How do you choose your daily moisturiser? You probably tried what your friend uses, and you were not so over the moon as she was. Celebrities mostly recommend products they are paid to use (advertising)!
One moisturiser promises to help you get rid of pigmentation spots. Another one claims to be the best moisturiser for acne-prone skin. Another one sounds like it could give you that much-needed boost of hydration for dry skin. Some contain amino acids, fatty acids, free radicals, some are for sensitive skin........and the list could go on for pages.
The reality is that moisturisers are not created equal. Some do their job; others don’t. Some are good for your skin; others trigger breakouts.
In summary, it is a real challenge to understand it all! So, where do you turn to when you need help with the best moisturiser for your skin type? The product label, of course!
The product label is a good starting point; however, the ingredients list can be rather confusing. This is the reason why we put together a list of top 5 ingredients you should look for in your daily moisturiser:
1. Vitamin C
You are probably familiar with the multiple health benefits of vitamin C. It is a powerful antioxidant that you should introduce to your diet, as well as your skincare routine. There are many celebrities swearing on vitamin C products, and, in this case, we need to believe them.
Vitamin C has been clinically proven to neutralize the negative effects of damaging environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays. It is often among the active ingredients in skincare products designed for pigmentation spots, dull skin, brightness, to even out skin tone, and much more.
A daily moisturiser with a good dose of vitamin C should help your skin look firmer, brighter, smoother, and with less visible wrinkles. There is no doubt about it; your daily beauty routine is just not complete without a vitamin C skincare product. If it’s not your moisturiser, it could be a serum.
Medik8 C-Tetra Cream could be just the right type of daily moisturiser for you if you need a nourishing cream to help you prevent premature signs of ageing.
2. Retinol
What would you say if someone would tell you that you can get rid of crow’s feet and other deep wrinkles with a moisturiser? I can see you rolling your eyes! And it sounds a bit too easy to be true, but the reality is that the skincare industry has made such significant progress that made this possible today.
What does this mean? Well, you can choose a moisturiser formulated with retinoids that can help you look years younger. Now you can postpone those fillers and Botox indefinitely!
Clinical studies have shown that retinol can improve skin firmness and has beneficial effects for acne-prone skin and enlarged pores. It can also help minimise the appearance of fine expression lines in time.
In the past, it was only celebrities that could afford to use retinol skincare products. Nowadays, this active ingredient is so popular that you can find it even in drug-store skincare products. However, you should keep in mind that not all that is marked as “retinol” is a magic anti-aging potion.
Make sure to give your skin some time to get used to the new retinol-based moisturiser. If you are new to retinol, you might want to start using the retinol moisturiser only a few times per week at first to see how the skin tolerates it. In time, you can get to daily applications.
Choose a moisturiser that also has high SPF as retinoids and sun exposure don’t make a good team. Alternatively, you can use the retinol-based moisturiser and follow up with sunscreen during the day for more protection. Try Aspect Retinol Brulee to get superior results.
3. SPF
Only five ingredients and sun protection factor is one of them! Surprising, right? Not really. SPF has a very important role when it comes to preventing skin damage.
Nowadays, more and more people choose high SPF moisturisers for every day use, whatever the season might be. And modern SPF 50+ moisturisers are very different from your idea of sunscreen from 5 years ago.
Now you can wear the SPF 50+ moisturiser under makeup or instead of makeup as there are moisturisers delivering a superb matter or sheer finish. More than this, did you know that you can even get tinted SPF moisturisers that pretty much eliminate the need to wear foundation?
The SPF moisturisers come in different textures, from melting creams to lightweight lotions, so it is impossible not to find your favourite. In winter, you can choose an SPF 30 or lower; but make sure to use an SPF 50 in summer. Aspect Sun Hydrating Face SPF 50 could be the right choice for you.
4. Hyaluronic acid
If you have dry or mature skin, you might have heard that hyaluronic acid is what you need to lock in skin moisture. Hyaluronic acid is probably one of the most popular active ingredients in skincare products nowadays as it has a gentle, yet efficient action and is suitable for all skin types.
A molecule of hyaluronic acid can store a water volume that is a thousand times its weight. What does this mean for your daily moisturiser? Well, in just a few words, a good quality hyaluronic acid moisturiser can help you get plumper, more hydrated skin for longer. Thalgo Wrinkle Correcting Rich Cream can help reduce the occurrence of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Ceramides
There are studies that associate dry, damaged skin with a low level of ceramides. But what are the ceramides? These are fats that can naturally be found in the outer layer of the skin. They contribute to keeping the natural skin barrier intact, so they are essential for the skin’s health.
In skincare products, ceramides are found in moisturisers that aim to protect the skin from external damaging factors such as pollution, and dirt, among others. ASAP Advanced Hydrating Moisturiser is formulated with ceramides, antioxidants, and vitamins to repair and protect the skin.