Hyaluronic acid is a nifty little superstar of an ingredient that sucks moisture from the atmosphere (it can hold 1,000 times its weight) and brings it into your skin. These days it's popping up in tons of new moisturizers, but my latest fave is Strivectin Advanced Acid Hyaluronic Rehydrate + Replump Acid Dual-Response Serum, $79. It has a mouthful of a name, but one simple purpose: to hydrate the heck out of your skin.
The sleek purple bottle has two chambers: one that holds six different forms of hyaluronic acid (um, who even knew there were that many?), and the other with ceramides and Strivectin's patented antiager, NIA-114. At night I squirt out a few pumps and use it as my sole moisturizer, but I've also layered it with a rich cream when I'm particularly dry; during the day, I wear it under my day cream if I need a little extra moisture boost. By the way, it feels totally lightweight and not greasy in the slightest.
I never step outside without a) sunscreen and b) antioxidants -- and this is my current antioxidant fave: Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Water Cream, $42. It has a potent dose of both vitamin C and vitamin E, and the texture is awesome: It's creamy, light and falls somewhere in that sweet spot right between a serum and a moisturizer. I also love that, like all Avene products, it won't irritate sensitive skin.
I have two kids who also function as an early-morning alarm clock. Plus, I am forever staying up too late working... or, OK, watching Netflix. So in addition to drinking copious amounts of coffee, I also count on the aromatherapy power of Bath & Body Works Energy Nourishing Body Oil, $16.50. I rub it on dry areas or even just add a little to my pulse points, and breathe in. It's got zingy hits of orange and ginger that perk me right up.
I have long-loved this incredible oil that softens hair and smells ah-may-zing. (Pretty much every hairstylist I know is obsessed, too!). Well, I thought I couldn't love it more until I met its fun new packaging for holiday. Shu Uemura Super Mario Bros Essence Absolu Protective Original Oil, $69, dresses up the classic model with a smattering of Super Mario Bros character art, sure to please your inner 10-year-old.
How much do I love the It Cosmetics Love Beauty Fully Love Is the Foundation, $30, limited-edition brush? Let me count the ways. First, it's shimmery pink. So, big points there, obviously. Second, the bristles are supersoft. Third, for every brush sold in October, It Cosmetics will donate a second brush to the Look Good Feel Better program, which helps women dealing with cancer. And fourth, the bristles are shaped like a heart. I repeat: THE BRISTLES ARE SHAPED LIKE A HEART. Too. Cute.
