Are You Using the Wrong Moisturizer?

Skincare routines can vary from person to person, but most routines involve a moisturizer. Moisturizing is such an important step in any skincare routine. Normal, dry, oily, and combination skin all require proper moisturization. Using moisturizer seems simple enough…you buy one and rub it on your skin. Well, it turns out this is the one main mistake most people make when it comes to moisturizing and hydrating skin. While it's important to quench your skin's thirst after cleansing, simply slathering on just any cream or lotion isn't good enough. If you're using moisturizer more than once a day, you want to make sure that it's helping your skin and not hurting it. If you've been noticing changes in your skin, even if you've been following the same skincare routine for years, you may need to change up your moisturizer.

Listen to your skin. Select a moisturizer developed with your skin type and where you live in mind, and make proper adjustments in your routine as necessary. Here are 5 warning signs that you're using the wrong moisturizer and tips for how to prevent and correct them.

Know Your Skin Type

It's important to know your skin type and adjust your moisturizer or skincare routine as necessary in order to have the best results. Skin type refers to the skin characteristics you were born with. The amount of oil you produce, pore size, the degree to which your skin can pigment or burn, skin elasticity, how fast you wrinkle, sensitivity issues, how you scar…these characteristics make you different from others. These differences are due to genetics, your ethnicity, and race. The main point to consider is that different skin types have different needs and will respond to products differently. Your sunscreen, moisturizer, and other anti-aging products will work best if they are formulated for your skin type. For example, if your skin tends to be oily, select a moisturizer made for oily skin. This is important because no one product works for everyone. Maybe you have acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or very sensitive skin. All of these factors play a role in the skincare routine you follow.

Your skin changes with seasons, geographic location, and unfortunately, age. Most often, people's skin will become drier with age, so even if the skincare routine made for oily or normal skin has worked your whole life, you will probably have to switch out your products over the years. When picking a moisturizer, be sure to remember the weather outside. If it's hot and humid, go with a lighter formula. When winter comes around, you will need more hydration, so that's when you want to use a thicker moisturizer. Regardless of the season, in the morning, a moisturizer should be a broad spectrum sunscreen. At night, skip the sunscreen and use an anti-aging moisturizer with a retinoid in it. If your skin can't tolerate any retinoid serum or cream, then use a moisturizer with an antioxidant such as resveratrol, green tea, or vitamin C at night.

Make sure you treat one skin concern at a time. Give sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks to work. Then look at your skin. No one product can treat all signs of aging or all skin issues. Have realistic expectations. Unrealistic expectations such as wanting to look 10 years younger overnight or quickly reduce all signs of aging are too good to be true. It's important to remember that anti-aging moisturizers are not miracle cures. However, proper selection of a safe and effective skincare routine for your individual skin type is so important for maintenance.

5 Reasons You May be Using the Wrong Moisturizer

Here are 5 main reasons your moisturizer may not be the right one for you:

Skin redness or rashes: There are different reasons you are experiencing a rash or redness. You might have sensitive skin. As always, seek a dermatologist's opinion to discover the cause. You may have a rash because you're allergic to an ingredient in your moisturizer, or you need to switch to one that’s fragrance-free. Retinoids and hydroxy acids are great for anti-aging and many individuals (I for one swear by them), but these ingredients can be irritating and may not be best for sensitive skin types. Sometimes people assume seborrheic dermatitis for very dry skin, so they over moisturize to heal it, which can cause more problems if you're not using the right moisturizer for your skin type. Or maybe you have oily skin and rosacea. Well, even though your skin is oily, rosacea improves by decreasing transepidermal water loss due to breaks in skin by replenishing ceramides in the skin. You would do this by applying ceramide-containing moisturizers to your skin.

Dry skin: A feeling of tightness is the first sign of dryness. Makeup that looks cracked on your skin is another sign of dry skin. Peeling or dry spots that are darker in color than the rest of your face are major signs that your skin needs moisturizer. Although you should exfoliate 2-3 times a week to get rid of dead skin cells, be sure you're not exfoliating too much or too harsh, which can contribute to continued dryness. If your skin is still extremely dry after applying the current moisturizer you are using, then it's time for you to use a different moisturizer and/or add a hydration serum or cream to your routine that contains hyaluronic acid in it.

Acne and breakouts: Some men and women are more prone to acne, while others are not. If you suffer from regular breakouts, whether it's blackheads, whiteheads, hormonal acne, or cystic acne, then the skincare products you'll need vary greatly from the ones that a person without persistent acne needs. Although your instinct may be to dry out your acne by not using any moisturizer at all, oily and acne-prone skin still needs consistency and moisture. If you're experiencing breakouts, look for light moisturizers, serums, or gel creams that are water-based rather than oil-based. Look for products that are formulated to fight pimples and blemishes. That goes for a facial cleanser, toner, sunscreen, moisturizer, spot treatments, and exfoliators. Find a brand or products that contain acne-fighting ingredients that work best for your skin.

Oily skin: Oily skin is genetic, but you can accidentally give yourself oily or oilier skin with the wrong skincare routine. You can also have dehydrated AND oily skin. But don't start overloading your skin with product after product after product to deal with the oil. You should be using water-based rather than oil-based moisturizers for oily skin as well. Natural sebum doesn't moisturize your skin that well for you to go without using a moisturizer. For dehydrated skin, humectants (i.e. hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea, butylene glycol, etc.) and occlusives (i.e. jojoba oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, lanolin, petroleum jelly, etc.) are the way to go, but if your skin is oily, keep the occlusives to evening use only. For oily skin, you may want to try using products that contain ingredients such as niacinamide, saw palmetto, retinoids, and clay masks too.

Little white bumps: If you're seeing little clusters of white bumps on your face, it's not acne. These white bumps are most likely milia. Milia is not an alarming skin condition, but you should see a dermatologist to help you get your skin back on track. Some of the most common causes of milia are oil-based skincare products, heavy creams, hormonal changes, genetics, sun damage, some medications, and not enough exfoliation. Don't try to pop milia yourself. The biggest side effect of using the wrong moisturizer is developing milia on your face in random areas. This is very common if you're using a body moisturizer on your face but can also happen with moisturizers that are too heavy. To help you prevent milia formation in the first place, skip using rich creams and oil-based products, protect your skin from the sun, keep your hands away from your face, and gently exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week.

Hopefully these warning signs that you're using the wrong moisturizer will cause you to reevaluate or update your skincare routine. You're the best judge on whether a product agrees with your skin since you live in it 24/7. Chances are you're going to stick with products that make your skin look and feel good. So find something that works best for you and where you're seeing results along the way and tweak your routine as necessary. However, remember to always see a dermatologist for a professional opinion if you notice drastic changes in your skin that seem more concerning than just using the wrong moisturizer.