Here's why moisturizing your face is a skincare must-do
It seems like everywhere you turn today you can spot an ad for skincare. There’s an enormous variety of cleansers, exfoliators, and moisturizers.
The cleansers and exfoliants are pretty explicit about what their purposes are in your skincare routine, but what about moisturizer? Why is it important to moisturize your skin if it’s already clean?
Why is Moisturizing Important?
Moisturizing is an important step to maintain your skin’s healthy cells and to protect it from irritation. People who moisturize faithfully in their youth are much more likely to have beautiful complexions when they're older.
Moisturizing your skin is important to help prevent further breakouts. When your skin is dry and irritated, it actually causes breakouts and acne. By moisturizing your skin, you can reduce your chances of any skin problems arising. Facial moisturizers help balance your skin’s complexion and prevents acne breakouts. And moisturizing isn't just for women — it's an important habit for men to incorporate into their daily routine as well.
What Kinds of Moisturizers Are There?
There are plenty of different varieties of moisturizers that match your skin type. Whether you need an oil-free lotion or a richer cream, finding the best face moisturizer for your needs can be pain-free and easy.
If you’re able to find a moisturizer that helps protect against harmful UV rays, you’ll be in an even better spot. UV rays are prone to damaging your skin cells, which results in dry, flaky skin and blemishes. If you’re able to protect your skin before going out, you’re more likely to have more healthy and youthful skin.
What Happens if I Don't Moisturize?
One effect of not moisturizing your skin is your complexion becoming more splotchy. Your skin’s health depends on being clean and retaining moisture, so the healthier your skin is the more vibrant your complexion will be.
Hot water, elemental damage, and dry air in your house are all examples of conditions that can cause your skin to dry out. Putting facial moisturizer on your skin after you get out of the shower helps lock in the moisture.
Applying right after the shower also helps protect your skin from the elements. When your skin is lacking moisture, it fails to regenerate cells. This leads to the overproduction of sebum and dry or flaky skin. But when your skin is hydrated and healthy, your skin can regenerate cells, leaving you with a glowing complexion.
When we age, our sebum glands lose their efficiency which causes an overproduction of oil. By using moisturizers at a younger age, you’re minimizing your chance of aging signs as you get older. Moisturizing your skin is important because it helps you age with minimal evidence.
Although there are some products that specialize in reversing signs of aging, it’s much more effective to work proactively. By putting the effort in when you're younger, you'll have better results when you're older.
Wrinkles and lines are consequences of not properly moisturizing in your youth. While you may still end up with these signs, it’ll be at a fraction of what it would have been. Working to keep your cells healthy will benefit you in the long run.
How Do I Properly Moisturize?
Applying your moisturizer the correct way is crucial, and there are certain moisturizing mistakes to avoid. Aggressively rubbing your skin is damaging, and not using the right amount can make your lotion ineffective.
When you apply your moisturizer, pat the lotion into your skin instead of rubbing. This helps distribute the product evenly without damage to your skin cells. It’s beneficial to apply to all areas that show aging such as your face, neck, and chest.
Applying with upward strokes helps work against gravity and discourages your skin from sagging. Using gentle, circular strokes also helps reduce puffiness and evenly distributes the product. Think of it as a facial massage and you'll have the added benefit of it being a relaxing process.
The Bottom Line
Moisturizing is a step that many people leave out of their skincare routine, because they see it as an optional step. But this couldn’t be farther from the case. Throughout history, folks have understood the importance of moisturizing.
Making sure your skin cells are well hydrated will help with prevent breakouts and ensure beautiful skin in the future. Since moisturizers are meant to be soaked into the skin and not washed off, it's one of the easiest steps in a skincare regime.
Many of the best facial moisturizers contain vitamins and other beneficial ingredients, which is an added bonus for your skin. Taking care of your skin is crucial when it comes to self love, and using moisturizer to keep your skin healthy is important for your skin care routine.
So next time you step out of the shower and prepare for your day, do yourself a favor and grab a facial moisturizer and rub it in. You’ll be thanking yourself years in the future when your wrinkles are practically non-existent.
Resources — Burke Williams Spa, Considerable, Floral Skin
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