Are You Using Your Moisturiser Correctly?
Well the temperatures have plummeted here in the south east, instinctively you may reach for the moisturiser that offers an ocean’s worth of hydration. Anything to keep your skin comfortable throughout the festive chill. But would it ruin your day if I told you that you could be applying your moisturiser completely wrong! In today’s post I’ll share with you some tips on how to get the most out of your moisturiser!
How do I apply moisturiser?
Whether you’re new to skincare or a veteran, chances are you may have found that sometimes your moisturiser just isn’t cutting it for your skin concerns, this may be a result of not applying it in the right places or perhaps too much. The best way to apply moisturiser is to use 10p size amount of product, blob some product on your forehead, cheeks, chin and neck. Gently smooth the product into your skin remember to more in upwards motions, it’s the easiest way to keep gravity sagging effects away for as long as possible, you can then finish off by patting the skin remember to take the product down the neck onto your décolletage as these are the areas that show the first signs of aging with lines and wrinkles becoming visible.
You can use moisturiser as eye cream, if you don’t have sensitive skin or eyes than you can apply face moisturiser on your under eye along the orbital bone of the eye socket. Use your ring finger to ensure no unnecessary pressure and tugging on the delicate, thin skin around the eyes. Be careful not to take the cream too high on the eye area as this could overload the skin making it sore and develop small white bumps called Milia.
When should you apply moisturiser?
It’s best to use moisturiser in the morning and evening at bedtime. By using it twice a day you will find it replenishes the skin and restores the comfort back keeping the water and oil levels in your skin balanced and looking healthy!
For the day you need to remember to apply SPF to keep your skin safe in the sun, even on overcast days the sun’s UV rays are still present and UVA can penetrate through glass causing premature ageing to the skin. If you wanted your moisturiser to have an SPF aim for a factor no less than 30 as this gives you 3 hours worth of protection, reapplying sun factor throughout the day is ideal, but understandably tricky for some. Using a spray on face SPF is a quick and easy way of staying sun safe.
When it comes to the evening, you obviously don’t need to worry about your moisturiser having SPF, in fact using a product containing sun factor will clog the pores and cause breakouts if slept in. Night moisturiser is generally thicker than its daytime teammate, this usually means there’s a larger amount of antioxidants, pollution fighting and restoring ingredients, replenishing the skin whilst you sleep. In the morning your skin should feel tacky still, comfortable and hydrated.
How do I know my moisturiser is working?
You will know your moisturiser is working from how comfortable your skin will feel throughout the day. The job of a moisturiser is to balance the skin’s water and oil levels in the skin and overall health and appearance of the skin. Any ageing or other concerns are usually better targeted using serums and other products.
If you find you still feel tight and dry or maybe overly oily, then it’s a good idea to double check your moisturiser is the best suited to your skin. Remember even if you have an oily skin type it’s still best to use a moisturiser as even oily skin becomes dehydrated and applying moisturiser will help restore the skin’s balance.
If you experience a rash or irritated skin this could be a reaction to the ingredients included in the formulas, or the application has been too vigorous for the skin, if the rash or reaction persists stop using the product and seek professional advice from your GP.
Can you apply too much moisturiser?
You can have too much of a good thing, drowning your face in a moisturiser could in fact have the opposite results and cause the skin to break out and become congested. After applying your moisturiser your skin should still remain a little tacky to the touch, allow the product to fully absorb into the skin before applying any makeup.
The prices of moisturisers vary a great deal, from under £10 to well over £100, if however you are using too much each time (more than a 10p piece) not only will it mean you will be spending a fortune on new pots, but it will alter the results for your skin meaning your moisturiser won’t be able to do it’s job!
Pre and Post Flight Benefits
If you are planning a trip, be it long haul or short the intense drying effects the cabin air has on the skin is remarkable! To prevent your skin becoming extremely dehydrated apply a highly hydrating water enriched gel moisturiser will keep your skin comfortable and not overloaded with heavy formulas. Throughout the flight you may want to reapply the moisturiser or even able a nourishing face mask to ensure moisture is locked into the skin.
There you have some advice on moisturising, you will surprised how many of us make these simple mistakes, easily rectified and you will find that you skin is looking healthy, glowing and plump. Ensuring you use your moisturiser properly will also stop any wastage or outbreaks of spots, clogged pores, milia or congested skin. It will also save you some money, which is always a good idea, especially with Christmas just around the corner!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
