Discover the skin quenching cream that’s saving my skin this winter

When One Love Organics reached out to their customers last year to ask what product they wanted next, the company received a tall order.  Founder Suzanne LeRoux told me in an interview over email that there was high demand for “a rich cream that could be used day or night, with a formula designed for dull, dehydrated, and combination skin.”

But that’s not all.  It also had to be intensely moisturizing and lightweight.  It would need to absorb easily and layer well with other products. In addition, customers requested it to be fragrance free, cruelty free, dermatologist tested, and reasonably priced.

Doesn’t that sound like a dream cream?  Dream no more.  Skin Dew Coconut Water Cream is all that and then some.  If you are on the hunt for a gorgeous cream that’s lightweight and will leave skin silky soft, smooth, and without a trace of greasiness or breakouts, then you’ve hit the jackpot!

OLO was dedicated to perfecting the concept and worked tirelessly to meet every criteria on their customers’ checklist. The result: Skin Dew launched in November of 2016.  I was super excited when the company reached out to me to test it out because I’m already a fan of basically everything One Love Organics makes.

After using this light-as-air cream since November, I have noticed that it’s making a noticeable difference to my skin especially during the cold weather months.  This is one of those products that I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I started using it regularly and seeing results.

Hydrating vs. Moisturizing

Let’s clear up some confusion: if you’re only using balms and oils on your skin, your skin could be suffering from trans-epidermal water loss. In other words: it’s dehydrated.  That’s not to be confused with dry skin, though.  Signs of dehydration include skin feeling sensitive, tight, and itchy, or looking dull and irritated.  All that could be happening even if you’re using an expensive oil.  That’s because a regimen that only includes anhydrous (water-free) products is missing hydration which plumps up skin and gives it a healthy glow.

OLO explains in this blog post: “Dehydration exacerbates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and can cause breakouts, irritation, and dry patches. Even oily skin can become dehydrated, feeling both oily and dry at the same time. To make matters worse, the condition is heightened by stress, air-conditioned or heated environments, air travel, exercise, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and, simply, living in an urban environment.”

If you’ve ever wondered why most brands that formulate balms and oils also urge spritzing your face well with a facial mist prior to applying them, now you know why. That’s not just a plug to push another one of their products on you. While oil-based serums will seal in moisture and hydration, they won’t be able to add the hydration. Capiche?

That’s not to detract from a balm’s versatility or the way it protects skin from the elements in a way that most creams can’t—though Skin Dew shows promise as an exception (more on those skin protective ingreds below).  Creams and balms function in different ways, yet they’re not mutually exclusive.  Both can be incorporated easily into a routine—so if you’ve got a favorite that’s working for you, don’t rule it out.

Click here for more about Balms vs. Creams and Creams vs. Balms

Why Skin Dew is another skin savior

Prior to this new release, OLO produced the classic Skin Savior balm, a pivotal, multi-tasking balm sans water, as its only moisturizing option along with the oil-based serums in the company’s skincare range.  The reason was that Suzanne had discovered that the emulsifying agents in creams could often lead to breakouts (an issue that she herself suffered from—though you should see her gorgeous skin now!).

I knew that when Suzanne would develop a cream, it would have to be formulated meticulously so that the ingredients would not disrupt skin or trigger blemishes.  I was impressed to discover during testing that Skin Dew has not caused a single breakout on my skin which is really a big deal for me, as many creams do over time.  Actually, my complexion looks clarified and more even-toned while remaining hydrated and comfortable through the cold weather and drying indoor heat.

Skin Dew sinks right in which is a huge plus, as there is absolutely no residue and no oily or waxy feel to this cream at all.

“Dew from the heavens”

One reason for Skin Dew’s high performance is the infusion of 50% nutrient-dense coconut water, also known as noelani in Hawaii which means “dew from the heavens.”

“I love to ‘feed’ the skin,” Suzanne explained about her decision to use it, similar to her use of chia seeds that was inspired by her love of eating the powerhouse superfood.  “I drink coconut water for its taste, hydration benefits, and healthy profile. It’s packed with benefits, including: antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, minerals, phyto-nutrients, and more. It’s also rich in natural B vitamins which help with energy and stamina. I researched coconut water and learned that it has been prized by Asian and Pacific cultures for thousands of years.”

The cream also contains cupuacu butter, Kalahari melon oil, sea algae, vitamin E, and a clinically proven acacia, jojoba, and sunflower complex to lock in hydration and defend the skin against environmental elements.  Thanks to Suzanne’s level of transparency, she sent me the results of the clinical trials conducted by the ingredient manufacturer and the results are very clear levels of improvement to skin (like amazingly so!).

Cupuacu butter is the vegan alternative to lanolin which is an animal-derived ingredient known to attract 240% more water, effectively functioning as a skin hydrator and plumper.  It absorbs UVA/UVB rays for natural sun protection and contains phytosterols to relieve dryness and damage, as well as polyphenols to combat free radicals in tissues.  It’s known to improve the skin’s moisture barrier and increase elasticity and anti-inflammatory activity.

Kalahari melon oil is another winner chosen for its superior hydration and its ability to restructure skin.  Thanks to a high content of essential fatty acids (most of it linoleic acid, which I discuss more in depth in this post), it offers moisturizing, regenerating, and restructuring properties that contribute to the integrity of the cell wall and to the suppleness of the skin.

One thing you may not know about OLO is that all the products are manufactured in its privately owned, quality-controlled lab and facility—the only one that’s ECOCERT certified in Georgia.  That affords the company the ability to produce in micro-batches and conduct its own clinical trials to ensure the efficacy of all ingredients selected.

So when OLO says “clinically backed,” you know they mean it.

Where Skin Dew fits in

I can totally see how this whipped cream would suit a wide range of skin types and would slip right into a skincare regimen. The question is where to fit it in if you’re already using a bunch of things.

I think one confusing part about skincare is how to layer the different products, so I asked Suzanne to give us a tip on how best to incorporate Skin Dew.  She told us that it is best applied to freshly cleansed, damp skin.  Then you’ve got options.

“You can apply it directly to the skin, after your favorite treatment serum, or you can add a few drops of your favorite oil or serum directly to the cream and apply to your skin,” she said.

Personally, I love mixing the cream with my serum du jour and applying over toner-misted skin. (FYI, OLO’s Vitamin D Mist is utterly divine, if you haven’t tried it.  Oh my!  *swoons)  During the winter, I’ve been replacing regular sunscreen and using this foundation with sunscreen.  This saves me a step in the a.m. and eliminates the need for yet another product on my face.