My Dull, Dehydrated Skin Was Sending SOS Signals—This Derm-Loved Moisturizer Became the Solve

Up until last year, I was always told that I had a combination skin type that would respond nicely to most of the products I tried. It wasn't until I moved from Seattle to New York that it underwent an unexpected transformation as soon as fall arrived in Manhattan. The dry patches that appeared on the bridge of my nose, cheeks, and forehead demanded hydration, and I spent months scrambling to find the products that could replenish and lock in moisture without feeling heavy.

Since moving back to the Pacific Northwest, I landed on a few key products to restore my skin. I traded in my go-to chemical exfoliants for physical ones, swapped clay face masks for gel-based formulas, and even landed on a lightweight skin milk to keep my complexion looking smooth, but I knew I was missing that one game-changing product that would take my skin to the next level. That was until I got my hands on one of SkinCeutical's most recognizable products: the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Moisturizer Cream ($155). In a week, I was able to reap the benefits of using it.

Keep scrolling for my first initial impressions of the product, my thoughts while testing it over the course of a week, and why it now has a permanent spot in my new dry skin–friendly routine.

My First Impressions

As a beauty editor, I've been introduced to hundreds of moisturizers that all boast formulas with many of the same benefits: the ability to lock in moisture, increase hydration levels, and combat environmental aggressors, all while giving the complexion a smooth and youthful appearance. While many of the products that have come across my desk have been met with high expectations and online commentary, there are few that have stayed in my beauty cabinets and cosmetics bags. In fact, over the course of my career, there have only been seven moisturizers that have stayed in my daily routine for longer than a couple months at a time.

Admittedly, I didn't know what I should expect from the moisturizer that so many dermatologists have recommended for reviving my desert-dry skin. Beyond its clean, minimalist appearance, there wasn't much that clued me in to the goodness the simple jar contained. However, my eyes did linger for a while on the use of 2:4:2 in the product's name, which I would later learn is referencing its ingredient ratio. I unscrewed the lid in a single movement, revealing a product resembling light, whipped icing. I was immediately greeted with a clean, floral scent that was soothing and spa-like (which, will never be an experience I say no to).

A Closer Look at the Ingredients

The Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 patented anti-aging cream contains a blend of 2% pure ceramides 1 and 3; 4% natural cholesterol; and 2% fatty acids to nourish the skin while correcting signs of aging. Its cholesterol-dominant formula works to restore the skin's external barrier while improving texture, boosting radiance, and smoothing away the appearance of enlarged pores.

• Pure ceramides 1 and 3: Lipid molecules found in the outermost layer of the skin that support skin lipid barrier function, increase hydration, and combat dryness and irritation. The ceramides used in this product are formulated synthetically to be bioidentical to natural ceramides.
• Natural cholesterol: One of the skin's predominant lipids recognized for its ability to accelerate barrier recovery for aging skin. The SkinCeuticals natural cholesterol is derived from a purified isolation of wool wax.
• Fatty acids: A natural ingredient found in animal and vegetable sources that supports the structural integrity of skin lipids to optimize lipid balance. For their formulations, the brand uses vegetable sources of fatty acids.
• Essential oil blend: The combination of lavender, rosemary, and peppermint oil nourishes the skin while delivering a cooling effect

Testing the Moisturizer Cream

The difference in how my complexion looked and felt before and after using the moisturizer was evident within minutes of warming and melting the small amount of product to my skin in circular motions beginning with my forehead and working outward. Just like the cream's effect on the back of my hand, my skin appeared more taut, felt smooth, and was left glowing.

The formula is incredibly lightweight, with a texture that all but dissipated in the minutes following the application. In the end, I had the perfect base for my final skincare steps (i.e., rose-water spray and under-eye patches), and my complexion was left looking hydrated and dewy for my gel-based makeup primer. At no point during the rest of my beauty routine did I notice any pilling. As someone who naturally has incredibly thirsty skin, knowing that this is a hydration-boosting product that layers beautifully with other ones and helps me achieve my goal of a smooth and plump complexion is enough to keep me using this every day.

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