5 Tips for the Perfect Moisturizer

MOISTURIZERS… Pretty packaging, beautiful scents, endless possibilities. It all sounds super exciting until you realize you now have to go through all of that and find one that will work for you -- and that’s the real challenge. 

Finding your perfect body moisturizer is not that hard. Body skin is far less delicate. All you need is to find what scent and texture you prefer (*cough cough* Flora’s Angels). In fact, body moisturizer is a perfect opportunity to go all-natural – not only does it have an easier task, but you’ll be applying it to a much larger area of your skin, so why not skip the chemicals?

However, a facial moisturizer can make or break your whole skincare routine. Moisturizers and cleansers are the only steps that every skin type needs, and using the wrong product can set back your skin’s appearance by a lot!

If you are on your quest for your perfect moisturizer, these 5 tips can help you to narrow down your search and focus on products that have the highest chances to be your perfect match.

LOOK FOR THE ‘NON-COMEDOGENIC’ LABEL

No one needs a face cream that has the potential to block your pores and cause dull complexion and acne. This is even more important if your skin is already oily, prone to acne and blackheads, or with visible pores.

To avoid worsening the condition, it would be best to stick to non-comedogenic products.

YOU NEED HYDRATING HUMECTANTS

Humectants are ingredients that have the ability to draw water from the surrounding air into your skin and from the deep layers of your skin to the surface. The most popular humectants these days are hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, so make sure your face cream contains one or all of them. Aloe vera gel and honey are also more than desirable.

Well-hydrated skin looks plump, supple, smooth, youthful and glowing but to get all the moisture your skin needs, you need humectants.

YOUR CREAM ALSO NEEDS TO MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN

Hydrating and moisturizing your skin are not the same thing. Hydrating, as we said, means supplying your skin with water. Moisturizing ingredients, on the other hand, help your skin to retain that moisture.

Moisturizing ingredients are the ones meant to sit on top of your skin, reinforce your skin’s lipid barrier, make the skin soft and smooth, protect it and prevent drying out. Some of the best moisturizing ingredients you can find are quality plant butter and oils.

Just keep in mind that most contemporary face moisturizers are both hydrating and moisturizing, so you just need to find the right balance between the two. Dry, sensitive and mature skin usually prefer more moisturizing ingredients, while oily and dehydrated skin can get better results from a product mostly based on humectants.

YOUR SKIN LOVES ACTIVES!

Active ingredients are what make your moisturizers truly special, and the best ingredients for you depend on your skin’s needs and what you want to achieve.

Vitamin C, for example, is a great antioxidant and skin brightening agent, plus it promotes collagen production. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant with skin-soothing and healing properties. Retinol speeds up the skin cell turnover rate and helps resurface the skin, which can be beneficial for both acne-prone or mature skin.

Think about your skincare goals, then research actives that help you achieve your goals! 

TAKE YOUR OTHER PREFERENCES INTO CONSIDERATION

Sure, the number one task of your moisturizer is to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. However, there are other things that can help you decide whether a particular product is your right match. Just ask yourself – what else do you expect from your moisturizer?

For example – how much are you willing to spend on it? Would you rather have separate day and night creams, or do you want one product to cover it all? Do you wear makeup during the day or you’d rather have just a tinted moisturizer? Is it important to you if a product is vegan, cruelty free or all-natural?

Make a list of everything that could impact your decision and start eliminating products that don’t fit. Soon, you’ll have a much more reasonable number of options, and you can start testing them until you find the one you are truly happy with. 

We know… this process to find the best moisturizer isn’t the easiest or the quickest thing to do. However, your face will thank you in the form of clear, bright, supple skin if you take the time to find the perfect moisturizer.