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Purchasing a moisturizer that’s appropriate for your particular skin type might seem like it’s the easiest thing in the world. However, when you actually go out and do it, you realize just how confusing it is. There are so many options out there which leaves many people hesitant to start searching in the first place. Not only do moisturizers differ in terms of skin types, but there are also a few different types of moisturizers.
So where should you start if you want to avoid getting overwhelmed? In this article, we will explain all the different types of moisturizers and explore which are the best options for your specific skin type.
One thing all dermatologists agree is that choosing a moisturizer that’s suitable for your skin type and implementing it in your skincare routine is crucial for everyone. So, how do you go about choosing what kind of moisturizer to get for your skin?
If you have dry or irritated skin, picking out a thick formula is probably the way to go. This will ensure that your skin is properly hydrated without being clogged up.
For those who suffer from oily or combination skin, lotions can be extremely helpful. These are lightweight, yet offer a sufficient amount of hydration. Their main ingredient is water, so they won’t cause any breakouts or congestions, making them also suitable for acne-prone skin. Make sure you choose one that’s non-comedogenic.
These usually contain a mash-up of ingredients like water and alcohol. They have a cooling effect on the skin and absorb pretty easily. Gels are suitable for a couple of different skin types, but mostly for those who want lightweight hydration without the greasy feeling.
These are the thickest moisturizers available on the market and they have a high concentration of oils and lipids compared to water. This ratio makes them a no-no for oily and combination skin types. They have a sticky feeling and they sit heavy on the skin. Vaseline is perhaps the most common representative of this category.
Some people who suffer from oily skin stay away from moisturizers of any kind. They believe that adding an additional layer onto the skin will only make matters worse in terms of skin grease. However justified and logical this belief is, it is a common misconception that only people with dry skin need to apply moisturizer on a regular basis. If you have oily skin, you will need some extra moisture as well. It’s crucial for your skin to pick a moisturizer that will balance and hydrate your skin without making it too oily.
This is why you should always choose moisturizers which are specifically aimed at people with oily skin. In addition, you’ll want to look for moisturizers that don’t contain too many harsh and unpronounceable chemicals.
And why is that so?
Because these types of ingredients can additionally dry out your skin. At first glance, you might think that this is the outcome you need, but that’s not necessarily how you should get there. Overdrying your skin in this manner will only make it produce more oil and signal to your sebaceous glands that the amount of oil on your skin isn’t sufficient, which will result in an endless cycle of overproducing oil and over-drying your skin.
If the top skin layer is damaged, your skin won’t be able to retain water and keep itself hydrated in the long run. This will also cause an overproduction in sebum, which is the last thing you want if you already have oily skin! On top of being very hard to deal with, oily skin often leads to major breakouts and clogged pores, which can then lead to a problem with acne scars and hyperpigmentation and a whole lot of trouble on the way. In order to avoid this, you should keep your skin hydrated and happy.
Applying moisturizer on a regular basis will ensure that your skin is safe from any environmental pollutants and is protected from UV rays which can cause further damage to your skin (assuming that you’re also applying sunscreen on top of your moisturizer).
When it comes to oil as an ingredient, there isn’t one set rule you should follow. People with oily skin have one thing in common – overproduction of sebum, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that their skin types are exactly the same. So, some people’s skin will react badly to any additional oils in the ingredients. If you’re one of these people, it’s wise to look for an “oil-free” label as much as you can. These labels don’t apply to moisturizers only; oil can be found in cleansers, serums, and even sunscreens! Oil-free moisturizers and lotions have a lighter formula than the rest, so they’re easily absorbed in the skin without leaving it feeling greasy and heavy.
How can one find out if they have a negative reaction to oil? Truth is, it’s a process that comes with a lot of trial and error. You have to do these experiments on your skin in order to figure out what’s going to work best for your skin. Until you get to know your skin, you will have to be your own guinea pig and test out multiple products and pay attention to the way in which your skin reacts to all of them.
Another important label which all skin types should look for is the “non-comedogenic” label. When a product is labeled as non-comedogenic, it basically means that it’s not likely to clog your pores and cause any trouble. Even if you don’t have sensitive and acne-prone skin at the moment, it’s a good idea to invest in these products because clogged pores won’t do any good whatsoever.
As far as makeup is concerned, most people who have oily skin tend to go for mattifying foundations and heavy powders. This is not always a good idea because it can lead to clogged pores and congestion, and as we’ve mentioned before, it’s the last thing you’d want. Follow up your chosen moisturizer with a mineral-based foundation in order to avoid nasty chemicals and ingredients but mattify your skin at the same time. There are foundations on the market that are specifically designed for people with oily skin, so investing in one of these is also a good idea.
Oily skin doesn’t only come with a greasy feeling and shine, but it also comes with large pores. Unfortunately, large pores are often genetic and it isn’t much you can do in order to change their size and appearance. You can, however, choose products that will minimize the appearance of pores, whether these are regular moisturizers, tinted moisturizers or foundations. Some serums also have the effect of giving the appearance of smaller pores.
People who have combination skin don’t have it easy. First off, combination skin is quite hard to identify. It’s similar to oily skin in texture, but there are dry to normal patches on the skin which are usually located on the cheek area that make it similar to dry skin. That being said, finding a proper moisturizer that suits combination skin is essential for maintaining a healthy glow and proper hydration.
When it comes to combination skin, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s not only one solution. The moisturizer which will work on your skin will depend largely on how oily your T-zone is and how dry the other parts of your face are. It comes in handy if you’ve tried a couple of moisturizers in order to determine which one balances those two radically different areas out.
But not everyone has the patience and money to try multiple products on the market. Sometimes, your skin will require two completely different products for the T-zone and cheeks. The T-zone usually requires a mattifying finish which will keep the shine at bay and the dry areas will require extra hydration. This means that you will have to work with two completely different formulas. Don’t despair, though! This may not be the case for you. Make sure to try out at least one moisturizer that’s designed for combination skin before you decide that it’s not going to work for you.
Look for one which contains beneficial ingredients for the area which is most troubling to you. So, if the oil is the main issue, opt for a sebum-controlling formula and, if needed, follow up with a serum or lotion on the dry areas afterward. Whichever one you choose, keep in mind that you should avoid any skin-aggravating ingredients so that you don’t irritate the skin any further. These ingredients are usually some types of alcohol, fragrances, and colorants. The last thing you’d want is to cause your skin to become overly sensitive when you already have a skin type that’s a combination of two very distinctive ones.
It all comes down with experimenting with what’s right for your particular skin type. If you suffer from extremely combination skin, then applying two different moisturizers might be the proper way to go. You could also try layering two different ones in the dry areas. It can be quite a hassle, but if it helps your skin it will be worth it!
If you have dry skin, chances are, you’re already using some kind of moisturizer. For people with dry skin, it can be incredibly irritating and uncomfortable not to follow up with some kind of moisturizer after they have washed their face. So it’s definitely a necessity when it comes to skincare.
A good moisturizer will repair and soothe the skin and alleviate any symptoms such as irritation and itchiness. There are quite a lot of options out there for people with dry skin, so choosing a suitable moisturizer will depend on what kind of skincare you prefer and what your goals are.
Unfortunately, people with dry skin are more prone to getting premature signs of aging. This is especially true if you’ve ever had any harsher treatments done to your skin and they proved to be unsuccessful. Therefore, it’s wise to choose a moisturizer which will eliminate any premature signs of aging and moisturize the skin at the same time, such as our best-selling moisturizer with anti-aging effects.
For those who don’t have any fine lines and wrinkles yet, it’s never too early to start! You can choose to buy a moisturizer which has these amazing anti-aging benefits so that it can prevent any premature signs of aging from appearing. It’s a win-win situation – you’ll get a moisturizer (which can also act as a foundation base) and the anti-aging benefits all at the same time!
In terms of ingredients, you’ll want to look for if you have dry skin – vitamin E oil and jojoba oil are a safe bet since they both score low on the comedogenic scale, making both of them non-comedogenic. This means that you can enjoy all their hydrating benefits without sacrificing your unclogged pores. Just to be on the safe side, if your skin tends to be quite sensitive, you might want to look for the fragrance-free label in order to avoid any irritation.
Collagen is another ingredient that’s amazing for people with dry skin because it helps prevent those premature signs of aging that we talked about.
Having sensitive skin is definitely not a walk in the park. It’s quite different from the other skin types because you can’t just try out a couple of different products and see which works best for you. When trying out a new product, the stakes are always high.
A new product could cause you to break out. A new product could dry out your skin even more, creating uneven patches and itchiness. A new product can result in redness which you don’t know how to deal with. Choosing new products to try out has to be done in a careful manner so that you don’t end up with even more problems than you’ve started.
Before we continue exploring the easiest ways to pick a moisturizer if you have sensitive skin, it’s important to mention just how big lifesaver patch tests can be. A patch test is basically a technique which you use before trying out a new product all over your face. What you have to do is put a small amount of the product on your hand and apply it to one small area on your face. Repeat this daily for a couple of weeks and see how your skin reacts to it. If the area seems fine, then it’s probably a good idea to apply it to a bigger area next time. If there are multiple breakouts, redness or any signs of irritation on the area, the product might not be for you, in which case you should select a new product and start the process all over again but this time on another area.
When it comes to the moisturizers themselves, it’s crucial to select products which are gentle on the skin. There are a couple of different ingredients which help soothe the skin such as:
If any of these are on the ingredients list, then chances are that product will do wonders for your sensitive skin. Looking for labels is essential, so always make sure the product checks off these:
In terms of hydration, there are many ingredients which will do an amazing job in hydrating your skin but won’t leave you with any congestion and clogged pores. Hyaluronic acid is a great example of an ingredient that works as an outstanding hydrator but is also suitable for people with dry skin.
Just because a moisturizer is aimed at people with dry skin, it doesn’t mean that it’s stripped off most useful ingredients. Other common ingredients which can be found in moisturizers suitable for people with sensitive skin are shea butter and squalene, both of which protect the skin from any harmful effects. However, creams for sensitive skin types often contain fewer ingredients than others. The goal is usually to use the least amount of ingredients in order to achieve the most desirable effect.
Now that we went over all the amazing ingredients which help sensitive skin, let’s see which you should avoid if you suffer from sensitive skin. Whether it’s in skincare, makeup or any other products that you use on your face, try your best to avoid the following ingredients:
These can not only cause irritation and redness, but they can also lead to clogged pores, which, in turn, leads to breakouts. Another outcome of these chemicals is an allergic reaction. This is something you’ll definitely want to avoid since it can be quite hard to pin down which ingredient exactly caused your sensitive skin to have an allergic reaction.
Keeping our skin healthy and youthful should be a priority no matter what our age is. Investing in high-quality skincare products will pay off in the long run, just as neglecting your skin and repeating bad habits like sleeping with your makeup on will.
It’s no secret that our skin changes as we get older, and so do our needs. When picking out a moisturizer, it’s important to keep in mind that what we select is aimed at mature skin types and has anti-aging benefits. On top of that, it should contain hydrating and nourishing ingredients which will keep your skin from drying out. Our skin loses moisture as we age, so it will need extra moisture as we get older. Ingredients like vitamin E, squalane and hyaluronic acid will keep our skin moisturized, so watch out for these in the ingredients list.
Retinol (Retin A), vitamin B, vitamin C, collagen and fruit acids are famous for their anti-aging benefits. When you’re shopping for moisturizers, always check the label to see if any of these are present. And if they are, it’s a safe bet that it will tackle the fine lines and wrinkles. Many of these ingredients, along with antioxidants and squalene, also help with sagging skin, so you’ll be killing two birds with one dip.
Just like other skincare products, choosing the moisturizer that’s appropriate for you will require a lot of trial and error. The good news is – you’ll know when you’ve found the one.
Having healthy and glowing doesn’t come down to your moisturizer alone. Your whole skincare routine needs to be top notch in order for you to see the amazing benefits. Choose a gentle cleanser that will remove all the dirt, bacteria and impurities in the morning and nighttime, like our salicylic acid cleanser. Follow it up with the moisturizer you’ve picked and then proceed to add a layer of sunscreen if you’ll be leaving the house. Protecting your skin from harmful sun rays is crucial if you want to maintain healthy skin in the long run. At night, you can experiment with serums, toners and stronger acne treatments (if you have any acne, to begin with).
You could also try some harsher treatment options that deal with the most common skin issues. Chemical peels, lasers, and microdermabrasion have been extremely popular during these past few years, and most patients can tell the difference even after one treatment. However, if you’re planning on doing any of these, it’s best to consult a dermatologist first.
Many products that you put on your skin will work unless you’re also taking care of yourself from the inside. Exercising, minimizing stress, having a healthy diet and lifestyle is something you should implement as a daily habit if you want that healthy glow all year round.
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed this guide for choosing the correct moisturizer for your skin type and it’s been helpful in your skincare journey.
