Something strange happened to me this summer. One day, my face—specifically my forehead—suddenly became incredibly dry. This had never happened to me before, and I couldn’t figure out why. We were in the middle of summer, not winter, when increased dryness is normal. What was going on?
I’m a beauty editor, so I’m always testing new products, but none of them were new enough to be to blame. In my head, I ran through a list of possible suspects. My skin, which has always been oily/combination and acne-prone, had been much drier since I started using it. premenopause. Could this be a new branch of that? Rude. Like a good girl, I’ve also committed more to sunscreenI turned in more than usual. Is this a punishment for my diligence? Better not!
I needed an expert opinion on my sad summer skin, so I reached out to Melanie Palm, MD, MBA, a licensed dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at The Art of MD Skin in San Diego, California. “Dry skin during perimenopause is extremely common and is largely due to the decline in estrogen levels, which play a key role in maintaining skin moisture and elasticity,” explains Palm. “The skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases as estrogen levels drop, leading to dry skin and a thinner skin barrier. This makes the skin more sensitive during the summer months when temperatures are high and there is more sun exposure.”
Perimenopause makes my skin go haywire, so it makes sense that it could be the cause of my suddenly dry skin. But I’m still concerned about sunscreen. “While sunscreen is essential to protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, certain types can potentially exacerbate dryness,” says Palm, adding that it’s best to avoid those that contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or benzyl alcohol. (I use a lot of mineral sunscreens, which contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so they can also contribute.) Instead, Palm recommends choosing a sunscreen that’s formulated for sensitive or combination skin and contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, or peptides. “Products formulated with these ingredients will help protect your skin from UV damage without drying it out,” she continues.
Another thing I’ve been wondering about is the impact of air conditioning. Since the temperatures have been in the 90s where I live in LA, we’ve been running the air conditioning constantly. Unfortunately, like a heater in the winter, air conditioning can skin damage due to low humidity environment. Unless there was some way to reach out to my skin cells and ask them directly what was going on, I was left with no choice but to figure out what to do next. Thankfully, Palm gave me advice on how to restore my skin by using a gentle yet hydrating cleanser, making sure to moisturize, avoiding hot showers, and staying hydrated.
I didn’t want to go without a fight, so I reviewed my skincare kit and picked out the best products for dry skin, keeping Palm’s expert advice in mind.
The Beauty of Saint Jane
Pore Clarity Hyaluronic + Flower Acid Facial Cleanser
I learned the hard way that my skin can no longer tolerate foam cleansers (they tend to be drying, so they’re better for oily skin types, aka “old me”), so I’ve switched to cleansing oils and hydrating gel cleansers. Saint Jane’s new Pore Clarity Cleanser couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only is it a gentle gel cleanser, but it also exfoliates my pores without sacrificing moisture, thanks to a heavy dose of floral AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
I have had great luck with many Saint Jane products, and I am so happy to add this piece to my favorites list.
Sea
Fresh Moisturizer
If you’re feeling extravagant, might I recommend the La Mer Moisturizing Fresh Cream? This new facial moisturizer from the legendary brand balances sebum production in oily skin (again, my actual skin type), but doesn’t feel as drying as other moisturizers for oily skin. In this house, we’re partial to the Miracle Broth.
OLIVIAUMMA
Glass Skin Tanghulu Korean Strawberry and Tangerine Serum, Anti-Aging, Moisturizing, Vitamins A, B, C, E with Niacinamide
I’m having a love affair with serums from new K-beauty brand OliviaUmma. Yes, they’re cute, but they’re also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and niacinamide. I rotate between this strawberry and tangerine serum with blueberries one.
Sarah Creal
Moisture Source Dual Phase Brightening Serum
When I tell you that the Moisture Source serum is my summer savior, I’m not exaggerating. It’s from Sarah Creal, a new beauty brand that focuses on skin over 40 (yay!). I’ve been using this product consistently since I bought it, and it’s brought so much moisture to my skin. I love the two-in-one aspect: it hydrates and then seals it all in with squalane oil. My skin is in heaven every time I use it. I’m obsessed. Plus, you only need a tiny amount, so it lasts a long time.
This formula is almost like a lightweight moisturizer. Omorovicza’s Queen Serum (perfectly named for me) plumped my skin with moisture when I needed it most. It also has anti-aging benefits and targets menopausal skin due to the presence of Mediterranean microalgae (which has similar effects to retinol), Chinese clematis leaf extract (which helps protect skin function), and Lithops stem cells (which boost vitamin D, strengthen and restore skin).
The Beginning
Cool Cream Smoothing Mask with Electric Calendula
First off, I love how Outset’s Cool Cream Mask is a classic cold cream without all those questionable old-fashioned ingredients like mineral oil. In addition to the brand’s signature hyaluronic acid complex, it’s made with a blend of skin-loving botanicals, including flaxseed, yerba mate, and arnica. But it also contains a flowering plant called electric daisy, which reminds me of my rave days (Electric Daisy Carnival is the name of a huge rave festival) and has some interesting benefits.
This plant is a powerful fighter against the signs of aging, as it boosts skin firmness and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, rough texture, and stressed skin all over the body. And if you fall asleep with your mask on, no worries. It can also be used as an overnight treatment. (I like to use it as a targeted spot treatment on my dry patches!)
ROOF
Canopy Portable Humidifier Helps Moisturize Skin
Remember when I mentioned that air conditioning could be another culprit for my dry skin in the summer? When I realized that, I was like, “Oh, right,” and quickly reached for my Canopy portable humidifier. I usually use the larger one in the winter, but this mini version is especially helpful when I’m sitting at my desk with a fan blowing on my face (while the air conditioning is also blowing).
More moisturizing skin care products to try
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte’s Magic Hydrator Mist
I love facial mists because they can feel incredibly comforting to use. They can be really good for your skin, especially when they contain the right ingredients. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Hydrator Mist has everything to help your skin get back to work, like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, kombu extract, and good old glycerin.
Shani Darden Skin Care
Intensive eye cream with firming peptides
If you’ve ever struggled with dry under-eyes, you might want an eye cream that focuses on hydration, like this great one from Shani Darden. It contains pea peptides, silk tree extract, squalene, ceramides, shea butter, and niacinamide. In addition to hydrating the area, this eye cream also firms and lifts the eyes while minimizing puffiness and fine lines.
Joanna Czech Skin Care
Soothing Serum
If your skin is not only dry but also a little uncomfortable, this serum from Joanna Czech is a must-have. It’s packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and vitamin-rich ingredients that target red and stressed skin. Just gently massage a few drops into your skin after cleansing and you’ll be rewarded with hydrated, protected and, of course, soothed skin.
CHANEL
Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream
Chanel’s signature flower for over a century is the camellia, which is also a highly beneficial skincare ingredient. Through an exclusive extraction process, Chanel combines camellia extract with green ginger extract to maintain and balance the skin’s moisture, leaving it looking plump and rejuvenated.
ILIA Beauty
Basic Facial Lotion & Lightweight Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
Essence or moisturizer? Both! This luxurious facial lotion does more than hydrate. It improves texture, strengthens the skin barrier, and reduces redness—the perfect solution for dehydrated, stressed skin.
LANEIGE
Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer with Peptides + Squalane
This moisturizer is special for many reasons, including the fact that it is the product of some incredibly impressive science. Through an innovative fermentation process using deep sea algae, micronized Blue Hyaluronic Acid is created, delivering incredible moisture to the skin faster and deeper than ever before.
