Facial gel moisturizers: Are they right for your skin?

Pop quiz: What are the two most common ingredients that make up a good moisturizer? Water and oil. This answer may seem deceptively simple, but let’s explore it a little further.

Leather 101

The upper layer of our skin, called stratum corneum, should be at least 10% water to look and feel healthy — although 20-30% is ideal. But water, as we know, evaporates easily. There it likes other ingredients emollients, humectants and occlusives Often made from oil, these ingredients act as a barrier or sealant to lock moisture into cells to stop water from evaporating. And a well-hydrated stratum corneum can absorb up to six times its weight in water, plumping the skin beautifully. Water also interacts with enzymes to help the skin shed dead cells regularly. Without water, dead cells build up on the skin, making it red, cracked and rough. Skin that is not properly hydrated can develop cracks and become itchy, scaly and even painful. So moisturizing is essential after your daily skin cleansing routine, but how do you know which one is best for your skin type? Let’s break it down into two categories of moisturizers—gels and creams—and weigh their pros and cons.

Gel moisturizing creams | Cream Moisturizing creams | Dry skin | Oily skin | Combination skins | Sensitive skin | Normal Skin

What are moisturizing gels?

Moisturizers with face gel they’re light and water-based (and sometimes oil-free…more on that later). They make a nice, smooth base for makeup and feel cool and refreshing when applied to the skin. Absorbent with a non-greasy texture, gel moisturisers are ideal for oily or combination skin that doesn’t necessarily need topical added oil. If your skin is prone to dehydration, the moisturizing properties of moisturizing gels make them ideal – they draw water from the surrounding air as well as draw moisture from deeper into the skin itself, aka the dermis.

What are moisturizers?

Thick and oil-based in composition, creams are intensely moisturizing and seal in moisture better and longer-lasting than gels. They can leave an oily residue, which isn’t ideal if your skin is already on the oily side. Creams are often also fortified with nutritious, emollient ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, which soothe and soften rough, dry skin. This can be especially important if you live in a place with long, cold winters.

What is the right moisturizer for your skin type?

Dry

If you have dry skin, oil-free face gels are probably not the best choice. As mentioned above, they are not as effective a barrier to moisture loss as creams. Look for nourishing creams with luxurious emollients, like shea butter, that make your skin smoother. A good choice for the day is the Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40. Formulated with larch tree, a moisturizing ingredient that protects the skin from dehydration, and antioxidant-rich lilikoi seed oil, this combination of SPF and moisturizer protects and improves the appearance of dry skin in one step.

While moisturizers are great for dry skin, they aren’t necessarily the best choice for oilier skin. Light facial gel moisturizers are better choices for skin that’s on the oily side, and a good general choice is Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Moisturizer. This vegan gel-cream contains Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex, a blend of hyaluronic acid and marshmallow root that intensely hydrates and retains moisture in the skin. This formula is also made with plant sugars that optimize the skin’s moisture reserve. Another hydrating gel to try is Mangosteen’s cool, lightweight moisturizing gel. It melts into your skin, infusing it with ingredients like mangosteen fruit extract and pore-minimizing red clover flower extract.

One strategy is to choose gel moisturizers for oily parts of the face and moisturizers for dry patches. But if treating spots on different areas of the face seems a little high maintenance, the Bakuchiol + Niacinamide Moisturizer is a good choice for combination skin and aging skin. In addition to bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol, this moisturizer contains niacinamide, which supports the skin’s barrier, and panthenol, which hydrates and prevents moisture loss. happy customer, Emily B.says in a review on our website: “Feels hydrated and glowing all day AND the consistency is great under makeup…I’ve been getting compliments on my skin all week!”

Moisturizers with gentle formulas and minimal fragrance should be your passion if you have sensitive skin. The Apricot Calendula Nourishing Cream contains apricot, which replenishes the skin’s barrier, while linseed hydrates, moisturizes and lubricates. Echinacea Revitalizing Recovery Cream is another good choice for sensitive skin types. Moisturizes with complementary herb yarrow and evening primrose oil. Or try Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer, which is formulated with calendula oil and grape leaf extract, plus skin barrier-enhancing shea butter and protective sunflower, chamomile and arnica oils.

If you don’t have problem skin, then choose a gel or cream that suits your other skin needs. You may want a moisturizer with age-defying ingredients that plump, firm or heal your skin like Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer. Or, if you spend a lot of time in the sun, a two-in-one moisturizer with SPF like Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40 is a good daytime option, while Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer makes a great night cream. . Don’t forget, you can always choose more than one moisturizer, adapting your ritual to your skin’s changing needs from moment to moment.