Moisturizing your skin sounds like a no-brainer, but this very basic step can often be taken for granted. This guide will help you understand why ALL skin types need a moisturizer and how to choose one that works best for you.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A MOISTURIZER IN SKINCARE?
Moisturizers keep your skin healthy by boosting the moisture barrier of your skin. This barrier acts like a seal. It is what keeps potential irritants out and keeps moisture and essential lipids / oils in.
Moisturizers help prevent your skin from losing hydration. Dehydrated skin is the result of the top layers of the skin losing moisture faster than it can be replenished.
HOW DOES A MOISTURIZER WORK TO KEEP SKIN HEALTHY?
Moisturizers are formulated using three basic types of ingredients - humectants, emollients and occlusives. It is the magic combination of these three ingredients during the formulation process that decides which is the best formula for your skin type.
WHAT ARE HUMECTANTS?
Humectants attract water into the skin and help keep it hydrated. Some popular humectants are glycerin, hyaluronic Acid (or its salt sodium hyaluronate), and allantoin. These are great ingredients if you have oily dehydrated skin.
WHAT ARE EMOLLIENTS?
Emollients are lipid like ingredients. They are very similar to the natural oils found in our skin and can help boost the skin's natural lipid properties. Shea butter, cocoa butter and fatty acids are some natural emollients. If you have dry skin your moisturizer will have a higher proportion of emollients in it.
WHAT ARE OCCLUSIVES?
Occlusives create a barrier between your skin and the external environment. They prevent moisture loss and keep irritants out. Castor oil, plant butters, beeswax and squalane are examples of occlusives. Petroleum jelly and silicones are also occlusives.
Depending on the end use or skin type for which the moisturizer has been formulated, it will contain varying proportions of humectants, emollients and occlusives.
Emollients and occlusives make the product richer and heavier. Dry to normal skin benefits from higher levels of these ingredients in their moisturizer.
4 TIPS TO GET MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM YOUR MOISTURIZER
ALL SKIN TYPES need to use a moisturizer.
If you have oily skin you might be tempted to skip this step especially if the product you use is heavy and feels greasy on your skin. Look for a light weight gel texture moisturizer that provides hydration, a key element that your skin probably lacks especially if you are using anti acne medication or medicated skin care products. Dehydration causes dead skin cells to form which can clog pores and further exacerbate acne issues.
USE A MOISTURISER EVEN IF YOU USE A SERUM.
Apply your serum after cleansing and toning. Wait for the skin to absorb your serum and then follow up with a thin layer of moisturizer. Do not skip using a moisturizer just because you are using a serum.
MOISTURISERS SHOULD BE USED IN YOUR NIGHT TIME ROUTINE AS WELL AS IN YOUR DAY TIME ROUTINE.
At night your skin is in recovery mode, with highest cell turnover during this period. Do not skip applying a night time moisturizer. Night time moisturizers are not that different from what you use during the daytime. One big difference is that it will not contain SPF the way some daytime moisturizers do. Also night time moisturizers tend to have more active ingredients such as retinols, exfoliating acids etc.
APPLY MOISTURISERS SOON AFTER CLEANSING.
The golden rule is to wait no more than a minute after cleansing to prevent water loss from the skin. Pat your skin dry, apply toner and serum if using and follow up with your moisturizer. This ensures your skin stays hydrated and supple.
DISCLAIMER:
Content of this website is not a substitution for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do NOT replace any relationship that exists, or should exist, between you and a medical doctor or other healthcare professional. Results given in testimonials/reviews are from real people who have used Vya Naturals products, but identical or similar results are not guaranteed. Individual results may vary depending on skin type, sensitivity, lifestyle, age, skincare products combinations, skincare history, as well as how the products are applied and stored.