The Skinsmith’s Complete Guide To Moisturisers
The Skinsmith | 1st April 2022
Moisturisers: What are They and Why Do We Use Them?
Moisturisers – moisturise! But what do we mean by that exactly?
Google’s dictionary describes a moisturiser as: a cosmetic preparation used to prevent dryness in the skin, and moisturise as: make (something, especially the skin) less dry.
A healthy skin will produce natural oils or lipids that will keep your skin moisturised naturally, however this process can be easily compromised by many factors including; the weather, our environment, diet, age, external stressors, sleep, exercise, skin type and so on.
This means we need to give the skin a little help by using a moisturiser to help reduce dryness in the skin and reveal a softer, smoother textured complexion. Some of us lack the natural lipids our skin needs and find our skin feels dry and more susceptible to irritation, sensitivity and can even have a rough or flaky texture.
A moisturiser should be in everyone’s skincare routine no matter what your skin type, to protect the skins barrier function and keep skin feeling and looking heathy.
Types of Moisturisers:
There are generally three main categories or types of moisturisers:
- Humectants – have the ability to retain and/or preserve water. Humectants such as Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to 1000 times their own weight in water. Humectant types of moisturisers are great for locking moisture into the epidermis and keeping it there.
- Emollients – are usually oil-based and replace the lack of natural oils in your skin. They often contain high levels of Essential Fatty Acids and will soften and soothe the skin.
- Occlusives – usually in a thicker oil, balm or wax type of product, occlusive types of moisturisers are designed to act like a barrier on the skin, forming a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss. You will often find this type of moisturiser in products for very dry skin such as on the heels or elbows or in products for extreme dry skin conditions such as: eczema or dermatitis.
More often than not moisturisers for the face will be a blend of humectant and emollient types of mositurisers.
The Benefits Moisturisers Provide
There are a few key benefits to using a moisturiser every day, even twice a day for some of us so let’s take a look at those key benefits:
Prevents Dry Skin
We have already mentioned that you need a moisturiser to prevent your skin from becoming dry. Not only does a moisturiser seal in vital lipids but they add lipids to boost skin moisture levels.
Keeps Your Skin Looking and Feeling Younger and Fresher
A moisturised skin will look plumper, show fewer lines and wrinkles, may appear firmer and more contoured and have a more vibrant radiance instead of a dull appearance. Your skin starts to become mature in your late 20’s so the younger you start using a moisturiser the longer you will reap the benefits!
Take a closer look at the Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream for Face & Neck by clicking here.
Healthier Skin
Our skin starts to slow down as it becomes mature (remember this can start in your late 20s!), cell renewal, collagen and elastin production and the production of water and lipids all slow down and can result in a duller, lacklustre appearance to your skin. To help keep your skin “working” at it’s optimal best use moisturisers that stimulate circulation, cell renewal, collagen and elastin production and replace lost moisture. This will keep your skin healthier and better protected.
Keep Blemishes at Bay
A skin that is healthy and moisturised will appear more youthful and radiant, blemishes such as fine lines & uneven skin tones blur into the background. The improved cell renewal benefit from using a moisturiser daily also reduces the build-up of dead skin which can trap impurities, make up and dirt, this can lead to breakouts! You can treat and prevent breakouts, uneven skin tone, fine lines and other blemishes by choosing the best organic moisturiser for your skin. These types of moisturisers infuse your skin with nutrients and active ingredients to correct and prevent those pesky blemishes.
Improve Your Natural Protective Barrier
The skins barrier function is a protective layer that consists of the outermost layer of skin and vital lipids. It helps to lock in moisture and prevent trans-epidermal water loss, whilst keeping impurities, bacteria and external stressors out! A compromised skin barrier function, can lead to dryness, flakiness, blemishes and breakouts, as well as more intense conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Moisturisers play an important role in maintaining a healthy skin barrier function which in turn leads to better protection for your skin.
The drier your skin the more sensitive it can feel. Think about your hands for a minute, when you wash your hands more often as we did during the pandemic our hands became drier. This is because the constant use of hand wash and rinsing had the effect of removing oils as well as bacteria! If you didn’t moisturise your hands then they would start to feel drier, possibly become itchy and red and more sensitive. It is the same when your face is drier, the lack of natural oils affects your skin barrier function and leads to more sensitivity and inflammation. To prevent this simply use a moisturiser for your skin type.
What Moisturiser Works Best for Your Skin Type?
Choosing the best organic moisturiser will depend on your skin type, use our simple guide below to help you choose your perfect moisturiser:
- Dry Skin – because dry skin lacks those natural oils or lipids you need to look for a moisturiser to replace them. These types of moisturisers tend to be rich and creamy with a luxurious feel and contain ingredients such as; Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil. All rich in oils and nutrients to feed the skin and replace those needed oils.
- Normal Skin – is usually quite healthy and is neither too dry nor too oily. Look for moisturisers that have a medium weight texture and contain antioxidant rich ingredients like Stone Crop, Rosehips, superfood Berries and Hyaluronic Acid to maintain a healthy skin barrier function and heathy, radiant looking complexion.
- Sensitive Skin – needs a little TLC with calming, soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients such as; Calendula Oil, Chamomile, Arnica and Aloe. The best moisturiser for sensitive skin will usually be quite creamy in texture as a sensitive skin can often feel a little dry too.
- Combination Skin – is exactly what it says…a combination of different skin types. You may have a normal/oily combination skin, a normal/dry, normal/dehydrated and even normal/sensitive skin type. You would want to choose a moisturiser that would target and treat the concern, if you have a normal to oily skin type then choose a moisturiser more for oily skin.
- Oily Skin – produces excess oils, so you need a moisturiser cream for oily skin. These types of moisturisers will balance the oil production, usually have a light-weight texture and can also help treat breakouts. Ingredients to look out for can include Tea Tree Oil, Probiotics, Red Clover Flower Extract and Lemon.
- Acne – often the lightest weight in texture you find these types of moisturisers are a hydrator or gel textured moisturiser. Ingredients that help to treat and heal acne breakouts and scarring include Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Willow Bark Extract and Citrus ingredients.
- Pigmentation/Uneven Skin Tone – you want to look for a moisturiser which will contain ingredients to lighten hyperpigmentation and brighten the skin. Natural Hydroquinone Alternative from Eminence is an award-winning ingredient that lightens uneven skin tone without any side effects. Stone Crop, Licorice Root and Punarnava are all brightening ingredients that also work to diminish hyperpigmentation.
It is also important to consider a moisturiser that may contain mineral SPF to help protect you from the damaging effects of UV. As most of the visible signs of ageing come from the sun this can be a key factor to help protect your skin. Mineral SPF is healthier for your skin than a chemical SPF so look for ingredients such as Zinc Oxide. If you are looking for the best anti-ageing moisturiser with SPF then try Eminences Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturiser with SPF 40, it is good for all skin types and has blue light protection too!
Why Wait? Find The Right Moisturiser for Your Skin Type by Checking Out Our Product Range Here
Find the right cleanser for your skincare routine by checking out our extensive range of cleansers by clicking here.
If you would like to find out more about our range of cleansers, get in touch and speak to a member of our experienced and friendly Skinsmith team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing our team at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can contact a member of our team by using our quick and easy contact form below. We look forward to hearing from you.