Many people have heard the general advice that moisturizing your skin is a good thing to do, and it is if you do it correctly. Moisturizing your skin not only keeps it looking younger and more supple, but it can also create a barrier for facial skin which protects it from harmful pollutants in the environment. However, there are numerous ways to moisturize the skin, both internally and externally, and knowing what works for your skin is crucial to successfully moisturizing your skin.
GENERAL HYDRATION
Before we get into the intricacies of external facial moisturizing, we should talk about the (arguably) most important part of keeping your facial skin moisturized which is general hydration. Most physicians and beauty experts recommend drinking a minimum of at least 6, 8 ounce glasses of water a day for health and facial moisturizing purposes. This recommendation refers strictly to water as other beverages have lower water content and also may contain caffeine which is dehydrating in nature. Some people have the tendency to think that, if they just drink 6 glasses of soda a day instead of water, the results will be the same because soda is mostly water. However, this is not the case as, aside from the dehydrating caffeine many soft drinks contain, the sugar or artificial sweeteners in soft drinks will not do your skin or hydration routine any favors. Therefore, if improving the hydration and appearance of your skin is one of your goals, you should commit to drinking adequate amounts of water.
OIL-BASED MOISTURIZERS
For those with the driest skin, oil-based moisturizers are the most effective and may be the best choice. Oil-based moisturizers are, however, not appropriate for those who have sensitive or acne-prone skin as they have a tendency to clog pores and cause breakouts in these skin types.
NON-COMEDOGENIC MOISTURIZERS
Many people with oily, acne-prone skin avoid using moisturizers altogether for fear that any moisturizers will only make their skin more oily and cause worse acne-breakouts. However, non-comedogenic moisturizers are actually designed to not clog pores. That is the definition of a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Therefore, it is advisable for all people, even those with acne-prone skin, to moisturize their skin in some way or another because, as we age, our skin loses moisture which ultimately allows more fine lines and wrinkles to appear. For people with this acne-prone skin type, non-comedogenic moisturizers are the best answer.
PROTECTIVE MOISTURIZERS
In a way, all moisturizers are protective moisturizers because they form a thin barrier on the surface of the skin which protects the skin from harmful particles in the environment. However, moisturizers which are specifically meant to be protective moisturizers often include sunscreens and antioxidants which are ingredients specifically intended to protect the skin as opposed to just moisturizing it.
CONCLUSION
Moisturizing your skin is something that everyone, regardless of skin type, should be doing. What type of topical skin moisturizing is best for you will depend heavily on your skin type and skin sensitivities. However, proper hydration is a skin moisturizing approach that everyone should be taking as it is one of the best ways to safely and effectively prevent signs of aging.