Aesthetic dermatologists have observed that habitual, daily moisturising over a prolonged period can actually age the skin. This induced ageing occurs because the same fibroblast cells which produce GAGs (the skin's moisturiser) also produce collagen and elastin, which help maintain the skin's elasticity.
If you over-moisturize, the leftover moisturizer just sits on your face. With nowhere to go, this extra moisturizer will eventually fill up the pores on your skin and clog them, resulting in the production of acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.
The formula balls up on your skin
Is there anything more annoying than prepping your skin, only to find the formula balling up and rubbing away as soon as you touch it? If you're finding that this is happening, your moisturiser is probably too heavy for your skin to absorb properly.
Many of the everyday skincare and personal care products that are used regularly–from bar soap to laundry detergent–contain drying ingredients. When the skin becomes dry or dehydrated, it can accentuate the appearance of lines and wrinkles, making you look older.
Also your product should last you a few months not a few weeks — running through product quickly indicates you might be using too much of it. Some signs you may be over-moisturizing are clogged pores, blackheads, bumpy skin and excess oil.
“When the imbalance of water, lipids, and proteins is altered using moisturisers, the skin's ability to act as a strong barrier to protect our inner organs will be weakened,” he explains.
“By over-moisturizing, you can cause the skin barrier function to weaken and risk clogging pores,” explains Sobel. Add those together and you get both dry skin and body acne — the allover equivalent of combination skin.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Ultraviolet radiation, which speeds the natural aging process, is the primary cause of early wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin's connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers, which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis).
“Everyone wants a quick fix when it comes to making skin look better, but drinking more water isn't going to help get rid of wrinkles or plump up your skin unless you are extremely dehydrated,” says Elizabeth Damstetter, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
As skin loses volume, plumpness and elasticity with age, it's less able to spring back from repetitive facial expressions, which leads to lines, wrinkles and deeper creases over time. “Skin ageing is due to a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors,” explains Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Sharon Wong.
They block water evaporation and can actually clog pores and increase acne. They can interfere with the use of drugs such as tretinoin (Retin-A) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Because dry skin reflects more ultraviolet light than hydrated skin, some dermatologists feel that moisturizers actually accelerate skin aging.
Dry and shiny skin
“If you use a moisturizer after cleansing, you can 'trick' the skin into believing it has the right amount of oil so it does not overproduce,” says Charles.
Moisturizers can't prevent wrinkles, but they trap water in the skin, temporarily masking tiny lines and creases. Don't smoke. Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. It also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.
Double moisturising can be easily incorporated into your daily skincare routine. Depending on your skin type, you may want to double moisturise as part of your PM routine, or if you suffer from particularly dry skin, doubling up morning and night may be better suited to you.
Feel the texture. Even if you're not looking into the specifics of comedogenic ratings, you can tell a lot by a product's texture. "Thick creams and heavy oils tend to clog pores," says Akram. "Water-based and gel products tend to be safer for skin that's prone to congestion." An easy thing to remember, according to Dr ...
Not sure if you're over-moisturizing? Dr. Garshick says the most immediate signs are clogged pores, blackheads, and excess oil production. She advises moisturizing no more than two times a day, using a product formulated for your skin type.
From around the age of 25 the first signs of aging start to become apparent on the surface of the skin. Fine lines appear first and wrinkles, a loss of volume and a loss of elasticity become noticeable over time. Our skin ages for a variety of different reasons.
Causes of crepey skin
The ultraviolet light in the sun's rays break down collagen and elastin in skin that help it stay tight and wrinkle-free. Once these fibers break down, the skin can loosen, thin, and wrinkle. Age is also a factor.
Botox and fillers are some of the most common procedures used to reverse wrinkles. The treatments are done by a professional, but they are short and don't require expensive equipment or extensive preparation — you can go to the spa for one of these treatments and be headed back to work after the procedure.
The biggest changes typically occur when people are in their 40s and 50s, but they can begin as early as the mid-30s and continue into old age. Even when your muscles are in top working order, they contribute to facial aging with repetitive motions that etch lines in your skin.
Dr. Kassouf recommends retinol topical creams to help reduce that crepey look. Retinols help restore skin's elasticity and thicken collagen (which gives our skin its structure) as well as elastin (which gives our skin its stretch).
Excessive moisturizer use can cause pimples or breakouts on the skin. Your skin absorbs what it needs and the extra product just sits on top of your face. This greasy layer attracts dirt and bacteria, which then gets accumulated in the pores and causes acne.
How Often Should You Use a Face Moisturizer? Generally accepted advice about the use of moisturizers is to apply it twice daily––every morning and every night. It's the most commonly accepted practice because it ensures that the moisture content of your skin remains constant throughout the entire 24 hour period.
"Skin's oil production peaks at midday, and there is less oil production at night. Therefore, when you lose that protective layer of natural oils, your skin loses more water, so it's important to replenish the water loss with a moisturizer overnight," says Sobel. "While you are asleep the skin goes into renewal mode.