One of the most common questions I get asked is this: can you suggest me a good moisturizer?
Many women – including me – expect to apply a moisturizer twice a day and then expect that “soft, supple and hydrated” skin feel throughout the day.
This expectation is really hard to meet because the performance of moisturizing ingredients depends on some of these factors:
Internal
- Genes : if you have dry skin then unfortunately, it’s a vicious cycle and your more pre-disposed to lose water, then someone with normal skin.
- Age: as we age, our skin gets drier, mainly because the lipid content in our skin reduces.
External
- Climate you live in (e.g., is it a dry arid climate like Nevada)
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Do you regularly exercise?
- Water consumption
How do I assess whether a moisturizer is good or not?
Moisturisers will contain a combination of ingredients and the most common are Occlusives, Humectants and Emollients – this is absolute bear minimum that the product should contain.
Product review of Cetaphil
This product is instantly hydrating and moisturising and remains so for most of the day. It is a bit sticky to start with but settles down after an hour or so.
It sits fine under my sunscreen too and has a light skin feel.
I would add that it is probably appropriate for skin that is normal to dry. I am not sure that I would be happy to use it if I had oily skin.
What is definitely missing is the “plumping action” that comes from a moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid, so the impression is that the product is not doing its job. It is 🙂
