Do You Really Need To Wear A Moisturizer?

You just may be able to get away without using a moisturizer.

"Not everyone needs or should use a moisturizer, especially women with oily, combination, or acne-prone skin!" Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, writes on her website. But what if you just can't part with your favorite day and night creams? What should you be looking for when shopping for a moisturizer?

According to Paula, a good moisturizer should contain emollients (essential for making skin not feel dry), water-binding agents (ingredients that attract water to the skin and help keep it there), anti-irritants and antioxidants. For daytime, it must contain a well-formulated sunscreen.

If you have an oily t-zone area (forehead, nose and cheeks) and your skin is normal to dry elsewhere on your face, you have combination skin. Most of us will have combination skin at some point in our lives. Use an oil-free moisturizer in the t-zone and a light moisturizer on other areas. In order to normalize your skin, it may be necessary to apply two different types of products on the different areas of your skin. Alternatively, you can skip the moisturizer for your t-zone entirely and just moisturize the cheeks and eyes.

If you have dry skin, your skin may feel dry and itchy and wrinkles are more obvious on your skin than other skin types. Although the use of a moisturizer can help to temporarily smooth out wrinkles, none of them can turn back the clock. Choose one which makes your skin look smooth and feel supple. A water-based moisturizer is preferable, although it won't last as long as an oil-based moisturizer. However, emollients in water-based moisturizers such as plant oils and shea butter can help to provide your skin with essential moisture. (Tip: Apply moisturizer on damp skin to lock in moisture.)

If you have sensitive skin, you may have red patches on your face and/or are easily irritated by using certain products. It can be difficult to find a product which doesn't aggravate your skin and cause breakouts or unsightly rashes. Look for moisturizers which do not contain fragrance and ingredients which you know can be potentially irritating to your skin. Even something as harmless as Aloe Vera can cause skin irritations!

Sunscreens are essential for daytime wear to protect your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. There are plenty of sunscreens on the market which hydrate the skin as well as protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Why not skip the moisturizer and wear a sunscreen instead? The fewer products on your skin, the less likely your skin will develop an irritation to any of the ingredients.

Tara Sabeti is Vice-President of Marketing at http://www.BeautySteals.com, an online retailer of cosmetics, skin care and fragrances. A graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she has spent more than five years researching and working in the cosmetics and fashion industries. Her in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the cosmetics industry, from product development to e-marketing, as well as cosmetic applications for women of varying backgrounds, makes Sabeti an authority women can trust.

---

What The Heck Are Crowns, Veneers and Implants Anyway?

Dentistry has become a hot topic, as writers across the... Read More

Beauty Tip: Foundation Secrets For A Flawless Complexion

1. For a natural look your foundation must match your... Read More

The Right Beauty Supplies Will Make You Look Great!

Use beauty supplies the right way and yours could well... Read More

Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Makeup

Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent CosmeticsQ2) What is the recovery... Read More

What You Should Know About Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is any surgical procedure that is designed to... Read More

Have You Done Your Hair Care Correctly?

Love your hair like you going to lose it. Hair... Read More

Makeup Tips for Eyes, Lips and Face

When I hit my 30's, I decided to get more... Read More

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon: Treat Yourself to Surgery at Its Best

Los Angeles is the city as infamous as it is... Read More

Wonderful Foaming Honey Foot Bath at Home

I imagine you can tell me at length about how... Read More

Wrinkle Buster In Your Kitchen

Many cosmetic companies are capitalizing on on our need to... Read More

Permanent Laser Hair Removal

Many people are burdened by what society has deemed "unsightly"... Read More

The Truth About Home Made Facials

I started making facial masks after reading several books on... Read More

Hyaluronic Acid vs. Collagen - A Growing Debate

The debate continues as to whether Hyaluronic acid or collagen... Read More

The Benefits of Clip-on Hair Extensions

We all need a change every now and then. From... Read More

Botox Toxin Not So Toxic

The Botox toxin is not so toxic if you're trying... Read More

Skin Care and the Physiology of the Skin

The largest organ of the human body is the skin.... Read More

Where Can I Find Cheap Tanning Bed Bulbs?

If you need cheap tanning bed bulbs you may have... Read More

Using Water to Make Your Hair Beautiful

We tend to think of hair problems as being an... Read More

Plastic Surgeons: Texas

The decision to enhance the body by surgical alteration is... Read More

Chin Surgery ? Cosmetic Surgery Information

The chin is one of the most noticed features of... Read More

The Manicure - More than Pretty Nails!

Pretty and well cared for hands are more than a... Read More

Lip Magic: Tips for Lips

As we get older our lips get smaller and thinner... Read More

Skin Care - Learn the Basics

Skin types are unique and react in different ways to... Read More

Blinded by the White?

Washington DC-By J. S. Ronnette-Patients traveling the road toward whiter... Read More

Why Switch to All Natural Cosmetics?

The human skin wraps and protects our bodies. It constitutes... Read More

The Attraction of Pigtails

Very young girls wear their hair in pigtails because their... Read More

Microdermabrasion Treatment Offers Dramatic Results

Microdermabrasion is a procedure that improves skin condition. It is... Read More

Anti-Aging Skin Care Treatment, Products and Tips

Why to let people know your age when you can... Read More

7 Tips for Beautiful Skin

For most women, part of their morning and evening routines... Read More

What is Spray Tanning?

Spray tanning is a relatively new method of sunless tanning.... Read More

Deep Skin Moisturizing

When it comes to skin care, moisturizing is usually one... Read More

Color Contact Lenses - Your Options

Very few people are actually satisfied with their appearance. Some... Read More

Eye Spy - In Search of a Greater Lash

Shopping for mascara can be an "eye opening"... Read More