What are you looking for?
Statistically, finding the perfect moisturiser is the one thing women are more interested in than any other skincare product.
When I read this little bit of info, to be honest, I was a bit confounded? I’ve been known to say, more than once, when it comes to moisturising your skin, it’s probably the least important part of your beauty routine. But of course, you’ve probably never heard me say it, but if we met, well, I’d say it.
Read on, and I’ll share what I know to be true.
I rarely go a day without applying moisturising cream to my skin; in fact, there are times when it’s the only product that ends up on my face. I love the soothing relief of a well-formulated moisturiser. But. There’s more to keeping your skin hydrated than just the daily application of a well-meaning moisturiser. If all your hopes hang on the best you can find, then disappointment is sure to follow, and the quest for the perfect moisturiser will continue.
Is your moisturiser enough?
If I were to take a peek in your bathroom cabinet, I’m pretty sure I’d find a moisturiser. You’ve come to rely on it. If all else fails, or your beauty routine, for whatever reason falls to just one thing, then, of course, it’s usually your moisturiser. It will provide comfort to your skin and assist in protecting your lipid barrier. But is it enough? Can one single product solve all your skincare woes?
Are you hanging all your hopes on just one thing?
Sometimes looking for a good ‘all-round’ moisturiser comes down to economics. Or, you may think to spend a little bit more on your moisturiser means you can save on buying other products, like specialised treatment products to solve specific skin conditions.
The truth is, no matter how beautiful that jar of cream is or how hopeful the promises sound, if you skimp on the basics in your beauty routine, and you’ll always expect your moisturiser to deliver more than it ever can. You’ll never be happy. No matter how much you spend.
The least important product in your bathroom cabinet?
Too much time in the sun, years of over-cleansing, harshly scrubbing at your skin and inadequate skin nutrition can all take their toll on the skin and damage the natural protective lipid barrier of your skin. Sometimes it seems the only thing between you and the damage inflicted upon the deeper layers of your skin is your moisturiser. But it’s rarely enough if you’re not addressing your overall skincare routine.
What should you do first?
Balance your skin with a gentle cleanser suitable for your skin type, regularly exfoliate with an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) serum, increase skin nutrition through serum formulations and wear sun protection every day. The condition of your skin will begin to improve to a point where the skin becomes more responsive and starts to function as it should. Optimally.
Your reliance on a moisturising cream will begin to diminish. Sure, you’ll still need it, but if the skin is healthy and functioning correctly, then you’ll find yourself using a whole lot less of your favourite cream (now, that’s sound economics!!).
Still not sure?
Sometimes, even with all your best intentions, the skin still feels like it needs more. Seasonal changes take their toll and even though you’ve been diligent with proper cleansing and you’ve been using an AHA serum to improve cell turnover, you’re still not happy with your skin. It could be your skin is struggling to retain moisture because the balance of ingredients in your moisturiser is not perfectly mimicking your skin’s protective lipid barrier. It just doesn’t feel right on your skin, and you really can’t say why?
In search of the holy grail?
Here’s what to look for.
The best ingredients for a well-formulated moisturiser are known as ‘skin identical’. Or in other words, elements that mimic the skin’s natural protective structure, and when topically applied are accepted as part of the skin. A combination of Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF) and lipids come together to form a stable structure to the skin and the protective barrier.
There is an extensive list of ingredients that contribute to the composition of your skins Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF) such as:
Ceramides
Glycerin
Polysaccharides
Hyaluronic Acid.
Amino acids.
Cholesterol.
Lecithin.
Glycerol.
Phospholipids.
Glycosphingolipids.
Glycosaminoglycans.
Glycerides and Fatty Acids.
When a moisturiser contains a combination of these ingredients, you’ll be assisting the skin in its natural protective qualities and allowing your skin to function normally. Often the very best formulations will also include antioxidants to boost the skin’s defence against free radical damage and vitamin nutrients such as A, C and E.
But your skin’s dry?
When the skin is dry, combining Natural Moisturising Factors (see list above) with ingredients that mimic the lipid content of the skin will provide you with an excellent moisturiser. Look for ingredients such as apricot oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, starflower oil, lanolin, lecithin, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter, soybean oil, squalane, and sweet almond oil.
Woah!! That’s a lot of oils? Don’t worry, your moisturiser doesn’t need to contain all of them, but in the right combination, a few of these can be extremely helpful in making a dry skin look and feel so much better.
How much do you need?
Using more moisturiser or opting for thick, rich creams to combat the dryness of dehydration will leave you with a skin that feels heavy and yet confusingly still dry or parched. Not what you were hoping for right? As I’ve mentioned today, get the basics right, and you’ll find your moisturiser of choice will begin to do its job effortlessly, and you’ll no longer seek out the thickest cream you can find to make your skin feel comfortable.
The key to a good moisturiser is to consider it as the supporting act in a balanced skin care routine.
When your skin is not so dry, perhaps even a little oily?
Naturally forming lipids make up the intercellular matrix of your skin. Unfortunately, the environment depletes them. Even oily or combination-oily skin can be robbed of natural fats, especially if there has been a tendency to over-cleanse and scrub the oil away. This disruption is why oily skin, despite natural sebaceous oil flow can lack the natural lipids that make up the intercellular matrix. Oily skin, can often and confusingly feel dehydrated, so the same lipid protecting ingredients for dry skin can help, but in less concentrated amounts.
Now what?
So, now that you know what to do first, I guess you’d still like to know which moisturisers I like? Any of those featured below will be a great place to start, and as they’re all professionally prescribed, you’ll also be able to delve a little deeper and find the perfect skin system to bring your skin to life.
Environ
Focus Care – Super Moisturiser
If you want to hang all your hopes on a single moisturising product, then perhaps Environ’s Super Moisturiser would be the one to buy. Packed with peptides to boost the skin’s ability to retain its moisture levels as well as a very nice dose of hyaluronic acid. You’ll be happy. Do your homework and compliment your homecare system with the necessary nutrients to protect the skin from the ravages of the environment. This moisturiser has a stable form of vitamin C contained within it. Still, you’ll also want to consider one of their AVST Moisturisers from their Skin EssentiA range to ensure you’re getting adequate quantities of vitamin A. If you’d like to find out where you can buy then you should go here.
Synergie Skin.
Reclaim – Age management formula.
This cream is ideal for dry skin or when ageing is a definite concern — loaded with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants as well as a few other unusual ingredients like Hematite and the peptide Trylagen, which the manufacturer claims will boost collagen production. Any cream that protects your skin will indirectly preserve your collagen and elastin. However, if stimulating collagen is what you want (and who doesn’t) then I’d most certainly combine this cream with other concentrated serums from the Synergie Skin range for collagen synthesis. But even so, as a stand-alone product? It’s a well-formulated moisturiser and deserves a place in your bathroom cabinet. You can buy this product here.
Alpha-H
Multivitamin Super Cream
This cream will provide you with a brilliant list of essential nutrients to protect the skin from the environment, which causes dryness and dehydration. An impressive moisturising cream, which hydrates the skin while protecting it. Supported by a good dose of sodium hyaluronate to hydrate your skin as well as improving skin immunity with Niacinamide (vitamin B3). You will also find the all-important Retinol (vitamin A) and vitamin C and E in this formula. You’re getting a tremendous antioxidant boost while improving your skin’s hydration. You can find this moisturiser here.
Ultraceutical
s.
Ultra Brightening Moisturiser Cream
Another great moisturiser for all skin types with an impressive list of ingredients. The cream includes Niacinamide (B3), Salicin from willow bark and Melissa Of ficinalis, which all have an anti-inflammatory and brightening effect on the skin. Yep, who doesn’t want brighter, healthier-looking skin? All of us, right? One of my favourite Australian brands and I’m quite sure if not this moisturiser then one of the other moisturisers in this range will become a favourite in your bathroom cabinet. No dust will collect on these beautiful products!! You can shop for this brand here.
And now you?
As you can see, when it comes to your skincare decisions, I’ve always got something to say. How about you? Have you found the perfect moisturiser for your skin? Why not share your findings by leaving a comment below. Or, if you liked this article and found it useful, then why not share it with your friends on social media.
See you next time,
