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How to Choose the Right Moisturizer
Part 1: Moisturizer Basics
Moisturizers keep your skin hydrated and supple. They lock in your skin’s natural moisture, as well as help attract moisture to the surface of your skin to prevent it from drying out. They also improve your skin barrier function. However, moisturizers are not necessary for everyone.
Like all skin care products, finding the perfect moisturizer is a trial-and-error process and what works for one person will not necessarily work for another.
When you’re selecting a moisturizer, take into consideration the following things:
1) Smell
2) Feel
3) Break outs/Irritation
4) Price
Most moisturizers include fragrance to make the product smell a bit more appealing. I tend to use moisturizers with no fragrance though because I like to use things with minimal ingredients. Those with sensitive skin might want to avoid it too. If you’re fine with fragrance, make sure you at least like the way a moisturizer smells because you will be wearing it on your face every day. But, if you have a moisturizer you really like that just reeks, don’t worry because you will quickly get used to the scent and probably won’t notice it anymore after a few days.
The second thing to consider when choosing a good moisturizer is the feel of the moisturizer itself. You want to pick one that hydrates but won’t feel heavy and greasy. The ideal moisturizer is smooth and easy to apply and sinks into your skin instead of just sitting on the surface. Fluid moisturizers or gels and serums tend to sink right in. However, they usually don’t provide enough moisture.
It’s also good to make sure your moisturizer doesn’t leave you feeling sticky, especially on humid summer days. I’ve used several moisturizers that just glide onto my skin during application, but end up feeling like a thin layer of honey afterwards. I really dislike that sticky moisturizer feeling because when I walk or make any kind of movement, my hair constantly gets glued onto my face. There is a way to reduce the stickiness from a moisturizer though.
My friend who works at a Shiseido counter told me to put moisturizer onto a cotton pad and pat or swipe onto your skin like you would a toner. I tried this method and it actually made my skin feel a whole lot less sticky, but on the downside, I felt like I was wasting a lot of product.
Anyway, onto number three. A good moisturizer should not break you out, burn upon touching your skin, or cause any other kind of irritation. With all types of skin, particularly acne-prone skin, choosing such a good moisturizer is very, very difficult. You can read all the reviews you want about the product and look up all its ingredients, but you will never know how your skin will react until you try it out yourself. Nevertheless, reading product reviews and analyzing ingredient lists will narrow down the chances of breakouts or irritation.
These days, almost every product is labeled non-comedogenic ("dermatologist recommended") or in other words, non-pore blocking. It makes it seem like all skin care products with this label are safe to use and will not block pores and therefore cause breakouts. So many people think that non-comedogenic moisturizers hold the key to fixing all their skin woes. However, this is faulty thinking.
The FDA doesn’t even recognize non-comedogenic products as non-acne causing. So, even though these products don’t block your pores, there isn’t much proof that not blocking pores will help reduce acne. Other ingredients in non-comedogenic products, such as waxes, could also cause irritation.
Last but not least, consider the price range of your moisturizer. There are expensive moisturizers and cheaper moisturizers. Whether you should splurge or settle for a more affordable one depends on your budget and the way the moisturizer is formulated. I generally spend a bit more money on moisturizers because I like to buy one that is at the proper pH, made with quality ingredients, and has a nice finish.
Nonetheless, choosing a moisturizer is still really hard. Read the next section for tips on how to choose the right one for your skin.
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