Eight long-term benefits of moisturizing skin

Moisturizers are the mainstay of any basic skincare routine, including cleansers and a good quality SPF.. It does not matter if you have an elaborate skin care routine that includes 15 different steps, if you skip any one of these three steps; you’re not doing your skin care routine right. 

But why do moisturizers hold this special place in any skincare routine? Let find out why moisturizers should always be on your radar whenever you’re shopping products for your skin, whether you’re a newbie to the skincare world, or a professional hoarder. 

Why are moisturizers a boon to your existence? 

Moisturizers are cosmetic products that are topically applied to your skin. The primary purpose of moisturizers is to increase the water content of your skin as well as preventing excessive water loss by improving barrier function. There are three types of moisturizers available in the market: 

1. Humectants: these moisturizers increase the water content of your skin when the atmospheric humidity is about 70%. Humectants include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, alpha hydroxyl acids, and glycerine. Even though they increase water content, they usually do not reduce TEWL. 

2. Emollients: these moisturizers fill in the gap between your cells, thus preventing excessive water loss via your skin cells (trans-epidermal water loss or TEWL) and retaining the moisture. These include fatty acids, ceramides, and urea. 

3. Occlusives: think about something of the consistency of Vaseline. Occlusives are heavy moisturizers that form a protective layer over your skin, locking all the goodness in. 

However, these are just the basic types of moisturizers. Any of these categories can contain any other ingredient based on your skin’s requirements. For example, Vitamin A in your moisturizer claims its anti-ageing benefits because it also increases skin cell turnover in addition to moisturizing the skin. Vitamin C in your moisturizer will increase its brightness, while salicylic acid will help you fight off blackheads and clogged pores. Additionally, moisturizers tart showing their effects within a couple of days!

Here are eight long-term benefits of using a moisturizer religiously:

1. Moisturizing your skin will help you maintain your youthful glow- when you moisturize daily, you tend to introduce moisture into your dry skin (read: parched). Because of an increased water content, your skin will be more plump and youthful by aiding in skin cell shedding and increasing blood flow

2. Moisturizing reduces the oiliness and appearance of acne: contrary to popular belief, moisturizers are very, very important for oily and acne prone skin. When you do not moisturize enough, your skin produces more oils in order to compensate for the lack of the same. With moisturizing your skin, you save your skin of the increased oil production and thus acne. 

3. Moisturizers improve your skin’s barrier function: most of the moisturizers that include ingredients like ceramides and urea, which are a part of the skin’s natural moisturizing factors (NMF) improve your barrier function. NMFs act as cement between your skin cells and form a part of your skin’s barrier. 

4. Moisturizers reduce the frequency of atopic dermatitis flare-ups: Atopic dermatitis is kind of allergic reaction that results in excessive dryness that affects the quality of life of millions of people. The simplest way to get relief is to treat the symptoms: dry and flaky skin. However, be careful to choose a moisturizer that is fragrance-free. 

5. If you find chemical exfoliants and retinoids to be too harsh on your skin (or if you have sensitive skin in general), try switching to a moisturizer that contains acids (like glycolic acid) and retinoids. As moisturizers are usually the ultimate steps in your skincare routine, penetration will usually be slowed down, giving your skin more time to adjust. 

6. Moisturizers containing anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and glutathione will give you a long-term protection against environmental stress and free radicals, rendering a bright and radiant skin. Additionally, they even out your skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. 

7. With moisturizers that contain anti-ageing ingredients like Vitamin A (retinoids), you can expect them to work their magic over time and reduce the signs of ageing which include fine lines and wrinkles. 

8. Moisturizing can calm down excessively irritated skin. You don’t have to splurge on a fancy moisturizer to get to it, just buy some glycerine available at your local pharmacy, and you’ll be good to go!

When to moisturize 

Whenever you moisturize, make sure you do so on damp skin just after you have washed it. Damp skin is more receptive to moisture (or virtually any other product you apply), so you will reap maximum benefits from it.