I think I’ve been in search of the best moisturizer for my whole adult life! I am in the second half of my 50’s so I’m at that age where wrinkles are just becoming a part of life. But anything I can do to help stave them off, I’m going to do. Well, I guess that’s not true. I’m not willing to do anything surgical or to let someone stick needles full of botox in my face…..yet. 😛
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I’m not a disciplined person….like, at all….but I started a routine of washing my face and moisturizing when I was around 18 and it stuck. There is something about wearing makeup to bed that grosses me out. I don’t know why… So I always wash my makeup off and then moisturize before I go to bed at night. And then periodically I love to use an exfoliating scrub. And just like moisturizers, I’m always in search of the best exfoliating scrub! I haven’t found it yet so if you have a recommendation I’d love to hear it.
I’m going to share my Top 5 favorite moisturizers. But that doesn’t mean this list won’t change! I’ll never be done trying new ones and I’ll update this post if I have anything new to share with you. Also, please understand this is only my opinion and I’m only judging by the way it makes my skin feel. My reviews have nothing to do with the ingredients, the environment or the social standing of any of the companies. And no company has paid me for this review. It’s all me.
#5 Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
I love Clinique, but to be honest I’ve never been a big fan of their moisturizers. They’re usually gel based and my experience has always been that they don’t leave my face smooth and silky. I honestly think this Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizer made the list because it seems to show up in every gift-with-purchase I get from Clinique..and I have a lot of them. ( I’m a little obsessed with my gifts-with-purchase!) So I’ve used this moisturizer in smaller, sample size trials and unlike some of the other Clinique moisturizers that are just too gel-y for me, this one isn’t bad at all.
PROS: This feels creamier than some of the other Clinique moisturizers and because I get them in sample sizes they work well in my traveling life!
CONS: Like with many Clinique moisturizers, as you’re applying it, it feels creamy but it drys quickly and that creamy feeling goes away. It reminds me of alcohol, where it is wet going on and then immediately it’s not. I don’t mean to say your face feels dry, just not “silky moist”.
#4 Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
When I first tried Olay Regenerist I was expecting it to go straight to the top of the list, especially when you see their commercials about beating out the top brands. But it didn’t. I like this moisturizer, but I don’t love it.
PROS: It feels really rich going on and the feeling stays. It makes your skin feel really moist and supple.
CONS: I’m not sure I can articulate this correctly, but the cream seems to stay on the surface of your skin instead of soaking in. The reason I say that is after I put it on, I usually go right to putting on my makeup. When I put on my under-eye concealer and start rubbing that in, the moisturizer starts flaking into little balls that I have to remove with a tissue. Drives me crazy!
#3 Olay Complete
I’m as surprised as you that Olay Complete made the list considering how inexpensive it is (less than $8) but I actually think that’s partly why it made the list. In a nutshell, you can buy it anywhere and it’s a quick and easy go-to if I’m out of my favorite moisturizers.
PROS: This moisturizer has the consistency of a body lotion and it feels smooth on my face. And as I mentioned, you can find it at any drug store and it’s very inexpensive.
CONS: My litmus test for a really great moisturizer is that I can still feel it at the end of the day. Although this one feels nice after you put it on and the feeling stays for awhile, it doesn’t stay all day and by the end of the day you can’t feel that you moisturized that day.
#2 Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme (Normal/Dry)
My mom’s sister had the most amazing skin. She lived into her late 80s and it was still beautiful. She discovered Merle Norman very early in life and it became the only brand of products she would use. She had a morning and night time facial routine that took forever (or at least that’s how it felt as a kid). The year before she died we were talking about it and she treated me to my first Merle Norman experience for my birthday. I have to say, I loved it. Merle Norman has been around since 1931 so I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised…but without her generous gift I doubt I’d ever have tried it. I always thought of Merle Norman as “old lady” products. 🙂
PROS: The one I use has an spf 15 in it so it’s a great daytime moisturizer. It is so creamy and it gives your face a really nice glow, just shy of shiny.
CONS: This moisturizer would probably be in the #1 position if it weren’t for the inconvenience of purchasing it. You can’t buy it online or in a department store (seriously, Merle…get with the times!). You can only buy it in a Merle Norman store and those aren’t always convenient to find. Also the price is high, about $55 for 2 oz.
#1 Clinique Moisture Surge Intense
I’m going to totally contradict a statement I made earlier in this post about not being wild about Clinique moisturizers. I was visiting Houston last year and I realized I’d forgotten to pack my moisturizer. I can’t be without it, so I ran over to Macy’s in search of one. The salesperson said Clinique had a fairly new moisturizer called Clinique Moisture Surge Intense and I tried it on the back of my hand. I was pleasantly surprised! It was rich and creamy! She said if you don’t have really dry skin, this isn’t the moisturizer for you. I said I don’t have really dry skin, I would consider it “normal”…but I live in Phoenix where all the moisture is sucked right out of you. So I bought a jar and gave it a try. I loved how it made my skin feel.
PROS: It makes your skin very soft and moist. At the end of the day, your skin is still moist to the touch. Even using it in a humid place like Houston I still like it very much. I don’t find that it make my skin oily at all.
CONS: It’s not cheap! A 2.5 oz jar is around $52.00. But my biggest complaint is the smell. I didn’t notice it at the department store, but when you put it on your face you’re hit with a very “chemically” smell that isn’t pleasant at all. It won’t make me not use it, but I do wish they’d do something about it.
So that’s it. There’s my unbiased opinion. Again, I will never stop searching so if you know of one I need to try I’d love to hear about it!
Happy tinkering,
Susan
