I remember the days when I thought moisturiser wasn’t that important…
I was younger then and lived in sunny Italy, where the weather never got harsh enough to suck all the moisture out of my skin and wither it like an old prune.
That all changed when I moved to London. My first winter here, I was so unprepared, my skin cracked (literally!) at the first sign of winter.
Now, my priority when the temperatures start to get lower is to strengthen my skin’s protective barrier so that even the harshest winds won’t break it down.
Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream promises to do just that. Does it deliver? Let’s find out!
What’s In Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream?
AVOCADO OIL
You won’t find avocado oil in the ingredient list. It hides under the name Persea Gratissima oil (that’s how scientists call it).
Avocado oil is loaded with fatty acids, the building blocks of your skin’s protective barrier (together with ceramides, cholesterol and other stuff).
These fatty acids strengthen the skin’s protective barrier so that it can better withstand harsh weather and anything else that may irritate skin. Plus, they lock moisture in, where it needs to be to keep skin hydrated.
But what if your skin’s barrier is already broken? Fatty acids help fix it and nurse your dry, flaky skin back to health.
Wait, there’s more! Avocado oil is also a rich source of Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that hydrates skin and fights free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles.
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Vitamin E In Skincare
GLYCERIN
Avocado oil prevents moisture from evaporating out of your skin and drying it out. But what if your skin doesn’t have enough moisture of its own?
That’s where glycerin comes in. It draws moisture from the environment into the skin, binding it in. All that extra moisture plumps up your skin, makes it softer, and gives it a dewy glow.
Related: Why Is Glycerin In All Your Skincare Products?!
Texture
Just slightly thick, but spreads easily and absorbs quickly.
Fragrance
Clean, slightly floral scent.
How To Use It
In the morning, after serums and before sunscreen.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream is a no-frills moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin. It does what it says on the tin – and does it well.
I use it in between my vitamin C serum and sunscreen in the morning to up my defences against the harsher winter weather. The cream glides smoothly on the skin, and sinks in quickly – unless you use too much! A little goes a long way.
Upon application, my skin immediately feels softer and smoother. The moisturising effect last all day. Even after days of navigating through the streets of London, my skin shows no sign of cracking or flaking. No dryness, either.
My skin’s not that sensitive or prone to irritations. If yours is, Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream can help relieve the symptoms and nurse your skin back to health.
But if you use it consistently, your skin is less likely to experience another flare-up. Phew!
Related: How To Care For Dry Skin
Who Is This For?
Anyone with dry/sensitive skin, especially if you’re on a budget.
Who Is This Nor For?
Oily and acne-prone skin.
Packaging
Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream comes in a sleek white jar. It’s not the most hygienic of packaging (wash your hands before you dip it in!), but there’s nothing here that will spoil when it contact with light and air.
Does Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Calms sensitive, dry skin, relieving tension and irritation. | Yes, it’s soothing. |
| Created with the same pH 5.5 value as healthy skin, it supports and protects the natural barrier function of the skin’s acid mantle, rapidly absorbs and leaves skin perceptibly smoother and suppler. | All true. |
| Vitamin E neutralizes free-radicals. | True. But you need more than one antioxidant to fight all free radicals. For better results, use the cream with an antioxidant serum. |
Price & Availability
£10.29 at Feel Unique and Sebamed
Do You Need It?
If you have dry skin and are on a budget, Sebamed Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream is definitely worth a try.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Aqua, Persea gratissima oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Brassica campestris Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate.
