If you have sensitive skin, you may avoid facial moisturizers worried they may cause irritation. However, the benefits of moisturizing the face are without question. Whether you have oily skin, dry skin, skin prone to breakouts, or simply sensitive skin, there’s a skin care product out there for you. You just need a bit of knowledge to find the right product.
Keep reading for information on how to moisturize your sensitive skin. Plus, learn what active ingredients to look for in a moisturizer.
The Benefits Of Using Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin
Can Moisturizer Help Aging Skin?
Skin cells change over time. That’s a fact of life that no anti-aging moisturizer can change.
Good news, though: intrinsic aging only makes up a fraction of how your skin looks. Unhealthy skin can encourage the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.1 Support the health of your skin by using a specially-formulated moisturizer.
Can Moisturizer Keep Skin Hydrated?
Hydration is key when it comes to moisturizing your skin. It nourishes skin cells and helps regenerate new ones to prevent dry, flaky skin.
Not all moisturizers are the same, though. Look for a moisturizer that has been specially-formulated with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.
Common Complexions And Sensitivities
Dry Skin – The top layer of your skin doesn’t have enough water, so your skin dries and cracks.
Blemish-Prone Skin – The pores of your skin are clogged. You need to penetrate the skin cells to clean them.
Oily Skin – Everyone’s face produces oil. It’s how you hydrate your skin naturally. However, some people produce more oil than others, which can result in a “sheen” on the face.
The Outside World: Effects On Sensitive Skin
Keep in mind that a lot of things can affect the sensitivity of your skin, including:
- Cold, dry weather
- Exposure to UV light
- Use of harsh face soaps
Active Ingredients For Your Sensitive Skin
Having sensitive skin doesn’t have to be a struggle. A product with the right active ingredients and vitamins will help keep your face refreshed and healthy.
Below are a few active ingredients and oils, plus their uses:
Ingredients To Look For In A Moisturizer
- Aloe Vera – An all-round wunderkind for all things skin-related, including blemish-prone or dry skin.2
- Lactic Acid – Lactic acid helps the skin to stay hydrated while supporting healthy skin cell turnover and collagen production.
- Rose Extract – This natural extract supports a healthy complexion.
- Hyaluronic Acid – This natural molecule works to draw and keep water in the skin. Look for it in your moisturizer, especially if you have dry skin. You may also see it listed as sodium hyaluronate.4
- Glycerin – This colorless liquid is a humectant, which means it attracts liquid. In other words, it draws moisture from the environment around you for absorption into the skin.5
Applying Your Skin Moisturizing Knowledge
Now you can prepare an informed hydration routine to properly moisturize your skin.
When to Apply Moisturizer
Before you apply moisturizer, clean your face with a gentle cleanser to discourage the distribution of bacteria. Read the directions on your product label. The general rule is to apply twice a day – first thing in the morning and before bed. You can also experiment with the frequency and timing of application to meet your skincare needs.
Maintain Your Moisturizing Regimen
Keep in mind, your skin’s needs will change. If you spend a day at the beach exposed to the sun, you’ll want to switch up your routine. You’ll, of course, want to wear sunscreen, but you might also need additional moisture.
Adjust how much you moisturize based on your daily activities and exposure. If you’re unsure about what your skin needs, talk to your dermatologist. And when using any new product, always do a patch test first.
Be Good to Your Skin
You have the facts, and you know that there’s no single serum or product that will hydrate your skin. There are lots of them. The key is finding the right one.
You need to do the research and determine which hydrating solution is best for moisturizing your sensitive skin. Give an honest assessment of your skin’s condition. Then, choose the ingredients or formula that are right for you. And always check with your dermatologist. They can help.
Learn More:
How To Have Great Skin: Healthy Skin Care Habits, Tips, And Tricks
Help! How to Get Rid of Dry Flaky Skin on Face
The Essential Guide to Using Charcoal Masks
Sources:
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26741392
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554394/
4 https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/avocado-oil-for-skin#benefits
5 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/1/173