We know that moisturizer is non-negotiable in skincare. This staple forms a protective barrier on the dermis, sealing in hydration and treatment for long periods. But that’s not all. A good moisturizer also softens ageing lines, soothes inflammation, and gives your skin an unparalleled glow.
Now, if you weren’t aware – your skin has an even harder time retaining moisture during winter. Blame it on the dry, frigid winds, the lack of humidity, and the heated indoors that zap every water molecule from the skin. This dramatic TEWL or transepidermal water loss gives rise to a gamut of concerns like dehydration, dryness, flare-ups or lackluster skin.
Luckily, there is a solution in sight a.k.a. layering moisturizer. To cite a borrowed analogy, it is layering multiple sweaters and jackets to protect yourself from winter’s wrath. More on the technique ahead -
What Is Moisturizer Layering?
True to its name, moisturizer layering is slathering several products to maximise hydration. This includes your essence, serums, other treatments, and two or more moisturizers.
How To Go About Moisturizer Layering?
A Godsend for folks with dry and dehydrated skin, you can go about moisturizing layering in the following way.
1. Start with cleansing: Use a pH-balancing, non-drying cleanser to remove dirt, grime, and other impurities from the skin. This little step also ensures better absorption of your hydrating serums and moisturizer – leading to better hydration.
2. Use an essence or a toner: If toners aren’t your thing, feel free to skip this step. However, if your skin is dry, we recommend applying a few drops of toner. This formulation removes makeup and residue from the skin while maintaining hydration.
3. Apply serum: Before you seal the layer with a moisturizer, use a Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerine-infused serum to maximize hydration. For those unaware, these humectants bind moisture molecules to the skin for best results.
4. Apply a moisturizer: Next, opt for a lightweight, non-greasy moisture to seal the serum or treatment. Use a gel-based formula that doesn’t make your skin feel heavy or icky.
5. Follow up with a heavier cream: Finally, slather a generous amount of cream and ointment. This formula, often replete with occlusives, forms a physical barrier on the dermis to prevent TEWL or transepidermal water loss.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Layering Your Moisturizer
While layering is a simple technique, here are a few things you should bear in mind
1. The thumb rule of layering is to apply formulations or cream with thinner consistencies first. If you’re layering 2 or more moisturizers, the lightest one should be applied after your hydrating serum.
2. Be aware of the texture of textures created by all these products. At no point, these formulas should feel too icky or heavy on the skin.
What Are The Benefits Of Layering Moisturizer In Winter?
Apart from doubling down on hydration, here are the benefits of layering moisturizer in winter -
1. Reverses skin damage: During winter, your skin is more prone to become dry, cracked or damaged. Layering moisturiser alleviates these problems by locking moisture into the skin.
2. Targets several concerns: If you’re grappling with more than one skin concern during winter, layering is the way to go. For example, use a serum only to focus on hydration, a gel-based moisturizer to soothe inflammation, and a heavy cream to prevent TEWL.
3. Mimics the skin’s natural barrier: The harsh weather conditions can impair your skin’s natural barrier or lipid barrier, leading to dramatic water loss. Layering moisturizer creates a physical barrier of sorts that keeps skin hydration intact.
Best Facial Moisturizer For Layering In Winter
Now that you’re well-versed in the layering techique, here are some potent moisturizers for your consideration -
1. Hydrating Moisturizer with Ceramides: Infused with Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, this cream ensures long-lasting hydration to the skin. It does away with dryness, flakiness and rough texture within 5 days from use. The star ingredient of the cream, Ceramides, puts a lock on hydration and makes your skin smooth while shielding it from environmental aggressors.
2. Oil-Free Moisturizer: This gel-based moisturizer has been formulated for folks with oily and acne-prone skin. It contains Niacinamide that blots excess sebum and prevents sebum for a balanced skin microbiome. Moreover, the gel is replete with Hyaluronic Acid and Marine Extracts for multi-level hydration of the skin.
3. Skin Repair Cream: This cream uses ERS technology (Enhance-Repair-Seal) to nourish, heal, and hydrate the skin. It is the perfect product for people with dehydrated or damaged skin.
4. Nourishing Moisturizer: Give your skin some TLC this winter with Foxtale’s Nourishing Moisturizer. Packed with Hyaluronic Acid, Kokum Butter, and Niacinamide, this cream keeps your skin hydrated for 24 hours at a stretch. It combats dryness, dullness, and patchy texture by boosting skin nourishment.
FAQs
1. How to use moisturizer in winter?
To double down hydration in winter, you can layer moisturizer. This process involves using hydrating toner, treatments, serums, and 2 or more moisturizers.
2. Which moisturizer is best in winter?
For dry or dehydrated skin, use a cream-based moisturizer packed with occlusives. This will prevent TEWL or transepidermal water loss, restoring your skin’s moisture balance.
3. Which moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Try Foxtale’s Oil Free Moisturizer. This gel-based formula with Niacinamide hydrates the skin without making it greasy or heavy.
4. Can we use moisturizer in winter?
Yes, you must use moisturizer in winter. The lack of humidity, dry winds, and indoor heat makes your skin lose moisture molecules faster during this season –leading to dehydration, dryness, dullness, inflammation and other concerns. A potent moisturizer forms a protective barrier on the dermis to remedy this situation.
