4 tips for choosing the right skin moisturizer
Your skin is under constant attack. To help keep it healthy, it’s important to have a good skincare routine, especially in winter, when the air indoors gets very dry and the cold air outdoors strips your skin of its moisture.
Choose a product that’s suited to your skin type
It is important to select a product that meets the specific needs of your skin type (e.g. dry, normal, oily). Since men’s skin has different characteristics than women’s, men should choose a product designed for them.
One product for your face, another for your body
The skin on your face has different needs than that on the rest of your body. Facecare products contain ingredients that target face-specific issues like wrinkles and dark circles beneath the eyes, and that are unnecessary for other areas of the body.
Choose the texture that best meets your needs
Moisturizing products can play two roles:
- Hydrate skin thanks to their water content
- Nourish skin thanks to their essential fatty acids
Their texture varies according to the ingredients they contain, including the proportion of water versus essential fatty acids.
Form | Characteristic |
---|---|
Gel | Water-based, doesn’t leave an oily film on skin Low moisturizing properties, very low nourishing properties |
Lotion | Easy to spread, convenient for large surfaces Good moisturizing properties, very low nourishing properties |
Milk | Liquid, easy-to-spread texture Good moisturizing properties, very low nourishing properties |
Cream | Semi-solid texture Richer in essential fatty acids than gels, lotions, and milks Good moisturizing and nourishing properties |
Balm | Thicker texture than cream, forms a protective film on skin Contains more essential fatty acids than water Good moisturizing properties, excellent nourishing properties |
Ointment | Oily, difficult-to-spread texture Contains virtually no water Useful primarily for very dry skin Low moisturizing properties, excellent nourishing properties |
Avoid unnecessary and potentially allergenic ingredients
While some ingredients in moisturizing products are essential, others are included simply to make the product more attractive or to make it smell nice. Sometimes these ingredients can cause skin irritation.
If you have sensitive skin, opt for a product that contains no dyes, fragrance, or parabens.
Be mindful, too, of products labelled “natural” or “organic,” as the ingredients they contain, particularly essential oils, can also irritate sensitive skin.
Keep in mind that it is possible to develop, over time, an intolerance to a product you tolerated perfectly well in the past.
Choosing the right moisturizer is important, but using it regularly is even more so. Even the best cream in the world is not much good if you don’t use it on a regular basis, especially if you have dry skin.
Ask one of our consultants if you need help choosing a moisturizing product suited to your needs. If you have questions about the health of your skin, talk to your pharmacist.