The 7 Commandments of Using Moisturizer

Chances are, you know that moisturizer should be a step in your morning and evening skin care routines. But are you really making the most of how you use it? If you’re not paying attention to what type of moisturizer you use or how you apply it, you could have some work to do! To make your skin care routineeasier, it’s time to commit the following commandments to memory. Besides some basic moisturizer rules, we’re also sharing product recommendations, including our best moisturizer for oily skin and best moisturizer for sensitive skin. Let’s get right to it!

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #1: USE ONE FORMULATED FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

When it comes to moisturizer, it’s key to find one that’s formulated for your specific skin type and concerns. That’s because those with oily skin have different needs than those with dry skin, and those with mature skin have different needs than those with sensitive skin. While oily skin may benefit from a lightweight face lotion, dry skin may require a heavier cream. We’ve outlined some of our best moisturizers to help you learn more about which will benefit each skin type.

If you have normal or oily skin…external factors like pollution, UV rays, and excessive cleansing can damage your skin’s moisture barrier, causing loss of moisture and an increase in oil production. This can leave your complexion looking overly shiny. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin has a matte finish and helps reduce the look of excess shine.

If you have normal or dry skin…you can face external factors like pollution and UV rays, which can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing loss of moisture and causing it to become drier. As a result, your skin surface may lose its natural glow and start to look duller. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture to help it appear more radiant.

If you have extra dry skin…your skin type has a very fragile skin moisture barrier that can be easily damaged by external factors like pollution and UV rays. Skin consequently loses its ability to retain moisture, becoming easily dehydrated, feeling tight and uncomfortable. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture to help soothe, nourish, and comfort your complexion.

If you have sensitive skin…pay attention to your skin barrier. The L’Oréal Paris Cicacream Pro Retinol and Centella Asiatica is a lightweight cream that helps strengthen and repair skin barrier to help resist visible signs of aging that a weakened barrier can accentuate. Immediately, skin feels softer, smoother, and more supple and firmness and tone look improved. With continued use over time, skin looks rejuvenated, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is reduced, and clarity improves. Skin barrier is stronger, helping to resist signs of aging with continued use over time. 

If you have mature skin…as your skin matures, its ability to renew surface cells slows down, causing a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. As a result, the natural pink tone becomes hidden and your complexion can become dull, losing its natural rosy tone of youth. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Rosy Tone Moisturizer is an intense daily moisturizing, anti-aging cream enhanced with rosy pigments to help revive skin’s rosy tone. Plus, it’s formulated with imperial peony and LHA to help gently exfoliate dull skin. Your skin will feel hydrated immediately and look renewed with continued use over time. Smooth it gently on clean skin in circular motions in the morning.

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #2: APPLY IT TO DAMP SKIN

You should apply moisturizer after cleansing—that’s pretty obvious. But don’t towel off after washing your face! Instead, apply moisturizer to damp skin to help lock in hydration. We have a feeling you’ll notice a difference!

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #3: ALWAYS FOLLOW IT UP WITH BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN

When you spend prolonged periods of time in the sun without wearing protection, this can lead to visible signs of aging like dark spots and fine lines wrinkles down the road. And of course, you can also get burned. UVA rays are the ones that cause damage while UVB rays are the ones that burn, so choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen since it’ll help protect against both types of rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation advises wearing one with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Sunscreen should be applied after moisturizer as the last step in your morning skin careroutine—and since you can get burned even on cloudy days, you should wear it every day, no excuses. Rushing to get out the door? Instead of layering on a separate moisturizer and sunscreen, reach for a moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30, which is formulated with glycolic acid, vitamin C, Pro-Retinol, and broad-spectrum sunscreen to help brighten the look of your complexion and protect against UV rays. Apply it as directed, and make sure to limit your amount of time in the sun, seek shade, and cover up exposed areas in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #4: BRIGHTEN THE LOOK OF YOUR SKIN WHILE YOU SLEEP

Complexion looking a little on the dull side these days? It might be time to upgrade your nighttime beauty regimen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your skin repairs itself while you sleep, which is why it could be a good idea to add a brightening moisturizer to your nighttime routine. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Dual Overnight Moisturizer combines an exfoliating concentrate and brightening infusion in one pump. The exfoliating concentrate is formulated with glycolic acid to help remove dead skin cells, while the brightening infusion is formulated with vitamin C and Pro-Retinol to help enhance skin clarity. Your complexion will look more radiant immediately and more even with continued use over time. Smooth it gently over cleansed skin at night—and don’t forget to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen and take additional sun protection measures in the morning, since alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #5: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR NECK

You shouldn’t just apply moisturizer to your face—extend it past your jawline and onto your neck. After all, why not show your neck some anti-aging love, too?

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #6: SHOW YOUR LIPS SOME LOVE, TOO

If your lips tend to get dry, help hydrate them by swiping on a moisturizing lip balm. Keep one stocked in your purse, office, and car so that you can easily moisturize your pout wherever you are. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that the lips are often overlooked when it comes to sun protection, so bonus points if your lip balm is formulated with broad-spectrum SPF!

MOISTURIZER COMMANDMENT #7: DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE EYE CREAM!

Since the skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of your skin, it’s essential to use a different moisturizer on this area of your face. Need help picking an eye cream? Choose one based on your specific needs.

The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream can help make skin around the eyes feel firmer and look smoother, plus it can also help reduce the appearance of dark circles, all with continued use over time. Use the eye cream morning and night after cleansing, then follow up with moisturizer.

The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power™ Eye Treatment is a luxurious, lightweight eye cream formulated with hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and Pro-Xylane™ to help reduce the look of under-eye bags, wrinkles, and puffiness. Plus, it has a cooling applicator. Massage the cream gently around your eye area until fully absorbed, morning and night.

The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Miracle Blur Eye Treatment has a silky, hydrating formula glides onto skin for an immediate smoothing effect and cool finish. Formulated with Pro-Retinol, vitamin C, and a specifically-designed peptide for the eye area, it can also help improve the look of dark circles with continued use over time. Dot a small amount on using your fingertips and gently blend in.

The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Renewal Eye Cream can help immediately hydrate your skin and diminish the look of dark circles, under-eye bags, and wrinkles with continued use over time. It can also help make your eye area radiant with continued use, too. Apply a small amount around your entire eye area using your fingertips and pat gently until thoroughly absorbed. You can use it a.m. and p.m.

Now that you know so much about moisturizers, let’s talk facial cleansers. Check out our article, 6 Facial Cleanser Hacks for Skin That Look Clean.