4 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong in a Skincare Moisturizing Routine

4 Things You’re Doing Wrong with Skincare Moisturizing

A proper skincare routine should include moisturizer, and that seems pretty straightforward. You just get a moisturizer and apply it to your face to keep it from getting too dry, right? Wrong. Hydration is one of the key aspects of healthy skin, but slapping on some lotion you found on the drugstore shelf isn’t necessarily the best option. Here are four common mistakes people make when it comes to moisturizer, and how you can adjust your routine to ensure that your skin gets all the hydration it needs to stay healthy.

Mistake #1: Using moisturizer before your skin is clean

Moisturizer acts as a barrier between your skin and the outside world. Applying moisturizer without cleansing the skin first could actually be doing the opposite of what you want—sealing in irritants like dirt and bacteria. Cleansing first clears away that stuff so the moisturizer penetrates deeper layers of skin and provides better hydration.

Additionally, your skin is most absorbent when it’s damp, so wait to apply moisturizer until after a shower or after washing your face to get the most benefit.

Mistake #2: Avoiding moisturizer on oily or acne-prone skin

Some people with oily skin (incorrectly) believe that moisturizer will make things worse. In fact, not using moisturizer might be contributing to excess oil. When skin is too dry, it overcompensates by producing more oils, leading to acne breakouts. Skipping moisturizing could create a vicious cycle of too little hydration, overproduction of oil, and more breakouts.

However, it is important for people with oily and acne-prone skin to use moisturizer with ingredients that will fight acne. If you’re not sure what kind of moisturizer you need, talk to a skincare professional to find a product that will limit breakouts and help your skin.

Mistake #3: Inconsistent moisturizer application

There are plenty of things that can disrupt your skin’s moisture content. Cold weather, UV rays, hot water, dry air, and products. As you get older, your skin also has a harder time holding onto the lipids in your skin layer that capture and hold moisture. Regularly applying moisturizer keeps lipids from getting damaged, which can lead to dry skin. It’s harder to repair that layer once it’s damaged so regular application is essential.

Mistake #4: Using the wrong moisturizer

Perhaps the most common mistake people make with facial moisturizer is not knowing what product(s) to use. There are a lot of options, and the right one depends on skin type and concerns:

Oily skin – avoid oil-based moisturizers that look shiny or greasy. Choose water-based ingredients like glycerine, niacinamide, and dimethicone.
Acne-prone skin – avoid any moisturizer with ingredients that could clog pores. Look for non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic on the labels. Some ingredients can also help fight acne, such as salicylic acid or retinol.
Dry, flaky skin – look for moisturizers to help lock in skin’s natural oils, such as ceramide or hyaluronic acid.
Red, irritated, or sensitive skin – choose fragrance-free products and those with active anti-inflammatory ingredients, like soothing aloe or chamomile.

Get Help Finding the Right Moisturizer

If you’re still confused and frustrated trying to figure out what moisturizer to use, talk to a skincare professional. They can help you find the right products made with high-quality ingredients designed just for your skin. Schedule a Skintherapy consultation today.