Minimally, a moisturizer should be applied in the morning and in the evening, similar to brushing your teeth. The daytime moisturizer should contain a sunscreen and/or a well-conceived blend of antioxidants that address reactive oxygen species created by sunlight and environmental exposure. It should also contain materials that help with the creation of stored energy that will be used to repair the skin at night. The night moisturizer should be intended to soothe, pacify, and repair the skin from the day's traumas. Typically, it is a more intense level of moisturization that also contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other skin nutrients to help with the repair process.
Skin Moisturizing
Moisturizers can treat try skin and conditions like eczema, offer some sun protection and improve the appearance of skin all over your body. A basic moisturizer helps hold water in the skin's outer layers. Emollients fill in tiny crevices between surfaces to keep skin smooth, while humectants draw water to the outermost layer of your skin for a dewy glow. Depending on your skin type, you may not need to moisturize your face or other areas as often as others. Your moisturizing routine could change based on the time of year and your environment. Find out more about moisturizers and how to apply them with expert advice from Sharecare.
Recently Answered
-
3 AnswersA
-
1 AnswerA
Dr. Ellen S. Marmur, MD , Dermatology, answeredYes, but only until it's rinsed off. Truthfully, masks are like ChapStick for your face - an occlusive film over the surface that provides a nice, temporary fix. For someone with sensitive or rosacea skin, a mask packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients (such as aloe vera, allantoin, and chamomile) and humectants will feel wonderful and soothe the skin, but only while it's on the face. Again, it's always important to read the label, especially if your skin is feeling sensitive. Fruit acids or menthol, which are commonly found in masks, could cause irritation.
Simple Skin Beauty: Every Woman's Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy, Gorgeous Skin -
1 AnswerA
HealthyWomen answeredMoisturizers for dry skin come in three preparations: lotions, creams and ointments.
Lotions are least effective at replacing and retaining lost moisture in very dry skin. But they disappear after application very quickly, making them the most convenient to use and possibly helpful for normal and oily skin.
Creams are heavier than lotions and are therefore more effective at sealing in moisture for normal to dry skin.
Ointments, such as Vaseline, are thick and are best for preventing moisture from escaping from the skin, but you may find that they are inconvenient to use regularly.
Healthcare professionals advise women with very dry skin against using soap and alcohol-based astringents (toners), which typically dry out the skin. -
1 AnswerA
Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredPeople with oily skin need a moisturizer that attracts water to the skin. Look for noncomedogenic products with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin or lactic acid.
-
1 AnswerA
Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredIt is very important to protect your skin from the sun on a daily basis. Moisturizers that contain SPF provide a single-step application process (rather than applying a moisturizer and a sunscreen separately) that make it easy to protect yourself each day.
Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing to safeguard your skin from the sun's harmful rays. -
1 AnswerA
Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredA separate product for the skin around your eyes contains more potent ingredients that moisturize the area. Learn more from our contributors, reducing signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. However, the results you see from such a product will be subtle.
-
1 AnswerA
Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredMany people believe that thicker moisturizers are better, which is not always the case. The types of ingredients used in a moisturizer will determine how well it works, so judging a product by its "thickness" or "thinness" isn't necessarily the best way to determine its efficacy.
-
1 AnswerA
Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredLotions are in many ways similar to creams but they have more water. This means the vehicle is thinner, and that makes lotions potentially drying for people with very dry skin. I usually recommend that you use a cream during the winter, especially at night when there is increased water loss from the skin, and lotions or lighter formulations of creams during the warmer, more humid summer months. -
3 AnswersA
See All 3 Answers
Dry skin is enhanced by damage to the skin's natural lipid barrier, which is responsible for keeping water in the skin. There are three primary approaches for treating dry skin. First is the restoration of the barrier lipids by the application of polyunsaturated fatty acids, ceramides, and phospholipids. Second is the infusion of water into the skin through the use of materials called humectants that bind water. When applied, the bound water absorbs into the outer layer of the skin, making it softer and more supple. Third is the application of an occlusive agent that blocks the release of water from the skin to allow it to restore its optimum level. Products created for very dry skin will include materials that perform the above functions. However, they will often use materials that have stronger properties than those found in moisturizers used for oily or normal skin. One should look for products that include the following:
- Barrier Restoration: Materials such as ceramides, cholesterol, lecithin, and unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides (olive oil, flaxseed oil, argan oil, etc.) will help repair the barrier and relieve the symptoms of dry skin rapidly. One should also look for ingredients such as niacinamide and allantoin which help in the long-term improvement in the integrity of the lipid barrier.
- Humectants: These materials typically bind large amounts of water to infuse the skin with hydration. Look for materials such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and other biopolysaccharides, pentylene glycol, trehalose, xylitol, ectoin, sodium lactate and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.
- Occlusive Agents: Materials such as dimethicone, lanolin, cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and shea butter create a protective film on the skin's surface to block the transmission of water from the skin to the surrounding environment, thereby allowing water to build up in the skin.
-
2 AnswersA
Dr. Howard L. Brooks, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersIf you have oily skin, you should absolutely use a moisturizer -- it's a myth that oily skin doesn't need hydration. In this video, dermatologist Howard Brooks, MD, explains the best cleansing routine and products to use if you have oily skin.