What has a decade working in the beauty industry taught me? A solid moisturizer is crucial to any and every skin-care goal. Fresh-faced and twenty-something, I naively thought I could use the same drugstore cream for eternity, but in my thirties—BAM—hello dry patches, fine lines, dull skin and an overall tired look that was going nowhere good with my usual routine. After some trial and error (why are almost all luxury creams so fragranced?), I discovered an unfussy medical-grade moisturizer that does exactly what it was designed to do: hydrate, repair and strengthen dry, sensitive and mature skin types (including perimenopausal and menopausal skin). And as NewBeauty‘s 2025 Award winner for the Best Moisturizer for Very Dry Skin, you can trust it lives up to the hype. Introducing, Revision Skincare DermProtect Barrier Defense ($140).
The Ingredients: Fancy and Effective
For skin to have that coveted youthful glow, it needs moisture, and DermProtect Barrier Defense has it in droves. Fancy plant extracts like regenerating lindera strychnifolia root and hydrating hibiscus sabdariffa fruit join bacillus ferment, a skin-supporting prebiotic, lipids, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to offer immediate and long-term results in healthier, bouncier, stronger skin.
BUY ON DERMSTORE – $140
BUY ON AMAZON – $140
The Feel: Rich and Smooth
There’s no mistaking that DermProtect Barrier Defense is a high-quality moisturizer. The texture is rich and creamy, but easy to blend and feels smooth as silk as it settles, without leaving a heavy or greasy residue behind. Once massaged into skin, it absorbs quickly, and you’ll notice a radiant, natural-looking glow.
The Packaging: A Germaphobe’s Dream
PSA to all skin-care brands: if your creams must be in a jar, please only package them with a pump function. Luckily, Revision Skincare doesn’t need my humble beg because DermProtect Barrier Defense is packaged as just that. (There’s nothing more “ick” to me than putting fingers into a jar over and over again, even if I wash my hands before every use.)
How to Use DermProtect Barrier Defense
DermProtect Barrier Defense is foolproof. Simply press down on the jar to get a precise amount of product. The brand recommends one-to-two pumps, morning and night, after all other skin care (except before SPF) for best results.
Final Thoughts
Since I started using Revision Skincare’s DermProtect Barrier Defense, it’s the only moisturizer I want to use. I appreciate that this moisturizer enhances my 37-year-old skin’s natural radiance while its formula builds up my skin’s resilience to the effects of natural aging.
