Quench Your Summer Skin With These Top Moisturizers

Discovering that skin is an organ — and the body’s biggest organ, at that — was almost as mind-blowing as learning that rabbits are part of the rodent family. How could this be? How had I gone more than 50 years without realizing either of these critical facts?

Once I knew that my skin was as important as my heart or brain, I vowed to take better care of it. Suddenly skin care — a hot topic these days among any age group — was propelled to a top priority when I viewed it as a health issue rather than strictly a beauty issue.

Like any organ, our skin needs water to keep it healthy. And as we age, its thirst becomes harder to quench. Add to that the summer’s sun, and you are facing seriously parched conditions. These moisturizers can provide your skin with the satisfying swig of water it craves. Drink up.

For the body

Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré — Daily Face and Body Cream: Introduced in 1950, this French pharmacy staple is considered among the most effective moisturizers on the market, even after more than 70 years of competition. Besides helping maintain a hydrated skin barrier, it diminishes the appearance of fine lines and also serves as a soothing after-sun product and aftershave care.

“This product is a must-have!” says Casie Lucas, an award-winning makeup artist. “I always carry one in my purse for personal use and in my set bag regardless of what I’m working on. It’s one of the most versatile and trusted beauty products. In my 20-plus years of working in the beauty and entertainment industries, I’ve never seen anyone have an adverse reaction to it. It’s perfect for moisturizing the face, body, cuticles and even split ends in a pinch.” ($16 for a 1-ounce tube or $28 for a 2.54-ounce tube)

Now Solutions Sweet Almond Oil: From feet to forehead, you can rub on sweet almond oil to hydrate and revive skin anywhere on your body. Made from pressed almonds, this nourishing, hypoallergenic oil contains vitamin E, which helps plump up the skin’s collagen padding and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Zinc, another key ingredient, helps smooth rough, calloused skin on feet and hands. Because it’s easily absorbed, sweet almond oil won’t clog pores or leave greasy residue on anything you touch. ($13 for 16-ounce bottle

For the face

To get a full-body blast of hyaluronic acid, slather on Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream. A featherlight lotion that absorbs quickly, it received a Best of Beauty nod from Allure magazine’s editors in 2019. ($11.60 for 16-ounce bottle)

For hands and feet

With a 15 percent concentration of its key ingredient, L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream “is amazing for cracked, dry heels,” Lucas says. “I recommend putting it on before you go to sleep at night and really focusing on massaging it in on the dryer areas. Your feet will feel so much softer when you wake up the next morning.” ($12 for 1-ounce tube; $29 for 5.3-ounce tube)