[dropcap]K[/dropcap]eeping your skin well moisturized is a beauty and health imperative, no matter the season. In fact, it takes a conscious effort on our part to make sure we learn all we can about the importance of skin care, otherwise we could easily end up with premature skin that resembles more snakeskin than youthful skin.
It is not only that snakeskin looks visually unappealing (almost like cracked leather) on the face, but can also contribute to early signs of aging, and you don’t want that. Snakeskin should be left for your handbag, not your face!
Regardless of your skin type, using a high-quality moisturizer on a regular basis should become a part of your daily routine as it can be the key to improving the way your skin looks and feels.
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Moisturizing products are made to hold water in the skin. Most usually they contain humectants and emollients as ingredients. Humectants like glycerin, urea, and alpha hydroxy acids work by absorbing water from the air around you. Emollients, on the other hand, are designed to fill in spaces between skin cells to smooth the appearance of rough skin. Emollients are mineral oil or petrolatum, lanolin.
To have wonderful skin, look for these ingredients in more than just creams and lotions you use – deodorants, body washes and cleansing bars can contain ingredients that add moisture to your skin.
No matter the skin type, whether it is dry, oily or sensitive, try not to opt out of the moisturizing step in your skin care routine. Even though it may seem like your skin type doesn’t really need any hydration, in time, lack of care can add a toll to the skin. With the seasons are getting more unpredictable each year, we are facing more and more emerging skin issues due to the changing environments–even those of us who have never had skin and are now facing emerging irritation, flaking and redness. And while you can cover most of the redness with cosmetics, you don’t really want to wear a full face of makeup every time you step outside your door simply to hide the underlying skin issues.
Why not treat the skin first?
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The mistake most of us make is to use a moisturizer which does not fit our skin type. In fact, some doctors have claimed that a good portion of their patients will say they have sensitive skin when in fact they’re just not using the right product.
If you aren’t sure what your skin type is, there are easy and quick ways to determine your skin type. One of the easy methods is the tissue test, where you use take a tissue and dab it all over your clean face–concentrating on the t-zone area–to then determine which skin category you fall into. There are four types: normal, oily, dry and combination. Based on the tissue test (and close inspection), you will fall in one of these categories:
- Normal: skin feels supple and smooth, and is neither oily or flaky.
- Oily: On doing the tissue test, you would have found grease on it. Skin looks shiny, and can often have large pores.
- Dry: skin feels taut, dehydrated and can show flakes of dead skin.
- Combination: This type is most common. People under this category can show a signs of the skin types above such as an oily T-zone, and normal to dry elsewhere.
People with dry skin are prone to having slightly allergic skin. If this is the case, avoiding conventional moisturizers is advised in order to stop the fragile skin surface from getting damaged even further by the chemicals.
If your skin is acne-prone or oily skin, try to avoid heavy oil-based moisturizing creams. They can be an unwise choice for your skin type. Look for lotions instead of creams, making sure it says oil-free on the bottle.
Normal skin is the easiest to maintain. Put a very thin layer of ointment on at night. It will help protect you against the forces of nature.
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It is difficult to resists some of the new skincare products in the market, with their eye catching advertisement and packaging. Of course this comes with a risk. Sometimes caving into temptation and buy the product, then proceeding to rub it all over our bodies can have dire consequences on the skin such as unwanted breakouts and rashes. Before actually purchasing the moisturizer, test it out on your forearm first. Shops like Ulta and Sephora generally have a lax policy about returning a product, so you might want to test a moisturizer and if it doesn’t work for you, return it. Dermatologists advise to give the product two weeks before you decide whether to fully commit to the product for the long run. Also, make sure to read the ingredients before you buy. Sometimes it’s best to go with the products you already know or opt for those you are sure are great for the skin, like dermalogica products. Some have even found by switching to an all-natural skincare regime, their skin is happier for it.
A great, reliable moisturizer is important in ensuring our skin is renewed, hydrated, and overall vibrant and healthy. For more questions on how to better tackle any skin concerns, we suggest talking to a dermatologist for more help.
very interesting to read. 🙂
love it!!!!
i need all the help i can with my skin so will keep these tips in mind -craftyone