Lancôme Launched a Product That We're Calling the Valedictorian of the 2020 Skin Care Class

We hear it all the time: The secret to younger-looking skin starts with sun protection. Why then, is it so hard for us to abide? Southern women know the answer. We've been trying to make a habit of SPF-wear, but the pilling, ashy cast, and drying formulas leave much to be desired. So we might skip it or go a little light-handed when we really should be slathering ourselves in the stuff—even for a walk around the block or a jaunt to the grocery store. You'll find SPF claims in many foundations and day creams on the market, but unless they're packed with at least SPF 30 (many are not), they're falling short of the American Academy of Dermatology's recommended baseline. Cosmetic SPFs are a nice thought, but unless they're backed by the AAD's baseline SPF level, they plain old just don't cut the mustard. In order to get the ideal level of coverage, we tend to turn to the SPF-first products, which is where the pilling, ashiness, and dry-feel come in. It's a vicious cycle. While the SPF offerings are becoming more innovative with each passing season, one recent launch caught our eye and hasn't stopped impressing us since.

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Cream is the skin care-SPF hybrid that's going to change the way you sun care. It's both a moisturizing day cream and provides broad spectrum SPF 30 coverage that carries the Skin Cancer Foundation's seal of approval. A duo of antiaging ingredients, linseed (flaxseed) oil and lipo hydroxy acid (LHA), work to combat signs of aging that are most often associated with a loss in collagen, like decreased elasticity and firmness.

Let's talk about the feel and finish, starting with the medley of botanicals that give Rénergie Lift Ultra Cream the type of luxurious Lancôme texture we know and love. Sunflower and mimosa flower waxes and jojoba oil create a medium-weight cream that smooths into skin like a dream. My skin has been dry and lackluster lately—you know when you look in the mirror and no amount of makeup or expertly placed highlighter can fix the feeling that something is just off? Yep, I've been there for about three weeks now. A dime-sized amount applied all over my face using an upward motion has turned things around. It goes on with that moisture-surge feeling my skin needs, but dries with a dewy (not sticky), fresh-faced finish. This one isn't for our matte-loving girls. It has helped decrease skin discoloration, smoothed over a number of fine lines around my eyes and mouth, and made my skin just look better, all around. I think that's what they refer to as rejuvenation, and I needed it.

The $109 price point isn't for everyone. I'm not going to say a little bit goes a long way because we can't sugarcoat the fact that triple digits for a moisturizer is steep for many—no amount of a-little-dab-will-do-ya can change that. Yes, you can find other products on the market that will get the job done for less of an investment, but if you're after a luxurious-feeling cream that delivers on more than one front, you've found it in this multi-action wonder.

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Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Cream is available for $109 at Lancome-USA.com, Ulta.com, and Nordstrom.com among other retailers.