A big thank you to TIA community member Dennis since this is one of the best ways I have spent $28 in a while. Skin-Lasting Super Hydrator is an unusual and effective moisturizer that clarifies, whilst being suitable for skin dry and itchy.

Although Dennis warned me that Skin-Lasting has a unique non-cream formula, I still felt unprepared for such a light, I’d even venture to say watery spray. I couldn’t imagine how this would hydrate my skin. And yet it did. I tried it, as directed on face, body, neck and hands and found that I liked it best for neck and hands, which looked and felt softer and smoother for hours after application.

Although I like very much the simple effectiveness of the Skin-Lasting formula and the lack of anything nasty, I do have a caveat – and that is that I would not use Skin-Lasting every day indefinitely. The very ingredients that moisturize and hydrate are also pretty serious exfoliators.

Although glycerin is an effective moisturizer that studies have shown to improve hydration of the outer layer of the skin, it also degrades the corneodesmosomes that hold skin cells together. The end effect of this degradation is more consistent desquamation (shedding of the outer layer of skin) and ultimately smoother-looking skin. That’s all well and good, but here in Skin-Lasting it is coupled with lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that also loosens the glue-like substances that hold skin cells together, thus shedding the top layer of dull, damaged skin.

And, if that wasn’t enough, there is also urea. Like lactic acid, urea is one of the common keratolytics, which serve to exfoliate and soften keratin (a key component of skin). It also increases moisture levels within the skin, as well as having a localized anesthetic effect, helping to curtail cycles of itching, irritation, and flare-ups.  Unfortunately, this attribute of urea wasn't evident when I applied Skin-Lasting just after shaving my legs and got a stinging sensation that will ensure I don’t do that again (note that Skin-Lasting does have a version for sensitive skin).

Overall, with its antixodant aloe, green tea and vitamin C, Skin-Lasting is a great value product. It is specially formulated for post-retinol dryness and for those with eczema or dry, itchy skin. I will continue to use it. But I am going to keep in mind that my smoother looking skin is as much to do with cell-sloughing as hydration. Exfoliation is a necessary part of one’s beauty regimen, but one that I am cautious about overdoing.

Ingredients: Water, vegetable glycerin, lactic acid, urea (carbamide), aloe vera leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, green tea leaf extract, vitamin C, sea salt