Hydration Heroes for All Skin Types

Parched skin turns into dewy goodness with these faves.

I shared some skincare content on IG recently (more specifically, the Caudalie Beauty Elixir!) and had lots of DM’s about why I like it. I really feel like there is soooo much confusion around skincare like which products work, what do you really need to be using day to day. The confusion can mean overbuying and spending on mediocre items… especially in the age of overhyped viral products.

I have a background in beauty - I went to makeup school, I worked in the industry for years, was a beauty editor for a well known online publication and have been lucky enough to receive a lot of products to try during my time as a content creator/influencer, whatever we are calling it these days. Actually, to be completely honest, PR samples have very much slowed down for me and maybe that’s because I don’t share a lot of content lately, or because I’m not a TikToker or Gen Z… no shade at all, just honest curiosity if I’ve aged out in some way. I also think the industry has gotten VERY saturated and brands don’t know who the legit ‘influential’ creators are.

BUUUT, I digress.

All of those questions got me thinking about what I’m loving for hydration these days. I’m always giving my best recos to my community and my friends (you would get a kick out of the text messages that go back and forth!) so I wanted to drop them here, too.

My skin is really dehydrated most of the year - it used to be just in the summer but now it’s year round. It starts to feel so dull, tight, itchy, sensitive and I love products that give me a dose of clean hydration, don’t make me break out, and literally quench my skin. I also highly recommend exfoliating regularily to help skin fuction at it’s best - when you take off that dead layer a few times a week (I reco at night!), your hydration can really do the work it needs to. Exfoliation is whole other topic I could go ham about, but for now, I’ll tell you that I love this exfoliant and the price point, too.

These are my current fave hydration heroes that feel so amazing on the face and don’t clog your pores:

fresh Rose Deep Hydration Balancing Emulsion - I reach for this all the time. I’m actually wearing a double layer right now. fresh does make some very good skin care products, and they are a brand I’ve been using for many years. I bought this upon my return from Portugal - my skin was wrecked after so much sun and salt water. I swear my skin was like a raisin and it was itchy and sensitized. It completely worked miracles for my hydration levels and brought my skin back to life. It’s a pillowy, milky texture and doesn’t feel heavy at all.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - This is such a classic and something I’ve used for years. When I shared it in my IG stories, I received a lot of the same question: what exactly does it do? I love this product in the morning to ‘wake up my skin’ so to speak. It hydrates, preps for moisture, and gives a little astringent pore tightening feel. It is 100% natural, and does give that ‘spa in a bottle’ moment which I appreciate.

TULA Hydrating Day & Night Cream (ERINCSOUSA saves you 15%) - I started testing TULA products about a year ago when they got in touch for a partnership. There’s no way I partner for spon con unless I know it’s a great product, and I have been using TULA ever since. They have been a longterm partner and a brand I stand behind. This cream is perfection if you’re looking for a thicker do-it-all moisturizer. I love that it has squalane and doesn’t feel heavy or pore-clogging.

TULA Instant Skin Reviving Mask (ERINCSOUSA saves you 15%) - For those days where I need to like, slather my face and drench it, this mask is IT. It’s one you don’t need to rinse off, and soothes plus it feels really plumping and yessss, you’re sick of this word right now, hydrating.

Summer Fridays Butter Balm - I use this pretty much on the daily. It’s defo one of those super hyped products and is often sold out… but it’s worth the hype. I love that it doesn’t make my lips feel drier when I’m not wearing it - do you ever notice this happens?! I’m going to switch to this exclusively to replace my La Neige Sleeping Lip Mask once I run out. My fave is the Pink Sugar scent.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream with TFC8® Face Moisturizer - Suuuuper pricy but suuuuper hydrating, I don’t always stay stocked bc, well, the price is just depressing. I adore this and so does hubs - he steals it once a week. Defo one of those products you make sure to use sparingly and I can tell when I’ve been using it consistently.

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation in ST10 - If you’re looking for a foundation that has hydrating benefits (among so many other benefits like SPF!), this is my go-to.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Serum - Glow Recipe is a viral brand and I have a sample of this which I have been loving. Very much like the fresh Rose Deep Hydration Balancing Emulsion, it’s like a drink of water for the skin. I’ve heard it’s one of those products popular with those 10 year old Sephora shoppers we’ve all heard about buuuut don’t let that fool you, it’s a stellar hydration solution, but I wish it didn’t use synthetic fragrance.

rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid - I have yet to use anything from this line, but have heard really good things and the price point is reasonable, too. I love the ingredient profile, and that her products are unscented. Her new cleanser drops this week and I really want to try it - with cleansers, I’m really leaning towards more of a creamy froth these days as opposed to a really sudsy foam as they dry me out!

Happy hydrating, flow-ers!

xx, Erin

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