Contrary to popular belief, oily skin doesn't always go away once you reach middle age. Even though I'm in my 50s, I still deal with combination skin that's prone to T-zone spots. This is especially true during the summer and holiday seasons when stress and sugary foods take a toll on your skin. It can be difficult to find a moisturizer that hydrates dry skin on your cheeks and chin without leaving your nose and forehead shiny, especially when you're wearing makeup. Given the need to address the signs of aging, every product I use requires multitasking.
I've written about my fandom of IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream (the best-selling anti-aging moisturizer in the US) for dry and normal skin. So I was very excited to hear about the launch of a soothing and hydrating sister product. Delivers powerful anti-aging ingredients to oily and combination skin. IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Cream ($59) is an oil-free, lightweight moisturizer formulated to hydrate oily skin, improve dark spots and texture, reduce pore size, and support skin's elasticity and barrier function. This is a riser.
IT Cosmetics Confidence Gel Cream — $59.00
- Oil-free product suitable for oily and combination skin
- Balances sebum production, reduces the appearance of pores, and smoothes fine lines and discoloration.
- Strengthens the skin barrier and helps provide moisture.
- For dry skin types, this may not provide enough hydration.
“It’s a complete myth that oily skin only occurs in teenagers,” says Kirsten Peterson, director of U.S. training at IT Cosmetics. “Oily and combination skin is common in people of all ages,” she says. She said: “Confidence in a Gel Cream allows our combination and oily skin clients to hydrate with confidence and enjoy the amazing features of Confidence in a Cream with the added benefit of balancing surface oils and smoothing skin texture. I will do it.”
The product uses an “Oil Control System” based on Air licium, a trademarked oil-absorbing aerogel that provides maximum sebum control and blurring effects, along with zinc PCA and PHA to reduce the appearance of large pores and smooth them out. Removes dead skin cells. The second hero of the formula is the “Anti-Aging Armor Regenerating” containing niacinamide to improve freckles and discoloration, squalane to strengthen the skin barrier, vitamin E to fight free radicals, and peptides to hydrate, improve firmness, elasticity and appearance. It is a “concentrate”. A thin line.
“For consumers seeking balanced skin, the Oil Control System absorbs sebum and helps reduce sebum secretion over time, while the Anti-Aging Armor evens skin tone and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. .” says Peterson.
Clinical research results showed that the gel cream strengthened the skin's moisture barrier within one hour of use, reduced excess surface oil within two weeks, and improved large pores and skin texture after four weeks of use.
Testing IT Cosmetics’ polish
The gel cream is very light, absorbs quickly and has an “almost imperceptible” feel after application. I loved these benefits, especially when worn under the heavy makeup I chose for the holidays. It helped my makeup apply smoothly and prevent clumping. And as expected, if I continued to use the gel cream, the oiliness in my T-zone wasn't that bad. After a few weeks, my skin looked smoother and more balanced, and my enlarged pores and dark spots were reduced.
While I loved applying tinted sunscreen and using products during the day, at night I gravitated towards moisturizers with a heavier texture because the cold outdoor air and dry indoor air left my skin dry and in need of serious recovery overnight. I'm really looking forward to using the gel cream in the summer, when oily skin is much more of an issue. (The brand recommends switching between oil-free and original products if your skin type changes seasonally. This usually applies to me.)
For anyone who battles oily skin all year round, gel creams are a recommended product to combat shine and address a variety of other skin concerns no matter the season. In fact, I wish I had this product when I was always dealing with oily skin in my late teens and 20s. But I'm glad this product is out now, and I'll continue to use it for oil control and other benefits before makeup and when temperatures start to rise.
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