Rachael Zarda

My skin tends to get a little more dry and thirsty in the winter, so I’ve been on a mission to find the best hydrating skincare products out there. I’ve recently started using a few game changers and couldn’t wait to share them with you. I’ve also added a few beauty products to my routine that create just the right formula for my base of makeup to looking fresh and dewy in just a few steps.

The right products can do wonders, but I truly believe healthy, glowing skin starts from inside. Something to note, when I’m being intentional about implementing plenty of fruits and leafy greens in my diet and drinking lots of water I see a noticable difference in my skin. I love referencing Kelly LeVeque’s book, Body Love, for easy plant-based weeknight meals. I’ve also seen great results from using collagen peptides in my smoothies and coffee.

And if you’re looking for quick boost of hydration for a big event or vacation, I highly suggest getting a hydrafacial. You see results in 24-48 hours and they can last for up to a week or two. Hydrafacials exfoliate, cleanse your pores, and pump nutrients into your skin on a deeper level than your typical skincare routine. I love how my skin looks and feels sans makeup after one of these treatments.

Here are my tried and true hydrating products for that coveted daily glow:

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil: This is one of my holy grail products. I love this oil so much. It’s lighter oil, and the vitamic c helps brighten your complextion almost immediately. If there’s one product on this list I recommend the most, it’s this one. Biossance makes good stuff.

Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate: I put this on after washing and toning my face. It’s like a moisture magnet, helping the products I apply after absorb better and creates smooth, hydrated skin. I go through this one quickly, probably too quickly, but I love it!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: I’ve been using this cream for a few months in both my AM and PM routines, and it’s one of the best facial lotions I’ve ever come across. I like my moisturizers to be light and airy while still getting the job done, and this one passes with flying colors. I will never go without this cream again.

Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque: I use this mask probably once a week. It has a gel-like consistency and feels cool and fresh when you apply it to your face. The day after using this mask, my skin looks so bright and healthy.

Caudalíe Beauty Elixir: I didn’t want to believe the hype with this one, because I’d tried facial mists that didn’t do much for me before. I have to say, there’s good reason this one is a cult favorite. First, the smell is divine—it’s so fresh. I use it both as a primer for my makeup, and to set it when I’m done. I also bring it with me when I travel for a little extra hydration while in the air.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: My lips suffer the most in the winter. I use this lip exfoliator at night, then layer on the lip sleeping mask, and voila! In the morning you have hydrated, smooth lips. Using light, moisturizing chapstick throughout the day helps, too.

NARS Illuminator in Orgasm: This doesn’t fall under the skincare category, but I can’t NOT talk about it when I’m talking about dewy skin. This stuff is magic. I’d love it even more if it were clean product, but it’s so good I’d have a hard time giving it up. I mix a drop in with my tinted moisturizer for a natural, dewy glow.

After I’m done with my skincare routine, I use my ice roller (when I have time). It improves blood circulation, brightens eye circles, de-puffs/reduces swelling, gets rid of redness, and tightens your skin. It’s a soothing and refreshing way to begin the day, if nothing else!