How To Pick The Best Moisturizer For Different Skin Types?

The myth that oily skin types can skip moisturizer has to come to an end. Every skin needs moisturizer to maintain the skin barrier health. Skin barrier ensures protection from external threats like heat, dust, allergens, infectious agent, toxins, and overall prevents any sort of systemic toxicity. Also, to mention a hydrating moisturizer's significance in skincare routine as an anti-aging product. Now, it’s important to acknowledge that we all have unique skin type and so our approach towards choosing the products for it should be unique too. It makes sense for an acne prone individual to invest in a Non-Comedogenic Moisturizer, and an oily skin type to pick a water or gel based one, and a dry skin type to rather go for heavy cream or ointment based moisturizer.

Why do we need moisturizers?

• Hydrating
• Brightening
• Skin Barrier Strengthening
• Ant-Aging
• Protecting

Know Your Moisturizer’s Basic Ingredients:

The basic constituents of moisturizer can be categorized as 3 major ingredient types:

Occlusives form a thick layer of oil/lipid to prevent transepidermal water loss. E.g: Lanolin or Petrolatum.

Humectants fetch water from the environment and deep dermal layers to and deposit them on the epidermis to hydrate skin. E.g: Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin.

Emollients can have the properties of both occlusives or humectants, they are known especially for their barrier-strengthening properties and function by filling in spaces between the skin cells thereby improving texture and making skin plumper and smooth. Ceramides, dimethicone, and esters are a few examples of it. E.g: Ceramides, Dimethicone.

Moisturizer For Oily/Acne-Prone Skin:

Oily/Acne-Prone skin type should choose a water based or gel moisturizer that are non-greasy and are usually humectant based. The humectant based oil-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizer suits best for oily/acne-prone skin.

Additional Ingredients To look For In Moisturizers: Oily/Acne-Prone Skin

• AHA/BHA: Provides mild exfoliation while moisturizing and hydrating skin thus prevents instances of excessive sebum production which in turn minimizes and manages breakouts.

• Niacinamide: Renowned for controlling excess sebum production and strengthening skin barrier.

• Retinoids: Apart from its anti-aging effects, retinoids also are efficient in controlling sebum production and thus controlling acne and reducing acne marks.

• Lactic Acid: Is the most fast acting and mild exfoliating AHA, moisturizers containing lactic acid help in oil and acne control along with providing even and brightened skintone.

Moisturizer For Dry Skin:

Dry skin type need that extra surge of moisture, using a thick consistency moisturizer or a lotion for dry skin helps repair and retaining the skin barrier’s integrity tha further helps in getting rid of dulness and promotes healthier skin micro flora.

Additional Ingredients To look For In Moisturizers: Dry Skin

• Ceramides: Are emollients and to simply put they are the gluing agent that holds our skin cells together, dry skin types usually need topical application of these lipids since their skin barrier is prone to damage and dehydration.

• Hyaluronic Acid: Are humectants and help retain the natural hydration of the skin, it helps get rid of dehydration, and dryness, making skin glowing and plumper. Hyaluronic Acid make up for a good non-comedogenic moisturizer and is effective for people with acne prone dry skin too.

• Shea Butter: Extracted from the nuts of the Shea tree, shea butter is renowned for its intense moisturizing properties, it helps soothing inflamed, irritated skin and rejuvenates dull, dehydrated skin, it also helps get rid of certain allergies as it is a rich source of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Shea butter also makes an efficient lotion for dry skin and works effectively as a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin:

Both oily and dry skin types can have sensitive skin, it becomes important for people with sensitive skin to choose their moisturizer diligently as they are more prone to skin irritation and allergies.

Labels that sensitive skin type should look out for while choosing their moisturizer or any skincare product for that matter.

• Hypoallergenic
• Frangrance Free
• Unscented
• Paraben Free
• Sulfates Free
• Dermatologist recommended

Moisturizer For Normal/Combination Skin:

Normal/Combination skin types lie on the luckier side when it comes to picking a moisturizer as they can choose any moisturizer that works best for them and do not have to be extra cautious while at it. Combination skin type folks may have to include an oil-controlling serum for their T-zone to control the sebum production, otherwise they also enjoy the liberty of carefree moisturizer experience.

Hopefully, this article gave you an insight about choosing the moisturizer that may work the best for you, its not that complicated once you find the non-comedogenic moisturizer that works best for you or a Lotion For Dry Skin that helps in maintaining your skin’s health. Moisturizer is an essential part of everyone’s daily skincare routine irrespective of age, gender, and skintype. Its important to be consistent with it to maintain and promote an overall skin barrier health apart from the aesthetic purposes it serves like brightening and anti-aging.

He is the founder of Klaycart. He has been working in the field of health and wellness for the past 15 years.