I Finally Tried Weleda's Skin Food. Here's the Verdict
I approach everything with a healthy sense of skepticism. Whether it's the latest laser facial, a cure-all cream, or a well-meaning compliment, I tend to react the same way: not buying it.
But after reading approximately 7,852 recommendations for Weleda's Skin Food, I gave in.
Into the Gloss billed the rich moisturizer as a budget-friendly La Mer. Goop called it "curative, soothing, hydrating perfection." And bestselling author Stephanie Danler touted flawless, luminous skin among the stellar results.
How could the internet in its literal entirety be wrong?
I decided to give it a shot. Best case, I'd find a new product to obsess over. Worst case, I'd break out and have good reason to trust none of the above sources again. At less than $12 a pop, I've lost more expensive bets.
The German-manufactured moisturizer is beyond lotion, way past cream, and more like a paste-style emollient. Some have described Skin Food's consistency as cream cheese-like. Frankly, that makes me want to throw up each and every one of my guts. Also, it is accurate.
It's an all-natural formulation, stuffed with botanical elements. The ingredients list reads like a garden that would wage Game of Thrones-style war with my daily dose of Flonase. There's sweet almond oil, pansy and rosemary extract, and calendula. Perhaps more impressive is the list of things this moisturizer is formulated without: fragrances, mineral oil, and synthetic preservatives.
On the back of Skin Food's bright green toothpaste-like tube, directions encourage use on dry and rough skin. Apply with a gentle massage, it says.
Heed this advice. The tube's not lying.
You'll need to warm up the all-natural cream in your hands for a few seconds to make it more -- and I am so sorry to bring us back to cream cheese -- spreadable.
After a week of following those instructions, I was sold. Turns out? Everyone was right.
Skin Food works wonders as a hand and under-eye cream, on parched elbows, and any assorted parched patches.
Since the results were so quick and entirely positive, I decided to take things one step further and slather Skin Food all over my face, too.
That's when I truly joined the ranks of Gwynnie, Steph, and the glossy girls. Because seeing the glowy and deeply hydrated results on my super-sensitive face made me a though-and-through believer. No breakouts. No nonsense. No nasty ingredients.
A few words of wisdom. Skin Food is not gonna work under your makeup unless you're going for the melted face look. Some say it won't leave you greasy, but it definitely does result in extra shine. Which is why putting it on your face is an activity best reserved for the evening. And I'd put this night cream up against $100-plus concoctions from Dr. Brandt and Algenist.
Now, there's a tube of the versatile cream at my work desk, in my medicine cabinet, and in my purse.
Thanks, internet.
