Kailey Strachan for E! OnlineMost celebrities know that flawless skin doesn't only come from a jar. How we use our moisturizer is just as important as the product itself. How much product is used, how it's applied and when can make a big difference on your skin!
Not wearing face cream at all might be the first step to getting it wrong.
Some people just don't think wearing face cream is important so they choose to skip it. Others don't wear it because they have oily skin or breakouts and think that moisturizers exacerbate the problem. Then there are those who just simply forget to put it on entirely.
Skin is 30 percent water and lipids. One of its functions is to protect its lower layers. Having hydrated skin is important because when it's not, it can feel tight and uncomfortable and become cracked or flaky, creating fissures and leaving lower skin layers exposed to bacteria and possible infection.
Wearing face cream is important because it helps to seal in moisture with emollient ingredients and can help draw in moisture from the air with humectant properties.
Oily skin is a symptom of dehydrated skin. The skin will try to over-compensate dryness by producing more sebum.
Sebum is the waxy substance that helps keep skin protected and waterproof. Not wearing face cream because you confuse sebum with moisture or water content can keep you at risk for the negative and harmful effects of dry skin.
That is why wearing a good face cream is all the more important for oily skin; it helps to slow oil production and keeps it hydrated!
If you simply forget to wear your moisturizer, try putting it on after you wash your face. Having it on the sink or in an obvious location might help you remember to apply.
Most skin types fall into the dry, oily or combination categories. Dry skin needs extra hydration, oily skin needs to focus on oil-free products, while combination skin has a wider range of options. Some people have sensitive skin and are unable to use products that have fragrances.
Aside from skin types, there are skin concerns and goals that include things like minimizing hyperpigmentation or smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
One of the biggest skin goals is to look younger. If this is your goal, find a moisturizer that can penetrate deep into the skin's surface to speed up the cell renewal process. Using a face cream like Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream would be a good choice because of its unique delivery system, proteins and antioxidants, which are known to help with cell renewal.
When you actually do get around to putting on your face cream, more is not the merrier.
Using more doesn't provide more moisture; it provides more product than the skin can absorb. This is a road straight to clogged pores and possible breakouts. With the proper application method, a quarter-sized amount should do the job.
Here is a method for properly applying moisturizer to the face.
1. Wash your hands to help reduce bacteria and contaminates that can get into your product. Clean hands can also limit the spread of said bacteria and pathogens on the skin.
2. Take a quarter-sized amount of cream and warm it in the hands. Spread it over the palms about two to three times. This helps give an even application when you put your hands to the face.
3. Start at the cheeks before spreading cream to the forehead, chin and neck.
4. Yeah, don't forget the neck.
5. Remember to keep it light-handed and move in upward strokes. Be even gentler around the eye area.
6. Twice a day every day, wash and moisturize the face.
If you're the type of person who loves to get home and lather up your face with your freshly bought cream, you might want to chill on that. Try patch testing new products on your forearm. You never know if you're allergic to one magic ingredient.
Getting moisturizer right doesn't need to be a song and dance. Integrating these suggestions into your routine can make a big difference in how you take care of your skin and an even a bigger difference in how your skin takes care of you.