"Mastering the Skincare Basics: The Art of Properly Moisturizing Your Skin"

`A basic skincare routine consists of "The Big Three"

1. Cleanse

2. Moisturize

3. Protect

Today we will discuss step two....moisturizing your skin!

When it comes to moisturizing, the process is simple enough just slather on the right amount of moisturizer that is formulated for your skin type. Your skin should not feel greasy/oily but should appear plump, radiant and glowing. The real decision mostly revolves around the timing of application and the type of moisturizer being applied.

When to Apply Your Moisturizer

Everyone should absolutely moisturize their skin daily. Most dermatologist agree that the best time to apply your moisturizer is directly on damp skin immediately after cleaning. Damp skin is already hydrated you can now apply a moisturizer to keep hydrated skin...hydrated. I generally agree and give a rule of thumb that moisturizers should be applied to skin within 3 minutes of completing cleaning the sooner the better to lock in more moisture. I tend to recommend that simple skincare routines be accomplished around showers/baths and facial cleaning times for this reason (generally after waking and before bed) to keep it very simple and convenient. Read my article "Mastering the Skincare Basics: The Art of Properly Cleansing Your Skin" for more information on cleaning the skin. Applying moisturizers to damp skin improves the overall effectiveness of the product. Damp skin is more permeable which will also help the product penetrate deeply, lock in hydration and leave your skin feeling more smooth and hydrated all day. Some say that water can enhance the absorption of ingredients, similar to how a sponge absorbs better when it's damp.

What Kind of Moisturizer Should You Use

As I always say...it Depends on your skin type.

Dry Skin or Skin Sensitivities that Lead to Especially Dry Skin - Use deep conditioning moisturizer that contains an especially effective occlusive product to keep moisture locked in the skin. Bonus points if applied after using a gentle cleaning glycerin rich soap to clean the skin and allow the skin to absorb more moisture in the shower. (Read my article "What Kind of Soap Does Your Skin Need? How to Find the Right Soap for Your Skin Type.")

Oily and Acne Prone Skin - The subject of moisturizing oily skin is oftentimes disregarded or regarded as useless. In either scenario, The general thought is that oily skin already produces too much oil why should i moisturize it? Understandably so Moisturizing oily skin should involve the use of a non comedogenic moisturizer. This may help to regulate natural oil production and work to restore the skin's hydration balance. Oily skin that is not moisturized tend to produce more sebum. Also, oily skin still reap the additional benefits and nutrients associated with using a nourishing moisturizer.

Normal skin - Normal skin may have a large number of options to choose from. I do personally advise that people with this skin type cater their moisturizer selection to accomplish their own personal skincare goal. You should still be careful in your selection of skincare products so as to not cause any unnecessary skin issues.

Combination Skin - this skin type contains a mix of skin types be sure to use the correct products on each skin type. An example of this is that coconut oil is an excellent anti inflammatory and all around moisturizer for dry skin but it is not so good for oily and acne prone skin.

I personally offer up a range of nourishing all natural moisturizers in both vegan shea butter base as well as a beef tallow base for my custom package customers.

As I always advise, use the information above and other information available to you, love your skin and be sure to choose the moisturizer that is right for your skin. In the next article, I will discuss the importance of protecting the skin for ALL skin types.