With Valentine's day just around the corner, we've been thinking about our perfect matches when it comes to everything from skincare, to the right shade of lipstick for our skin-tone. To start things off, we're beginning with the product that we consider to be the most important element of our skincare regimes- moisturiser!
The Best Moisturisers for Different Skin Types
For Dry Skin
If you have dry or dehydrated skin, a moisturiser is absolutely something you cannot skip on. It will replenish lost hydration, whilst also making your skin feel a lot more comfortable. It’s important to understand the difference between dry and dehydrated skin however, to make sure you use the best face moisturiser for your skin type.
Dry skin can be harder than dehydration to treat as it tends to be your skin type rather than a condition. It’s caused by a lack of oils in the skin, which need replenishing in order to balance out and treat. To boost the natural lipids as well as your skin’s natural protective barrier, ingredients like natural oils, Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid are hydrating superstars. Try the Thank Goat Nourishing day + Night cream, which is packed with hydrating Glycerin or the ESPA Overnight Hydration Therapy that contains Chicory Root Extract, which helps to reinforce the skin's natural barrier function, while Konjac Root and Hyaluronic Acid hydrate and smooth.
Dehydrated skin is a condition which means your skin is lacking in water. For an injection of hydration that will help keep it nourished, we'd recommend Clinique's Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto Replenishing Hydrator, a light-weight product that actually contains auto-replenishing technology- meaning that an internal water source is created within the skin, allowing it to replenish itself when needed.
Both dry and dehydrated skin however can actually be caused by a number of lifestyle factors too. the Misuse of moisturisers, showers that are too long or too hot, and the wrong ingredients for your skin type can all be contributing factors.
For Oily Skin
If you struggle with oily skin, you may have stayed away from moisturisers for fear of making your oiliness worse. This can actually be counter-productive because when you fail to give your skin the moisture it needs, it will start producing excess oil to re-hydrate itself. In order to break the cycle, you need to choose a face cream that helps to control oil production without stripping the skin.
Non-comodogenic, light-weight formulas are perfect for oily skin types. They won’t block the pores, cause excessive oiliness or breakouts. When it comes to oily skin types, we'd recommend the Trilogy Balancing Face Lotion, a soothing formula that hydrates and balances the skin, Skinstitut Moisture Defense Oily Skin , a light-weight, non-comodogenic formula or the PIXI Glowtion Day Dew, which is infused with mattifying Kaolin Clay.
For Dull Skin
Even normal skin types can feel a little lacklustre and dull, so looking for brightening ingredients in your moisturiser can help give you back that glow. Your moisturiser is the last product you apply to your face in your skincare routine so ingredients likeMica and Pearl Extractwill add an instant glow to your skin, while keeping it hydrated and healthy. Vitamin C and Azelaic Acid are also absolute wonders for helping to boost radiance and fight pigmentation.
Our favourite radiance-inducing moisturisers are the Trilogy Botanical Lightening Treatment, which includes Mineral Silver Mica to help brighten and enhance radiance and the ESPA Skin Radiance Moisturiser, a Mulberry and Liquorice infused formula that visibly brightens and evens skin tone. To achieve a naturally glowy look to the skin, we love the Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Balm, a hydrating-stick that's perfect to use on the go. It contains Coconut Oil to hydrate and Pink Quartz Powder to promote luminosity.
For Mature Skin
Anti-ageing skincare has become a seriously hot topic over the last few years and it isn’t set to slow down. Potent ingredients and powerful formulations are present in so many products, helping to keep the skin moisturised, firm and youthful
Hydration is always number one when it comes to keeping the skin looking plump and young. Ageing can cause dehydration in certain skin types, so keeping the skin well hydrated means your cells will stay healthy. Incorporating products that contain Hyaluronic Acid, will help fight dehydration, resulting in skin that looks more youthful.
Antioxidants are another key ingredient, and a moisturiser that's rich in these will help fight environmental aggressors and prevent sun and pollution damage to your skin. Ingredients such as Amino Acids and Proteins also work well when it comes to rebuilding and repairing damaged skin, helping your skin’s texture look smooth and more plump.
To smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, we recommend the antioxidant-packed Zelens 3T Complex Essential Anti Aging Cream, or the Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect, an all-in-one lotion that fights the sun as well as other external skin aggressors.
For a plump and more youthful looking complexion, we love the DNA Intensive Renewal, a light-weight formula that features DNA repair enzymes, which have the ability to reverse damage to the skin.
For Combination Skin
Many of us struggle to balance the many needs of combination skin, but by being careful to avoid any ingredients which might be too stripping, too rich or irritating, you can discover comfortable, and even skin.
Combination skin can be a mixture of a number of different skin types, all of which make it hard to follow a prescribed routine. Different areas of your face need differentiating levels of care and unique products, so finding that one holy grail and best face moisturiser can be quite tricky.
To help keep the skin balanced, BHAs and AHA’s work to remove dead skin cell and calm oil production whilst natural emollients such as plant oils and fatty acids nourish drier skin, to help keep your overall complexion healthy.
Try Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel for a light-weight yet hydrating finish that won't cause oiliness on the T-Zone, or the Onne Beauty Complexion Cream, which includes plum extracts that work like a natural AHA. The nourishing formula of the Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream is perfect for those who have combination skin but also suffer with sensitivity.
