Dry skin has plagued me my whole life. That itchy, tight feeling I get after washing my face makes me cringe. I live for that daily moment when I can smear on a hyaluronic acid serum followed by a heavy coat of face cream and feel that instant wave of relief. What was once flaky snake skin is now soft and bouncy. This skincare routine works well for me from April through October, but in the winter, it feels like nothing I use is strong enough. I usually resort to some combination of serum, moisturizer, moisturizer round 2, face oil, followed by tinted moisturizer—but I often come out the other side looking like a shiny mess.
I have tried Glossier's original Priming Moisturizer. I liked it but I didn't love it, and it quickly moved further and further behind in rotation until I deemed it expired and tossed it away. So I was so excited to get my hands on the richer, denser version called Priming Moisturizer Rich. It's so rich, in fact, that it comes in a jar and not in a tube like the original. I have no problem with this, considering there are no active ingredients like vitamin C in the formula which could expire with oxygen exposure. If you wash your hands before you apply it, close the lid tightly, and use it everyday, the jar packaging is just fine.
What makes this particular formula so great is just how rich it really is. A little goes a long way, as they say. But even less than you're picturing. And then half that again. A teeny-tiny pea-sized dab is enough to deliver creamy hydration to your entire face. It slowly melts into skin without feeling sticky or tacky. That's in part to the blend of murumuru and shea butters, plus kukui oil which delivers five different fatty acids right to your face. The formula also boasts ceramides and red algae to keep your skin hydrated for hours after you smear it on. It's very easy to apply too much at once, and I've found that it can take an annoyingly long while before it all melts into your skin. But this moisturizer has never left my face slick or greasy, even when I overdose on it, which is kind of a miracle.
The Priming Moisturizer Rich is one of the only formulas I've found that truly quenches my skin when it's cold and dry. My makeup goes on smoother and I don't have nasty dry patches pop-up throughout the day. I also really love the light lavender scent—it makes the whole moisturizing experience a little more decadent without feeling overly perfume-y. I've been using this cream everyday for more than a month, and it's quickly become my favorite daytime winter moisturizer. I do believe it will be too rich to use in warmer months, but I know I'll use it all up by then, anyway. I've even been known to steal a scoop here and there to smear all over my hands. It's just that good.
Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich, $35, glossier.com.
