Dieux's Air Angel Moisturizer Gets My Skin One Step Closer to the Heavens

Dieux Skin's CEO and co-founder Charlotte Palermino is one of my favorite people to follow. I'm obsessed with her rant-adjacent deep dives into ingredients, policy, sustainability practices, and transparency in the beauty industry. She's taught me that petrolatum isn't the villain the world has made it out to be, the nuances surrounding SPF formulas in Europe vs. the US, and how to recognize greenwashing in the beauty world. Her Instagram Reels are basically church for beauty nerds like me.

Beyond Palermino herself, Dieux has made a name for itself for clinically-tested formulas, carefully considered ingredients (thanks to the brand's co-founder and head of product Joyce de Lemos), and really excellent dreamy aesthetics (co-founder and creative director Marta Freedman's area of expertise). When the latest product launched, Dieux Air Angel Gel Cream ($44), I was eager to see if it lived up to the TikTok hype. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Dieux's newest addition to its heavenly lineup.

Dieux Air Angel Gel Cream

From

$44

$44 at Dieux

I'd say the things I like about Air Angel fall into two categories: the feel on my skin and the formula specs. In my opinion, Air Angel is less of a gel cream and more of a hybrid. When I think of gel moisturizers, I think of an aloe-esque consistency — meaning jelly-ish and thin. While Air Angel does have a water base (as opposed to oil), it is thicker and creamier than your traditional gel cream. As the brand describes it, the texture is "cloud-like," which I don't disagree with. I personally like that it's a bit thicker and more substantial than most gel-based moisturizers – it makes me feel like my skin is really being protected from the elements as I move through my day. Plus, it sinks into my skin quickly, making it the perfect pre-SPF and pre-makeup layer.

On to the formula itself. One of the biggest things that makes me reach for Dieux products is the clinical testing the brand's founders prioritize. They use a third-party lab — which, surprisingly, isn't industry standard — with testing via a vapometer (which assesses epidermal barrier and transepidermal water loss (TEWL)) and corneometer (which measures hydration levels of the upper skin layers).

The ingredients list reads like a heavy-hitters of hydration party. There are the moisture-retaining powerhouses glycerin, sodium PCA, imperata cylindrica root extract, and meadowestolide (a lipid that helps reduce TEWL). Then you'll find the barrier-protecting dipalmityl hydroxylproline, an amino acid that functions similarly to a signal peptide, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkle depth. And finally, microalgae: a biotech-derived, antioxidant-rich vegan collagen peptide that supports firmer, plumper skin.

TLDR: Air Angel is velvety smooth and makes my skin feel ultra-quenched.

The brand suggests that after applying your water-based serums, gently massage two to three pumps of Air Angel onto your face and neck as your moisturizing step. It also recommends layering Air Angel under its heavier moisturizer Instant Angel if you're in a particularly dry environment or prone to flakey skin. I've used it in a couple of ways, but most often as my daytime moisturizer. In the AM, I like to layer a few pumps over my vitamin C serum, followed by a healthy slather of SPF. I was recently in Salt Lake City, where the dryness is out of control (hello, high elevation chapped lips), and while I was there, I kept Air Angel in my coat pocket and reapplied it every few hours to make sure my skin stayed supple. In terms of my PM routine, I'm more of an extra-thick girlie, so Air Angel is a daytime go-to for me.

There are a couple of things to note before buying Air Angel. One is that the finish on the skin is slightly matte, so it may not be for you if you're into an ultra-dewy, no-makeup look. It's also a relatively small bottle, although a little product does go a long way.

If you're someone who takes sustainability and social impact into consideration when supporting brands — which, TBH, we really should all be thinking about — Dieux is a leader in the beauty world. The brand includes a sustainability report for each of its products (see Air Angel's report here) alongside a pricing transparency chart. Plus, $1 from every Air Angel sold goes to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit that's fighting for a safer and healthier world.

Air Angel is currently only available at Dieux Skin.

Rating:
★★★★★