Moisturizers for Your Skin
Let's face it. When it comes to moisturizers, it feels like we're always looking for "the one," and there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. This is true for so many reasons. First and foremost, our skin's needs change with the seasons, age, and lifestyle. With cold snaps, we need hydration. With heatwaves, we look for oil control. With aging, we relish brightening. Not to mention that the skincare lines we love are constantly updating their formulas and ingredients, which leaves us looking for the best moisturizer match time and time again. This is especially true nowadays, with beauty brands exploring clean or non-toxic ingredients that multi-task year-round.
Like any skincare product, it's crucial to pick a moisturizer that works for your unique needs. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the best moisturizer for different skin types.
Emollient Moisturizers:
These moisturizers work by laying a protective barrier on your skin, sealing in precious moisture and preventing skin from cracking and flaking. This group tends to offer a rich and luxurious texture and provides deep nourishment for restoring hydration. Emollients carry fatty acids and oils, such as cocoa butter, collagen, shea butter, ceramides, and jojoba oil, to nourish aging and dry skin.
Cream-based Emollient
A cream-based lotion will give you a blended formula of oil and water but with a higher concentration of oil than water. This means that the consistency of a cream-based lotion will be thicker than an oil-based or milk-based moisturizer. Often, you'll find these in jars instead of squeeze tubes. The thick consistency helps to lock in any moisture and prevent hydration from leaving your skin's outer barrier.
Oil-based Emollient
When choosing an oil-based moisturizer, look at the ingredients list, and check for one of these oils listed first to be sure that you're purchasing an effective product: jojoba oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. Not all oil-based moisturizers are created equal! You can purchase these lotions in various forms, which gives you the gift of variety and picking what works best for you. Look for these in body or face oils, ointments, face or body butters, and face creams. Oil-based moisturizers have the ability to fill in even the most minuscule fine lines and minimize skin texture.
Cream-based and oil-based moisturizers fare best for those with dry skin needing locking in a deeper layer of moisture. These are great products for harsh winter months or for periods of managing rough, scaly skin. These are also effective when experiencing excessive dryness or flakiness due to medication or eczema. You might notice many of the emollient-family ingredients are found in night creams. This is because our nighttime skincare routine is the perfect time to seal in moisture and promote deep healing!
Emollient moisturizers, whether cream-based or oil-based, work best for the following skin types:
Dry or flaking skin
Cracking skin
Aging skin with areas showing fine lines and wrinkles
Skin that is extremely rough or dry after using acne medication or retinoids
Gel Moisturizers
Gel moisturizers are all about lightweight, sans oil, non-greasy goodness. These avoid the heaviness and thickness of cream and oil-based lotions but pack a powerful punch of effective ingredients nonetheless.
Gel moisturizers are perfect for those with combination skin, oily skin, or acne-prone skin because they absorb quickly and leave your skin feeling fresh and revived. Think of gel moisturizers as a refreshing splash of hydration, providing a burst of moisture without weighing you down. They often contain anti-oxidants and humectants like hyaluronic acid, which draw in water from the environment, giving your skin that plump, youthful appearance you crave. These restore the skin's moisture barrier without promoting excessive oil production and shine.
For these reasons, gel moisturizers make great go-to options for warmer months and beachy summer vacations. Those with clogged pores, blemish-prone skin, and even milia benefit from the feather-weight lightness of gel-based moisturizers. Many of these moisturizers spread and dissolve easily into the skin, are non-comedogenic (meaning they won't clog your pores), and offer a silky serum-like finish once applied. This group of lotions works best for the following skin types:
Combination or oily skin
Acne-prone skin
Blemish-prone skin
Congested skin prone to build-up.