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).
"You'll notice your skin feeling dry, tight, and ashy, because you're rapidly losing water," says Gohara. "Moisturizer doesn't just add water back into your skin, it also traps in the water you already have to plump it up and protect it."
Moisturizing Reduces Skin Problems - Moisturizing everyday can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful for skin and cause common skin conditions like acne. Conceals Other Skin Blemishes - Using a daily moisturizer ensures that the skin's blemishes are camouflaged.
By skipping a moisturizing face cream for the day, you won't harm your skin… but this can lead to a domino effect of slightly annoying skin woes. “You're not really harming your skin, but it can begin to look unsightly,” says Dr. Dean.
Skipping moisturising can actually lead to excess oil production which will only exacerbate the issue of clogged pores, frequent acne breakouts and whiteheads. The other thing is that you need to understand that a good moisturiser can hydrate your skin and strengthen its protective ability.
So by stopping moisturising, this actually stimulates cell turnover and encourages natural desquamation (that's the shedding of the outer layers of the skin). This improves skin function and exposes the tightly packed plump fresh cells to effectively reflect light and leave the skin glowing.
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.
Is Moisturiser Bad for Your Skin? Dr Obagi firmly believes that moisturizers, in general, reduce your skin's natural ability to exfoliate. Why? He says that dead skin cells “stick” back onto your complexion when you apply a moisturiser, which prevents them from exfoliating and shedding like they would naturally.
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.
Aside from the annoyance of a dripping-wet face, Zeichner attests that there's actually no real problem with air-drying. "If you prefer not to pat, air-drying is fine as well, though it may not the most practical option."
"Air drying your skin is a nice option to be gentle to your skin if your skin is sensitive, but it's certainly not necessary or all that beneficial," says Dr. Nazarian. So as long as your skin's somewhat moist post-cleansing, and you're not scrubbing your face with a dirty, stinky towel, you'll be alright.
"Your skin has its own mechanisms for hydrating itself, including drawing moisture from your body and from the air," Kerr explained. "But when you apply moisturizer topically, your skin thinks it doesn't need to do its job and stops that process.
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.
"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.
Some signs you may be over-moisturizing are clogged pores, blackheads, bumpy skin and excess oil.
Hydrated skin looks young and dewy, not to mention smooth. High-quality moisturizers help plump up skin, which naturally fills in fine lines and wrinkles. Without moisturizer, you're going to start to see a lot more fine lines, particularly in the eye area. This can cause a dull, tired look.
“When you use moisturizer every day, you run the risk of making your skin older, not younger,” he said to Refinery29. “If you apply a lot of moisture, skin will become sensitive, dry, dull, and interfere with natural hydration.”
In fact, once a day won't cut it. Just as you should cleanse your skin twice a day, your face is calling out for moisture at least two times a day—in the morning and at night. You want to moisturize after every time you cleanse. This way, you can lock in moisture and keep skin from drying out.
In short, yes. "A daily moisturizer is necessary to maintain your skin's moisture barrier and to prevent environmental damage to your skin," Weinstein explains.
You see, while some experts insist you should leave anywhere between 30 seconds and 15 minutes between layers, others argue it's far more important to just get the product on. “If you don't have the time, it won't harm the skin by applying products directly after each other.
For some, a feeling of tightness in the skin is the first sign of dryness, and makeup that looks "cracked" is another cue. Peeling or dry spots that are darker in color than the rest of your face are major signs that your skin needs some moisturizing love as soon as possible.