How To Choose The Right Moisturizer For Your Skin Type?

For those not in the know, a moisturizer is a beauty product that penetrates deep into your skin cells to create an invisible shield of protection and hydration.

It can be used on the face, hair, body, and between toes (hey, you never know when it will come in handy).

There are many reasons to use a moisturizer: it may prevent wrinkles from forming or stop them from getting worse; it may help fade acne scars faster; it might even help diminish stretch marks.

But before going out and buying any old moisturizer off the shelf, you need to identify your skin type first.

Identify Your Skin Type

1. Oily

This skin type is characterized by a shiny, greasy complexion that may appear shiny or sweaty. The oiliness is aggravated by sebum, or oil secreted by the sebaceous glands which are situated in the dermis layer of your skin.

Sebum is actually good as it moisturizes your skin and keeps it supple. But if your pores are clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, you could end up with acne and blackheads.

When choosing a moisturizer for oily skin, steer clear of heavy creams that will only worsen the oily appearance of your face. Look for moisturizers that offer light doses of hydration without any oily residue.

2. Dry

This skin type is characterized by a bumpy, flaky complexion with a rough surface texture that might appear itchy or dry. Dry skin often feels as if it’s peeling off, revealing the wrinkled and dead unenviable cells underneath.

The best moisturizers help restore the natural moisture levels of your skin while leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and silky. Look for products that have nourishing ingredients, such as humectants (which attract water to your skin cells) and emollients (which maintain the moisturizing effect on your skin).

Also, choose products with higher amounts of botanical ingredients, such as natural extracts and vitamin E which will help smooth away rough patches of dryness.

How to choose the right moisturizer for your skin type!

Understanding Moisturizer Ingredients

1. Humectants

A humectant is a water-binding ingredient that draws moisture from the environment into the skin’s outer layer, the epidermis. This improves skin hydration levels by capturing and holding onto the water in the atmosphere beyond your body’s capacity.

However, your body actually requires only a small amount of moisture, and if you’re going to use moisturizers, it becomes important for you to choose products with low levels of humectants.

But what about when your body is already saturated with water, inside and out? Hmm… here’s the thing: if your skin isn’t fully hydrated, it can still absorb moisturizing ingredients from a moisturizer.

And this is why you should wait at least 12 hours before applying any moisturizer to the dry area of your skin.

2. Emollients

An emollient is a skin conditioner that softens the outer layer of dead skin cells on the outermost surface of our skin, preventing them from clogging our pores and causing acne.

They also help keep moisture in your skin by forming a protective barrier against external irritants like heat, sun, or wind.

Emollients are generally made from vegetable oils, botanicals, fats, and waxes, and the best part about them is that most of them are hypoallergenic.

They function by forming a layer of oil on your skin’s surface to prevent moisture from escaping from your skin into the air. To prevent pores from clogging as a result, they keep the moisture/oil in balance.

3. Occlusives

Occlusive is a common ingredient in beauty products used to seal moisture into your skin. It creates a barrier on top of your skin to protect it against external elements such as wind or sunlight (which can dry out and damage your skin). You’ll find occlusives in all sorts of products, from lotions to gels and moisturizers.

How To Choose The Right Moisturizer For Your Skin Type?

Skin Type

The first step to choosing the right moisturizer is to identify your skin type. But don’t just go out and buy all sorts of lotions, potions, and magic creams, thinking they’ll give your skin a smooth and healthy appearance.

Remember, all moisturizers aren’t created equal, so you need to do a little bit (okay, a very little bit) of research to find the one best suited for your skin type.

For instance, if you have oily skin, don’t use a cream with a heavy texture, as it will only worsen the oiliness of your face. And if you have dry skin, stay away from lotions with low levels of humectants as they’ll only worsen your dryness.

Ingredients

Another important factor to consider when you’re choosing a moisturizer is the ingredients. Some ingredients will help your skin improve its texture, tone, firmness, and elasticity, while others may cause irritation or even allergic reactions.

In order to avoid any mishaps, stay away from alcohol, sulfates, and parabens in your beauty products, as they can irritate the skin.

Instead, look for moisturizers that contain ingredients like glucosides and xanthine, which are known to smooth and tone down your skin.

Texture

If your skin feels dry, tight, itchy, or rough, you might want to consider using a heavier cream. But if it feels oily and greasy, then opt for lighter formulas.

The texture of your moisturizer should also match the texture of your skin. For instance, if you have oily skin, choose a lotion with light consistency; apply foundation afterward.

On the other hand, for dry skin, opt for heavier creams that sink deeply into your skin and offer long-lasting moisture levels; apply powder after you’ve applied the moisturizer.

Fragrance

The most important thing to remember is that what you like won’t always mean that it’s good for your skin. If you like how commercial lotions smell, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best moisturizer for your skin.

Likewise, if your grandmother uses a cream with a strong fragrance and it’s been working for her for more than 40 years, don’t consider using it without knowing its ingredients.

When choosing a moisturizer, choose one with natural ingredients, as they can balance out your skin and make it look healthy, soft, smooth, and supple.

Additional Skincare Tips

1. Once you’ve washed your face, remember to pat it dry with a clean towel and leave it open to allow it to breathe. When your skin is wet, the pores stay open, allowing the oil and dirt on your skin’s surface to spread deep into its surface.
2. Don’t forget to use a moisturizer with SPF to fight off the harmful UV rays of sunlight, known for prematurely aging skin. Also, use sunscreen if you plan to go out during the day as most moisturizers don’t have SPF!
3. Don’t forget to apply the right moisturizer according to the directions printed on the product packaging. For a more definitive answer, contact your dermatologist, as they can pinpoint what type of moisturizer is best suited for you.
4. If you experience acne breakouts, then try switching up your routine. Maybe your skin produces too much oil, or you’re at risk of developing excessive dryness, which can make it even more prone to breakouts.
5. Remember, too much lotion can clog and congest the pores, leading to acne breakouts. So, when you’re using moisturizers, don’t forget to wash your hands in between using them and your face to remove any excess lotion.
6. If you have sensitive skin, then opt for creams that have a light texture. In addition, always use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of sunlight, which is known for premature aging.
7. Regardless of your age or skin type, you always want to check to see if the product you’re trying has been tested and approved by the FDA or the ophthalmologists.

Conclusion

The thought of using a moisturizer can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg in order to get the perfect amount of moisture for your skin. In fact, you shouldn’t overspend on it either.

Instead, try some of these tips and tricks while you’re out shopping; they’ll help you get the right one without spending too much money on it.

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