Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin

Choosing the right moisturizer for your skin, or perhaps more importantly, staying away from the wrong one, can mean the difference between a well-balanced complexion and a list of grievances ranging from clogged pores to a tight, sensitized complexion. Here are a few things to look for, and avoid, when shopping for your skin’s ideal hydrator.

Normal-to-Oily & Combination Skin

Sure, it can be scary using a moisturizer when your skin is on the oily side. Why risk clogging your pores and causing a breakout, right? But it’s important to keep in mind that dry skin (lacking oil) and dehydrated skin (lacking water) are two very different things. Even the oiliest complexions can become dehydrated, and failing to replenish that lost hydration can lead to an even greater oil production to compensate. Bottom line: balance is everything.

Look for an oil-free moisturizer that contains a hydrating AHA like lactic acid, or teprenone, which has been shown to improve moisture levels and refine enlarged pores. Even water-based peptides — those little anti-aging miracle workers — are greenlit for oily skin. Our Pick: Olga Lorencin‘s Weightless Moisturizer.

Normal Skin

Ah, the joys of having “normal” skin. If you’re not struggling with excess oil, redness or a dry, flaky complexion, then you are one of the lucky folks who fall under this category. But this doesn’t mean you still can’t benefit from anti-aging ingredients.

Opt for nutrient-rich products that compliment your environment. Live in a humid climate? Oil-free hydrators like Olga Lorencin‘s Weightless Moisturizer gives your skin the hydration it craves without the heavy feel. Combating dry weather (hot or cold)? Look for something richer like the Intense Moisturizer with Peptides for a more luminous look and silkier feel. To treat your skin before going to bed, the Nighttime Skin Quencher will be your tried-and-true.

Normal-to-Dry & Mature Skin

Your skin is dry so you slather on your trusted facial cream — seems easy enough. Just make sure your go-to hydrator is chock-full of nourishing oils, shea butter and anti-aging peptides. Steer clear of glycolic and salicylic acid which can leave your skin feeling extra dry, irritated and tight.

Most importantly, don’t forget your serums! If your skin is dry, your moisturizer should be the final step in your skin care routine. Our go-to for dry complexions: Nighttime Skin Quencher layered over the Reparative Nutrient Serum.

Sensitive Skin

When it comes to sensitized complexions, calming and soothing ingredients are key. Reach for products with herbal extracts like chamomile, or oatmeal for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Avoid oils, except for rosehip and pomegranate oil, both which are known for their incredible healing, hydrating and calming benefits.

Lightweight and soothing, our must-have for sensitive complexions is Olga Lorencin’s Weightless Moisturizer.