Jennifer Hussein / Allure
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Even if it feels otherwise, the sun is always radiating during the daytime, projecting skin-damaging UV rays in the process. So, just because it's winter doesn't mean you can skip the sunscreen. You should be applying topical protection with SPF 30 or more no matter what time of the year it is — and let's not forget about reapplying on all exposed skin every two hours, too.
I can keep preaching to you all about sunscreen and why it's so important, but you get the gist. That being said, sunscreens have had its issues in the past (white cast, sticky feel, bad smell), so I understand if you've turned your (probably sunburnt) back to them. Well, dear reader, I see you, and I raise you. Thanks to Supergoop's Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil, all of those sunscreen-related issues are a thing of the past. The only thing it leaves behind is a major dewy skin moment.
Supergoop
Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil
Wait, sunscreen oil? Yep, they exist, and they're especially great for people who don't want to deal with tacky, hard-to-blend sunscreen lotions. If you're wondering whether applying a sunscreen oil is any different from your usual lotions and creams, it's not. "Regardless of format, you should always put at least a nickel's worth of sunscreen on your entire face, then repeat on your neck, and a shot glass for your whole body," says Toronto-based board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, M.D.
Supergoop's latest goes beyond SPF benefits. This second product in the brand's Daily Dose line focuses on moisture, so it'll fit right in with the rest of your winter skin-care routine. It prevents dryness and supports your skin's natural barrier through a blend of hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides.
Most skin-care enthusiasts are familiar with these popular ingredients, but here's how they actually work together in this SPF oil to bring you your dewiest glow to date. According to Dr. Yadav, hyaluronic acid is one of the most powerful ingredients for drawing moisture into the skin. "Squalane can help seal that moisture in while delivering antioxidant and skin-barrier protection benefits," she says.
As for ceramides, Dr. Yadav explains that they act as "the mortar between the 'bricks' of our skin cells" and assist our skin barrier to protect against environmental damage and prevent moisture from evaporating. Mix all of these ingredients together, et voilà: a rich elixir that immediately melts into the skin, leaving it plump and baby-soft. Believe me, I've been using it for weeks — but we'll get to that later.
A quick scan of the key ingredients in this oil, and you may spot two that you're not so familiar with: rice germ extract and a "pre- and postbiotic complex." The former, according to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, simply provides oxidative benefits to protect your skin from free-radical damage. Dr. Yadav notes that the latter helps with your skin's microbiome, also known as the bacteria you want to have on your face.
"A key component of a healthy moisture barrier is a balanced microbiome. We're learning more every day about the skin's microbiome and the role it plays in skin disease," says Dr. Yadav. "The prebiotics in this formulation are meant to help support the skin's microbiome."
For an SPF oil that's packed with nourishing ingredients, you might expect it to feel extremely rich, but it's quite the opposite (in a good way). Once it's massaged into the skin, it leaves no greasy trace or oil-slick finish behind, so feel free to do your makeup right after application. It does, however, leave my skin feeling extremely soft, to the point where I've started using it as a face and body oil to get the same softening results on rougher parts.
Not only does it make my skin feel good, but it also excels at its main job, sun protection. This oil is a chemical sunscreen, meaning it's not dependent on SPF protection from minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Dr. Yadav says that chemical sunscreens are more cosmetically appealing because they're well absorbed and tend not to leave a white cast. But with that being said, King highlights that this particular sunscreen does contain avobenzone and octocrylene, the latter of which she notes is not a reef-safe ingredient, so keep that in mind.
However, if you truly can't deal with issues like white cast and greasiness anymore, first off, same. Second, grab this SPF oil, stat. It's silky and feels like the equivalent of a glass of water for your skin. I've been on the same bottle for the past month, and thanks to this nifty oil, my complexion looks as plump and supple as it does during the warmer months, with not a dry patch in sight. Not to mention, the same bottle has lasted a month and it's still nowhere close to being empty. We all love an unintentionally frugal beauty moment.
You can grab Supergoop's Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil for $46. It's available now to purchase on supergoop.com, sephora.com, and in-store at Sephora locations across the nation.
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