I am always being asked for my expert opinion on great face creams, but sometimes it's tough to know which product to recommend if I can't see your complexion to make a proper analysis. So I've created a guide to fantastic facial creams best suited to each of the five skin types. Here are my definitions of the five skin types and my recommendations for the best moisturizers for each.
Welcome to the final installment of my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams. Today I'm offering my recommendations for moisturizers best suited to normal skin. Having normal skin means that you have a fairly clear complexion with a pinkish tone and a dewy glow. If you are blessed with this skin type, you don't have to worry about dry patches or shine, so you might as well get a head start fighting the aging process. Here are three lotions to help you.
Crease Release by Dr. Brandt ($150) is a wrinkle-reducing cream for anyone that has a few fine lines they'd like to diminish. It contains white tea, green tea grapeseed, and GABA, an ingredient that relaxes the muscles and skin. It lasts up to 10 hours and leaves skin feeling smooth and refreshed.
For two more fantastic facial creams for normal skin, read more
Welcome back to my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams for your skin type. (What skin type do you have? Tell me here.) After conquering oily skin, dry skin, and sensitive skin, today we'll be looking at that kitchen-sink variety known as combination skin. The most common type of combo skin combines an oily T-Zone with dry patches on the cheeks and sides of the eyes. The key is finding a cream that can comfort whatever combination you have, and these products should do the trick.
Sodium PCA Oil-Free Moisturizer by Kiehl's ($17.50) is designed for normal-to-oily, oily, and very oily skin. I used this for about a two-year period and loved it. It's so light that it doesn't clog your pores, and it contains a humectant for those water dry areas. But since it's made for oily skin, it's the perfect balance.
For two more fantastic facial creams for combination skin, read more
For the third installment of my five-part Fantastic Facial Creams series, we'll be looking at the best lotions for soothing sensitive skin. Those of you with sensitive skin know that it tends to be reactive and break out easily, and taming redness, blotchiness, or skin conditions like rosacea can be a constant battle. Here are three picks for sensitive-skin facial creams.
Complete All Day Moisture Lotion/Cream UV Defense by Oil of Olay ($9.61) came out in 2003, and it's still one of the best buys around. The mild moisturizing lotion contains SPF 15, vitamin E, and aloe to soothe redness. It's also free of fragrances, which can sometimes irritate sensitive skin.
For two more fantastic facial creams for sensitive skin, read more
Welcome back to my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams for your skin type. (What skin type do you have? Tell me here.) Yesterday, I gave you the best face lotions for oily skin, and today, we'll explore face creams for dry skin.
There are actually two kinds of dry skin: oil dry and water dry. Oil dry means that you don't have enough oil in your skin, so you'll want to use a cream that contains natural oils. Water dry means that your skin is dehydrated and typically manifests itself in fine lines all over your face. If this is your skin type, drink plenty of water and look for a product with a humectant. Here are my recommendations for both types of dry skin.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($9.89) is formulated to soothe and nourish water-dry skin. It has an oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-greasy texture, and it contains humectants that enrich your skin with moisture. It's also great for sensitive skin, since it contains no irritation-causing lanolins or parabens.
For two more fantastic facial creams for dry skin, read more
Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the pleasure of chatting with acufacialist Shellie Goldstein, who caters to a number of celebrity clients at her Amagansett, NY, practice. We got to talking about skin type versus skin condition — skin type is something you are born with, while your skin condition is determined by your diet, your stress level, and your skin care regimen. There are five types of skin — dry, sensitive, oily, normal, and combination — and basically, you're stuck with the one you've got.
You can, however, change your skin condition by finding the right products for your face. Welcome to Part I of my five-part series on fantastic facial creams for each of the five skin types. Here are three great products best suited to oily skin.
Yon-Ka Creme PG ($43) is a lightweight and non-greasy lotion that helps balance oil production in your skin. It controls shine, tightens the pores, and fights blemishes. Made with retinol, burdock, vitamin A, and climbing ivy, it will give your skin a terrific matte finish. You can use it in the evening or in the morning as a base for makeup.
To see two more fantastic moisturizers for oily skin, read more
In pursuit of a new skincare breakthrough, the Chanel research team ventured deep into the forests of Madagascar. There, in the warm climate and moist, nutrient-rich soils, they discovered the rare green fruit called Vanilla Planifolia. This fruit blooms for a very short period of time—from September to November—and is known to possess serious anti-age defying powers.
The result: Chanel's latest and greatest anti-aging cream, called Sublimage. Chanel describes Sublimage as the ultimate in skin rejuvenation cream, and at $350 a jar, it had better be. The luxurious lotion assists in fighting off wrinkles, drooping, and lack of radiance while giving your face smoother, more consistent pigmentation. It also helps restore and regenerate your skin to create hydrated, taught, and glowing results. You can buy a 1.7 ounce jar for $350 here. (One note of caution: I was warned, with no explanation, not to use it around the eye area.)
