When it comes to choosing the right-fit-moisturizer for one’s skin, there are several nuances to it which one must be aware of. The weather, lifestyle, diet, medication, certain medical or dermatological conditions, hormones, skin care regime and most importantly the skin type, are all factors that decide which is the best-pick moisturizer for your skin. What you choose to moisturize your skin is also to be tailor-made to you. The cosmesis of the product according to individual preferences also plays an important role in choosing the right moisturizer. Trial and error help!
By far the most important consideration for the correct moisturizer would be the skin type. Oily skins do better with lightweight, non-comedogenic, gel-based moisturizers. These help to hydrate the skin rather than making it heavy and greasy. Sebum-control ingredients in the product like niacinamide are a bonus. The common myth that oily skins do not need a moisturizer should be debunked, as moisturizers help maintain the skin barrier, keep the sebum secretion in check and help to hydrate the skin especially if a person is on acne medication, which can be very drying.
Normal skins do well with a lotion or cream formulations and dry skins need a thicker cream or ointment oil-based formulations that lock in the moisture. Silicones like dimethicone in the formulation suit normal and dry skins. Sensitive skins do better with lotions or creams as gels are inherently drying. Soothing ingredients like aloe and chamomile in the formulation help.
A peek at the labels for the list of ingredients present in the moisturizer is also helpful. Occlusives like petroleum jelly, lanolin should be avoided as ingredients in moisturizers for oily skin. On the other hand, they do well on dry skins. Hyaluronic acid and kaolin are good ingredients for oily skins. Niacinamide has shown evidence to be a sebum-controller. Sensitive skins do better with products with less fragrance and no artificial dyes. Additives in moisturizers which may be protective or antiaging, may add to the benefit of the moisturizer per se especially for those with mature skins. Moisturizers with antioxidants and spf can be used in the day and those with antiaging ingredients may be used at night.
Dry skins, dry and cold weather, low humidity, sensitive skins, and the use of harsh cleansers all of which leave the skin parched, need the moisturizer to be re-applied twice or thrice a day. The dose can be titrated according to how the skin “feels”. When using a moisturizer both in the day and at night, one can opt for a lighter one for the day and a heavier one for the night. Another useful tip for any skin type is to use the moisturizer within 5 minutes of bathing or washing the face as this helps to prevent the trans epidermal water loss from the skin.
