Beauty 101: Go Moisturize!

image source: mynaturalbathandbody.com

I've always had dry skin problems and when I was younger (high school young, to be specific), I really don't care about how my skin gets white when you scratch it. A lot of my friends in HS are guys so they don't really care much about these stuff. And, it's fun when I can write stuff on my skin. Moisturize is something I hear from my mom, but didn't really understand it.


When I started being conscious about my skin and how I look, that's when I found out what a moisturizer is. Basically, moisturizers can prevent and treat dry skin. You see, moisturizers hold water in the outermost layer of the skin. That is why it is advisable to use a moisturizer while your skin is still damp.


Since it's best for people with dry skin, does someone with oily skin still needs to moisturize? I bet a lot of you are wondering and been wanting to ask that question. YES, it still needs to moisturize. Oily skins are prone to acne so to help your skin get rid of those pesky acne, you need to use a product which will help remove oil from your skin, you need to use a moisturizer. Well, a moisturizer doesn't just hold the water in your skin but it also serves as a barrier from the environmental conditions which could bring bad stuff on your skin.


What kind of moisturizer should you use?


It always depend on your skin type and what you want. There are moisturizers with high SPF content and is perfect for day-use or those which will whiten your skin for those who want that kind of effect; but it also vary per skin type.

image source: skintreatmentguide.org

For Normal skin, use a water-based moisturizer which will give you a non-greasy feeling to maintain the perfect moisture balance on your skin. Dry skin, on the other hand, should use oil-based moisturizers. These kinds of moisturizer may also contain grape seed oil or dimethicone which will help hydrate your skin. People with oily skin, since this is prone to acne breakouts, may opt to use water-based moisturizers which can protect your skin after washing. Look for those labeled "non-comedogenic" which in lay man's term means it won't clog your pores. For those with sensitive skin, go for those with soothing ingredients such as chamomile or aloe and doesn't have those ingredients which could, potentially, harm your skin like fragrances or dyes. And, avoid products with acid too because it can irritate sensitive skin. For those with mature skin, you may opt to use oil-based moisturizers since your skin, really tends to dry up because the oil-producing glands become less active.


Things to remember:

• Use a separate moisturizer for your face because it's more sensitive than your body. A body moisturizer will just moisturize the skin and may be too strong for other people esp those with acne problems. Plus it also contains heavy amount of fragrances so it instead of pure goodness, it might give you bad stuff.
• During the day, please prefer a moisturizer with a high SPF content to protect your skin. 
• READ THE INGREDIENTS. Nothing beats this reminder, ever! Check if it's really suited for your skin and if you have allergies with the stuff added in the product. Safet first!
• Moisturize your body, face and LIPS! Even at night, make it a habit to moisturize even your lips by using non-tinted lip balm. At day, use a lip balm with SPF and you can use one which doesn't have SPF at night.

image source: anigma-beauty.com

Moisturizing is always the first step in applying makeup and the last step before you go to bed. Remember that it isn't always about concealing everything with your concealer and foundation. It still is best to have a good canvas before starting your makeup, right?

What moisturizer do you use? I will share you mine through a review soon! As for now, hope you can share your thoughts in the comments section below. Till next post! ;)

References:
http://www.indianceleb.com/infopedia/beauty/moisturizing-methods-and-its-benefits
http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/basicskincare.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/moisturizers/SN00042
http://skincare.about.com/od/skincarefaqs/f/facemositurizer.htm