Outside of sunscreen, moisturizer should be your go-to skincare product for healthy skin. Moisturizers should be applied as a part of both your morning and nightly skincare routine to provide 24-hour moisture are is a product. Choosing the right moisturizer for your skin can be difficult. Do you need heavy cream? What about lightweight? Does it need to be anti-aging? What if I have oily skin? Start by determining what type of skin you have. To do so, take a look at your skin first thing in the morning. Does it appear oily? Is it dry, tight, and flaky? Does it feel pretty much normal or a combination of both?
Once you determine the type of skin you have, find a product that will work best with it:
Dry Skin
Aim for a heavier moisturizer and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, which help keep skin hydrated. Glycerin, propylene glycol, proteins, and urea also help attract water to your skin.
Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
Lotions that are lightweight and water-based are the best for oily skin. Look for a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer that won’t clog pores while locking in moisture.
Sensitive Skin
Use a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturizer with less than 10 ingredients. Fewer ingredients mean fewer potential interactions with your sensitive skin.
Normal Skin
For normal skin, it’s best to pick a moisturizer dependent on your weather. In the cooler months when moisture is less in the air, use a thicker cream to help lock in much-needed moisture. In the warmer months tick with a lighter, hydrating moisturizer.
Regardless of your skin type, it’s always best to apply moisturizer while your skin is damp. Apply within a few minutes after washing your face or body. It is also important to note that you will find many products on the market that are labeled as body-friendly or full-body moisturizers. What’s good for our body isn’t always the best for our face. Avoid applying full-body moisturizers to your face that contain these popular ingredients: lanolin, mineral oil, waxes, or shea butter. These can clog pores and lead to facial acne.
Need help deciding what is best for your skin?
If you are struggling to determine your skin type, are interested in finding the best skincare routine, or just want to improve your skin’s overall health, the skin health experts at Forefront Dermatology are ready to help. To find the Forefront dermatologist nearest you, visit the locations page today.
