The first time I tried this mask was at the end of a very long flight, one of the most dehydrating experiences you can put your skin through. And when I removed it my skin not only felt amazing, it looked plumper and brighter. 

Step Five

Serum

While serums usually address issues like aging and dark spots, many of them have moisturizing properties, such as Caudalie’s Vinosource SOS Deep Hydration Serum. After your face mask, tissue off any extra product and then apply your favorite hydrating serum.

Step Six

Moisturizer

I use two different moisturizers, one for morning and one for evening. Daytime moisturizers should always contain SPF to protect the skin from sun damage, like Shiseido’s Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream SPF 23. But I use a thicker moisturizer for evening wear, like Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, a French girl skincare staple. 

Step Seven

Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest of your face and therefore the most delicate. So why not use a specialized product to keep that area feeling supple? SUNDAY RILEY’s Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream for Dark Circles not only makes eyes look more awake and brighter, it also softens the skin surrounding the orbital bone.

Step Eight

Hydrating Mist

I never travel without some kind of hydrating mist. I actually have three different bottles sitting on my vanity. Caudalie Beauty Elixer, my overall favorite that is not only hydrating, but also has a beautiful scent and feels extremely refreshing, Avene Thermal Spring Water, a simple mist that instantly gives skin a boost, and Evian Brumisateur® Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray, the best for tucking in your purse due to its small size and packaging. 

It should be noted that none of these products will replace the necessity of getting plenty of water in your diet. They should be used in conjunction with drinking water, eating water-dense foods like fruits, and replacing your morning coffee fix with some herbal tea a few times a week. 

You can check out more of my skincare and beauty picks by checking out my Sephora Sale Haul and my Beauty Buys. How do you rehydrate your skin after a long winter?