Dry skin is uncomfortable and can get even worse in the winter.The key is to lock in moisture.There’s nothing wrong with touching up your lotion when needed,but the best time to get the most out of your moisturizer is the moment you finish showering.
Most of us put on our moisturizer before we get dressed, or even after we get dressed. Maybe you carry some lotion around with you for when your hands or elbows get dry. If you’re not using your lotion the right way, you might be wasting your lotion.
One of the few biggest skincare mistakes we make when moisturizing is putting lotions and oils on dry skin. To get the most benefits out of your moisturizing routine, always put lotions and oils on damp skin.
Even when you’re moisturizing your face, get your skin damp first. Body butters are rich and oily, but they also do much better work keeping your skin moisturized and healthy if you put them on post-shower.
The best times to moisturize are after your bath or shower, after washing your face, and after washing your hands. Don’t dry off completely.
Leave some moisture behind so the lotions can do their job, helping your skin absorb more healthy liquid. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. As the lotion is absorbed into your skin, it’s also pulling in that excess water you left behind.
Let's take a look at how to properly apply a facial moisturizer.
Step 1: Squeeze a little more than a pea-sized amount into palm.
Common mistake:
Using too much. All you need is between a pea- and cashew-sized amount. And remember to apply moisturizer to the center of your palmnot your fingertips.
Step 2: Warm up moisturizer in hands.
Common mistake:
Applying with finger tips like its paint. Warming up the product in your palms and fingers will ensure even application.
Step 3: Apply to cheeks using gentle circular motions.
Common mistake:
Moisturizing the parts of the face in the wrong order. Typically the cheeks will be the driest part of the face (though this can vary depending on your skin type), so tackle them first while you have the most product on your hands.
Step 4: Apply to forehead and rest of face.
After the forehead, spread moisturizer to nose and T-zone, then chin, neck, and ears.
Step 5: Use light, gentle upward strokes, especially on the neck.
Common mistake:
Tugging and pulling downward on face and neck skin. No need to rub too hard or work the product in too vigorously; it will absorb into skin on its own. Use a gentle hand, and make sure you are always lifting the skinnever dragging it down.
Besides face care, we also need body care after bath, which needs to mention body lotion.
Body lotion is moisturiser designed to use all over your body. In much the same way we moisturise our face every day, our body benefits from a daily dose of hydration. Body lotions tend to be richer than face moisturisers and are sometimes formulated to tackle specific issues, such as cellulite or toning.
Body lotions can be rich creams, milks, light mousses or hydrating oils. They may have a thick formula that coats the body in a luxurious layer of moisture that dehydrated skin will drink up; lightweight textures are ideal for oilier types who still want that dose of moisture without the associated slippery feeling that sometimes comes with body lotion.
You can apply body lotion as often as you like, but once a day is usually sufficient. When you apply it is more important than how often. A common mistake is to apply body lotion to dry skin,perhaps even topping it up every few hours,but this does not give you the best results.
To get the most out of a body lotion, apply it after you get out of the shower or bath, when your skin is warm and damp (it shouldn’t be sopping wet either). Warm, moist skin is the perfect canvas for how to use body lotion, allowing the skin to draw the maximum benefit from your chosen moisturiser.
