Like cleansers and sunscreens, facial moisturizers are daily essentials for all skin types, not just dry skin. While moisturizers hydrate, the right cream can repair the skin’s barrier function, restore firmness, soften texture, smooth fine lines, and more.
With so many formulas to choose from (light gel, face oil, skin cream?), it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is right for your skin. Below we explain the different types of moisturizers and how to use them.
Applying Moisturizer. Let’s start with the basics. Everyone can benefit from moisturizing twice a day: once in your morning skincare routine and once before bed.
Depending on your preference, you can use the same formula twice or opt for a thicker formula in the evening, as skin loses moisture overnight.
Moisturizer should be one of the last steps in your skincare routine, after serums and treatments and before sunscreen and facial oils (if desired). Warm a peanut-sized amount of the formula in your hands and gently massage into your skin in circular motions to allow the product to absorb.
Be careful not to pull or strain your skin. If you want to apply sunscreen or makeup afterward, let the formula sit for a few minutes first.
The Best Moisturizer for Your Skin Type. Not all moisturizers are created equal, and some may work better for you than others depending on your skin type, concerns, and goals. Find the right solution for your skin below.
Oily Skin. Oily skin is genetically predisposed to produce too much sebum (a waxy substance that keeps moisture in the skin), so adding more moisture can seem counterintuitive, especially if you’re prone to oiliness and shine. While oily skin
is never dry (lacking fat), it can be dehydrated (lacking moisture).
This is more common than you think, especially since oily skin tends to prefer formulas that absorb excess sebum, like the clay in our cleansing masks. (That’s why we always recommend moisturizing your skin after applying a mask or face scrub.)
When skin is dehydrated, it signals the body to produce more sebum to compensate for the loss of moisture, which can clog pores and cause acne. To find the perfect balance, nourish your skin with a hydrating, lightweight gel formula like our Dewy Moisturizing Gel Cream.
It contains sodium hyaluronate (which has similar properties to hyaluronic acid and can bind 1,000 times its weight in water) and aloe leaf juice to hydrate the skin without weighing it down.
Dry skin. Dry skin naturally produces less sebum, which means dry skin is always searching for moisture, moisture, moisture. If your skin is dry, follow up with a moisturizer that’s naturally thick and rich in skin-nourishing oils, like jojoba oil, squalane (found in our Rich Moisturizer), and black currant seed oil. If it’s very dry, apply a facial oil afterward.
Remember: Skin can become dry and dehydrated. If you find moisturizer isn’t enough, add a drop or two of Hyaluronic Acid Serum Booster to your moisturizer before applying. Do you have dry elbows or knees? Hydrate the skin under your chin with Keep It Suple Body Oil.
Combination skin. Dry in some places, oily in others…combination skin can be a challenge when it comes to moisturizers. One way to go is to use a lighter formula on oily areas and a richer lotion or balm on dry areas to keep the skin hydrated.
If that’s a little too complicated for you, opt for a hybrid like our Antioxidant Oil Serum. It’s both moisturizing and hydrating, offering the best of both worlds in one bottle.
Acne-prone skin. Acne-prone skin can also be dry, oily, or a combination of both. Choose the type that best suits your moisturizing and hydrating needs, and be aware of the term “non-comedogenic.” This means the formula
is proven not to clog pores, which is something people with acne-prone skin should definitely avoid.
Dewy spots are non-comedogenic. The non-comedogenic ingredients in our Hydrating Plumping Mask, including tea tree oil, squalane, and rosehip oil, also provide moisture.
Aging Skin As we age, our skin produces less oil
Dryness worsens, and fine lines and wrinkles become more noticeable. Lack of moisture also weakens the skin barrier, allowing external invaders like pollution and UV rays to cause oxidative stress (aka damage).
To support aging skin, add a night cream to your routine. Our skin goes into repair mode overnight, releasing growth hormones, stimulating collagen production, and shedding old skin cells. A Night Cream Like Recovery Mode
Advanced night creams support these functions while preventing moisture loss, reducing fine lines, and smoothing wrinkle structure.
Don’t forget the rest of your body. Retinol moisturizers relieve dryness, firm skin, and repair age spots. Dull Skin + Uneven Skin Tone Worth a note: Dull skin is a common byproduct of dehydration.
If quenching your skin’s thirst isn’t exactly refreshing (or maybe you’re also suffering from hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone), opt for a vitamin C moisturizer that brightens and hydrates at the same time. For a rounded glow
and moisture barrier support, try our Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Moisturizers. With 2.5% vitamin C, you’ll see visible results without the irritation (a common side effect of traditional vitamin C). For more radiant skin
You can also use luminous glow drops; their polyglutamic acid is also four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid.
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.
