Better Skin in 5: Day 4 Moisturize

How do we know if we even need one? Can you over-moisturize? When did it get so complicated? 

First, let's chat about dry skin vs. dehydrated skin.

DRY SKIN lacks oil. Some of the signs could be, itchy, roughness, redness, irritation, and your skin might feel tight. 

DEHYDRATED SKIN lacks water. It probably feels tight no matter how much you try and moisturize, it can be congested, and look oily, and fine lines and wrinkles are usually more pronounced. 

Now, let's chat about what's in a moisturizer, and how it is supposed to function. 

Here is what you will typically see on a moisturizer ingredient label-

WATER: It can be frustrating to realize that you are sometimes paying a lot for just plain old water. Yup, that's right, most formulations have up to 85% water in them. Due to the water content, it then has to be combined with oil so the water doesn't evaporate. And, remember if a moisturizer has water in it, it must have a preservative in it to prevent bacterial contamination. 

OILS: The types of oil used in a moisturizer should support the skin, but unfortunately a lot of moisturizers will contain ones that are unstable and prone to oxidization (rancidity). Be on the lookout for ones that contain polyunsaturated fats like safflower, almond, and soybean oil. And the worst offender, in my opinion, is mineral oil, which just sits on top of your skin, suffocating it. 

GLYCERIN: Glycerin is a humectant and it helps pull moisture into the skin. Ain't nothing wrong with that unless your environment is lacking in humidity, in which case you must make sure your moisturizer has an occlusive ingredient in it as well. 

SILICONES: They provide a great silky feel, but they just sit on top of your skin and do nothing for moisture. They will get in the way of your skin's natural shedding process. YOU DON'T NEED THEM.

FRAGRANCE: We love things that smell good, but pay attention to the smell. That fragrance is probably chemically made and is the number one culprit behind adverse reactions. 

Honestly, what you are putting on your face more times than not, is clever marketing and advertising. Your face may smell like peaches and cream, but it's not doing a damn thing for your skin. And, to make matters worse, you could be moisturizing too much. It can make the skin lazy and weaken its amazing barrier, which can lead to dullness and sensitive skin. 

So, if you have DRY skin what do you use?

• Look for moisturizers with jojoba oil, avocado, apricot, and rosehip oils. 

• Caring for dry skin means focusing on products that help counteract the natural lack of oil on the skin’s surface. This is why oil-based skincare is a great choice for dry skin types. 

• The right blends of plant oils can make a big difference for a dry, flaky complexion as they supplement the sebum your skin isn’t producing. 
   

DEHYDRATED  is usually a temporary skin condition that can happen to all skin types. Even oily ones!

•  Serums typically deliver higher concentrations of humectants, the water-loving ingredients that pull moisture into the skin.

• Using something like hyaluronic acid, or a botanical hyaluronic, like Cassia Angustifolia Polysaccharide can be helpful to combat dehydration.

• To make the most of your serum, you should layer them underneath either a facial oil or a moisturizer to help lock in the hydration for best results. 

If your skin is super dry like mine, due to perimenopause, and my environment I would suggest layering a serum, a moisturizer, and oil to help seal it all in. 

It might take a while for your skin to get adjusted to its new routine, so expect to see a difference within 6 weeks. 

And if you are still super confused, do not fret! I offer a custom skincare consult where we look at what products you are using, how you are using them, what's missing, and what goals you have. You can book your appointment here.