Skin experts agree that moisturizing is a vital part of proper skin care regimen for it helps in retaining the necessary moisture to the skin. To keep it healthy, radiant and glowing, choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type is crucial.
However, selecting the best-suited moisturizer is like choosing your smartphone that will fit your lifestyle. With wide variety of moisturizers made available in the market, scrutinizing the best and the most suited one for your skin can be tasking, as not all creams are created equal. Hence, assessing your skin type is a major factor to consider in getting the right moisturizer. This is necessary so as not to put your money into waste.
Be guided with these smart steps in choosing the right kind of moisturizer for your skin.
- Determine your skin type.
No matter what your skin type is – normal, dry, oily or combination, you need to moisturize. However, the thickness of the moisturizer you need to use depends on your skin type.
If you possess normal skin, your moisturizer should be non-greasy, water-based and silicone-derived.
For dry skin, heavier oil-based with mineral oil and glycerin is your best bet because it gives better absorption through the skin barriers to hydrate the skin.
For those with oily complexion, find cream formulas that have exfoliating agents such as lactic, glycolic and salicylic acids. It must be noncomedogenic to avoid clogging the pores. Oil-based moisturizer affects greatly on acne-prone skin.
Those with combination skin type should use moisturizers with no acids.
Meanwhile, persons with sensitive skin should opt for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturizer.
- Consider the weather.
Climate can greatly affect the condition of your skin so consider them when you use your moisturizer.
Use lightweight moisturizing cream when the weather becomes warm. If it is humid, forego your thick moisturizers during this season because it triggers seasonal breakouts. Instead, switch to gel type moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Gel-formulated moisturizer won’t make you too oily when you perspire. When you go to dry places, using cream-based moisturizer can retain skin’s moisture. When winter season sets in, richer cream formulation is necessary to prevent the skin from drying out.
- Choose moisturizer with SPF.
In choosing for right moisturizer, sun protection is a must. This is an essential additive in your daily moisturizer. Moisturizers with SPF provide added protection against the damaging effects of UVA and UVB. Exposure to sun’s harmful rays could rob hydration to your skin, leading to wrinkles, skin damaging and possibly skin cancer. It can delay the signs of premature aging, maintaining a healthier look of your complexion. Do not forget to re-apply every two hours.
For oily skin, skin experts recommend to use separate moisturizer and sunscreen. Apply sunscreen first and allow it to be absorbed by your skin before putting on your moisturizer.
- Pay attention to ingredients.
First and foremost, you need to check and read the ingredients list and other product details carefully before purchasing your moisturizer.
For those with dry or sensitive skin, avoid moisturizers that contain acids and alcohol such as alpha hydroxyl acid, glycolic acid, retinoic acid and salicylic acid because these ingredients are not suited for those with delicate skin type.
For those with oily skin, do not use a moisturizer that contains lanolin, mineral oil, waxes or shea butter to prevent facial acne.
Those with eczema or cracked skin never use moisturizers that have urea or lactic acids for they can aggravate skin irritation. Skin doctors even suggest avoiding moisturizers with unnecessary and irritating ingredients such as color and perfume. For persons with sensitive skin, opt for fragrance-free and oil-free moisturizer.
Be cautious of what is written on the label. Despite the label says it’s hypoallergenic, double check if there are other ingredients included that might cause unnecessary reaction to your skin. When in doubt, ask help from skin experts or search the internet. Scanning product’s fine print can save you from overspending and can prevent you from product waste and misuse.
The perfect time to moisturize your skin is when your skin is damp. Apply your moisturizer after toning as your skin is primed to receive its optimum benefits. Do it on a daily basis to achieve younger-looking and radiant skin.
