This review is for the "Summer" formulation. With a pump now!!!
I CANNOT believe how my skin reacted to this. Immediately, my skin felt hydrated and calm. Way better.
No redness or irritation. Clear and calm. Kind of incredible. YMMV, as always.
But there's the combination of RAM, a non-foaming cleanser (MD Forte lately ) and this moisturizer.
I cannot believe how my skin feels with this after using so many d/s and h/e moisturizers (It just looks different.. I guess its the aloe base and the other combination of ingredients. It may seem simple, but it works for me.
Huzzah Sage Skincare. Maybe this is one that needs more Huzzah? I think so!

Does a great job keeping moisture in, buffering Retin-A & not causing breakouts. I use the winter formula all winter long. Love it. Sticking with it. continued >>

Barbara from Sage sent a sample of the Summer formula of this several months ago with my order and I was anxious to try it since centerfuse loves it so much. Something in it irritated my skin but it did have a nice texture. Glad I tested before buying!

Peeling, and shedding skin are a normal part of retinoid use for me. Since using this product, my skin has transformed. Along with a light (as needed) application of Make Up For Ever Face & Body foundation, my skin looks practically flawless. Believe me: getting compliments on my skin is hard to accept. But it happens now.
For reference, I am fair-skinned, still clog prone, and finally over years of cystic acne due to RAM. It's incredible to me that at my age and the severity of my acne, that my skin isn't destroyed. Until now, every moisturizer I tried had a little bit of *something* that just didn't work-whether high or low end. Either I was shining by noon or breaking out in small whiteheads. Realized that waxes aren't for me.
I finally found a ready-made moisturizer that works for my clog-prone, mild rosacea, Retin-A dried skin. No clogs, no breakouts, no oily shine. I bought the Light/summer version in full size and also received a sample of the Winter version.
In short, I am simply amazed. Last winter, when my skin was dehydrated due to Retin-A, low humidity, and cold weather, I ws faced with a first: finding a moisturizer. I never really needed one before.
Granted, I am older, but in general, I have very oily skin, even when it's dehydrated That all changed when I started using tretinoin (Retin-A gel, Retin-A Micro, and Renova) on a regular basis. Suddenly, I was doing home chemistry daily with glycerin, petroleum jelly, and safflower oil.
The Hydrating Emulsion is perfect for my skin, and best applied directly after washing when the face is still moist. I also add a drop or two of SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 on my face and neck under the Hydrating Emulsion to get a very nice "plumping" effect. This product sinks directly into the skin and leaves no slick feel or shine. I am in love and ready to re-order.
For sunscreen, I generally use Sofina Lucent, but have been trying the Sofina Rise and Sofiina Beaute, both spf 24+++ for winter. I also love the finish of the Sofina products.
I sometimes add Paula's Choice 8% AHA gel on night's off from Retin-A as well. Another trick is mixing a bit of bentonite clay with my cleanser (Boscia Purifying)for a gentle exfoliation and rinsing with a gauze cloth. I really think that using the gauze helps remove all traces of cleanser and makeup.
I highly recommend this moisturizer for anyone who has had trouble with finding one that doesn't cause more trouble than it fixes.
My only complaint is that it comes in a tub instead of a squeeze tube, but I just make sure to use clean hands--I have accepted that I'm too lazy to use a scoop. Hey, isn't it enough that I wash my makeup brushes and clean my gauze cloths regularly??
Edit--just ordered my second Hydrating Emulsion and the summer version comes in a pump!! I also ordered the Winter, but that was still in the tub. Still loving this. My best friend even mentioned that my skin was looking so smooth (we both have large pores) and I told her about this and the MD Forte II cleanser (also MD Formulations Glycolic Cleanser which is more expensive) along with the gauze and the mix of retinoids. I think I am nuts sometimes, but when people compliment my skin at age 49, I have to give credit to the products because I simply glow. The dewy cheeks aren't oil because the moisture keeps my skin from going haywire. And I don't get the super dehydration, either, when I use the Summer HE under my reinoid.
Love Sage and hope it may work for others who have had major problems with dryness and finding moisturizers.***update***this is the best buffer for my retinoid. Highly recommend trying if you are prone to breakouts but have a need to keep the skin from tightness. The Winter formula was, indeed, perfect for winter. The summer is great for spot application. Neither formulas have caused milia as I use them around the eye area. Best, a good coat on my neck seems to make the old neck ickies much less noticable. So who knew? I'm even doing the upward strokes like my mom used to do in the 60s. Ahhh, the things we do to be, as Strong Bad says in Teen Girl Squad, "to be lookin' gooooood." continued >>

UPDATE (5/1/12): Six years later and I decided to test drive the Summer version of Sage's Hydrating Emulsion. It's lovely....very much like a lightweight gel-cream. I'm only using it on my dry areas.....no irritation, no issues this time but I'm also no longer using a Rx retinoid. Will update in a month or so.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Got a sample of this and it looks promising. Will give it a try.
INGREDIENTS: STABILIZED ALOE VERA cold pressed, CARBOMER, GLYCERIN,
GLYCERYL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, SAFFLOWER OIL, MINERAL OIL, SODIUM
HYALURONATE, PETROLATUM, TETRASODIUM EDTA, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN,
TRIETHANOLAMINE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA
Update: Sadly, this didn't work out for me. My guess is the glycerin and/or HA annoyed my SD-prone skin. continued >>

Well i am using a sample and i think i will purchase. i have combo acne prone skin and i think that this is a good moisturizer with no breakouts so far. i am using it very sparingly. only on my drier areas and i feel like it really moisturizes. been using it about a week so far and will update. 6/9 update- don't use anymore because it seemed to clog my pores- will use for body and neck

Been working my way through a generous sample of this for a few weeks, am going to purchase when my sample runs out. This is a fabulous lightweight moisturizer, great for those with combo or oily skin who want just a touch of moisture. Absorbs very quickly, weightless on the skin. I don't think this would do the trick for those looking for anything more than a light moisturizer, but for those folks who only want a bit of added moisture this is superb. Also great underneath foundation. ***Edited 9/23/04: This has reached grail status. This is simply THE BEST lightweight moisturizer for those of us with oilier skin IMO.

I don't think I could live without this! This is my moisturizer for summertime and for under the Old Lady Cream in the wintertime. It absorbs almost instantly and leaves my skin so soft and smooth!

This is a lighter moisturizer with no scent. I like this product and use it during the day in the colder months. It absorbs nicely and doesn't irritate my skin or break it out.
It's a pretty low-profile product - nothing flashy here at all - but I'll keep using it till I run out. (I think I have a year's supply.) I don't know whether I'll repurchase this product. If I don't find anything more fun, I will, but we'll have to see.
Edited - I much prefer PC's Skin Balancing Gel, Antioxidant Goo, and Astara's Activated Antioxidant Infusion to the Hydrating Emulsion. I feel like my skin will benefit more in the long run if I use one of these products rather than the HE, which has nothing other than moisturizing properties. continued >>