It’s no secret that moisturizing is arguably one of the most critical steps of any skincare routine and is vital to achieve healthy , radiant skin. While that seems simple enough on its own, there are more than enough products, formulas, and types of moisturizers on the market,making things a little confusing. To help clear things up and guide you along your skincare journey, this article will be your ultimate guide to skin creams and lotions.
What Are Skin Creams and Lotions Designed To Do?
Both lotions and creams serve the same purpose. They provide your skin with healthy fats and oils to keep it soft and moisturized while also hydrating your skin by trapping water for it to absorb. This is what lotions and creams do at their most basic level, , and many products come with added active ingredients to tackle specific skincare needs. For example, some lotions and creams contain hyaluronic acid, which helps draw water to the skin’s surface. As water and oil don’t mix, the oils in a lotion will stop the water from evaporating, hydrating the skin even more.
Are There Any Differences Between Them?
Ultimately, you can divide moisturizers into four categories: lotions, creams, butters, and balms. Balms and butters are very thick, and you should only use them in concentrated areas needing extra moisture and protection. Lotions and creams, however, can typically go all over your face and body, as they’re on the thinner end of the spectrum. Lotions contain the highest water content of all four types of moisturizers, making them easier to spread all over the body. Creams have a lower concentration of water; while you can use them all over your body, it takes a little more product to cover everything.
Do I Have To Use a Lotion or Cream?
Whether or not you have to use lotions or creams is really a more complex question than it appears to be. Certainly, nothing terrible will happen if you don’t use one, but your skin won’t be as healthy as it could be if you skip the moisturizer. . This is because your skin’s moisture barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, protects your skin from environmental pollutants. Because your skin is your largest organ, it needs the most protection, and one of the best ways to enhance your skin’s natural shield is to moisturize it. Additionally, if you’re cleansing, exfoliating, and using concentrated serums, these products can take away some of that natural oil, so think of moisturizing as replenishing what you may have lost.
What Ingredients Should I Look For?
When it comes down to it, the ingredients you should look for depend on your skin type, which we’ll discuss later on. However, every good moisturizer should have a humectant, an emollient, and occlusive. Humectants help draw water to the skin’s surface while occlusives keep it there, and emollients apply moisture directly to the skin. Humectants are ingredients such as salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, while occlusives include petrolatum, mineral oil, beeswax, lanolin, and more. The good news is that most occlusives double as emollients, which makes looking for the right ingredients a little easier.
Can I Use Body Lotion on My Face?
This is another one of those questions that we can’t answer with a simple yes or no. There are some body lotions that are gentle enough to use on the face, but you’re likely not giving the skin on your face the care it needs with a body lotion. This is because the skin on your face is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your body, meaning it needs extra love, care, and attention. If you use body lotion on your face, you may not be giving your face the oils, fats, nutrients, and vitamins it needs that would typically come with a face lotion. Additionally, beauty manufacturers design body lotions for the thicker skin on your body, and if you have sensitive skin, this may result in some adverse side effects.
What Should I Use for My Skin Type?
As mentioned previously, the types of ingredients you should look for in your creams and lotions depend on your skin type and what you’re trying to achieve. Below are some ingredients you should look for in your moisturizer based on your skin type.
Oily Skin
Contrary to popular belief, you still need a moisturizer if you have oily skin. Your moisturizer should have ingredients designed to hydrate your skin, as your skin is likely producing excess oil to compensate for a lack of water. Look for humectant ingredients that will attract water molecules. Additionally, water-based moisturizers like gel or some lotions are best for oily skin, as they’ll provide extra hydration and won’t clog your pores.
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, creams are better for your skin, as they tend to be thicker and have a higher concentration of essential fats and oils to help relieve dryness. While your moisturizer can and should contain humectant ingredients, your main goal is to moisturize, not hydrate. Therefore, look for creams with an oil base rather than a water base.
Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you should look for moisturizers that keep the ingredient list as short as possible. Whether you choose a lotion or cream depends on how your skin reacts, so always patch test, but it’s recommended that you start with a lightweight lotion, as these tend to be gentler. Ultimately, you should look for a fragrance-free moisturizer that contains gentle, soothing ingredients such as aloe, shea, or colloidal oatmeal.
How Can I Get the Most Out of My Skin Creams and Lotions?
To get the most out of these moisturizers, apply them at certain times throughout the day. Any time you wash any part of your body, whether washing your hands, shaving, or taking a shower, you should apply a cream or lotion to your skin. This traps in water and makes up for any oils you may have lost while washing your body. Moisturizing after you exfoliate is non-negotiable, as this will help calm and soothe the skin and restore essential fats and oils.
With this guide to skin creams and lotions, you’re one step closer to obtaining gorgeous, glowing skin. To help you meet your skincare goals, let Essential Wholesale and Labs be your one-stop shop for all your beauty cream needs. With our selection of lotions, creams, balms, and butters, there’s something for everybody.
