There’s no easy way to find the best moisturiser for your skin type. You only have to go online and start searching to see the sheer number of products for sale and the multitude of opinions that people give. ‘Easily the best moisturiser I’ve used’ says one review. ‘Helped control my breakouts’ says another. It’s important to know that what might be right for one individual’s skin might work very differently on another.
I’d like to present you with some facts to help you to make an informed decision as to which moisturiser to opt for, while hopefully helping you to save some money along the way.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to assess a product on its basic ingredients and tell whether it’s right for your skin type.
How Do Different Moisturisers Work?
To help to choose the best moisturiser for you, you first need to know that different moisturisers work in different ways: Some trap water in the skin, some help skin to retain water, some improve the integrity of the skin barrier, some help the skin to attract water, and others boost the functional capabilities of the skin.
Occlusives
Oil, petroleum and lanolin products act by trapping water in, and are called occlusives. Occlusives can leave a greasy sheen on the skin and may cause breakout acne or blocked pores, called milia. So, if you already have acne, an occlusive-based option might not be the best moisturiser for you. Also, occlusives are known to cause allergies and inflammation in the skin, and may even cause long-term harm to the skin, although they can help people with very dry complexions by locking in moisture.
Emollients
Emollients, in contrast, fill the gaps between the cells, helping the skin to retain water. Most emollients soften the skin and would be the best moisturiser if you have skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Humectants
Humectants, on the other hand, are different to occlusives and emollients. Once applied to your skin, they attract water. If there’s lots of water in the air in your environment, then a humectant-based option might be the ideal option for you. However, in low-humidity environments this means they can draw water from the dermis and actually dry the skin out.
This sets up a wet-dry cycle and an example of a humectant is hyaluronic acid. Once applied, the skin is dampened and it soon feels hydrated. However, as time passes, if the air is dry, the product will attract water from the dermis and sap your skin of moisture. This can make your face feel dry, so you apply more, and the cycle repeats. This means that in a humid environment, a hyaluronic acid-based product would not be the best moisturiser for you.
Other problematic humectants are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). If overused, this range can cause your skin to become thinner, making it more prone to sun damage if used without appropriate sun protection. Furthermore, some acid humectants may strip the skin of its natural lipid barrier, allowing bacteria and toxins from the environment past the skin barrier, causing inflammation and redness.
Choosing The Best Moisturiser For You: A Round-Up
Occlusives, emollients and humectant moisturisers, (or combinations of them), make our skin feel supple and smooth for a time, but they don’t treat the underlying cause of skin dehydration, which is reduced cell function. Once you’ve worked out which moisturiser is perfect for you, (one that has the right active ingredients), your skin may not dry out, though to keep it healthy and glowing, you may want to consider a treatment to boost how the skin cells work.
At No4 Clinic, my team believes that the best skincare/skin treatment restores cell function to optimal levels, to the stage before they were affected by age-related degeneration. Using a treatment in combination with the best moisturiser for you will mean your skin can be kept looking youthful and radiant.
If the bottom layer of the epidermis is healthy, the cells will renew every 3-4 weeks or so. This means you will most likely have a healthy skin barrier, because when mature epidermal cells die, they release skin protecting lipids. If other cells in the skin are functioning well, (especially our fibroblasts), then this means lots of collagen production is going on, which maintains skin suppleness. Simultaneously, lots of hyaluronic acid production will be happening too and this signals hydrated skin, which will leave it looking plump and glowing!
Improving The Health Of Your Skin Without Dependency On Moisturisers
Even with the best moisturiser, getting your skin to the best it can be is an art and this largely depends how your skin looks and behaves. To really know what product or treatment will improve your skin function, I recommend getting a professional consultation from our resident expert skin therapist, Su Jones. She can look at ways to get your skin in tip-top condition, in conjunction with the best moisturiser for you. Then follow up with myself, Nichola Maasdorp, to see how I can support you with treatments for your skin!
Book A Consultation
Get in touch today to book a consultation. You can simply fill in a form on the website, call my team on 07595221484 or email info@nichola-maasdorp-no4.co.uk.
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