Moisturizing is that part of your skincare routine that you absolutely cannot skip. It’s possible to go a day or two without your favorite serum but that’s not the case with your go-to moisturizing cream or lotion. No matter your skin type — dry, sensitive, oily, combination, or normal — each one needs daily moisturizing to keep it looking fresh and feeling smooth. So, how do you know what sort of moisturizer would work best for your skin?

Vivo Per Lei has just the guide to help you out! We have a few useful tips up our sleeves to help you pick out the best moisturizing cream that suits your skin. You can be content that you’re giving your skin the best care that it truly deserves.

Why Use a Moisturizer?

Let’s first address the elephant in the room; why is a moisturizer so important? The truth is, we normally associate moisturizers with dry skin only but that’s not the case. Our skin requires a balance between its hydration and oil levels. So, even if you have oily, acne-prone skin, you still need a moisturizer to serve as a protective barrier for your skin and keep it hydrated. The only difference would be in the type of moisturizer you use.

So, if you want to maintain an effective skincare regimen, moisturize daily with a product that works perfectly for your skin type. But should you use a cream, lotion, or gel-based moisturizer?

In terms of oil content, creams reign supreme. They are primarily oil-based and thus, perfect for very dry skin types. Lotions are lighter than creams and contain comparatively very little oil content. They are mostly water-based and more suited for combination and normal skin types. On the other hand, gels might have a thick texture but they have the least oil content and so work best for oily skin types.

Establish Your Skin Type

Are moisturizing creams for you? It’s very important to know your skin type before establishing a skincare routine. The ingredients incorporated in moisturizers tend to differ from one product to the next in order to meet the distinctive needs of varying skin types. So, what’s your skin type?

If you need a little guidance to find out, Vivo Per Lei has a good trick. Wash your face with a cleanser and pat it dry. Now, take a close look at your skin in the mirror and look for the following signs to know your type:

Dry/Sensitive

If you spot a rough texture with a couple of dry patches here and there, you have dry skin. Since sensitive and dry skin types often go hand-in-hand, you might also feel itchy with some red spots. If this is the case, you would benefit the most from a thick, greasy moisturizer type — creams. According to Dr. Hadley King, an NYC-based dermatologist, if your skin is dry or you incorporate retinoids in your routine that make your skin even drier, you should go for a thick formula to prevent flakiness. Using a moisturizing cream will help add moisture to your skin and lock it in; something you can’t expect a lotion or gel to do.

The same would be the case with mature skin. With age, our skin’s sebum levels start to decline. So, it makes our skin dry and itchy naturally. If you’re 50 or older, it’s recommended to always use a moisturizing cream to help preserve your skin’s moisture content and keep it looking healthy.

Oily

If your skin appears shiny with visible pores, you have oily skin. It’s possible for some individuals to experience clogged pores and breakouts as a result of over-moisturizing. And we don’t want that. So, a moisturizing cream wouldn’t be right for you.

Instead, your skin would benefit from a gel or lotion moisturizer that would control oily skin while maintaining a good hydration level.

Normal

If your skin feels neither dry nor oily, your skin type is normal.

You might experience some seasonal dryness during the winter months, but it’s nothing a little moisturizing cream or lotion can’t fix.

Combination

If you can spot some greasy spots, especially in your T-zone, along with dry patches on different parts of your skin, you have combination skin.

In this scenario, you have to care for your face like two different skin types. A moisturizing cream can help relieve the dry spots and make them appear smooth. For the oily parts, you can opt for a gel or a lotion.

Spot These Essential Ingredients

Moisturizing creams tend to include three types of ingredients:

Emollients

These ingredients work by filling up cracks in the outer surface of dry, flaky skin. The best emollients include different kinds of butter and oils, like Shea, Cocoa, Jojoba, Dimethicone, and Lanolin. 

Humectants

Humectants work by drawing water into your skin’s epidermis from the surrounding environment and also from your skin’s deeper layers. The best humectants that your moisturizing cream should incorporate include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and propylene glycol.

Occlusives

An occlusive ingredient hydrates your skin by forming a barrier over the top layer and locking in moisture. These include Petrolatum, Lanolin (both an occlusive and emollient ingredient), and cetyl alcohol.

Petrolatum in your moisturizing cream will help create a layer over your skin to stop the evaporation of moisture. If you have sensitive skin, squalane is a sensational occlusive emollient that’s hypoallergenic. It’s identical to the skin as it mimics our natural oils. But when it comes to moisturizing acids, you can never go wrong with Hyaluronic Acid. This superior skincare ingredient is highly effective in helping your skin retain moisture. And we’ve got the perfect HA moisturizing cream for you!

Our Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Day Cream is a sensational formula to pamper your skin. This one-of-a-kind daily moisturizer includes several natural oils to give your skin a supple, smooth feel. The thick formula is made to increase your skin’s sebum levels and help it retain moisture. Get that radiant glow with our sensational moisturizing day cream — truly the best Hyaluronic Acid formula!

To Scent or Not to Scent?

If you have dry skin, chances are that it’s also sensitive. In this case, you will want to steer clear of a moisturizing cream with added fragrance or perfumes.

Go for a scented moisturizing cream only if you believe your dry skin does not exhibit signs of sensitivity; redness, itching, stinging or burning after using certain products.

Pick an SPF Day Moisturizing Cream

Using sunscreen is another skincare routine staple that can never be skipped. If you don’t apply sunscreen before stepping out, you can’t expect good results from your skincare regimen. UV rays are responsible for causing damage to your skin’s barrier and contribute to premature aging. Picking a moisturizing cream with SPF 30 or higher can help protect your skin even more. Best of all, you won’t have to spend extra on a separate sunscreen product — a cost-effective two-in-one!

There is also a term associated with sunblocks — broad spectrum. This implies that the product will block out both UVA and UVB rays while “SPF” only accounts for the latter. So, if your moisturizing cream is labeled as broad-spectrum, that would be the best way to go.

If you’re using a separate sunscreen or sunblock in your regimen, be sure to apply your moisturizing cream beforehand.

Day vs Night Moisturizing Cream

Are you using the same moisturizing cream for your day and night skincare routines? Well, it’s time to ask yourself if your product offers the best of both worlds because these two creams serve different purposes.

Day creams often incorporate ingredients to help prevent damage to your skin. When you step out during the day, your skin is constantly under stress — UV rays, pollution, dirt particles, etc. That’s why a day cream is specially designed to reinforce your skin’s natural barrier, keeping it feeling healthy and happy.

Vivo Per Lei’s Pumpkin and Collagen Day Cream is just what you need! Its revolutionary formula is enriched with Pumpkin Seed Oil, Aloe Vera, Cucumber Fruit Extract, and Hydrolyzed Collagen. These powerful skincare ingredients work exceptionally well to give your skin a much smoother, plumper look. Get ready to change your whole moisturizing game with this exquisite product that’s designed to make your skin feel and look velvety smooth!

While you’re at it, you should also check out our Moisturizing Day Cream from the exclusive Vivo Per Lei Dead Sea Collection. This formula is enhanced with powerful dead sea minerals and moisturizing ingredients like Sunflower Seed Oil, Petrolatum, and Shea Butter. You can count on this sensational formula to keep your skin looking beautiful and hydrated throughout the day!

But What About Night Creams?

Your evening/night moisturizing cream should focus on repairing your the feel of your skin. According to MD Andrea Cambio, a Florida-based dermatologist, it’s best to choose a light moisturizer for the day and a heavier one for nighttime. This is because our skin’s hydration levels tend to be the lowest during the evening.

Hyaluronic Acid, peptides, Aloe Vera, and niacinamide are some important ingredients that your night cream should have. And you don’t need to look far to find the best one!

Our Cell Renewal Night Cream is a rich formula that works to make your skin appear silky smooth. It incorporates sensational skin-loving ingredients, including Dead Sea minerals and essential oils, that absorb easily into your skin. The formula works throughout the night so you can wake up to skin that feels supple with a radiant glow!

Do You Have Aging Concerns?

It’s natural to have your skin start to develop wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging as you age. It’s a part of life that you can’t hide from. But some people tend to experience premature signs of aging because of improper skincare routines or bad habits. The good news is that there are moisturizing creams designed to help you delay the visibility of the aging process to some extent.

Vivo Per Lei’s Ageless Retinol Night Cream is a sensational formula that can help diminish the look of aging skin. It’s enhanced with retinol (Vitamin A), which works exceptionally well to diminish the appearance of aging spots while smoothing out the look of rough, dry patches. The formula also incorporates Olive, Jojoba, and Hemp Oils to effectively relieve dry skin. Prepare to have your skin appear young and fresh with this sensational night cream.

Product Labels Are Important

You might feel like you’re not well-versed enough in the realm of skincare to understand the labels. But trust us, it’s worth the research.

There’s a lot to learn about a product from a close look at its label. You can spot terms like “allergy tested” and “non-comedogenic” that can help you make an informed decision about what you buy for your skin. Allergy tested products are less likely to cause an allergic reaction to your skin upon contact. A non-comedogenic label indicates that the formula won’t lead to clogged pores.

Moisturizing Creams for Dry Skin — Dos and Don’ts

If you have dry skin, then you need to be even more careful about the moisturizers that you use. Here are a few extra tips:

Do: Assess Your Skin Type

If you’re looking for a moisturizing cream but are unsure of your skin type, stop. You won’t get the results you need. Your skin needs proper care depending on its type.

Don’t: Overpopulate Ingredients

When it comes to skincare ingredients, it’s very easy to go overboard. While you can find many beneficial moisturizing ingredients, it’s not wise to have a lot of them jam-packed into one formula.

Do: AHAs But Wisely

AHAs like Lactic and Malic acids are your best bet when you have dry, sensitive skin. But not all of them fit the bill; citric and glycolic acids are also AHAs but they might irritate dry skin.

Don’t: BHAs

BHAs are oil-soluble acids so they’re not recommended for dry skin. These are better suited for oily, acne-prone skin types.

Enhance Your Moisturizing Game with Vivo Per Lei

These were some of our helpful tips to guide you toward a proper moisturizing regimen. It’s very important to familiarize yourself with your skin type to know what it needs. Choosing the right moisturizing cream can also increase the efficacy of other skincare products in your routine. So, choose wisely!

To browse more of the high-performance products available from Vivo Per Lei, click here to check out our bestsellers.