Hello guys, welcome here again! I hope you guys have been well!
Today we talk about moisturizing your skin, which is the step in your routine that comes after cleansing and toning.
What is moisturizing?
Moisturizing is the process of putting back moisture into your skin. The skin naturally produces sebum, which is a substance that keeps the skin moisturized. However, we need an external moisturizer therefore we can use an oil, cream or lotion that when applied to the skin, keeps it hydrated and protects the skin barrier from external environmental effects.
Why moisturize?
As you go about your day doing this and that, your skin goes through a process called Trans-Epidermal water loss.
This is loss of water vapor from the surface of the skin to the air. It’s a natural process that we all go through.
Moisturizing comes in to add back the moisture lost in this process so that your skin doesn’t dry out.
Moisturizing comes with a number of benefits. These benefits include;
1. Prevents dullness
Whoooo doesn’t like a nice glowy appearance? Moisturizing adds that extra shine and pizzaz that your skin needs. When your skin is dry, it will most likely appear dull and unhealthy, and that’s where moisturizing comes in to give you that healthy, dewy and hydrated glow.
2. Gives the skin a youthful appearance
This would tie in with the first point. Hydrated and moisturized skin can make you look like a fountain of youth. Also, moisturizing protects your skin from the harsh, external environmental effects, such as sunlight exposure, dust and pollutants. The longer the skin is protected from these effects, the younger it stays and the signs of aging can be kept at bay for a bit longer.
3. Can treat various skin conditions
Moisturizing can help to treat skin conditions such as Eczema. I have never experienced Eczema, but from what I have observed, this condition can cause your skin to be super dry and even peel. To prevent this, it’s important to always keep the skin moisturized and hydrated and this is where moisturizer comes in.
4. Helps to balance out oiliness
This is an interesting benefit, especially for those of us who struggle with excess oiliness. One main cause of acne is the skin’s production of excess sebum, which as mentioned above is a substance that is naturally produced by the skin to keep it moisturized. When excess sebum is produced, it can cause the pores to get clogged, then boom, breakouts. If you’ve dealt with this, then you probably avoid moisturizing, because your skin’s already doing that work for you right?
Well, contrary to this, excess sebum production may be a sign that your skin actually needs more moisture, (weird ikr) and when you skip moisturizing, it actually makes your skin oilier.
Why? When you skip moisturizing your skin due to excess oiliness, it will produce extra sebum to compensate for this lack of moisture. This extra sebum clogs pores, hence leads to more breakouts. So what’s the solution?
First, don’t skip moisturizing.
If you suffer from excess oiliness, switch to a water-based moisturizer which is creamier in texture in order to regulate the oiliness and control extra sebum production.
If you suffer from excess dryness, switch to an oil-based moisturizer which has a slightly greasier texture to add a little more moisture to your skin.
Overtime, you will see your skin having the right balance of oiliness, regardless of whether it’s naturally dry or oily.
What makes a good moisturizer?
A good moisturizer is also suitable for your particular skin type; whether oily, dry or combination (oily in some areas, dry in some areas), and treats whatever needs attention on your skin.
A good moisturizer hydrates your skin, without suffocating your pores. Have you ever applied a product on your face, and feel like your skin is being suffocated? Well it may be time to switch to something lighter.
How to moisturize
Moisturizing is the next step after cleansing and toning and should be done in both your morning and night routine.
In the morning, I like to use a cream moisturizer, particularly Dove rich nourishment cream, it’s creamy and a bit thick, therefore it’s able to moisturize, hydrate and protect my skin all day.
At night, I like to use a facial oil, particularly Almond oil, since its lightweight yet moisturizing, thus allowing my pores to breathe at night.
Take a sufficient amount in your hands and massage evenly all over your face, then proceed with the rest of your routine.
Lastly, you could also improve the hydration on your skin from the inside, by drinking enough water every day, and incorporating fruits with a high water percentage into your diet, such as watermelon.
Sites where I got info for this post from
How to Moisturize| Skin Care 101
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Xoxo,
Bertina.
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