A moisturiser is a simple hydrating concoction which supplies your facial skin’s daily needs, like water and vitamins, and keeps them all locked in. That’s why, the benefits of using moisturiser daily are abundant- it helps reduce wrinkles over time and diminishes the current wrinkles and fine lines; keeps skin youthful; controls your acne and blemishes by preventing skin from drying out; and maintains a protective layer over your face, thus safeguarding it from the harmful UVA and UVB rays, and sun-burns. No doubt why the right facial moisturiser which fits all your unique needs becomes one of the most important skin care products in your beauty closet!
Surprisingly, do you want to know the benefits of moisturiser at night ? These include: undoing the skin damage done during the day; hydrating your face until and for next morning; and, boosting the skin’s self-repairing activity while you are asleep, which also minimizes signs of ageing. All of these above advantages also serve as benefits of moisturising body on a daily basis, with the bonus add-ons being improvement in general blood circulation upon massaging and smoothing out of rougher skin patches like on your knees and elbows.
If moisturising is so necessary, how to find what’s ideal for YOU?
With the cosmetic world filled with promising products, the need for some key guidelines and tips to choose the right moisturizer become urgent so that you can invest better in your future skin. So fret not!- simply follow the below pointers, and your skin will be ready to roll with its perfect face moisturiser with minimal effort!
Test your own waters:
You should be aware of your exact skin type, and many ways exist to decode this; one of the very excellent ones is by using a blotting sheet. Wash your face properly and wait for 30 minutes. Then, take a blotting paper sheet and gently pat it on your different facial areas- cheeks, chin, nose and forehead. Your nose and forehead (the T-zone) is normally oily too; so, if you pick oil here, you have normal skin. But if you pick oil from your cheeks and chin too, you most likely have an oily type. An undisturbed sheet hints towards a dry skin. And if you notice different areas showing both oiliness and its lack, it most likely means you have a combination skin. Further, analyse how your skin texture feels in general- a stretchy skin can be so due to dryness.
Make it skin-type appropriate:
Since the skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive, generally opt for those moisturisers which are ‘non-comedogenic’, because they won’t clog your pores. Customize now. A sensitive skin has a ‘hypoallergenic’ moisturizer as its best aid. For oily skin, go with a light, oil-free/non-oil based moisturizer. Dry and parched skin, on the other hand, needs something richer and hydrating, and oil-based cream formulas can work wonders for it! And if you have combination skin, go with a lighter moisturizer for your whole face and dot drier areas with a heavier cream.
Top it up more with issue-based ingredients:
Every skin type also has its own specific issues- while oily skin is prone to acne and breakouts, dry skin might get easily disturbed due to patchiness, and excessive wrinkling and fine lines. So when you’re making your pick, you can go with added beneficial ingredients which help resolve your specific skin issues: coffee can help tone and firm up the face; aloe vera and hyaluronic acid are ideal for hydrating skin and thus, reducing patchiness; coconut can fight off blemishes and acne scars as it promotes skin regeneration; and, antibacterial ingredients like neem, tea tree, salicylic acid and tulsi are the best acne-warriors you can ask for!
Go for added sunscreen:
Protecting your skin from harmful sun damage is one of the most crucial requirements for looking youthful. Thus, at least an SPF-30 concoction is a must, as it will protect your skin against the harmful UV rays, in turn curbing skin issues like fine lines and wrinkles, redness, burns, and dehydrated skin.
Consider using a moisturizer with retinol before bed:
Since our skin experiences different environmental conditions and needs during the day and night, having different moisturisers for both times can be a helpful idea! Pick a product which hydrates skin, deeply nourishes it and aids its natural regenerative process which remains at work while you remain asleep. Additionally, bonus ingredients are cherry at the top! For example, Retinol is like vitamin A for your skin and works by increasing the speed at which your skin cells renew. But use it cautiously, as it may cause skin irritation, red skin, or dry skin.
Hold on! We have a nifty little note for you on how to choose moisturiser for oily skin?
An oily skin can be a tricky track to trek through, but bear in mind and follow these thumb-rules!
- If your skin lacks moisture, look for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol or aloe vera gel.
- If your skin gets irritated easily, avoid concoctions with too many essential oils and more with such elements like aloe vera, tea tree, neem or basil; these also help in fighting acne problems.
- If you stay in humid climates, purchase a facial lotion or layer your gel moisturizer with a facial oil to avoid the moisture from evaporating.
Avoid the use of mineral and coconut oil or silicone-based products as they have a tendency to be heavy on oily skin, and cause breakouts. - Apply moisturizer on slightly damp skin for better application and faster absorption.
Understand your skin properly and invest wisely in your most suitable moisturiser, to secure for yourself a healthier, more youthful and more radiant skin that remains so even in your older years!
