6. Who should use moisturizer?  

Whether your skin type is dry, oily, combination or sensitive, you need a suitable facial moisturizer for your morning and nighttime skincare routine.  

7. What is the best moisturizer with Ceramides?  

We recommend trying Foxtale’s Hydrating Moisturizer with Ceramides. The star ingredient prevents TEWL (or transepidermal water loss), minimizes flakiness, and shields the skin against harmful aggressors.

8. Should moisturizer be applied before sunscreen? 

Yes. A sunscreen is formulated with protective ingredients that shield your skin against harmful UV rays. This is why, sunscreen is to be applied at the end of your skincare routine. 

9. Can I use my face moisturizer for the rest of my body?

We recommend using a cream or lotion formulated for your body on the body. A body cream or is generally thicker and heavier in composition than a facial moisturizer. 

What Is Moisturizer? 

A facial moisturizer is a cream, gel or ointment that keeps your skin hydrated for prolonged periods. A non-negotiable in your AM and PM skincare routine, a moisturizer creates a protective barrier on the dermis to seal water molecules and active ingredients – streamlining efforts for great skin.  

Benefits Of Moisturizer

1. A potent moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated by preventing TEWL or transepidermal water loss. 

2. By keeping skin hydration intact, a moisturizer strengthens the lipid barrier. For those unaware – the lipid barrier shields the skin against aggressors, pathogens, pollutants, and more.

3. Topical application of moisturizer keeps your skin youthful. Moreover, with regular use, moisturizer prevents fine lines, wrinkles, laugh lines, and crow’s feet.

4. Most moisturizing formulas contain soothing agents (re: Allantoin, Niacinamide, Centella asiatica) that alleviate redness and inflammation. They also have a cooling effect on application.

What Are The Different Components Of A Moisturizer 

To pick the best formula for your skin type, its important to understand the different moisturizing components  

1. Humectants: These ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin bind water molecules to the skin, keeping it hydrated, soft, and supple for long periods.  

2. Emollients: Emollients in your lotion or cream-based moisturizer fill the gaps between skin cells, making it look soft and smooth. Some common emollients are Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Ceramides, and more.  

3. Occlusives: These ingredients form a physical barrier on the dermis to prevent TEWL a.k.a. transepidermal water loss. The most common occlusives found in moisturizers are Squalane, Petrolatum, and Shea Butter.  

4. Active ingredients: These ingredients in your moisturizer help target and treat specific concerns. Try Vitamin C-infused moisturizer for skin brightening, Niacinamide for oil control, Retinol for age-reversing and so forth. 

What Are The Different Types Of Moisturizer 

There are 3 main categories of moisturizer to pick from 

1. Cream: A cream-based moisturizer is perfect for folks with very dry to dry skin due to its high oil content. It offers intense, multi-level hydration to the skin. A cream-based formula may feel slightly heavy compared to other formats of moisturizers like gels and lotions.  

2. Lotion: This type of moisturizer is lightweight and fluid – with little oil content. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, a lotion format should be on your radar. A lotion intensely hydrates the skin without clogging any pores. 

3. Gel: This water-based formula deeply hydrates the skin without making it greasy. Perfect for oily and acne-prone skin, most gel-based moisturizers are replete with Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, and other 

Best Moisturizer For Different Skin Types 

To reap the optimal benefits of moisturizer, one must pick the right formula for their skin type.   

If you have issues identifying your skin type, follow these steps- 

1. If your skin is rough and flaky, chances are your skin type is dry.

2. Notice excessive oiliness and enlarged pores on your face? If yes, your skin type is mostly oily.

3. If this greasiness is contained to your T-zone, foreheads, and chin while the cheeks stay dry – your skin is mostly combination.

4. If you experience inexplicable flare-ups or inflammation on the face, your skin type is mostly sensitive.

Moisturizer for dry skin: Folks with dry skin can opt for a cream-based formula for intense hydration. The oil content in a cream forms a barrier on the dermis, preventing transepidermal water loss.   

Moisturizer for oily skin: Unlike the common misconception, moisturization is integral for oily skin too. All you need is a gel-based formula that is non-greasy and doesn’t clog pores.  

Moisturizer for combination skin: Seek ingredients like Niacinamide that prevent clogged pores while keeping your skin’s hydration intact.   

Moisturizer for sensitive skin: For sensitive skin, try a cream-based formula replete with soothing and hydrating agents. Case in point, humectant Hyaluronic Acid hydrates, strengthens the lipid barrier and soothes inflammation – making it a good fit for skin prone to flare-ups. 

How To Use Moisturizer   

The technique is as important as finding the best moisturizer for your skin type. Follow these steps to reap the maximum benefits of moisturization.  

1. After cleansing and treatment, take a generous amount of moisturizer and apply it to your face.  

2. Use upward strokes of your fingertips while massaging the cream into your skin. This improves the blood circulation to your skin cells for a renewed glow.  

3. Don’t forget to moisturize your ears, neck, and the décolletage area.

Common Mistakes To Avoid While Using Moisturizer  

Here are the most common mistakes that people commit while using moisturizer   

1. Applying moisturizer to dirty skin traps harmful bacteria, allergens, and irritants in the dermis. This leads to inflammation and other flare-ups on the skin.  

2. Not applying moisturizer at night is a grave oversight in your skincare routine. You see, the lipid barrier is most absorbent at night and dramatically loses water when you’re sleeping. This makes your skin dehydrated and also negatively impacts the cellular repair activities being carried out at this time.  

3. Rubbing the moisturizer too hard on your skin causes more harm than good. Use a gentle hand to apply the moisturizing formula and avoid strain on your skin.

4. If you are erratic with your moisturizer, chances are you won’t get the desired results – no matter how efficacious the formula is.   

5. Don’t forget to moisturize your neck and décolletage area. This prevents premature signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin in and around the area.