A compromised skin barrier is the root cause of most skin issues. Is your face dry or irritated? Your skin barrier is probs damaged. Feelin' inflamed? Time to focus on repairing your skin barrier. And before you start picking at a new zit, please, for the love of god, don't do it for the sake of your skin barrier. Surprisingly, though, if you do find yourself in this situation, all you really need is a barrier repair cream, like Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer, a product raved about by celebs like Hailey Bieber (pre-Rhode) and hundreds of five-star reviewers.
The silky, mega-viral moisturizer is said to pack a lightweight yet replenishing hydration punch that reinforces the skin barrier. As for the kicker? It apparently doesn't leave behind a gloopy, sticky feeling. Those are some big ol' claims, and as a skincare skeptic, I had to see for myself if it reallllly lived up to the hype. For the past month, I replaced my everyday moisturizer with this fan-favorite cream.
What is the Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer?
Dieux is a skincare brand that launched in 2020 with a mission of being radically transparent about its products, the ingredients it uses, the results, clinical testing, and its environmental impact. And its bestseller? The Instant Angel Moisturizer, a rich, yet cloud-like barrier repair cream that includes a blend of amino acids, lipids, and ceramides—aka a trifecta for keeping the skin plump and soothed—as well an array of hydrators, including glycerin, urea, and hyaluronic acid. This makes it particularly great for those with dehydrated, dry, or flakey skin.
Barrier repair creams are unlike your average moisturizers: They're thicker, richer, and essentially act as armor to lock in moisture so you maintain a soft, supple complexion all damn day. That said, many formulas are too heavy and can feel uncomfortable, especially for those with sensitive skin. That's not the case with, Dieux Instant Angel, though.
What it is: A lightweight barrier repair cream that supports the skin to keep it healthy and glowy.
Pros:
- Lush yet weightless, so it feels comfortable on skin and absorbs quickly
- No fragrance, making it suitable for sensitive skin
- Non-comedogenic
- Imparts skin with a healthy glow
Cons
- Though lightweight, it might be too rich for those with oily or acne-prone skin
Editor rating:
4/5
How to use Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer:
This might seem like a no-brainer—like many moisturizers, you should smooth it onto your skin as your last step of your skincare routine at night or before sunscreen in the morning. But the key here is how much to slather on. Dieux recommends applying a quarter-sized dollop onto your face and neck. That seems like a lot of cream—I usually use about a nickel-sized dot—but it absorbs quickly and ends up being the perfect amount, IMO.
FYI: When you're close to emptying out your tube, you can use the included squeeze key to get out every last drop—no residual product left behind.
Does Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer clog pores?
Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer could clog your pores, but tbh, anything can, since everyone's skin is different. The formula is technically non-comedogenic (meaning none of the ingredients are known to clog pores), but it still contains some ingredients (like coconut alkanes and tribehenin) that can be too heavy for those with acne-prone and oily skin. Always patch test a new product before adding it to your routine to see if it works for you. And if you're still a little worried, try the Dieux Air Angel Moisturizer, a gel version that actually previously won a Cosmo Holy Grail Award.
My review:
About my skin:
Humble brag: I've been blessed with pretty unproblematic skin. I rarely experience breakouts and can slather just about anything onto my face without an adverse reaction. That said, my skin has been out of whack due to the frigid winter weather. I've been dealing with dry spots and a bit of flakiness near my chin, and I could just sense that my skin barrier needed some help. I'm someone who goes allll in when I try new products, so I decided to use Dieux Instant Angel as my primary moisturizer to help me great through the winter months.
My experience:
Instant Angel is extremely different from the moisturizers I typically use. For one, I generally don't opt for products in aluminum tubes because they just feel less luxe and more medicinal, IMO. (The packaging has always played a major rule in the ritualistic aspect of my skincare routine.) On top of that, I'm a girlie who loves a good scented cream. Because this is fragrance-free, I felt like I was missing a little somethin' the first few days of testing.
Despite those minor aspects, I instantly adored the texture of this moisturizer. I've tried a lot of barrier creams, and because of how rich and thick many are, I can feel them on my skin long after I apply. Instant Angel couldn't be more different from those. Its texture is substantial and velvety, yet it melted right into my skin and didn't leave any sort of residue or gloopy film behind. TBH, it's kinda like my skin is chugging a tall glass of water when I smooth this on—it feels refreshing, and my complexion looks extra plump and inherently luminous.
I never applied the recommended quarter-sized dollop during my morning routine. (That just felt excessive to me, especially when I was doing my makeup right after.) I went wild at night though, using the suggested amount to lock in all of the moisturizing goodness while I slept. I will say that when I used more, it took a little extra work for the moisturizer to fully absorb. It would leave somewhat of a white cast, similar to sunscreen, but after a few minutes my skin lapped it up.
My results:
Remember how I mentioned I was dealing with some flakiness? Well, after six weeks of using this religiously, my skin looks smooth and naturally ethereal. Plus, it feels silky soft, and there are no traces of dryness ANYWHERE. Here in New York, we've been experiencing the coldest weather in two years (hi, single-digit temps, please go away 🥶). Without Instant Angel, I'm convinced my complexion would be a dry, scaley mess. I fear this has become my skin's guardian angel.
Final verdict:
Before I tried Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer, I was fully convinced that a barrier cream needed to be ~thicc~ and heavy to do its job. Turns out, that simply isn't the case. Dieux managed to formulate an effective, lightweight moisturizer with a little bit of everything my skin needs (I'm looking at you amino acids, ceramides, and lipids). These ingredients protect and restore the skin barrier and flood my skin with much-needed hydration—which is essential during the dry season.
Beyond this single product, I also admire Dieux's transparency on testing, ingredients, and environmental impact. They're breaking down barriers for consumers to fully understand how their skincare works, and trust that it does exactly what it says it will. In an oversaturated market, this makes me love the brand even more and earns them extra brownie points. My advice? Don't just nab a tube of Instant Angel, it's also worth trying out their cleanser, serum, and eye cream too.
Why Trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with over six years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including reviewing Hero Cosmetics products and testing Oribe Mirror Glass Shine Treatment. She’s an authority in all beauty categories, but an expert when it comes to skincare. For this story, she tested the Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer to see if it repaired and maintained her skin barrier—and spoiler, it did!
