In the simplest of terms, we all know that some skin types generally run dry, while others err towards oily. (Mine falls on the oily end of the spectrum.) But factors other than your genetics also dictate what your skin needs in a particular instant. This last winter, for instance, even my scalp became dryer than usual. "The wintertime is always drier, and our skin [definitely] feels those effects," says board-certified otalarygologist Kimberly Lee, MD, who practices facial plastic surgery in Beverly Hills. In addition to seasonal conditions, she adds that laser treatments are another circumstance in which "the skin requires extra, intensive moisturization," no matter the time of year.
It just so happened that I was living both of these skin-drying realities simultaneously, changing my product regimen from literally head to toe. After having received a series of treatments via the AviClear laser for my hormonal acne, my complexion was dry, flaking, irritated, and red, and could not tolerate ingredients like retinol or chemical exfoliants. I began to slug with green balms nightly but needed something less greasy for the daytime.
New York-based, board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, says that formulaically speaking, more intensive moisturizers draw upon different proportions of emollients and occlusives that must take special care not to become pore-clogging, or comedogenic. In short, finding the right texture for your particular skin condition is key. As someone whose skin seemingly breaks out at the mere suggestion of a clogged pore, I began looking for a potent, heavy-duty hydrator whose texture would not cause clogged pores or leave my shine-prone complexion looking oily. That's when I met Eighth Day Intensive Moisturizer.
