How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin

We all know that moisturizing daily is an important part of any skin care routine. But if you’re not using the right moisturizer for your skin, you could run into some issues. Here’s what you need to know.

Look for These Key Ingredients

The vast majority of moisturizers have three key ingredient types in them in order to make them more effective. Before you select a moisturizer for your skin, it’s a good idea to ensure that they’re all there in some way, shape, or form. In addition, it’s beneficial to understand what they do for your skin.

Occlusives – This type of moisturizer ingredient works to lock moisture into the skin upon application. And there are more than a few ingredients that serve this purpose, including shea butter, coconut oil, and lanolin.

Emollients – When you see emollients, you’re looking at ingredients that help smooth out and soften your skin. They do this by filling in cracks and crevices on your face. Grape seed oil and sesame seed oil are common emollients found in moisturizers.

Humectants – These substances work in tandem with both occlusives and emollients. Specifically, humectants help draw moisture into the skin. It should be noted that humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycol are typically used in smaller concentrations than occlusives and emollients because they can cause some skin irritation.

For Dry Skin…

If you have dry skin, you might be seeing more visible wrinkles and looking at acne scarring that lasts a little bit longer. When your skin lacks natural oils, it loses a bit of smoothness. That’s why anyone with dry skin needs to look for oil-based moisturizers. These moisturizers, which are usually a little bit thicker, can help replenish some natural oils and return your skin to its former smoothness. Though if you continue to suffer from dry skin, it might be worth looking into cosmetic dermatology services.

For Normal Skin…

If you have normal skin, you’re right in the middle. Your skin is balanced, not too dry, and not too oily. The biggest thing you need to worry about when you have normal skin is sun damage. It’s also important to maintain a healthy skin barrier in normal skin. When you’re searching for a moisturizer, look for one with a short list of ingredients and SPF. If you’re not sure whether your skin is normal or not, make sure you speak with your dermatologist. They can help you determine your skin type and its specific needs.

For Oily Skin…

When you have oily skin, you’re probably looking for a moisturizer that won’t irritate your acne. Unfortunately, oily skin and acne go together a little too well. For this reason, you need to look for moisturizers that have a non-comedogenic label on them. This ensures that your moisturizer wasn’t made with any pore-clogging ingredients. In addition, you might want to look for a moisturizer with a mattifying element.

Do you know if you’re using the right moisturizer for your skin type? If you have questions or want to improve your skin care routine, set up your consultation with Dermatology of Cape Cod today.