Why Everyone Needs to Moisturize

Knubbly tweed, snakeskin, cracked leather — if you think these words describe the condition of your skin more than the composition of a favorite handbag, then you might need to start moisturizing. 

Moisturizing products, which are made to hold water in the skin, often contain humectants and emollients as ingredients. Humectants, such as urea, glycerin and alpha hydroxy acids, work by absorbing water from the air around you. Emollients, such as lanolin, mineral oil or petrolatum, fill in spaces between skin cells to smooth the appearance of rough skin.

No matter whether your skin type is dry, oily or sensitive, you shouldn’t skip the moisturizing step in your skin care routine. Leaving it out might quickly cause redness or flaking, and in time it can allow wrinkles and other aging signs to show up on your skin earlier than they otherwise might. Also, if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition, moisturizing regularly might help ease some of the irritation.

Unfortunately, very few people take the time to apply moisturizer. They give all types of excuses, so here are counter arguments to end all unacceptable reasoning:

“I have oily skin; moisturizing will make me even more oily.”
There are many who don’t moisturize (they use mattifying/drying toners instead), yet they still suffer from a slick complexion. What they don’t know is that the more they strip their skin of oil, the more they send their oil glands into overdrive, prompting them to produce even more oil. The solution: give oily skin the balance that it needs by using a light formula with either a lotion or milk-like consistency. Look for labels that say “oil-free,” “water-based,” “for oily skin,” “non-comedogenic,” and search for ingredients like “hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and lactic acid.”

“I don’t have time.”
All it takes is a few seconds to massage a layer of moisturizer on your skin. Think of it as an extension of 10 seconds to your morning or evening shower. While your face is still damp, scoop your choice of moisturizer and slather it on your face and neck. This locks the moisture in your skin and keeps your complexion soft and smooth throughout the day. To cut down on application time, keep your jar of moisturizer next to your shower products so it becomes a part of your bath routine. The best time to moisturize? Those with extremely dry skin can do it twice a day, but once is enough for those with normal, oily, and combination skin.

“There are too many solutions to choose from!”
Yes, the choices get more complicated when there are so many options to pick from, but you can narrow down the selection by first knowing your skin type. Oily? Don’t worry, read the solution above! Normal? Consider yourself lucky. A light, water-based formula works well for you. Combination? Face creams aren’t geniuses; they can’t tell which areas are oily, which are dry; you may need to use a light formula on the oily parts, and a heavier compound on the parched surfaces. Sensitive? Choose a formula that has the least amount of ingredients to lessen the chances of irritation. Also know that even if skincare products claim to be hypoallergenic, you can still get irritated. Do a patch test on your skin (streak some on your jawline) and see how your skin reacts.

“I can’t afford expensive creams and lotions!”
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to pay for a proper moisturizer. Many drugstore brands deliver just the same amount of efficiency as any high-end cream. Read the ingredients and look for the two best factors in a cream: hyaluronic acid, which keeps individual skin cells plump with moisture, and petrolatum, which acts as a seal to keep water from escaping.

Source: health.howstuffworks.com, ph.she.yahoo.com