Let’s talk about moisture! When discussing topical hydration for the skin, many brands use the terms moisturiser, cream or lotion interchangeably. For our purposes, there isn't really a difference but different product lines may use varied terminology.

Most of us know that moisturisers refer to your face creams, but the term hydrator might be more encompassing of what these products are actually doing. Not everyone thinks they need "moisture" but we can all get behind the idea that hydration is important for the skin.

Luckily, moisturisers do a little bit of everything. While their primary job may be moisture, many creams are also infused with antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, botanical extracts and other important skin nutrition. The right face cream can help protect the skin’s natural barrier and promote better overall skin function. By applying yours daily, you’ll be well on your way to healthier and more balanced skin.

How to moisturise:

Moisturizer should be a part of every skincare routine, day or night but at least once per day, ideally. Moisturizing should happen after toner and serums but before sun protection or makeup products.

Though it will vary with the consistency of the product, a pea-size to dime-size amount of moisturizer is usually appropriate. If you end up with extra product after applying to the face, you can always use the extra product on your neck or hands. Remember, they need moisture too!

You might be tempted to skip moisturizer because you may have heard that it causes the skin to break out or become more oily. But we promise moisturizer is not the problem. In truth, moisturizer can actually help with these things.

Although excess oil production can contribute to acne, so can a lack of hydration. If you don't provide your skin with enough of what it needs, it will figure out a way to make more oil on its own and can sometimes go haywire trying to overcompensate.

Additionally, dry acne can sometimes happen because the skin simply doesn't have enough hydration and becomes sluggish. When turnover slows down, buildup can occur, essentially trapping breakouts rather than allowing them to purge naturally.

What to look for when choosing a moisturiser:

When it comes to hydrators, the most important thing is to choose one for your skin type. The ingredient deck on a moisturizer does require some nuance because ingredients that can irritate one skin type may actually benefit another. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to do a little research to determine your skin type before choosing a moisturizer.

It's also important to note that your moisturizer should utilize both oil and water ingredients. With face oils becoming a rising trend in skin care, more people are opting for a face oil instead of a traditional cream. However, your skin needs the H20 ingredients and can become dehydrated if you only give it pure oil. Think of face oils as a supplement, not a substitute.