Our skin needs regular care and attention to stay healthy, blemish-free, and young. Moisturizing the skin regularly is important to maintain healthy skin. It helps in increasing the water content of the skin and also safeguard the skin and motivate an orderly shedding (desquamation) course that makes your skin look smooth.

As there are numerous moisturizers available on the market, it may look confusing to choose the right one. Most moisturizers claim that they have the best properties than the other ones. If you are stuck in the moisturizer selection aisle, here is the guide you should read before buying a moisturizer.

Ingredients in a moisturizer

The majority of moisturizers contain the following ingredients and each is included for a unique function. The ingredients are as follows:

·        Occlusives with lanolin, cetyl alcohol, and petrolatum serve as a defensive shield, stopping from losing moisture from the skin.

·        Emollients like octyldodecanol, cocoa butter, and shea butter aids in sealing moisture and filling cracks in the skin.

·        Humectants transfer water to the top portion of the skin that is the epidermis from deep layers of the skin and the air. Some of the common humectants utilized are propylene glycol, hydraulic acid, and glycerin.

While purchasing a moisturizer, it is important to look for the following moisturizing ingredients.

Glycerin: It is one of the common ingredients in moisturizers. As it is a humectant, it aids in keeping the skin hydrated. If the skin is affected with dryness, you can notice it getting damaged due to irritants and bacteria.

Hydraulic acid: It is another important humectant ingredient that is present in most moisturizers. It is natural to lose hydraulic acid as you age. Due to this, the skin may look dry and rough. Hydraulic acid helps in restoring the natural ability by making your skin appear soft and hold moisture though you age.

Shea butter: It is extracted from the origins of shea trees. Shea butter is a natural ingredient that aids in locking moisture content within and smoothing out your skin. It helps in hiding imperfections and hides damaged skin barriers, thus making the skin look vibrant and young. Moisturizers with shea butter should not be applied on the face as it has chances to clog pores.  

How moisturizers work on skin?

The skin- largest organ consists of three different layers: the hypodermis layer (fatty or lower layer), dermis (middle layer), or the epidermis (outer layer). When moisturizer is applied to the skin, it supplies moisture to the dermis that is the middle layer. After that layer, water moves outward and upward through the epidermis before evaporating. The evaporation makes the skin flake and crack. It happens continuously although the skin is not dry. Remember, when the air is dry, it will grab more moisture from the skin.

The moisturizers aid in two ways: they re-establish moisture to the outer part of the skin that is lost or trap moisture to prevent it from escaping.

No matter if you have dry, oily, or combination skin, it is important to use the right face moisturizer. Most dermatologists recommend choosing a moisturizer with SPF 30. If you are using it for your face, ensure it is fragrant-free and oil-free.

If you have dry skin, gel or cream-based moisturizer can be used under makeup. It gives a perfectly smooth finish and keeps your skin hydrated for long hours. Individuals with oily skin can utilize moisturizing creams that are oil-free and lightweight.

SPF creams/lotions can be applied over the moisturizer. Also, you can use your regular foundation or makeup once the moisturizer gets dried up on the skin.

How to select a moisturizer?

Read labels:

The skin product’s label may look unintelligible however you can gain a lot of information when you read it closely. We recommend choosing moisturizers with the label ‘non-comedogenic and ‘allergy tested’. These labels do not guarantee that the product is safe, but they can be considered to a certain extent.

Check fragrance:

The scent of the moisturizer is important as you will be applying it to your face and body. Before purchasing, ask for a sample and smell various kinds of moisturizer. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, you need to avoid scented moisturizers.

Consider skin type:

Determine your skin type. It can be either normal, oil, or combination type. If you are having sensitive or acne-prone skin, you can check with your dermatologist. Nowadays, most moisturizers contain labels with information like whom it is formulated for. Read the label instructions and check online reviews before purchasing a product.

Evaluate the texture:

The moisturizer’s texture should be as per your skin type. Individuals with dry skin would require a creamier, heavier formula as it can lock in moisture. A non-greasy and light moisturizer is ideal for individuals with normal skin. It is not only important to see the product’s texture, you should also evaluate how you feel after applying.

 Best moisturizers for dry skin

Look for moisturizers with ingredients such as dimethicone and hydraulic acid as they help in keeping your skin hydrated. It should also be a heavy or thick ointment. Some of the other ingredients that are best for dry skin are urea, proteins, propylene glycol, and glycerin. These ingredients help in attracting water to your membrane. Ingredients like petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and lanolin lock in moisture. If you are having skin conditions like rash, itching, red skin, irritation, you must use a prescription moisturizer.

 Best moisturizers for acne-prone skin

If you are having acne-prone or oily skin, you must choose a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer as it would not clog pores. When you choose lotions, water would be the main ingredient and serves well for oily or acne-prone skin.

 Most effective moisturizers to get glowing skin

The moisturizer enhances elastin and boosts collagen production, thus making the skin radiant and youthful. If you want to get glowing skin, you should choose a moisturizer with natural ingredients like wheat germ oil, vitamin C, macadamia oil, shea butter, coffee, and ginseng extracts, and more. These ingredients keep the skin healthy, retain moisture, and boost radiance.

Best moisturizers that prevent skin from aging faster

Moisturizer helps in hydrating and nourishing the skin. It is important as your skin gets drier and gets older, being more susceptible to wrinkles. Recent research has proved that using face moisturizer that comprises Vitamin C and Hydraulic Acid is effective at stopping wrinkles from getting or forming deeper.

 What happens when you don’t use moisturizer?

If you are slashing the moisturizing step, you would be noticing certain unpleasant side effects in your skin. Some of the common results you notice are as follows:

1. Itchy and tight skin
2. The makeup will appear cakey
3. More vulnerable skin
4. Sun damage
5. Formation of new wrinkles
6. Fine lines and wrinkles
7. Dry and dull skin
8. Breakouts may get worse

How often should I wear a moisturizer?

If you have selected the right moisturizer, you can start using it every day. It helps a long way in camouflaging wrinkles and preventing dry skin. Moisturizer does not stop or prevent wrinkles. Wrinkles happen due to collagen loss. Whichever brand you are selecting, ensure to apply it to damp skin. Imagine your skin as a sponge. If you apply moisturizer on a damp sponge, it would not escape out anywhere and it absorbs entirely. It works the same for your skin. Happy moisturizing.