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The 9 Best Winter Moisturizers for Combination Skin
Does anyone actually like winter? I actually can’t stand it, which is why I moved to Miami this year. This is my first winter not someplace freezing cold (I grew up in Connecticut and went to school in Philly), and I have to say – IT’S REALLY FREAKING NICE. I went to South Beach today and listened to Christmas music as I slept in the sun. I haven’t wrapped my mind around the fact that my friends and family up north are bundling up in parkas and scarves at the same time I wear shorts and sundresses!
Side note: speaking of Christmas, have you checked out my holiday gift guides? I’m going to be adding to them throughout the month of December, so make sure you take a look at them if you’re looking for some gift ideas! Let me know if you have any specific gift guide requests! I love finding the perfect gift and I’d be happy to help you do the same for anyone on your list.
ANYWAY, as much as I have been absolutely l-o-v-i-n-g not having to wear anything more than a hoodie at this time of year, I’ll be visiting my family in Connecticut for the holidays and am already dreading what the cold air is going to do to my skin. I thought I’d share some of the best winter skincare moisturizers for combination skin, since I’ll have to swap out my lightweight moisturizers for something a little more heavy duty to cope with the chilly wind!
Since I’ve spent many, many cold winters in pursuit of the perfect moisturizer that will keep my combination skin moisturized without being greasy, I hope you’ll find this list useful! What’s your holy grail winter skincare product?
Best Winter Moisturizer for Combination Skin on a Budget – The Ordinary
The Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA from The Ordinary was my go-to in the winter when I was a broke AF college student. It’s ridiculously affordable ($7!!!!), moisturizing without feeling heavy, and the large tube lasted me all winter. It also plays really well with other products, and I never had any issues with it pilling or looking weird under makeup. It’s super reliable and it never let me down or left my skin feeling dry. Plus, a little goes a long way, so this tube will last you for the whole season.
Key Ingredients:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Urea, Allantoin
- Dermal Lipids
Best K Beauty Winter Moisturizer for Combination Skin – Cosrx
Okay, I know what you’re thinking – SNAIL MUCIN?! If you haven’t heard the praises of this really strange ingredient, though, you must be living under a rock. I’ve had lots of luck with Cosrx’s super popular snail mucin essence and figured I’d give this cream a try. The Cosrx Snail Mucin Cream has a gel-like texture and I find it to be extremely moisturizing, especially when applied to wet skin. My skin has never felt dry with this cream, especially combined with the essence. If you’ve been itching to get into K beauty and/or try snail mucin, you should totally check this one out!
Key Ingredients:
- Snail Secretion Filtrate
- Hyaluronic Acid
Best Multipurpose Winter Moisturizer for Combination Skin – La Roche-Posay
I LOVE. THIS. CREAM. I started using the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume when I started tretinoin and was looking for a super thick, goopy cream. I love that this is in a tube so you can squeeze out just the amount you need. It has a really creamy, moisturizing texture that I can’t get enough of. You can use this on your hands, elbows, lips – anywhere that gets super dry. It makes my skin feel so plumped up and soft – and I love how affordable this is! It’s so easy to just toss in your bag if you’re on the go, since it’s in a tube.
Key Ingredients:
- Shea Butter
- Panthenol
- Madecassoside + Copper – Zinc – Manganese
Best Natural Moisturizer for Combination Skin – Weleda
This is one of my OG favorite moisturizing creams. The Weleda Skin Food was a lifesaver for me when I was on Accutane and constantly dealing with rough, dry skin. I will warn you, it’s VERY heavy, but I love to load up on this on a cold winter night and slather it all over my face. You will never wake up with dry skin if you use this cream on combo skin, I can tell you that. It’s very soothing and is oil based so you will look super GLOWY.
I’ve also had a positive experience using this as a makeup primer in the winter months or for a natural-looking highlight on my cheekbones. BTW, it also smells like orange juice, if that’s something you’re into! But if you don’t like fragranced skincare products, it’d be best to skip this one.
Key Ingredients:
- Sunflower oil
- Beeswax
- Calendula
- Chamomile
Best Winter Drugstore Moisturizer for Combination Skin – Neutrogena
Drugstore skincare brands are constantly adding amazing ingredients and products to their lineup – and this hydro boost line from Neutrogena is one of my faves. The unscented, fragrance-free version of their popular Hydro Boost moisturizer has a really smooth and silky texture that seriously just melts into the skin. If your skin leans towards the oilier side of combination skin, you’ll enjoy this! Pro-tip for any product with Hyaluronic Acid: apply on WET skin. So spray your face with a mist or splash with water before applying anything HA to ensure it keeps your skin moisturized!
Key Ingredients:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Glycerin
Buy at Target | Buy at Amazon
Best Winter Oil for Combination Skin – Acure
One of my favorite ways to keep my combination skin super hydrated in the winter is mixing oil with a moisturizer. The Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil is not only affordable, but makes my skin look super glowy and helps soothe redness or dryness. It also smells freakin’ amazing – like a sweet and floral version of Froot Loops. Once I press this on top of my night cream, this makes my skin feel so soft and smooth, and looks so good when I wake up in the morning!
Key Ingredients:
- Blue Tansy
- Kale
- Argan Oil
- Yarrow
- Kukui Oil
Best Winter Moisturizer for Sensitive Combination Skin – Aveeno
This new oat moisturizer from Aveeno is formulated for sensitive skin types and is fragrance, paraben, alcohol, dye, & phthalate-free. It’s also available at the drugstore, which gives it a plus in my book. I recently picked this up on a Target run and so far have had a positive experience with it – the texture is super creamy and melts into the skin. I trust Aveeno with their products for sensitive skin and haven’t had any issues with using this so far.
Oat is supposed to be really good for sensitive skin, so if you have sensitive, combination skin, you might have a good experience with this one. It’s available at most drugstores, Ulta, and Target, so it’s easy to pick up and/or return if you have a negative experience.
Key Ingredients:
- Prebiotic oat
- Feverfew
Best Cult Favorite, No Frills Moisturizer for Combination Skin
It seems like everyone in the skincare community on social media loves CeraVe! But it’s with good reason – the no-frills, super simple brand makes some great products that are super affordable. The CeraVe daily moisturizing cream keeps the skin moisturized without being greasy. I’ve used this on a winter morning and had no issues with it keeping my skin hydrated and working well under makeup! It can also double as a hand and body lotion, which is great if you’re in a hurry.
Key Ingredients:
- Ceramides
- Hyaluronic Acid
Best Hydrating Winter Mask for Combination Skin – REN
One of my favorite things to do in the winter when my skin is super stressed out or breaking out is use a hydrating mask overnight to really soothe my skin. The REN Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask is the perfect soothing mask for this. It really is a magical little bottle – any pimple or break out will look way smaller and way less red after using this. It smells very natural and aromatherapeutic.
You will not be disappointed in this mask, promise! I love that it comes in a pump bottle because there’s nothing worse than having to scoop a mask out with your hands – it always ends up messy and you end up wasting a lot of product.
Key Ingredients:
- White Mushroom Extract
- Arnica
- Beta-Glucan
Buy at Sephora | Buy at Amazon
Finding a good moisturizer is hard – especially when the seasons are changing and your skin’s moisture levels with it! What’s your favorite winter skincare product? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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