Beauty Fix: Everything you need to know about finding the right hydrating products for your skin

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com or ask away in the comments below. or ask away in the comments below.

I’m low on time and need a quick boost for my skin. What should I use to optimize results in a short time span?
As much as consistency is key for skincare to be effective, occasionally a quick fix can do the trick. If time is of the essence, try a speedy mask like REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial ($58, sephora.ca). This tube is full of a rapid-acting formula that contains muscle-relaxing boswellic acid (softening up your repeated expression lines), water-activated vitamin C (brightening, collagen-boosting, generally awesome for your complexion), and magnesium (to smooth skin) for a radiant complexion in no time. Simply apply the mask to skin, wet fingertips and massage the mask into skin, wait a minute and rinse.

What kind of gloss will take care of my lips while giving me substantial pigmentation? It seems like I have to pick between one aspect or the other.
Most highly pigmented glosses are matte long-wearing lip colour formulations, which can be excellent, but less so if you’re interested in hydrating your lips throughout the day or adding an element of shine. Especially since the emollients in gloss can compromise the lip colour’s pigmentation when layered. Leave it to Chanel to come up with a new formula that is the best of both worlds. Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss ($40, thebay.com) is housed in a very sleek package – click the gold end to open it up – and the formulation is incredibly rich in colour and shine, containing finely ground pigments and glass micro-beads for high gloss. Lip care is delivered with each swipe thanks to Matcha green tea butter, vitamin E and antioxidants, making this lip colour your new go-to.

As a person with oily skin, are all the dry oil-based foundations that have launched in the last couple of years absolutely out of the question for me?
There has been a very significant trend of dry oil-based foundations and they do instinctively seem geared towards those skin types, but that doesn’t mean there’s no option for you. These skin-perfecting formulations aren’t all identical, and YSL’s latest foundation offering could actually be a real winner for you. YSL Fusion Ink Foundation ($64, sephora.ca) is similar to the other formulations in that it is lightweight, easy to blend and very fast to apply, but the key difference is that this formula has a soft matte finish and is designed to wear for 24 hours, meaning there’s a higher likelihood that it will last on your skin.

My skin needs a lot of hydration, but I can’t always wait for my moisturizer to absorb before continuing with makeup. What can I use that’s heavy on the hydration that absorbs quickly?
When you’re shopping for a moisturizer, pay attention to the formula texture. Gels, whipped-texture creams and lotions are all helpful to note if you’re looking for a fast-absorbing moisturizer. An indulgence of sorts that will absorb quickly and leave skin glowing comes to us in the form of Fresh’s latest addition to their Crème Ancienne range, Fresh Crème Ancienne Soft Cream ($164, sephora.ca). The whipped formula is lightweight yet highly effective in deep hydration since it contains meadowfoam seed oil, echinacea, vitamin E and chamomile wax to moisturize, fight environmental aggressors, soothe skin and ward off dry spots, respectively.

Fragranced lotions irritate my skin, but I haven’t found a fragrance-free moisturizer that really hydrates my skin. What can I use that won’t bother my skin?
Most heavy-duty or even lightweight body lotions use natural moisturizers like shea butter that, while highly effective in hydration, do have a distinctive fragrance that could irritate very sensitive skin. Look to Jergens’ latest body care revamp for a solution. Jergens Ultra Care Fragrance Free Moisturizer ($11, at drugstores) is scentless to ensure no irritation upon application, and it’s enriched with vitamins and a skin-illuminating complex to help skin look luminous instead of lackluster, improving the tone of skin with each use.

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