Living in New Zealand where the climate is relatively dry, hardly ever humid, there is a need to maintain hydrated skin. Hydration of the skin is vital as the moisture helps to maintain the natural barrier function of the skin, improve skin appearance by making it feel soft and look smooth.
There’s a common myth with hydration and oily skin. People with oily skin tend to excessively cleanse their skin and avoid putting on any moisturizer or toners to minimize oil production. A big no no. Oil is produced by sebaceous glands which are most prominent on the face and scalp. Lipid is very important for the skin also as this layer helps to retain moisture and protect the skin from bacteria.
By not applying moisturizer it not only strips the skin of moisture, but your sebaceous glands may work even harder to produce oil to hydrate the skin. Avoiding any moisture on the skin is not the solution to oily skin. There are numerous ways to reduce oiliness such as using a gel instead of a cream and mattifying serums. There are huge differences between gels and creams and lotions. I’ll clarify them below so you can find out which one is ideal for you.
Gels – predominantly water based, may contain alcohol which is a drying agent – therefore is highly ideal for people with oily skin. This is also great for people with normal skin who want a lighter moisturiser for the day. A great gel suitable to normal- dry skin is Chanel Hydramax Active Moisture Gel Cream 50mL (RRP: $120 NZD)– this is a mixture of a gel & lotion which is great for day and night wear. Clinique Moisture Surge Gel Cream 75mL (RRP: $110 NZD) is also a great gel moisturiser and is fragrance free too which is suitable to people with sensitive skin. A common face gel seen prescribed by doctors for people with acne proned skin is Differin Gel with the main ingredient – adapalene (a retinoid) which affects the rate at which cells multiply to reduce pimple formation.
Lotion – contains water and oil, but consists of a higher portion of the water component.
Again this would make an excellent choice for daywear as it is light and easy to apply. This would also be ideal for a night use for those with combination/slightly oily skin.A great lotion is Estee Lauder Hydrationist Lotion (RRP:$90 NZD) (suited for normal-combination skin).
Cream – a thicker consistency which means that it has a larger oily component compared with water. This is the most moisturizing of the 3 as the oily component prevents the evaporation of water from the skin.Not really recommended for those with oily skin even at night as it could further block the pores and cause breakouts. A great cream for very dry-dry skin is Chanel Hydramax Nutrition Cream (will be reviewed later) – Only recommended if you have very dry skin/ normal skin and want something very hydrating for night time use.
Mattifying serums contain ingredients to soak up oil. Once you apply these types of serums on you should notice that your skin will feel smoother and less oily almost instantly. It also acts as a really good primer for foundation as it produces this smooth effect.Great matifying serums include – Estee Lauder Pore Minimiser, Clinique Turnaround Serum (will be reviewed later on).
Hope this has given you a decent insight into all the available formulations of moisturisers. There are significant differences, so pick the right one for your skin.
I’ll be doing a post on other skin conditions such as acne, ezcema and face treatments soon.
❤ Michelle
Fishing For Fashion 