I have received a lot of inquiries regarding night cream and moisturizers without SPF. My personal favorite is the Jurlique Calendula Cream that I blogged about recently (which I consider a universal miracle cream), but there are plenty of others to consider depending on your skin type.
Let’s buff up on the actual capabilities of moisturizer, shall we? It cannot reverse sun damage or wrinkles. It cannot recapture lost elasticity. It cannot “lift”. What it can do is attract moisture to the skin and lock it in. This results in smooth, plumped skin and a softened appearance of wrinkles. Period.
Most conventional moisturizers, even the $300 ones, contain parabens, petrolatum, formaldehyde-producing preservatives like DMDM hydantoin, triethanolamine, PEG’s, synthetic fragrance, and phthalates. (See “This Isn’t Pretty section of the site.) Does that sound beautiful to you? We put this stuff on our faces at least once every day of our adult lives. I promise you these so-called miracle potions aren’t doing you one damn bit of good as long as they also contain toxic ingredients; I don’t care how much seaweed is in there.
What to look for: plant-based oils, like rosehip seed, coconut, olive, jojoba and argan as well as purified water, aloe, shea butter, and other natural ingredients. Many of these little miracle workers can fight blotchiness, hyperpigmention, clogged pores and dry patches just as well or better than the chemicals in conventional moisturizers, and you won’t have to worry about them giving you cancer or messing with your hormones. Make sure these ingredients are marked as organic so you have the peace of mind that you are not slathering pesticides all over your face.
Some suggestions:
ACURE ORGANICS RADICAL RESURFACING LOTION
Acure is a great choice and a great value. The lemon probiotic helps lighten hyperpigmentation and chlorella growth factor helps smooth out texture and tone. Cost: about $18 for 1.75 oz. Purchase it here or at Whole Foods.
Ingredients: curoxidant blend*, euterpe oleracea (acai) berry*, rubus fruticosus (blackberry)*, rosa canina (rosehips)*, punica granatum (pomegranate)*, calendula officinalis (calendula)*, matricaria recutita (chamomile)*, fair trade certified aspalanthus linearis (rooibos), aloe barbensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, cetearyl alcohol, fair trade certified theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter*, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil*, glyceryl stearate se (vegetable derived), vegetable glycerin, buddleja davidii (butterly bush) meristem cell culture, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, infusion of calendula officinalis flower* in fair trade certified olea europaea (olive) oil*, glucono delta lactone (fermented sugar), d-alpha tocoperyl acetate (vitamin e), chlorella pyrenoidosa (chlorella growth factor)*, oneothera biennis (evening primrose) oil*, argania spinosa (argan) oil, potassium sorbate (food grade preservative), marrubium vulgare (white horehound) stem cell culture, echinacea stem cell culture, lactobacillus / fermented resveratrol extract, argan oil*, coq10, olive leaf extract, lactobacillus / lemon peel ferment extract, centella asiatica (gotu kola) stem cells, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass), lavendula dentate (french lavender), evernia prunastri (oakmoss), rosmarinus officinalus (rosemary) essential oils. *Certified OrganicAMALA PURIFYING MOISTURIZER
I love Amala. It is expensive, but I think it is a really thoughtful, effective line of products. I especially love the purifying collection. This moisturizer gently battles clogged pores and oil while still balancing and moisturizing. There is also a lightweight gel version that is perfect for summer (not that this one is exactly heavy and goopy). Cost: about $68 for 1 oz. Purchase it here.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Alcohol*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil*, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Hull Powder, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Titanium Dioxide, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Water, Algae Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract*, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract*, Tocopherol, Natural Fragrance (Parfum), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil*, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract*, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract*, Hippophea Rhamnoides Oil*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil*, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Extract*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool *Ingredient produced by organic farmingTATA HARPER REPAIRATIVE MOISTURIZER
Tata Harper is one of my girl Gwyneth’s favorite skincare lines. This moisturizer is a life-saver for dry or mature skin or for those of you in arid climates. Natural sodium hyaluronate gives skin a youthful, supple appearance while oleosomes from safflower immediately improve moisture retention and preserve the skin barrier without clogging pores. I also love their Rebuilding moisturizer. Cost: about $100 for 1.7 oz. Purchase it here.
Ingredients: water (aqua), mangifera indica (mango) butter, aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oleosomes, caprylic/capric triglyceride (derived from coconut), olea europea (olive) oil*, glycerin (from vegetable origin), hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) distillate*, oryza sativa (rice) extract*, rosa damascena flower water*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, cetearyl olivate (derived from olives), leuconostoc ferment filtrate (radish root extract), chemical free honey, sodium hyaluronate (sodium of hyaluronic acid)***, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, menyanthes trifoliata (buckbean) flower extract, salix alba (willow) bark extract*, medicago sativa (alfalfa) flower*, borago officinalis (borage) flower*, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower*, filipendula ulnaria (meadowsweet) leaf & flower*, tilia europaea (linden) leaf & flower*, lavandula stoechas (spanish lavender) extract, arnica montana (arnica) flower*,