This story first appeared on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign up here. The Strategist Beauty Brief is delivered every Wednesday.
Our Beauty Brief on the body lotions we all buy got me thinking: Who are the aggressive moisturizers of the crew? The folks who are doing the absolute most to keep their skin supple in the dry-air months. Turns out, they are writers Tembe Denton-Hurst, Kitty Guo, Arielle Avila, and me, senior editor Crystal Martin. Here we discuss our (excessive) hydration tactics.
Crystal Martin: So how’s everyone body-moisturizing these days?
Kitty Guo: I actually use oil first with lotion on top.
C.M.: Oh, controversial — it’s usually the other way around.
K.G.: I use lotion second because I like the finish; it’s less tacky than doing it the other way around. I use either Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil or First Aid Beauty After-Shower Nourishing Body Oil. I love the citrus-y smell. Neither of them are greasy and both sink in quickly. As for lotion, right now, I’m liking Kiehl’s Ultrabody Mega Moisture Squalene Cream.
Arielle Avila: I’m the same, actually. I use Nécessaire lotion on top of Naturopathica body oil, which definitely sinks in perfectly. But I’m mad because it’s so expensive. I might have to switch to that Aveeno oil mist that’s $10.
Tembe Denton-Hurst: My routine starts in-shower with the L’Occitane oil body wash. But I’m very much an Aveeno person. The lotion is the perfect weight for fall. I’m following that up with the Aveeno body oil. It’s not exactly a dry oil but it’s not super-slick like the Osea oil, which feels more viscous. I bought three bottles of it on Prime Day because I can’t be without it, and it was like seven bucks then.
C.M.: You can’t beat $7. I’m not truly an oil person, but I might become one on the next Prime Day, if the Aveeno’s that price.
T.D.H.: Yeah, because what’s interesting is I don’t think that the price of body oil corresponds with how good it is. Plus, it’s not a first line of defense.
C.M.: Agree. My first defense is humidified air. I’m a humidifier truther: I have six in my 1,000-square-foot apartment. I’m sitting here at my desk with the Canopy portable one misting my face. I even have the Hey Dewy on my kitchen counter while I’m cooking. I use like four gallons of distilled water a day to keep them all running. It sounds deranged, but it’s so worth it. Without them I feel sick and shriveled — even my hair revolts. Humidifiers are the single biggest thing saving me from dry, New York City radiator heat.
T.D.H.: Wait — and so you’re using all the same body lotions and stuff from summer, too?
C.M.: Basically, yes. A few days a week I may throw on the Rahua body serum right after the shower. It feels like an oil-serum hybrid, smells fruity in a sophisticated way, and gives my skin a glow. But I’m too lazy about it to do it daily. Then it’s my trusty CeraVe Moisturizing Cream every single day. I did get two very dry, scaly patches on my thighs and butt two weeks ago — alarming. I self-diagnosed eczema and started using the CeraVe Eczema Relief Creamy Body Oil about a week ago. The patches are already gone.
A.A.: Is anyone doing anything interesting for face? I’ve tried slugging, but it’s too much for me. Too goopy.
C.M.: I gradually add stuff in as it gets colder outside. For now, just Cosrx snail mucin as my first layer of skin care day and night.
A.A.: One thing I might revisit when it’s colder is the Loops Wrapping Mask. You put it on at night, and it really does feel like it’s hydrating and locking it in, then you peel it off — a good alternative to slugging.
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