Do you have itching, flaking, and dull-looking skin? A large number of people, every day, suffer from these skin problems and many among them blame their genes for the same. You might be one among them. However, there are many things we can do to improve the texture of our skin by following a skincare routine that includes a moisturizer. However, it’s not quite so simple: there are so many products available, choosing the right can be overwhelming.
With so many brands and types available in the market, it’s important for you to select the best moisturizer for your skin. Read on to increase your awareness about different moisturizers so you can choose a product that best suits you.
How Does A Moisturizer Work For Your Skin?
Moisturizers are some of the most important skin products to soften, lighten, and beautify your skin. There are three main types of moisturizer: occlusives, humectants and emollients. Occlusives create a barrier across the top of the skin, to prevent loss of water from the skin cells. Common occlusives include petrolatum (derived from gasoline), lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, squalene, and silicone derivatives (such as dimethicone or cyclomethicone). Occlusives are usually greasy. Humectants attract water from the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) to the outer layers (epidermis). Glycerin (glycerol), hyaluronic acid, honey, jojoba, sorbitol, urea, and AHAs are all humectants. Emollients smooth the skin by filling in the space between skin flakes with an oil droplet. Examples of emollients are castor oil, propylene glycol, and dimethicone. Note that some moisturizing ingredients can function as more than one type of moisturizer (e.g. dimethicone is both an occlusive and an emollient).
While it’s clear that there are many different ingredients that moisturize the skin, it’s important to know that many of them have unwanted effects, such as clogging the pores, skin irritation, or allergies, and are excluded from so called ‘clean beauty’ products. The best moisturizers work effectively to condition the skin in formulations that combine botanical extracts with ingredients that are not harmful and are well tolerated. For a list of ingredients to avoid in your skin care products (including moisturizers), see the Skin Elegance ‘No Nasties’ list.
Different Skin Types and Their Moisturizers
Normal Skin
This type of skin is neither too dry nor too oily. Normal skin has few imperfections, very little sensitivity, and barely visible pores. People with this kind of skin can simply choose a non-greasy and light product to keep their skin healthy. ÜberZinc moisturizing sunscreen is a great choice for normal skin, and it has the added benefit of SPF15/PA+++ broad-spectrum sun protection. Reclaim is an age management moisturizer that’s perfect for normal skin in the over 30 age group. And don’t forget your body! B-Juvenate includes the essential vitamin B3 (niacinamide) in a luxurious body moisturizer.
Dry Skin
This skin type is defined as skin that lacks natural moisture. People with dry skin need richer moisturizers to cope with their skin’s dehydrated condition. Climatic change, stress, poor nutrition, moisture-robbing cleansers and toners, hormone changes, and aging can all result in dry skin. People with dry skin require extra rich moisturizers. Hydrolock is Synergie’s answer to dry skin – and for an even more powerful treatment, use Masquerase as a deep overnight moisturizing mask once a week.
Oily Skin
This a skin type with heightened sebum (oil) production. People with this type of skin generally suffer from blemishes, acne, and pimples. Hormones and blocked pores may be responsible for developing skin with excess oil in particular areas. In many cases, people with such skin avoid using moisturizers altogether, but actually, moisturizers can actually improve acne – as long as the correct type of product is used. Look for a low-oil product containing humectants rather than emollients or pore-blocking occlusives. Synergie’s Hydrogel is a light hydrating gel formulated especially for those with oily or acneic skin.
Combination Skin
This is a combination of normal and oily skin that appears shiny in some areas while dry in others. People with this type of skin have larger pores in key areas, mainly around the forehead or nose – the so-called ‘T-zone’. Improper cleansing often results in combination skin. A moisturizer specifically designed for this skin type is generally lightweight, oil-free, and sheer to hydrate the skin without making the oily areas worse. BrightEnlite lightweight milk moisturizer from Synergie fits the bill for hydrating combination skin perfectly.
Sensitive Skin
This kind of skin reacts easily to certain ingredients such as artificial fragrances or colors, as well as to other factors, including stress, hormone changes, dust, dirt, heat, sweating, or even a change in weather. If you have this kind of skin, it’s especially important to avoid irritating ingredients, so a clean beauty product is even more important. Look for a moisturizer formulated especially for sensitive skin packed with soothing ingredients that help to make your skin feel comfortable, such as Dermacalm.
With an understanding of how moisturizers work, and which ones are best for particular skin types, we hope you will find it easier to choose the most suitable moisturizer for your skin. As you’ll realize, Synergie Skin has a range of different moisturizers formulated with different problems in mind. All the products mentioned here are available at the Skin Elegance online store, where you have access to the best skin care products to help you maintain a glowing and healthy skin. We aim to help people understand their skin better for the best results possible and hope this article has proven helpful.
