The One Step Your Skincare Routine Is Missing for Hydrated, Glowing Skin

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: moisturizer is a must. But here’s the truth is not all moisturizers are created equal. Some leave you feeling greasy, others somehow make your skin feel even drier. So what gives? The answer lies in understanding your skin’s evolving needs and the layers (literally) of hydration it craves.

Skin isn’t static. It changes with the seasons, cycle, stress levels, and even the time of day. Your skin might beg for deep, rich hydration in winter, while summer calls for lighter, breathable moisture. Mornings require less, while evenings are prime time for deeper nourishment. Tuning into your skin’s needs isn’t overwhelming, it’s empowering. Learning to adjust your routine to fit your lifestyle, environment, and age is the ultimate form of beauty self-care. It’s skincare that adapts with you.

Here in L.A., where sun exposure, ocean breezes, late nights, and layered SPF are just part of daily life, hydration needs a modern approach. I’m obsessed with layering products that work with your skin, not just on it. A daytime favorite? Farmacy’s Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer — lightweight, refreshing, and makeup-friendly. And at night, nothing beats the velvety richness of Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream. Think: your skin’s silk robe.

But let’s talk about the real game-changer — the one step most people skip: a hydrating essence. Not to be confused with toner (which balances pH), a hydrating essence is the VIP pass that lets all your other products do their job. It preps your skin to absorb active ingredients like growth factors, peptides, and vitamin C deeper where they can make a difference. Why does that matter? Because once you hit your 30s, your skin’s natural renewal slows down. What used to take 30 days now takes 60. So, unless your products reach those deeper layers, your skin ages before it hits the surface.

That’s where tools like the Le Mieux Ionized Oxygen Infuser come in. This sleek little device delivers your serums with ultra-fine, skin-penetrating precision. I pair it with their Oh My Glow Activator, followed by the Oh My Glow Serum, and then layer in the RX Complex Serum for hydration and anti-aging magic. It’s spa-level luxury, minus the facialist. It’s also a great way to get more out of your favorite skincare, and in a beauty market this saturated, maximizing every product is a smart move.

And now for some real talk about moisturizer. If it just sits on the surface of your skin, it’s not doing much. A rich cream doesn’t mean effective hydration. The magic is in the ingredients. You want heroes like Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, and especially Glycerine, the unsung champion of moisture retention. Pro tip: If water is the first ingredient listed, that product is about 97% water. Look for glycerine up top for hydration that works.

One of my go-tos is Farmacy’s Honey Halo Moisturizer. With water and glycerine leading the charge, it melts into the skin and delivers long-lasting, bouncy hydration. Bonus: it’s backed by clinical trials, and you know in L.A., results are everything.

The takeaway? A few tweaks — a lightweight day cream, a hydrating essence, more innovative ingredients, and your skin could be weeks away from a new glow. And in a city that thrives on confidence and camera-ready skin, isn’t that the ultimate luxury?

Because when your skin looks its best, you feel your best. And in L.A., that’s golden.

For more insider tips, product obsessions, and the latest in makeup and skin trends, follow @Wondermelbeauty