What should a face cream do?

Moisturizers add moisture and help prevent water from leaving the skin. Emollients are moisturizing treatments that soften skin and form a protective film to hold moisture in. A moisturizer helps keep water in the skin, which is a more useful assignment than making the bathroom shelf look employed. The practical benefit to look for is relief from dryness and tightness, rather than choosing by the name alone.12

Which texture suits your skin?

  • For dry skin, start with a cream rather than a lotion. An ointment holds in more moisture and is an option for very dry skin.
  • For oily skin, consider a lighter gel. Too much moisturizer can clog pores and contribute to acne in some people.
  • For combination skin, moisturize the dry areas rather than automatically covering the oily areas.
  • For otherwise normal skin with seasonal dryness, a lotion can be sufficient.
13

Creams sit between lotions and ointments in oil content: lotions contain the least, and ointments contain the most. A cream is richer than a lotion, so its texture deserves more attention than the jar's career in bathroom decor. For very dry skin, using a cream during the day and an ointment at night is one practical option.24

What should you check on the label?

For dry skin, useful moisturizer ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum and shea butter. These are ingredients to look for, not a description of a particular Summer Fridays formula. Prefer products labeled "fragrance free" if your skin is dry or sensitive. "Unscented" is not the same thing: a product can contain ingredients that hide odors and irritate dry, sensitive skin. If you are concerned about clogged pores, look for "noncomedogenic," meaning formulated not to block pores.13

How do you apply face cream?

  1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser. For dry skin, avoid using enough cleanser to create a thick lather.
  2. 2Gently pat your face with a clean towel, leaving the skin slightly damp rather than rubbing it dry.
  3. 3Apply moisturizer promptly to help trap the remaining water. Smooth an emollient gently over the skin rather than rubbing vigorously.
  4. 4Include broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher in your daytime routine, alongside shade and protective clothing.
123

How often should you use it?

For dry skin, apply moisturizer after washing and whenever your skin feels dry. General dry skin care can require several applications a day rather than only one at bedtime. Adjust the texture as your needs change with the season. If dry skin is peeling, moisturize instead of trying to exfoliate the flakes away.13

Can you use it with prescription creams?

If you use a steroid cream or another treatment for a skin condition, leave 20 to 30 minutes between that treatment and an emollient, and ask your doctor which should go first. Separating them avoids diluting the treatment or spreading it onto skin that does not need it. Follow your treatment plan rather than applying both together.2

When should you stop or get help?

If your skin reacts to the cream, stop using it and speak to a pharmacist about an alternative. Emollients can cause persistent burning or stinging, inflamed hair follicles, or facial rashes that aggravate acne. Tell a dermatologist if products repeatedly burn, sting or irritate your skin. Make an appointment if dryness persists despite moisturizing, or becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or very irritating.1234

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1How to pick the right moisturizer for your skinaad.org
  2. 2Emollientsnhs.uk
  3. 3Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skinaad.org
  4. 4Contact dermatitis - Treatmentnhs.uk