The Best Moisturizers for Glowing Skin | Featured In Glamour

Dr. Mona Foad and Dr. Alexandra Bowles expand upon the insights they shared in Glamour’s most recent article on “The Best Moisturizers for Glowing Skin.”

What moisturizer do you most recommend for glowing skin?

Dr. Mona Foad

When looking for a moisturizer, I first start by asking what type of skin someone has.  Are they oily, normal, sensitive, or dry?  For someone who is oily, I tend to suggest lightweight humectant-rich gel or lotion moisturizers. These are helpful because they are not going to block their pores and cause them to break out. If someone is more dry, I look for more humectant-rich creams or oils to help seal in their moisture.  Moisturizers help to lock in moisture and keep your skin barrier in tip-top shape. Without the right one for you, you can develop breakouts or your skin may get irritated. 

However, moisturizers are only part of the answer to more “glowy skin.”. You should evaluate why your skin is not glowing. Possible reasons may include:

• Your skin is more dry: You may need to add in a topical hyaluronic acid to build hydration.
• You are getting older: Your cellular turnover has slowed down, leading to a more dull appearance.
• Environmental damage: Factors such as sun exposure and pollution that have caused you to lose that youthful glow.

A moisturizer is very important to lock in and seal your own hydration. To truly achieve more glowing skin, I recommend adding in skin care products that target changes in your skin. These include hyaluronic acid, exfoliants, antioxidants, retinol, and sunscreen.   

Dr. Alexandra Bowles

When I hear patients requesting glowy skin, I like to educate them that it’s not just about what you’re putting on top of the skin, but also how well you’re taking care of your skin holistically. My top tips for caring for your skin include:

• Stay hydrated
• Use sunscreen to avoid UV damage
• Use proper active ingredients such as antioxidants and retinoids when appropriate
• Seal all of those healthy skin cells in with a moisturizer that helps bring out that hydrated, glowy look

First and foremost, I always recommend a hyaluronic acid-based serum. Skinmedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator has 5 types of hyaluronic acid, each working with your skin to help draw moisture into the skin and lock it in. I like this serum specifically because I think it does a great job of providing that glowy look with an elegant finish that looks great alone or layers well under makeup. For a more affordable option, Vichy Mineral 89 Serum is also a HA-based serum that I love, especially as a base for my more dry patients, such as those taking isotretinoin.

To seal these serums in, I recommend a cream-based moisturizer. My favorite is the Skinmedica Dermal Repair Cream. It has a light finish and leaves the skin glowing. For a drugstore option, CeraVe Facial Moisturizer is a great option. They have both an AM and PM version, one with SPF and one without. 

What other products should we use to promote glowing skin?

Dr. Mona Foad

Hyaluronic acid (HA) acts as a “water grabber” and is important for building your skin’s hydration, or water content. Without enough HA, your skin will be drier and therefore look less glowing. As we get older, we lose our ability to make HA. For this reason, adding it to your skincare routine becomes even more important. My favorite is SkinMedica’s HA5 which has 5 cross-linked hyaluronic acids. This helps your skin build its own hyaluronic acid rather than just adding it topically.  

Our skin has a natural shedding process. As we get older, this slows down and can lead to dull, dry, and rough skin. Using exfoliants appropriate for your skin type is a great way to gently shed the top layer of dead skin. This gentle exfoliation can help unclog pores, smooth skin, and reveal healthier glowing skin below. They also help other products penetrate the skin better so they can be more effective. There are many options ranging from alpha, beta, and polyhydroxy acids. 

I always encourage a topical antioxidant to help fight environmental damage such as UV rays, pollution, and blue light. These environmental aggressors can make your skin look more dull and cause your skin to age. Vitamin C is the most well-known and common antioxidant. It helps to brighten your skin, protect against UV damage, and help build collagen.  

Retinols or a prescription Retin-A can help to stimulate cellular turnover and have the added anti-aging benefit of helping with collagen production. Both of these processes help with overall skin health and appearance. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention sunscreen! Make sure that you wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin from the most common cause of photodamage, the sun. 

What is the best moisturizer for dry skin?

Dr. Mona Foad

Moisturizers are made up of humectants, emollients, and occlusives.  If you have more dry skin, you will want to consider humectant-rich creams over lotions and add oils to your routine when needed, such as squalene oil. You may also want to consider occlusives, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor, to aid areas that are especially dry or flaking.  I tend to suggest fragrance-free products to avoid any potential irritation. I like Avene Tolerance Control Soothing Recovery Balm as a more affordable option for sensitive skin. Additionally, SkinMedica’s TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream is a heavier cream that is great for very dry skin thanks to its added ceramides. 

Dr. Alexandra Bowles

For dry skin, I recommend a cream-based moisturizer. I really like Cerave Cream Moisturizer for the body because it has a thick cream vehicle full of ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help improve the hydration of the skin and keep the skin barrier happy and healthy. It comes in a big tub that makes application a breeze. It is also a great option for sensitive skin as it was designed by dermatologists and is accepted by the National Eczema Association.

One thing I think a lot of patients miss is that you want to prevent dry skin, not just treat it after it happens. To help lock in moisture and prevent dry skin, I recommend moisturizing daily, preferably immediately following showering. By preventing dry skin, you’re also improving the integrity of the skin barrier and preventing micro-cracks and tears that can lead to chapped skin or flare-ups of other issues such as eczema. 

For dry or cracked hands, I recommend the Norwegian Formula Hand Cream from Neutrogena. For dry lips, I recommend Vaseline or Aquaphor. I prefer these as they are very gentle and provide an occlusive-like moisturization without dyes or perfumes that can irritate the lips.