Moisturize Your Face Daily With the Right Products for Your Skin Type. Whether your skin is dry or oily (or a combination of both), winter's cold and dry air will take its toll and make daily moisturizing even more necessary.
In winter, you should moisturize your skin at least twice a day--once in the morning and once before bed. Cold air and indoor heating can strip your skin of moisture, so using a richer moisturizer helps prevent dryness, irritation, and cracking. If your skin feels dry during the day, you can also reapply as needed.
Yes, it's generally okay to moisturize your face three times a day, especially if you have dry skin or live in a dry climate. However, the frequency can depend on your skin type and the products you're using. Here are a few considerations:
For people with a normal hydration status, increasing water intake unfortunately won't translate to dewier skin, Kibbi explained. Skin hydration depends largely on the health of its protective barrier, a lipid-rich layer that—when functioning properly—prevents water from escaping, she said.
You might have a winter rash if your skin appears red, swollen, or flaky. It may itch or feel sensitive to the touch. Bumps or blisters may form in the affected area. A winter rash can develop on any part of your body, but your hands, arms, and legs are the most susceptible.
Another reason Dr Obagi is against moisturiser: He believes that if you use it daily over time, it can change your skin's natural balance of water, lipids, and proteins. The result? Your body will stop delivering the skin's normal, natural method of hydration from within.
Your skin will certainly tell you in subliminal ways, such as clogged pores or acne breakouts on your shoulders or other areas of your body, small bumps and more. It's easy to think that over moisturising is a good thing as 'it's just providing your skin with extra hydration' – however, this isn't true.
Your skin knows when it requires hydration, and under normal circumstances, it will produce sebum as needed. Unfortunately, chronic use of moisturizing products disrupts this process. When the skin senses that it is already being moisturized, it will simply stop performing its job of making and secreting sebum.
Creams are best applied by patting them gently into the skin, notes Dr. Mack. Gel or water-based moisturizers should be applied in circular motions until they are completely absorbed.
The “fingertip unit” is used to measure the amount of cream or ointment to be used in dermatology: it is a strip of product squeezed on to the index finger, from the distal crease to the fingertip. With the rule of nines, the body's surface area is divided into 11 areas, each representing roughly 9% of the total (box).
You have certain skin conditions or other health issues
Several common skin problems cause dryness, flaking and peeling, including eczema, contact dermatitis and psoriasis. But even diseases you might not think affect the skin can leave it parched. These include diabetes, hypothyroidism, lymphoma and kidney failure.
Clogged pores can look enlarged, bumpy, or, in the case of blackheads, dark in color. The more oil that a person's skin produces, the more likely it is that their pores will become blocked. A person can use skin care techniques and products to manage or clear clogged pores.
To tell if you're dehydrated, you can do the “pinch test.” Pinch a bit of skin on your arm between your thumb and forefinger. If you're well hydrated, it should go back to its original position a couple of seconds after you let go. If it doesn't, time to throw back some water.
Natural exfoliation and cell turnover
Moisturising prevents the skin's natural exfoliation by smoothing the skin cells and stopping them from sloughing off. So by stopping moisturising, this actually stimulates cell turnover and encourages natural desquamation (that's the shedding of the outer layers of the skin).
There's no need to use abrasive chemicals like preservatives, perfumes or alcohol to moisturize your face. You can achieve dewy, supple skin naturally by buying products containing plant-based and/or organic ingredients(2) with anti-inflammatory properties, such as: Aloe vera. Algae gel.
People with sensitive skin may benefit from using fragrance-free moisturizers and creams. Some natural products can soothe the dry, cracked skin that characterizes winter rash. For example, aloe vera gel and coconut oil contain both antibacterial and moisturizing elements and are safe to use on cracked skin.