Milk's New Vegan Moisturizer Saved My Skin From Postcold Flakiness

Having a cold is always miserable for me, not only because of the havoc it wreaks inside my body but also because of the damage it does to my skin. After a weeklong bug this month, the tip of my nose and surrounding area went from moisturized and healthy-looking to red, raw, and flaky after going through 10+ tissue packs a day. Even when my congestion finally subsided, the postcold flakiness was there to stay, and I had to find something that would help nurse my skin back to life before it cracked and fell off.

Somehow, the skincare stars aligned, and the timing of the Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer ($38) launch coincided well with my ailment. I decided to set the bar high for it by slathering the cloud-like formula all over my flaky nose and cheeks for a few days. This moisturizer contains argan milk, grapeseed oil and squalane — all lightweight and highly hydrating ingredients that promise to soften, soothe, and lock in moisture. The ingredients I was most excited about were the fig and oat milk, both known to calm irritation and restore buoyancy, which is exactly what I needed.

When I first applied it, I was instantly enamored by the texture. It's a lot heavier than moisturizers I normally gravitate toward, but it still felt feathery and light during application. It was instantly refreshing, did not burn or irritate my very flaky nose further, and absorbed into the skin almost immediately. It felt so good postcold that I felt like I wanted to jump into a tub of it. After a few days of use, I was pleased to see that my flakes had softened up, my face no longer felt like it was going to fall off, and I didn't want to go a day without using it. The tip of my nose and surrounding area felt cool and calm (goodbye, red and raw!), and my makeup applied seamlessly without peels or cracks in sight. You can see the results for yourself ahead.

If you, too, have suffered from that postcold flakiness that seems to last longer than your actual congestion, you'll want to dive right into this vegan milk formula. You won't regret it (and your nose will thank you later, trust me).