One of the most essential parts of your skincare regime is your moisturizer. To begin with, many of us don’t realize the importance of hydrating our skin! However, there are a lot of myths about moisturizers. This winter, I have learned. the hard way, that we need to know the difference between the fiction and the real facts about moisturizers.
To begin with, my skin is uber dry. So, why is my skin breaking out? For one thing, I have been putting oil on my face to keep it moisturized. However, I have been using harsh products, such as my cleanser, and other drying products, to get rid of the pimples. Instead of clearing up, I am getting more and more pimples. Instead of solving the problem, I am making it worse.
For example, dehydrated skin leads to issues like inflammation and breakouts. Therefore, keeping skin moisturized reduces the chances of skin problems. When you moisturize, you are keeping your skin balanced. As a result, regardless of our skin type, everyone benefits when we moisturize our skin according to our skin type.
Moisturizer Myth Replacing Your Moisturizer With Oils
You cannot replace moisturizers with oils! First of all, moisturizers and oils are not the same thing! To start, moisturizers have humectant ingredients that draw water molecules into your skin. On the other hand, Oils contain emollients that only treat the surface of your skin! Therefore, if you use an oil, layer the oil on top of your moisturizer.
Moisturizer Myth You Will Get The Full Benefits Of Your Moisturizer When You Apply It To Dry Skin
Do not apply moisturizer to your dry skin! Moisturizers are more effective when the skin is damp. The reason is, damp skin absorbs the moisturizer and locks it in. In fact, after your shower, don’t wait more than sixty seconds to moisturize your skin. In other words, it is most effective to apply your skincare products, including moisturizes is while you are still damp!
Moisturizer Myth Exfoliate Dull, Flaky Skin
Don’t reach for a scrub or a peel if your skin is dull and flaky. Flaky skin means dehydrated skin. Therefore, you need to apply moisturizers to restore hydration to your skin. In fact, exfoliation could disrupt the skin barrier and cause inflammation. As a result, exfoliation can make your skin worse, not better! Working the skin too hard can cause over exfoliation, which leads to inflammation which disrupts the skin’s barrier. In turn, this can lead to infections from microorganisms, such as fungus and bacteria.
Myth Using Your Day Cream as Your Night Moisturizer
Your night time moisturizer is a crucial step in your skincare regime. To begin with, skin is at its peak state of repair and rebuilding at night. Furthermore, the majority of cell turnover and regeneration occurs when your body is in REM sleep. For these reasons you need to apply products that help with this recovery stage at night. Night creams, loaded with ingredients like peptides and retinols, are essential for soothing and repairing the skin. Finally, night creams are thicker and more nourishing because skin hydration levels decline at night.
Oily Skin Myth Cut Down Your Moisturizer
People with oily skin believe that they should cut down hydrating their skin. Instead, because they have oily skin, they should use harsh products and cleansers to dry out the skin. The truth is, over-washing your skin will only produce more oil.
Myth Using the Same Moisturizer On Different Skin Types
The truth is, use the right moisturizers for your skin type. For example, my skin is extremely dry. As a result, I look for products that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides. In fact, I even take ceramide supplements. The reason for this is ceramides lock in moisture and improve the texture of my dry skin. Also, Ceramides help restore the skin’s barrier by holding the cells together. Furthermore, Hyaluronic Acid can hold 1000X its weight in water.
Moreover, if your skin is oily, gel serums and oil-free products. Also, if you have Acne Prone Skin, stay away from ingredients that cause breakouts such as alcohol, heavy oil and petrolatum. Furthermore, use products with benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, and salicylic acid.
In addition, if your skin is sensitive, avoid ingredients such as fragrance, parabens, and essential oils. Also, check for irritating ingredients,like AHA’s BHA’s, Retinol, Formaldehyde, Phthalates, and botanical extracts.
Myth Skip The Patch Test
Don’t skip the patch test. Most important, always try a product on a small area of your neck before you use it on your face. Make sure you like the way the product feels. Also, make sure the product doesn’t clog your pores. In addition, make sure you won’t have an allergic reaction, or the product doesn’t make you break out.
The Truth About Moisturizers
Moisturizers are important for your skin for all sorts of reasons. First, moisturizing reduces the chances of skin problems. Skin that is too dry or too oily is not balanced. As a result, skin begins to have too many problems, such as acne that starts to pop up. Furthermore, moisturizing your skin can reduce the appearance of blemishes. Also, freshly moisturized skin has a healthy sheen that can even out existing blemishes.
Moreover, moisturizers help your skin stay young. For example, the most sensitive areas of your skin, your face, ears, neck and chest, replace themselves more often than any other area of your skin. As a result, this daily loss of skin cells leaves these areas vulnerable to dryness and the elements.
Additionally, moisturizers help give sensitive skin the boost it needs to repair itself.
Moreover, moisturizing fights wrinkles. People who properly moisturize their skin have a fraction of the rate of wrinkles as those with dry skin.
Finally Some Moisturizers You Can Try For Your Skin Type
First, if your skin is dry, try Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Cream ($.49), or Renee Rouleau Glow Enhancing Cream (69.50)
Next, if your skin is oily, try Cetaphil Oil Control Moisture (18.99) or Renee Rouleau Skin Recovery Lotion ($43.50)
In addition, if your skin is sensitive, try Cetaphil Moisturizer ($11.79).
Finally, if you have combination skin, try Kiehls Oil Free Moisturizer ($30).
What’s your skin type? Do you use a moisturizer is your daily regime? Do you use moisturizer in the a.m. and p.m.? What is your favorite moisturizer? Let me know in the comments below!