You may think your facial cleansing routine is accomplishing its mission: to keep your skin healthy and good-looking. You may be spending lots of money on products, and think that using them daily is enough.
You may be wrong! It’s not enough to buy high-end products if you are not using them properly. You may actually be doing more harm than good if you do not follow some basic guidelines on the right way to keep your skin hydrated and nourished.
If you want to get real value from the products you purchase and gain the optimum results on your skin care regimen, read these ten tips on how to apply moisturizer. Once you follow the proper system, you will start seeing the positive effects quite quickly!
1. Choose Carefully
It’s important to choose the right moisturizing items for your individual skin type. People with oily skin have different needs from those with severe age lines or wrinkles.
You should also consider your lifestyle. If you are out in the sun often due to your job or because you live in a tropical climate, your skin will have specific needs. If you enjoy skiing and frequently expose your skin to the elements of wind and cold, you may have different requirements.
If you suffer from medical issues affecting the skin like eczema or psoriasis, you may wish to consult a dermatologist on the correct products for your epidermis.
2. Do the Patch Test
Every product on the market offers the advice to test before use. The instructions will always recommend trying a drop of the product on your wrist before applying to your face.
Although you may think this is jargon required by lawyers, it’s always better to be safe than sorry with new items that you put on your face. Too many consumers have ignored this advice and ended up with facial redness, swelling or other reactions.
Make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients in the products you use. If you have highly sensitive skin, you may wish to focus on brands which contain more natural ingredients and less harsh chemicals.
3. Wash First
Your skin needs to be clean before you apply moisturizer. If your pores are clogged with dirt or makeup, they will prevent the moisturizer from getting in there and doing its job.
Wash your face with warm water and a gentle cloth and remove the detritus of the day. You should wash in the morning before applying your products and then again at night. It’s also recommended that you wash after working out, too, so sweat does not further clog the pores.
4. Exfoliate Before Moisturizing
Exfoliation is an important process for people of all ages. Using a scrub or facial wash with some texture will slough off the dead skin cells, allowing new ones to grow and moisturizer to reach the deeper layers of skin.
This process is helpful for younger people struggling with outbreaks, and it also helps older skin stay fresh and young-looking.
Whether you exfoliate with a product, a sponge, or a medical method like microdermabrasion, it’s an important phase of skin care which will enable your moisturizers to perform their best.
5. Acne-Plagued Skin Still Needs Moisture
If you have oily skin or pimples, you may not wish to add any more moisture to your face! You may wish it would all dry up.
Actually, if you have acne, you also need to pay attention to moisturizers. Because the topical treatments for acne-prone skin can dry the epidermis, you need to keep your skin in balance without exacerbating the condition.
Choose a moisturizer intended for oily skin. Many of these are water-based rather than oil-based.
6. Try a Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate molecule that’s naturally found in the skin which keeps it hydrated. It has the ability to bind with and retain water molecules in the epidermis.
Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. However, it only holds onto the moisture that is needed.
Adding a serum containing hyaluronic acid to your skin care routine is a great way to keep the skin hydrated. It can be used in addition to moisturizer or as a replacement, because of its extra-hydrating qualities.
7. Moisturizer and SPF
No matter where you live or what season it is, you always need to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. You can easily do this by using a moisturizer which contains SPF (sun protection factor).
Even if it is winter, the sun’s UVB rays can still burn your skin, causing discoloration, dryness and even cancer. Choose a product which has the SPF appropriate for your particular skin type, with higher numbers for more protection.
8. Moisturizers and Oils are Not The Same
One of the hot trends in skin care right now are oils, which may often contain all natural ingredients and thus appeal to people with sensitivities to chemicals.
Some oils are really good even for acne-prone skin, like tea tree oil or grapeseed oil. Others swear by the age-defying properties of olive oil, which has been used by beauties in Italy for centuries!
Remember that oils treat the surface of the epidermis, so you should use them in addition to moisturizers, not instead of them.
9. Moisturize Frequently
If you choose the right product for your skin, you should be able to moisturize as often as you like. Dab some on before you apply makeup. Use some under your eyes after lunch.
You may need a little refresher moisturizer before going out on the town and again before bed.
10. Use Special Night Creams
Your skin behaves differently during the day than it does during the night when you are asleep. Take the opportunity to get maximum hydration into your skin while the body is resting by using a specially developed face cream made just for night time use.
Try a specially formulated product like Vanilla Bean Night Cream by Eva Naturals to boost collagen, smooth lines, lighten skin, and fade discolorations.
Pay Attention: How to Apply Moisturizer Is as Important as What You Use
Substance and method are both important when it comes to how to apply moisturizer.
In addition to making sure that a product’s ingredients are suitable to your age, skin type and lifestyle, make sure you apply that product at appropriate times and in conjunction with other healthful activities.
For more advice on how to moisturize your skin in natural and effective ways, check out our blog.