Skin Care Diaries - Hydration

Skin needs moisture, it doesn't matter if you have oily skin or dry skin. All skin needs hydration. And if you have oily skin, there are some fabulous perks! Not the least of which is that oily skin tends to be thicker and more resistant to premature aging. So while you may look like a slip and slide, you will be a YOUNG slip and slide.

After you complete your various skin care steps which can include masking and peels and exfoliations and serums, you need to hydrate. For day time hydration, you do not want heavy creams unless you have very dry skin. If you wear makeup during the day, having a heavy cream can also create too much oiliness and give you an over abundance of "glow". 

I really like to use a light pre moisturizer that is packed with hyaluronic acid which provides two amazing benefits. First, it has the exceptional ability to retain moisture but even better, regulate moisture. This means you skin will have a great dose of hydration that can self regulate during the day to maintain balance. Fantastic! 

The second step is an actual moisturizer. While a good hyaluronic acid will do it's job, it is not enough to keep even oily skin properly hydrated for the day. When looking at a good moisturizer avoid anything that has mineral oils, alcohol or fragrance.

Actually, that is a good rule for all products that you put on your body.

Excuse my brief tangent. There are tons of articles on Mineral oils detailing why they are not ideal for skincare. Mineral oils are petroleum based and do not absorb well into skin, meaning they will sit on the surface and can actually hinder effective deep hydration, and can clog pores leaving you prone to breakouts. Alcohol is super drying and doesn't have any business being near your skin, and perfume is an irritant. 

Also, be weary of any product that claims to be All Natural. The term "Natural" is not clearly defined in the cosmetics space, so your best bet is to turn that bottle around and read. Skin is the largest organ on your body, everything you put on it is absorbed into your body. The good, the bad and the ugly. 

Now look, you may find that your favorite moisturizer has one or all of these ingredients, and if it works for you, by all means keep using it. There is no reason to freak out and toss your entire regimen.  Some people just have super resilient skin that isn't affected as much. But, if you are finding you are not loving your skin, it feels too oily or too dry, you should examine the ingredients and eliminate as many of the unnecessary ones as possible. I still use great products that have some mineral oils in them, I just try to limit their use.

For evenings, I suggest alternating at least 2 different moisturizers throughout the week. One should be a sleep mask cream; these contain treatment ingredients like mild acids and hyaluronic acid to work on your skin gently while you sleep. The other is a deep moisturizer in a cream or oil form to provide your skin with antioxidants, nourishment, intense hydration and healing. 

 

Want a quick summary of even more product suggestions and tips? Check it out here!

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