The enemy: harsh, cold winter weather that’s plotting to steal all the moisture from your skin.
Your mission: fight back and ensure your skin stays soft and supple all through the cold season.
Your weapons: moisture magnets to stock up on water and shields to seal it in.
Your allies: Cybederm skincare (other Hyaluronic Acid serums or rich moisturisers work too).
Are you ready?
Let’s go:
Cyberderm Nu-Shroom Hydrafill Serum
I always make sure I have one (or five) Hyaluronic Acid serum at hand during this time of the year. Hyaluronic Acid is the most powerful moisture magnet I know.
It attracts water from the environment and binds it into the skin. What’s truly remarkable is the amount of water it can hold: up to 1000 times its weight!
Cyberderm Nu-Shroom Hydrafill Serum uses Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of Hyaluronic Acid that has a smaller molecular structure and can more easily penetrate skin.
If it stopped here, it would be your average Hyaluronic Acid serum. But it’s not. It’s also loaded with Silver Ear Mushroom Extract, a natural alternative to Hyaluronic Acid.
I’m not kidding. Studies show that this type of mushroom, which comes all the way from Taiwan, has a moisture retention capacity as potent as that of Sodium Hyaluronate.
All this moisture made my skin very happy. The serum has a white, lightweight texture that sinks immediately into my skin, leaving it silky soft to the touch. I’ve also noticed it gives my face a plumper appearance, which has the welcome effect of making my fine lines look smaller.
More importantly, it’s keeping my skin hydrated even in the chilly London weather. Granted, I use it with a moisturiser or oil that locks in all this moisture. It’s a combo that never fails me at this time of the year.
Related: What’s Hyaluronic Acid And Why Should You Use it?
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Cyberderm H20 Hydration
You can’t just apply a Hyaluronic Acid serum in the morning and expect your skin to be hydrated all day. It doesn’t matter how much moisture that magnet attracts into your skin, water has an annoying tendency to evaporate when you don’t seal it in with a moisturiser or oil.
In the morning, I’m using Cyberderm H20 Hydration. I like how lightweight the texture is. It may not be the most moisturising for very dry skin, but for my slightly dry skin, it works like a charm. Plus, it makes a great base for makeup (priorities, ladies!).
The base of the cream is made up by Ceterayl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate, two extracts derived from… you guessed it, olive oil. This combo is called Olivem and does an amazing job at strengthening the skin’s natural barrier and keeping skin soft and moisturised.
Moisturising skin isn’t all it does. The cream also contains Ectoin, a natural substance that prevents UVA-induced damage, and Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes that kicks free radicals in the butt. Together, this combo makes sure no wrinkles appears on your skin too soon.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
PM Anti-Age
At night, I swap H20 Hydration for Cyberderm PM Anti-Age. Cybederm says it has a serum-like texture but I don’t agree. It’s more like a lightweight lotion. It sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave any greasy residue behind.
PM Anti-Age uses the same base as H20 Hydration: Ceteaeryl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate. This makes it a great moisturiser for slightly dry and even slightly oily skin, but if your skin is severely dehydrated, I doubt it’d be enough.
The star of the show here is turmeric, a plant that is rarely used in cosmetics because of its strong colour and even stronger odour. Cybderm have managed to neutralise the former (the cream is white) but the latter remains a bit of a problem. There’s no way around it: this cream does not smell good. But, the scent disappears quickly, so I’ll put up with it.
Besides, if you’re a regular here, you know my philosophy: better a fragrance-free cream that lets through the original scent of the ingredients than a scented creams that uses irritants to mask them up.
Tumeric has powerful antioxidant properties that fight the free radicals that cause premature wrinkles. Plus, it’s also an anti-inflammatory that soothes irritations and may even help with acne. In particular, it helps lighten the dark spots acne sometimes leaves behind.
I can’t vouch for this because I haven’t gotten the odd pimple in ages and they never left dark marks on my skin anyway (I know, I’m lucky). But I noticed that after a couple of my weeks my complexion seemed a bit brighter.
Related: How To Fade Away The Dark Spots Left Behind By Acne
Price & Availability
Nu-Shroom Hydrafill Serum, $47.50 CAD; H20 Hydration, $60.00 CAD; PM Anti-Age, $89.00 CAD at The Sunscreen Company
How are you making the most of your Hyaluronic Acid serum? Share your tips and picks in the comments below.
Cyberderm Nu-Shroom Hydrafill Serum Ingredients
Aqua, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tremella Funciform Sporocarp (Silver Ear Mushroom) Extract, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates Copolymer, VP/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein PG-Propyl Methlysilanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, lactic acid
Cyberderm H20 Hydration Ingredients
Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Propanediol, Ectoin, Tetrapeptide-21, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Resveratrol, Gluconic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol
Cyberderm PM Anti-Age Ingredients
Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tepronone (Renovage), Sea Whip Extract (Gorgonian Sea Whip), Vaccinium Macrocarpon(Cranberry) Seed Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride (EUK 134)
Thanks for this, Gio! I’m about to experience my first winter (!!), and already looking to have a start creating a small winter skincare regime! I’m gonna check if you’ve written more winter-skin stuff after this comment 🙂 I’m definitely gonna give hyaluronic acid a try, I’ve only been hearing good things about it!
Renee xx
Renee, you’re welcome. I remember my first winter in London completely ruined my skin. What saved me was a hyaluronic acid serum coupled with a facial oil. It’s also a good idea to use small concentrations of actives such a retinol. High doses can dry out your skin and in winter, the weather is already doing a good job at that!