How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin Type: 6 Expert Tips
Choosing the right moisturizer can make a significant difference in how your skin looks and feels. The best moisturizer for you depends on more than whether your skin is dry or oily—your skin concerns, age, environment, daily routine, and even the time of day can all influence what your skin needs. Here are six things to consider when choosing a moisturizer that's right for your skin.
We offer five different facial products that you can use on your skin as a moisturizer – they differ in texture, ingredients, and thus benefits. Here are some things to consider as you look for the best one.
1. Start With Your Skin Type
Are you balanced, oily, or dry? Not sure? Here’s a good place to start: Splash some lukewarm water on your face as though you were rinsing post cleansing. Pat yourself dry. Do nothing else for the next two minutes but feel your skin – is it tight? Is it comfortable? If the former, you are dry. If the latter, you are balanced to oily. A dryer or dehydrated skin type will need more moisture (thicker cream), versus a balanced or oilier skin type, which will need less moisture (lighter cream).
And remember - dry and dehydrated skin are not the same: dry skin produces less oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water—and even oily skin can become dehydrated. Learn more about the difference here.
2. Consider Your Skin Concerns
Redness and sensitivity: Look for soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients that support the skin barrier.
Blemishes and breakouts: Choose lightweight, non-heavy hydration and ingredients that help calm and balance skin.
Fine lines and wrinkles: Look for richer hydration, antioxidants and ingredients that support firmness and elasticity.
Dullness: Look for antioxidant-rich formulas that support a brighter, healthier-looking complexion.
3. Include SPF
No ifs or buts, January 1 to December 31. Sun (UV) is the number one culprit in environmental skin aging, so applying an SPF every day will ensure that you age more gracefully. Whether your morning moisturizer contains SPF or you apply a separate sunscreen afterward, sun protection should be the final step of your morning skincare routine. UV exposure contributes significantly to premature visible skin aging, including fine lines, wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.
4. Think About What You're Layering on Top
Are you a minimalist makeup wearer (think mascara and lipstick)? Or do you wear concealer, foundation, and powder? Typically, the more layers of product you apply on your skin (including makeup products), the lighter you want your moisturizer to be. Consider the rest of your morning routine when selecting your moisturizer.
5. Do You Need a Different Morning and Night Moisturizer?
Not necessarily. If your moisturizer works well for your skin, you can absolutely use the same formula morning and evening. However, many people prefer a lighter moisturizer during the day and a richer formula at night, when there is no need to layer sunscreen or makeup on top. Keep in mind that a moisturizer with SPF should only be used in the morning. Otherwise, any of our moisturizers and be layered or combined as your skin needs.
6. Adjust Your Moisturizer With Age and the Seasons
As we age, our sebaceous glands slow their production of natural sebum, hence our skin gets dryer. While a weightless moisturizer may have been your best friend in your 20s, a richer cream will be better for you in your 40s. Similarly, pay attention to the seasons. Typically, our skin will prefer lighter textures during the warm, humid summer months, and heavier textures during the cooler, dryer winter months.
7. Which Alchimie Forever Moisturizer Is Right for You?
| If your skin is… | Try… |
|---|---|
| Oily, combination or blemish-prone | Kantic Light Clarifying Cream |
| Sensitive or redness-prone | Kantic Calming Cream |
| Dry, mature or hormonally changing | Kantic+ Nourishing Cream |
| Looking for daytime hydration + SPF | Protective Day Cream SPF 23 |
| Very oily or needing post-shave soothing | Skin Repair Gel |
Oilier, combination skin types concerned with blemishes and breakouts: look for our weightless Kantic Light Clarifying Cream, which features antibacterial and antiseptic rosemary.
Sensitive, redness-prone, neither dry nor oily skin types: look for our Kantic Calming Cream, which features calming and anti-inflammatory blueberries.
Dry, dehydrated, more mature skin type worried about fine lines and wrinkles: look for our rich Kantic+ Nourishing Cream, which features collagen-stimulating red clover.
Want a 3 in 1 morning cream with lightweight moisture, antioxidant protection, and sun protection? Look for our Protective Day Cream SPF 23.
Finally, if you are looking for an oil-free gel, try our Skin Repair Gel. Conceived as a post-shaving healing gel, it is great for that oiliest of female skin types too!
8. How Much Moisturizer Should You Use?
More isn't necessarily better. For most facial moisturizers, approximately a pea- to dime-sized amount is enough for the face, with additional product for the neck and décolleté. Apply moisturizer after your treatment products (serums and eye creams), and before sunscreen in the morning.
