7 Steps to Great Skin – Step 7: Choosing the Right Moisturizer

As we age, that lustrous, dewy complexion of our youth can seem very far away indeed. Proper skin care, including well-chosen moisturizers, can help to retain, or regain, that bright, youthful appearance that we all long to have.

Moisturizers serve many purposes in keeping your skin looking great. A good moisturizer will both hydrate your skin AND seal that moisture in. Depending on your needs, it may also provide a long term improvement in the overall condition of your skin, healing existing skin damage, and preventing future skin damage.

Here are various ingredients that can be found in moisturizers, and that you may want to consider.

Hyaluronic acid and glycerin

Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are humectants, which minimize the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles by increasing the skin’s ability to hold moisture, and even absorbing moisture from the surrounding air. The anti-aging effects can be seen immediately, with skin looking younger and more luminous due to increased moisture.

Retinol (vitamin A)

Retinol can be found in many over-the-counter moisturizers, and is highly recommended to prevent and treat skin aging. It increases collagen production, helps minimize wrinkles, and can even reverse some of the aging that has already taken place. Retinol’s effects will be gradual, and it should be used on an ongoing basis to see maximum effects. Retinol can be irritating, especially to sensitive skin – you may want to start out using a retinol-based moisturizer only once a week, and gradually increase the frequency. Note: retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, and should be used in conjunction with a high-SPF moisturizer during the day.

Peptides

Peptides help to hydrate the skin, and also increase collagen production in the skin, which can decrease the occurrence of wrinkles.

Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a silicone substance which seals in moisture and protects the skin from irritants. It keeps skin looking and feeling smooth, and helps make-up go on smoothly. Dimethicone is especially useful for keeping skin from drying out in the winter, when the air is very dry and would otherwise suck the moisture out of the skin.

Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and Niacinimide (Vitamin B3)

Sad but true – all that sun-worshipping over the years has probably led to assorted brown spots, ranging from light to dark, all over your face. Worse still, age spots are one of the primary indications of aging. B Vitamins, such as Panthenol and Niacinimide, can help to lighten such spots making your skin tone be brighter and more uniform. Meanwhile, don’t forget to wear a high-SPF daytime moisturizer, to prevent the appearance of new age-spots!

Vitamins C and E

These vitamins are potent antioxidants, and act by neutralizing free-radicals. They can help to heal existing skin damage, and prevent future skin damage.

When choosing moisturizers, you should select different moisturizers for morning and night. Your daytime moisturizer should protect against damaging ultraviolet rays by containing a strong sun-screen (SPF-30) and antioxidants, as well as humectants and, if the air is dry, something to seal in moisture. Your nighttime moisturizer should focus on healing existing skin damage, probably containing retinol.