All skin needs moisturizer, especially oily skin. Did you know the oil on your skin is not the same as moisture? It’s true. The oil you see is called sebum and it’s created by your sebaceous glands.
You might be thinking if your sebaceous glands are already doing such a stellar job producing more-than-enough oil, isn’t adding something extra on top a little excessive?
Contrary to what you may think, oily skin is not the same as hydrated skin.
Wearing Moisturizer Prevents Breakouts
Moisturizer is designed to keep the skin hydrated by locking moisture into your skin.
By moisturizing, you’re reinforcing your skin’s protective barrier. When you reinforce your barrier, the skin can better protect itself from elements like harmful bacteria and pollution.
But, when you have properly hydrated and moisturized skin, extractions are easy. They literally slide out of the pore. And, if you aren’t treating with us in our clinic, just know that moisturized skin allows your impactions to also maneuver their way out of the skin with ease, even without extractions.
Moisturizer Slows the Aging Process
One of the main causes of aging is a lack of moisture.
If you’ve ever felt that tight feeling in your skin, you may have also noticed that the fine lines and wrinkles are a little more obvious. Over time, dehydrated skin gets prone to inflammation and other skin issues that make it look aged.
A good moisturizer with the right ingredients improves the elasticity of the skin and keeps it looking smooth, plump, and youthful for years to come.
Protects Against the Sun
Free radicals from UV rays can damage the skin barrier, which can lead to dry, irritated skin.
Over time, UV rays break down the extracellular matrix (the fibers within your skin) and the skin won’t be able to stay as hydrated.
There’s no doubt that sunscreen is essential. Not only does SPF protect against the sun’s harmful rays, but it’s also one of the best anti-aging products you can buy.
Read more here about how to choose the best sunscreen for your skin type.
Replaces Lost Moisture
I cannot stress the importance of using a good moisturizer to keep your skin moisturized so that it can tolerate your acne regimen.
Many people find that their skin starts to over-produce oil in reaction to dry skin, which is another reason to keep skin balanced by applying a moisturizer after every time you wash. Dry skin can happen during the process of clearing.
We lose moisture in our skin by simply sleeping. There are several steps you can take to minimize the loss of moisture in your skin. One being to invest in a humidifier. Adding this small change to your nightly routine can make a world of difference in the way your skin holds moisture and product.
How to Choose the Right Moisturizer
When you’re shopping for a moisturizer – you want to look for products that have 3 main ingredients in them. Incorporating these elements into your skincare routine will take your moisture to another level.
Humectants: (hyaluronic acid, glycerin) These are substances that bind water into the outer layer of the skin.
Emollients: (squalane, ceramides, fatty acids) These help with skin barrier function, leading to an overall improvement in skin texture and appearance.
Occlusives: (petrolatum, beeswax, mineral oil) Are oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically block trans epidermal water loss (the process in which water evaporates from the skin)
It’s important to look for products that contain all three because they work together to moisturize the skin and each plays a critical role in holding in moisture.
Our Matte Moisture Hydrating Gel is excellent for oily skin. We recommend Matte Moisture to our acne clients for added moisture without added shine.
The Bottom Line
Although everyone can benefit from consistently using a moisturizer every single day, acne-prone skin especially needs to stay hydrated.
Not only does it balance your skin’s natural oil production, but it calms inflammation in the skin, keeps the skin looking young and plump, and enables you to continue using your acne-treatment products without overly drying out your skin.
You don’t have to sacrifice hydrated skin for clear skin. If you’re struggling with acne and dry skin or any other skin ailments, schedule an appointment with us today so we can help you get started on your clear skin journey.
Cheers to clear!
Rene