Why is your moisturizer not working?

Hydration is the key to soft, silky, and dewy skin. Regularly moisturizing your skin using the right formulation can help you achieve that fairly quickly. However, if you’re diligently and religiously trying to tend to your skin’s hydration needs, but are still experiencing dry and flaky skin, it's time to delve a bit deeper into the science of how to moisturize, what to look for in the formulation, and when to make a switch. 

So how should you moisturize your skin?

“Well, how hard can it be?”, you must be wondering. It isn’t actually. However, while it doesn't require the precision of rocket science, it’s more than just lathering a few dollops of the product onto the skin, and calling it a day.

The following are a few tips to bear in mind the next time you want to give your skin a boost of hydration by enabling better absorption of your moisturizer:

Cleanse and tone

For any moisturizer to do its job it needs a fresh and clean canvas. Hence, any skincare routine starts with cleansing and toning the skin to remove any dirt and impurities that may be sitting on the surface of the skin. This allows better penetration of the product, giving you softer and smoother skin. 

Exfoliate the skin

Dead skin cells can buildup on the surface of the skin over time, hindering the absorption and penetration of the product into the deeper levels of the skin. So while it may feel hydrated for a short while, it won't be long before it starts to feel dry and flaky once more. Hence, using a gentle exfoliant regularly can help to prevent excessive buildup, giving your skin a radiant glow as well as allowing your skin to feel plump and soft post moisturizing.

Pat it into the skin

If you’re still one to rub the product on your face, you need to stop. Instead, try a gentle patting motion to increase pressure and heat, both elements which help the product absorb better.

Pro tip:

Applying the moisturizer on damp skin allows better absorption of the product. Dermatologist Brian Zelickson advises compressing the skin using a warm damp washcloth for a minute, patting it dry, and then applying moisturizer for best results. 

What should you look for in a product?

For a product to do its job of moisturizing and hydrating it’s imperative to note whether it is well suited for your skin type. There are tons of excellent products on the shelf catering to all skin types. You just need to know your skin type and read the label to ensure that it’s meant for your type. 

Another thing that should be noted while purchasing a product is to look for hydrating and nourishing ingredients. Humectants and emollients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin E can do wonders in restoring the skin’s moisture and forming a protective barrier to prevent excessive drying out of the skin. 

It’s also important to ensure that the product is free of harmful additives, irritants and fragrances that can cause the skin to flare up. The Leovard Multicream is perfect in this regard. Not only is it one hundred percent natural and organic, it is free of harmful toxins and contains the hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, vitamin E, aloe vera and several botanical oils, leaving your skin feeling soft, silky and luscious. 

When do you need to make a switch?

Like every other thing, it takes time for a promising moisturizer to show results. But we know how antsy we can get, so the following are a few red flags that can let you know instantly whether you need to give the new product some time or whether you need to make a switch. 

Your skin feels dry 

If you’ve been diligently applying a product for two to three weeks, and your skin is still left yearning and dry, you need to swap your product for a more hydrating and nourishing one. 

Your skin is burning 

While a tingling sensation may signal that a product is doing its job, that's not the case with a moisturizer. In this case it may mean that the product contains an ingredient that isn't well suited to your skin and hence a switch is needed. 

You’re breaking out

If you’ve noticed your skin breaking out soon after you incorporated a new moisturizer in your skin care routine, it’s likely that it’s not well suited to your skin type. 

Takeaway

While regularly moisturizing your skin for softer and smoother skin seems quite obvious and straightforward, it takes some trial and error to get it right. And while a product may work wonderfully well for you at a certain point in your life, it may stop doing so as you age or your body undergoes hormonal/physical changes. So don't fret and take your time to get it right. And if all fails, know that we at Leovard have always got your back.