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A woman putting moisturizer on her hands

Tips for Finding the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin

Keep Your Skin Hydrated With the Best Moisturizers Available

A person who is contemplating moisturizing their skin may wonder if there are different types of moisturizers, and which one would be the best moisturizer for their skin. There are different types of moisturizer for different types of skin: dry, normal, oily or sensitive. Finding the best option may seem stressful, but we're here to help.

Normal Skin

Normal skin feels neither too dry or too oily. It is smooth, glowing, and not prone to frequent breakouts. It usually needs only a light moisturizer.

Dry Skin

Dry skin doesn’t hold on to moisture well. People with dry skin often complain that their skin feels tight especially after they have washed it. Their skin may flake, develop fine lines, have red patches, or itch. People who are very fair often have dry skin, and dry skin becomes more common as a person ages.

Oily Skin

Oily skin often feels greasy and is sometimes shiny. The pores are large enough to be visible. Oily skin is often due to hormonal changes that occur at puberty, during pregnancy, and menopause. People with oily skin are prone to breakouts, though they are less apt to wrinkle when they get older.

Combination Skin

This type of skin may be oily in some areas and normal to dry in others. People with combination skin often benefit from a combination of moisturizers, including dry skin moisturizers.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin tends to itch, burn, or have a prickling sensation even if there are no obvious breakouts. Scientists have found that people with this kind of skin have an increased blood flow and higher levels of histamines in their skin. People with sensitive skin are almost always people with dry skin. They may need a prescription strength moisturizer to use on their skin. Other people with sensitive skin benefit from dry skin moisturizers.

Finding the Perfect Fit

The best moisturizer for dry skin is gentle and lacks alcohol or harsh ingredients. It should not even contain fruit acids such as salicylic acid, which exfoliate the top layer of the epidermis. The moisturizer that follows a wash with lukewarm water and gentle cleanser should be rich and creamy, and should be put on immediately after washing. Ideally, the best moisturizer face for dry skin has a vegetable oil base.

People with normal skin only need a light lotion as a moisturizer. Whatever type of moisturizer a person with normal skin uses, it shouldn’t be sticky or oily.

People with oily skin may believe they don’t have to moisturize, but sometimes they do. The top face moisturizers for oily skin are noncomedogenic, which means they do not contribute to the development of comedones, or acne pimples. This is because they don't clog the pores, which is where the problem starts with acne. Like people with normal skin, people with oily skin should use light oil or water-based moisturizers.

If the person has combination skin, they should err on the side of caution and moisturize with light lotion and stay away from creams that can clog their pores. The best moisturizing oils for people with combination skin are based on avocado, wheat germ, and jojoba.

Sensitive skin may be caused by allergies, so you may want to have a dermatologist perform an allergy test. This way, you will know which foods and other substances to avoid. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid any type of cleanser or moisturizer that is harsh. The best moisturizer for sensitive skin may be prescribed by a dermatologist, and will likely be organic and hypoallergenic.