Don't Let Global Warming (Or Quarantine) Ruin Your Skincare Routine

Most of us use a cream moisturizer after serum, thinking it's the best way to keep skin saturated all day. A cream is a mixture of water + oil, but instead of using one cream that's a combination of both, it's more beneficial to split the process into a water stage and an oil stage. 

April Gargiulo from Vintner's Daughter suggests breaking up your typical routine for better hydration. Most people use a toner, serum, moisturizer, and oil. A superior method is to use a hyaluronic acid based toner or serum, and then an oil. That's all you need (plus an eye cream).

“Your skin needs hydration and moisture – hydration comes from water, moisture comes from oil. A cream is an emulsion of both. If you divide those two steps, you get a better result than using just a cream," says Gargiulo. “The first step is water based hydration (Active Treatment Essence) that has hyaluronic acid in it; the second step is an oil (Active Botanical Serum) that creates a protective barrier to contain the moisture in your skin.”

It makes sense when you think about it - all you need is to add hydration and something to hold it in. Vintner's Daughter only makes those two products, and it takes 21-35 days to make each one as opposed to the industry standard 6 hours. It's the difference between Couture and RTW.

Phyto-C also makes a few great hyaluronic acid gels - their most famous is the Superheal O-Live Gel. CEO Dr. Eddie Omar tells us the main issue with skincare is when people "don't understand how to use products together. It's about how the regiment is structured." The Superheal Gel is composed of a high concentration of hyaluronic acid and their patented olive leaf extract.We suggest using the gel and waiting three minutes to apply an oil. Your skin will soak it in and the oil will provide a barrier that will keep the moisture in all day. We love Phyto-C because their ingredient lists are very short, and each ingredient has a purpose. 

Other hyaluronic acid based serums and essences we have tested and love include Eterno The Thirst Is Real, Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum, Vitabrid C12 Dual Drop Serum,  SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, Elixseri Menage a Trois.