So, how often should you moisturize your body? The rule of thumb is to moisturize the skin every time it is subjected to water. So, whenever you use water or soap on any body part, you should make sure to apply moisturizer right after.
Daily moisturizing is vital for healthy skin, yet some think of it as an aesthetically-inclined habit. Our skin is the body's largest organ and requires regular attention to stay young, blemish-free and healthy. To understand how moisturizing your skin is important, read further.
It can actually worsen your dry skin. “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.
Gohara urges everyone to moisturize their body at night. "Even if you don't want to lube up your whole body, give extra love to your knees, heels, elbows, and any other patch of skin that tends to get really dry," she says. (We like Organic Hydrating Body Balm - Monoi + Jasmine from the Prevention shop.)
Most skincare professionals suggest moisturizing twice a day: once in the morning and once at night. This ensures your skin's moisture will remain constant both throughout the day and while you sleep, so you can always look forward to supple, healthy skin.
Night is an essential time to renew your mind—and your skin. Adding a lotion before bed creates softer, more hydrated, and better-looking skin the next day. It also helps seal in moisture and repairs the skin barrier that's compromised by dry air and harsh cleansers.
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.
They make skin feel moist and relieve itchiness and tightness. But, says Dr Eckel, in reality, moisturisers make the skin 'lazy', so it becomes less able to hydrate itself. This means we need more moisturiser to relieve dryness, creating an expensive, demoralising cycle.
When to Put on Moisturizer
The best times to moisturize are after your bath or shower, after washing your face, and after washing your hands. Don't dry off completely; leave some moisture behind so the lotions can do their job, helping your skin absorb more healthy liquid.
Many of us suffer from too much sebum (oil), which is an inflammatory agent. Acne and rosacea are two classic oil-related conditions, both of which occur after the onset of puberty with the production of sebum. Moisturising creams can aggravate these conditions, cause an oily appearance of the skin and worsening pores.
Why should you moisturize active acne? You should absolutely moisturize your skin even if you have active acne. It's an absolute myth that moisturizing your face will worsen your acne. In fact, moisturizers are necessary to keep acne-prone skin as relaxed as possible.
Your skin wants a layer of moisture, and if it doesn't have it the normal protective barriers and correct pH levels of the skin can be disrupted. This protective layer disruption can come along with dryness, redness, and an overall low level of inflammation in your skin.
It usually refers to skin that has a glow or skin that's well-hydrated without hyperpigmentation or blemishes, says Khorasani. You might notice this after a good exfoliation and moisturizing sesh or a laser procedure where a layer of dead skin is removed.
While you can certainly use two different moisturizers for day and night, it's all up to personal preference. If you prefer to have fewer steps in your routine, you may want a cream that does double duty. However, if you're already using separate SPF and serums, one moisturizer might be all you need.
Clogged pores are the most immediate sign of over moisturising. Too much moisturiser or heavy formulations can clog your pores, because of which you end up with blackheads and whiteheads.
Moisturiser cannot by itself make your skin dark or fair . Moisturisers are only meant to give the hydration a skin needs. In very humid climates, it is better to avoid moisturiser as a whole.
Moisturizer: Instantly, with Full Results After 2 Weeks
Everyone needs a moisturizer—yes, even if you have oily or acne-prone skin. And while you'll feel the results of a good moisturizer as soon as it absorbs, you'll begin seeing the results in your skin after using it consistently for one to two weeks.
According to her, it's okay to skip moisturizer when you don't need it, such as when you're in a humid environment that's already full of moisture. "You don't always have to use a moisturizer, especially if you have oily-prone skin or if you've just used an HA serum that helps moisturize," Dr. Cindy explains.
“Sleep and relaxation have been proven to help moisturize the skin naturally,” says Marmur. Prioritizing a good night's sleep in addition to using a good night cream or lotion will help your skin retain moisture and eliminate dryness.
Moisturize Intermittently
In the same ways your face and body crave moisture, your underarms need hydration to look and feel their best. They just don't need it quite as frequently. Since they are damp, Dr. Zalka recommends using a pH-balanced underarm or body lotion once or twice a week, or more as needed for dryness.
“When you use moisturizer every day, you run the risk of making your skin older, not younger,” he warned. “If you apply a lot of moisture, skin will become sensitive, dry, dull, and interfere with natural hydration.”
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.
In general, moisturiser can be good for your skin by acting as a protective barrier for conditions such as eczema, but if overused, your skin could start to rely on the moisturiser and not properly exfoliate on its own or produce as many natural lipids and proteins.