Editor’s Pick: An Ultra-Hydrating Balm for Dry Skin

For ladies with dry skin, like myself, the cold temperatures of winter can wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy, glowing complexion. Between the lack of humidity and the wind chill, dullness and flaking can set in and feel impossible to get rid of even when springtime finally rolls around. That was the story of my skin, until our friends at Kiehl’s sent over a sample of its Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm. Using a blend of super-moisturizing Antarctine—a glacial glycoprotein extract sourced from Antarctica—and a plant-based glycerin, this rich, creamy balm is exactly what dehydrated skin needs this spring!

The not-so-secret ingredient in Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm is sustainably-sourced edelweiss flower extract from the Swiss Alps. After observing the flower’s ability to thrive in a harsh, high-altitude environment, Kiehl’s chemists sought to learn more. Turns out, the flowers are rich in leontopodic acid, an antioxidant with plant DNA protective properties, also known as the “survivor molecule.” Further studies of the extract showed that it reduced trans-epidermal water loss and even strengthened the epidermal barrier. Layman’s terms? This means that the extract can help to lock in all that much-needed moisture and hydration the balm’s other ingredients provide.

The true test came during a week-long Alaskan motorcycle ride. Kiehl’s President Chris Salgardo and Discovery Channel’s Grant Reynolds both adventure-tested the balm in Alaska’s high altitudes, harsh winds, and long hours of sunlight. That was enough to get me to give it a shot on my own dry skin after an especially chilly winter.

While I simply use the balm at bedtime, as a final step in my nightly skin care routine—and not on an adventurous ride through harsh Alaskan conditions—I’m thrilled with the results. By morning my dry skin appears less dull and more dewy, a complexion that previously was impossible for me to achieve. Don’t take my word for it. Have dry skin? Try it out yourself! No motorcycle necessary.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm, $27.50