Editor's Choice: Ultra Hydrating Balm for Dry Skin

The not-so-secret ingredient in Kiehl's Ultra Moisturizing Face Balm Ultra Edelweiss flower extract from the Swiss Alps, obtained from sustainable sources. Observing the ability of a flower to grow in harsh high-mountain conditions, the Kiel chemists decided to find out more. It turns out that the flowers are rich in leontopodic acid, an antioxidant. with protective properties of plant DNA, also known as the "survivor molecule". Further research on the extract showed that it reduces transepidermal water loss and even strengthens the epidermal barrier. layman terms? This means the extract can help lock in all the much-needed moisture and hydration that the other balm ingredients provide.

The real test came during a week-long motorcycle ride through Alaska. Kiehl's President Chris Salgardo and Discovery Channel's Grant Reynolds tested the balm at the high altitudes of Alaska, with strong winds and long hours of sunshine. It was enough for me to try it on my own dry skin after a particularly cold winter.

While I use the balm just before bedtime, because. last step in my night skincare routine— and not on an adventurous trip through the harsh conditions of Alaska — I am delighted with the results. By the morning my dry skin looks less dull and more dewy, a complexion that I had never been able to achieve before. Don't take my word for it. Do you have dry skin? Try it yourself! You don't need a motorcycle.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Balm, $ 27.50