Skin Care

Does Everybody Want A Moisturizer? – Stunning With Brains

March 19, 2025
ibeautyful


Cleanse, tone, and moisturize. That’s the mantra. However… is it proper?

You undoubtedly want a cleanser. How else are you gonna take away make-up, pollution, and all of the crap that deposits in your pores and skin daily?

You undoubtedly DON’T want a toner. You could use one if you want, however my pores and skin has been doing amazingly nicely for the previous 10 years with out it. Simply saying…

What about step 3? Does everybody want a moisturizer, too? Everybody swears by it, however right here’s the reality: slathering on a cream simply because “you’re speculated to” is likely to be doing nothing… or worse, making your pores and skin worse. Let’s discover out:

What’s A Moisturiser And How Does It Profit Pores and skin?

First issues first: what the heck is a moisturiser?!

A moisturizer is a product designed to… moisturize pores and skin (Surprising, I do know). It does this by growing its moisture ranges and repairing its pure protecting barrier. When that’s broken, moisture evaporates out, leaving pores and skin drier than the Sahara.

However right here’s the place issues get attention-grabbing: Not all moisturizers work the identical approach. Moisturizers comprise three most important sorts of substances to maintain pores and skin hydrated:

  • Humectants: Like Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin, draw water from the air into the pores and skin to maintain it plump.
  • Emollients: Like Squalane and Fatty Acids, they soften and easy the pores and skin’s floor.
  • Occlusives: Llike Shea Butter and Petrolatum, they lock moisture in and stop water loss.

However… do you know your pores and skin has its personal in-built moisturizer? It’s referred to as sebum. Yep, that factor you hate as a result of it will possibly flip your face right into a shiny frying pan.

It solely occurs when pores and skin produces an excessive amount of of it. When the other occurs, pores and skin dries out pores and skin. It’s worthwhile to get the steadiness proper.

For most individuals, the steadiness isn’t proper – particularly as you grow old and your pores and skin drier and drier. Ageing, climate, harsh cleansers, and even over-exfoliating can harm your pores and skin and trigger moisture to evaporate out of it.

However when your pores and skin produces simply the best quantity of sebum, it naturally moisturises by itself. No have to waste cash on a moisturiser.

What does this imply for you? Do you want a moisturiser?

Associated: All the things You Ever Needed To Know About Sebum

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Does Everybody Want A Moisturizer?

The brief reply is to , it is dependent upon your pores and skin kind. The longer reply? Learn on for all of the juicy particulars and discover out in case you can skip your moisturiser or want this buddy in your skincare routine:

Dry Pores and skin

Sure! Sure! Sure! If there’s a pores and skin kind that wants moisturiser, it’s you. Right here’s why:

Dry pores and skin lacks oil (a.okay.a. sebum). Your pores and skin actually doesn’t produce sufficient of it. With out it, your protecting barrier has holes left, proper, and centre. Moisture evaporates by means of these cracks, leaving your pores and skin all dry and flaky.

A moisturiser can repair it. The trick is to decide on one excessive in oils and butters. They comprise fatty acids, the moisturising constructing blocks that heal your pores and skin barrier and deeply moisturise your pores and skin, leaving it mushy and supple.

Greatest Picks:

  • CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($19.99): A fundamental moisturiser with ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen the pores and skin’s barrier and preserve pores and skin mushy and easy. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Cult Magnificence, Look Improbable, and Ulta
  • Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($60.00): A no-frills, wealthy cream that deeply moisturises pores and skin. Out there at Cult Magnificence, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta.
  • Paula’s Selection Omega+ Complicated Moisturizer ($35.00): One of many richest moisturisers I do know, this child is loaded with fatty acids to deeply moisturise even the driest of pores and skin sorts. Out there at Cult Magnificence, Paula’s Selection, and Sephora
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Associated: The Greatest Skincare Routine For Dry Pores and skin

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Oily Pores and skin

That is the place it will get tough. Your pores and skin already produces greater than sufficient sebum and has all of the oil it wants. No want so as to add extra, girls.

However, your pores and skin could also be dehydrated (i.e. lack water). that is the case since you really feel like you have got a greasy layer on prime of sandpaper. Your pores and skin feels tight and dry, but it surely’s nonetheless as shiny as ever…

That is the place an oil-free moisturiser is available in. Oil-free moisturisers use humectants, a bunch of substances that attracts water from the air into the pores and skin and binds it there. Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, and urea are all wonderful humectants.

Humectants are nice as a result of they give oily pores and skin all of the moisture it craves with out including extra oil to it. You probably have oily pores and skin, I encourage you to make use of them.

A phrase of warning. Some moisturizers comprise hidden oils and heavy emollients, even when marketed as “oil-free.” Components like coconut oil, mineral oil, and lanolin can clog pores and make oily pores and skin really feel even oilier. As an alternative, search for light-weight gel-based moisturizers with niacinamide. It mosturises pores and skin (and fights wrinkles, and brightens the compexion…) with out making an oily mess.

The exception? In case your pores and skin is severely oily and never dehydrated in any respect, you’ll be able to skip moisturiser altogether. But when, at any level in the course of the day, your pores and skin feels slightly tight, add your oil-free moisturiser again into your skincare routine, pronto!

Greatest Picks:

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Associated: The Greatest Skincare Routine For Oily Pores and skin

Mixture Pores and skin

Mixture pores and skin is a combined bag. Some areas are a oil slick whereas others are dry and tight. What are you speculated to do?

Discovering the appropriate steadiness may be tough. A moisturizer that works on your dry areas may e too heavy on your t-zone, whereas one thing gentle sufficient on your brow may not be hydrating sufficient for the remainder of your face.

A strategy to work round that is to make use of two moisturisers. A gel-based moisturizer throughout with a richer cream on dry spots. For those who simply wish to use the one, go fore a light-weight moisturiser. Ideally one with solely slightly quantity of oil. You want their fatty acids to maintain your dry areas blissful, however you don’t wish to go overboard and clog your oily patches.

A light-weight moisturiser retains each are blissful. Win win.

Greatest Picks:

  • Bioderma Hydrabio Hydrating Gel ($18.00): A light-weight system with niacinamide and humectants to hydrate pores and skin with out including oil to it. Out there at Boots and Sephora
  • CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($15.99): A no-frills moisturiser that works for all pores and skin sorts. Interval. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Cult Magnificence, Look Improbable, and Ulta
  • Tula 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night time Cream ($88.00): Loaded with squalene and antioxidant, this light-weight cream soothes, moisturises, and fights wrinkles. Out there at SpaceNK and Ulta
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Associated: The Greatest Skincare Routine For Mixture Pores and skin

Regular pores and skin

Congratulations, you’ve received the skincare jackpot.

Your pores and skin is already producing all of the sebum it wants. Not a bit extra. Not a bit much less. You possibly can nonetheless use a light-weight moisturiser if you wish to, however you don’t have to. Your pores and skin is ok with out it.

For those who do use one, choose one with antioxidants. You don’t want the additional moisture, however the antioxidant might help you combat untimely growing old. And ensure the system is light-weight. You don’t want something too wealthy.

Greatest Picks:

  • Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream ($9.99): A light-weight moisturiser with niacinamide, ceramides, and antioxidants to maintain pores and skin mushy and supple and forestall untimely growing old. Out there at Cult Magnificence, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta.
  • Cerave PM Facial Moisturising Lotion ($10.94): It makes use of humectants that hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw water into your pores and skin and ceramides to moisturise pores and skin with out including extra oil to it. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Boots, Cult Magnificence, Dermstore, and Ulta.
  • Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ($68.00): I’m not impressed by the peptides, but it surely’s additionally loaded with amino acids (the constructing blocks of your pores and skin) to moisturise pores and skin and plump it up – with out clogging your pores and providing you with breakouts. Its light-weight, gel-like texture sinks in instantly, leaving pores and skin softer, smoother, and dewy. Out there at Cult Magnificence, Sephora and SpaceNK

Associated: How To Care For Regular Pores and skin

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Don’t Confuse Moisturizers With Anti-Ageing Merchandise!

Are you one of many fortunate few who doesn’t want moisturiser, however wish to use it anyway as a result of it helps with antiaging?

Assume once more. The overwhelming majority of moisturisers on the market “combat” wrinkles by hydrating pores and skin. Moisture plumps up pores and skin, so high-quality traces and wrinkles look smaller, however they’re nonetheless there.

If you wish to actually scale back these wrinkles (not simply their look), you want retinol. You may get it in serum kind. Click on right here for my product suggestions.

FYI, you’ll find retinol in moisturisers, however serums normally have a extra concentrated dose and work higher and quicker. Simply saying.

Associated: 5 Antiaging Superstars You Ought to Add To Your Skincare Routine

The Verdict: Does Everybody Want A Moisturizer?

Moisturizers are designed to enhance pores and skin’s moisture ranges. If yours are already optimum, no want to make use of one. However for many of us, that’s not the case. *sighs*


About Gio


Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – daily. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that will help you work out what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create one of the best skincare routine on your distinctive wants.