What Moisturizer Should You Use & Why?

Caring for your skin is essential if you want to keep it looking and feeling healthy and youthful for as long as possible. We all have different skincare needs and skin conditions to manage, but choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type makes all of that much easier to manage.

Different skin types require different products made with different ingredients to maintain and balance them well. If you have an understanding of your skin and the components to look for in a moisturizer, you’ll be on your way to happier, healthier skin.

Dry Skin

Best type of product: Cream or lotion

Dry skin can be challenging if you don’t know how to treat it properly. To keep your dry skin in check, you should choose a moisturizer that has a thick, rich consistency and will keep your skin moisturized for hours.

Something that you need to establish before you go about treating your dry skin is whether it is a dry type naturally or whether some underlying condition or an external stressor (spending hours in an airconditioned office or extreme weather) is causing the dryness.

If your skin is only dry due to a passing condition or external stressors, you’ll probably only need to use a heavy face cream for the season or until the condition is resolved.

If your skin is naturally dry, you’ll likely need to use a rich and heavy face cream at least once daily. Choosing an ultra-rich night cream may be a good way to go, as your skin has more time and energy to heal while sleeping than during the day.

Important ingredients to look for in a cream that will help manage your dry skin are:

• Hyaluronic acid: Everyone is talking about it because it works! Hyaluronic acid (HA) pulls water into the skin. HA also holds upto 1000 times its weight in moisture, meaning any product containing this ingredient will keep you hydrated.

• Glycerin: This ingredient also pulls moisture into the skin like HA, but it is a thicker substance, creating a protective, moisture-retaining layer even when absorbed.

• Shea butter: Shea butter is a natural vitamin-rich product with fatty acids and antioxidants, and it has calming and healing properties to reduce skin flare-ups.

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Oily Skin

Best type of product: Gel or serum

While a bit of sebum (oil) can go a long way to making your skin look dewy and radiant, a lot can have the opposite effect. Oily skin can be because your skin is naturally oily or when extremely dry skin reacts to distress and overproduces oil. It can also be created by overactive hormones, stress, or pollutants in the air.

If your skin is temporarily oily, you might need to occasionally use a serum or some masks to help rectify the situation. If your skin is naturally oily, your entire skincare routine should be geared towards dealing with that one on a daily basis. These are some moisturizer ingredients that your face will love if you have a naturally oily skin type.

• Niacinamide: This powerful ingredient is proven to be effective in reducing the appearance of pores and controlling excess oil. It also fades post-acne spots and reduces redness for a flawless face.
• Salicylic acid: This acid chemically exfoliates on a microscopic level to get rid of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface and inside pores. Less dead skin equals fewer breakouts and better-absorbed treatments.
• Retinol: This ingredient is well known as an anti-ager. It aids in cell turnover which keeps skin clear and looking youthful. Cell turnover means less dead skin, fewer breakouts, and minimized oil production and shine. You should start with a low dose, stay out of direct sun, and use a high SPF if you use retinol products.

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Sensitive Skin

Best type of product: Gel or cream

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll know! You may be prone to breakouts even though your skin isn’t overly oily or prone to redness, inflamed skin, or itchiness even though you feel you use a face moisturizer enough. If you have sensitive skin, you should consult a dermatologist to determine the causes and triggers and choose your skincare accordingly. That said, these are some moisturizer ingredients that are typically a good choice for sensitive skin:

• Aloe vera: Aloe is known as the immortality plant for its anti-aging effects and is packed with lots of incredible nourishing and balancing things like vitamins, enzymes, and minerals. It moisturizes deeply without irritating the skin.
• Bakuchiol: This natural antioxidant helps to treat and manage inflamed skin and protect sensitive skin from sun damage.
• Green tea: It protects the skin from UV radiation, minimizes the signs of aging, reduces sebum production, helps manage breakouts, and reduces inflammation.
• Ceramides: These little powerhouses are the glue that holds cells together. They promote a healthy skin barrier and retain moisturizer.

Combination Skin

Because combination skin is a little of this and a little of that, you need to treat it that way. Using the same ingredients listed under the sensitive skin heading is always a safe bet, but you may find yourself with some oily and some regular or dry zones. Treat these individually using the ingredients listed under the respective headings.

Normal Skin

If you do not have any of these skin types and your skin feels well-balanced and self-maintaining, lucky you! Normal skin is the easiest type to care for, as you can pick and choose what you’d prefer to use based solely on your preferences.

You’re Ready To Choose The Right Moisturizer Tailored To You!

By looking out for certain ingredients when you have any of the above skin types, you’ll be able to manage and maintain your skin, keeping it visually appealing and healthy at the same time. Lotion or cream to slake the thirst of dry skin, a gel or light serum to balance oily skin, and a gentle cream for sensitive skin. Stick with these guidelines and your skin will thank you later.