The beauty industry puts out an ever-increasing number of creams and lotions, each with their own fantastic promises. But with a little patience, you'll find the one that's right for your skin.
Face Creams vs. Face Lotions
Face creams and face lotions contain emollients, which help to soften skin, and moisturizers, which help your skin retaining moisture. These ingredients work by depositing a layer of oil on the surface of your skin, which seals in water and prevents dehydration. The higher the ratio of oil to water in the lotion or cream, the more it will soften your skin and help it retain water. Face creams contain a higher amount of oil than face lotions, and are noticeably thicker, even semi-solid. Because of this, many face creams tend not to absorb into the skin as quickly and invisibly as face lotions.
Choosing a Moisturizing Face Lotion
The majority of daily use facial moisturizers are lotions that are easily absorbed by the skin and leave little grease behind. Some face lotions are designed for every type of skin, from dry to neutral to oily. If your skin tends to be sensitive to ingredients such as fragrances or dyes, look for a hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic lotion. Those lotions are free of the ingredients most likely to cause irritation or breakouts.
Sunscreens and Tints
More skin-care companies are coming out with moisturizing lotions that contain an added sunscreen. Be careful while applying these lotions to your face because sunscreens can occasionally irritate the skin around your eyes. Another recent development in face lotions is moisturizers with an added tint, which act as a lightweight foundation. When choosing these lotions, test them first on a small patch of skin, such as the underside of your wrist, to ensure they won't cause a skin reaction.
Face Creams
While most face lotions are designed for everyday use, face creams are designed for specific purposes. Eye creams, for instance, moisturize and protect the thin, delicate skin around your eyes and eyelids. Night creams are an all-over face cream that you apply before you go to bed, so that your skin can absorb its moisturizers and emollients overnight.
Anti-Aging Creams
The past few years have seen an onslaught of "anti-aging" creams, many of them attached to stratospheric price tags. According to the Mayo Clinic, the answer is a qualified yes. Several of the ingredients in popular anti-aging creams, such as retinol and hydroxy acids, have been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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