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Taking care of your skin is like dealing with life’s curveballs. Sometimes it’s oily, sometimes it’s sensitive, other times it’s just plain confusing.
But, moisturizing your face has never been easier, particularly with the help of this complete guide.
With this guide, you will learn how to moisturize your face, what is a face moisturizer and the benefits of moisturizing your skin face.
So, if you want to master the art of face moisturizing, keep reading our guide.
What is a face moisturizer?
A face moisturizer is a skincare product that hydrates and nourishes facial skin, helping to maintain a healthy, radiant complexion.
A moisturizer prevents your skin from losing water and helps it retain the moisture it already holds.
In sum, a moisturizer is critical to ensure proper and effective face moisturizing.
The benefits of moisturizing the facial skin
- Hydration: Moisturizers replenish essential moisture, preventing dryness and maintaining skin’s natural balance.
- Softness: Regular use leaves skin feeling smoother and softer to the touch.
- Barrier protection: They create a protective barrier, locking in moisture and shielding skin from environmental stressors.
- Anti-aging: Many moisturizers contain ingredients that help combat signs of aging, like fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles under the eyes.
- Even skin tone: They can promote an even complexion and reduce redness or discoloration.
- Acne & breakout prevention: Properly moisturized skin is less likely to overcompensate by producing excess oil, which can lead to acne.
- Improved texture: Moisturizing can enhance skin texture, making it look and feel more youthful.
- Anti-irritation: They can calm and soothe irritated or sensitive skin, providing relief from discomfort.
- Confidence: Well-moisturized skin looks healthier and can boost your confidence in your appearance.
Related content: The best neck moisturizers for turkey neck.
How to moisturize your face in 12 steps
Moisturizing is a crucial step in anyone’s skincare routine. So, if you want to learn how to moisturize your face, keep reading our guide.
Time needed: 10 minutes
This 12 step-by-step is an effective way to moisturize your facial skin:
- Cleanse your face
Start by washing your face with a facial cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and impurities. This step is critical to prepare your skin for moisturization and enhance its results.
- Pat your face dry
Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel. Avoid harsh rubbing, as it can irritate the skin which is something that we want to avoid.
- Apply a Toner
If you want to use a facial toner, apply it now. Toners help balance the skin’s pH levels and can enhance the absorption of moisturizer.
- Dispense the moisturizer
Take a pea-sized amount of moisturizer onto your fingertips. You can adjust the amount based on your skin’s needs. Note: Make sure you are applying the best facial moisturizer for your skin type.
- Warm the product
Rub your fingertips together to warm the moisturizer slightly. This makes it easier to apply evenly and get better results.
- Apply in sections
Start by applying the moisturizer to your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. These are typically the areas that need it most. By doing this, you ensure that you will cover every inch of your face skin.
- Massage in upward motions
Use gentle, upward strokes to apply the moisturizer. This promotes circulation and helps to prevent sagging over time.
- Don’t forget your neck
Extend the application down to your neck and décolletage. These areas are often neglected but also need hydration. If you want to have the best skincare routine, we advise you to use a specific neck cream.
- Under the eyes
Now, it’s the perfect time to apply an eye cream. Gently pat it around the eye area using your ring finger.
- Allow it to absorb
Give the moisturizer a few minutes to fully absorb into your skin.
- Sunscreen (Daytime)
In the morning, follow up with a broad-spectrum face sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Apply sunscreen all year from winter to summer.
- Reapply as needed
If your skin feels dry during the day or night, don’t hesitate to reapply moisturizer. If you are moisturizing your skin at the end of the day, it might be a good idea to apply a night cream to improve your skin’s hydration and texture.
Remember, consistency is key. Moisturizing daily, both in the morning and at night, can help maintain healthy, hydrated skin.
Adjust the type of moisturizer you use based on your skin type and any specific concerns you have.
After this guide, you may have some questions related to this process. So, let’s help you with that!
Read our post and find out what skincare products should be refrigirated.
Should you moisturize on a wet or dry face?
You should moisturize your face skin when it’s dry, but not too dry.
You know when you’re fresh out of the shower or you just washed your face with your favorite face washer and it is in that in-between stage, not too wet, not too dry? This is when you want to apply moisturizer.
Think of your face as a sponge. If a sponge is already damp, it will absorb better whatever you put on it. Well, it’s the same for your skin! Plus, you will take advantage of all the hydration you have left from the shower and lock it in!
How often should you moisturize your face?
Twice a day. It is like the perfect amount of hydration for your skin.
But if your skin is too dry, give it a little extra care with an overnight mask or a hydrating face sheet mask to give an extra boost.
When should I moisturize my face?
Ideally, you moisturize your skin twice a day. You can do it before you leave home and before going to bed.
How long do I leave moisturizer on?
You should leave the moisturizer on your skin for at least 1 to 2 minutes before applying other products. This way, you allow it to absorb properly and nourish your skin.
As we said, if you’re applying other skincare products, such as face serums, treatments, or sunscreens, wait for the moisturizer to fully absorb before proceeding with the next step. This ensures that each product has a chance to do its job effectively.
Also, be aware of those labels stating that one moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated for 48 hours. We advise you to wash your face twice a day, so despite what’s stated on those labels, your skin should be moisturized every time you wash your face – ideally, twice a day.
How can I correctly choose the best moisturizer for me?
Well, the first step, and probably the most important is to identify your skin type.
More dry skin requires a thicker and richer textured cream with more occlusive ingredients like petrolatum or dimethicone. On the other hand, a more oily to combination skin can go for a more lightweight moisturizer. Yes, even oily skin requires moisturizing. Make no mistake, every skin does!
Be aware that your skin needs may change depending on the seasons so you may need richer textures in winter and lighter ones in summer, regardless of your skin type.
Read also: The best face moisturizers for any skin type.
How often should I wash my face?
Twice a day. It is a good commitment between time and skin health.
Try not to exceed twice a day to prevent you from stripping all the natural oils that your skin needs, which can lead to dehydrated skin, therefore compromising your skin barrier. You don’t want that, trust us!
While washing your skin, please, remember to be gentle! Gentle moves will clean your face just fine, don’t worry!
Also, be careful about the water’s temperature. Please ensure it is not too hot nor too cold as extreme water temperature can lead to dehydrated and sensitized skin.
You can even go for a facial scrub now and then, to free your skin from dead skin cells and enhance the penetration of your moisturizer (not daily though, be careful not to overdo it).
TIP: Melt the facial scrub on your hands first, so it won’t be so harsh, and gently massage it for at least 30 seconds. Then rinse it off and apply your favorite moisturizer!
Is there a difference between a day and a night cream?
Well, it all comes down to ingredients. You don’t necessarily need separate day and night creams.
Day creams often contain SPF, which protects your skin from harmful UV rays during the daytime, but is not needed at night!
On the other hand, some night creams contain active ingredients, such as retinol, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, or others, which may irritate the skin during the day by reacting to sun exposure. These are perfect for acting on your skin during the night
How can I hydrate my face overnight?
To hydrate your face overnight, you can follow the process that we showed you above. To get better results, apply a night cream instead of a day cream moisturizer.
To elevate your skincare routine, you can even go for an overnight mask to enhance your skin’s hydration levels.
Should you sleep with moisturizer on your face?
Yes. Night moisturizers help your skin recover and regenerate while you sleep.
How can I moisturize my face naturally?
Aloe vera gel is a great way to moisturize your face naturally. It’s soothing and moisturizing without any harmful chemicals.
And if you’re feeling extra “au naturel,” remember that although coconut oil and olive oil are like the dynamic duo of natural moisturizers, they can both lead to clogged pores, so be aware of that too.
But be cautious as DIY skincare can usually go very wrong. If it’s not handled correctly or safely stored it can go bad and do worse than good to your skin.
So, we advise you to stick to skincare products that are safely formulated to address your skin concerns.
If you want a more natural formula with no preservatives or harsh ingredients on it, you might be interested in our vegan skincare range.
You don’t have to necessarily go all-natural to have that in your routine.
TIP: A good alternative is to choose a K-beauty moisturizer. Read our post and get to know the best korean skincare moisturizers.
When should you apply makeup?
After applying sunscreen. Basically, you need to follow the step-by-step that we showed before and add an extra final step – applying the makeup.
Conclusion
Now, you know everything about moisturizing your face: the right way to do it, when do to it, how often, and what you should avoid.
Achieving healthy, nourished skin through proper moisturization is not only essential but can also be an enjoyable part of your daily routine.
It will improve skin hydration, make your skin glowy and dewy, and improve the look of your makeup on your skin, while at the same time preventing your skin from aging.
Related content: Top-rated facial moisturizing creams for mature skin.
Listen to what your skin needs and you’ll be just fine. Once you see the results, you will be completely hooked on skincare!
And, one more time: remember, consistency is key. Moisturizing daily, both in the morning and at night, can help maintain healthy, hydrated skin.
If you are not seeing any skin improvements or if it is getting worse, please, visit a dermatologist to ensure you are doing the best for your skin.