How do you pick a moisturizer based on your skin type? Well, this is an interesting question because in reality, there’s no real skin type. There’s a Fitzpatrick photosensitivity scale, which is how your skin reacts to light and damage. But, when it comes to concepts like oily skin, dry, and combination, those weren’t made up by medical professionals. Marketers made up those categories to sell products and help consumers find the right products for them.
Truthfully, skin lies on a spectrum from super dry to super oily. Skin doesn’t rigidly adhere to a “type.” Most people have a combination of oily and dry skin, and these traits occur on a spectrum. For instance, you might normally have super dry skin. But, it might shift with lifestyle or environmental changes. To provide another example, you could also have dry skin with an oily nose, putting your skin in the “dry” and “oily” category.
And while these categories can be helpful, they can be confusing and overwhelming. So, let’s go over these categories and share products that are affordable and effective for them. All of the suggestions we’ll list are meant to help each skin type become balanced. But, even if you don’t choose any of these, you’ll have the information you need to make a good decision when shopping for a new moisturizer.
What are the different types of moisturizers?
You can define moisturizer textures in 3 different ways. There are very watery and lightweight gel moisturizers. There are medium-weight moisturizers that have a little more fats and lipids, and there are super thick moisturizers. These ones almost feel like frosting. They truly coat, nourish the skin, and give it hydration.
Which moisturizer is right for my skin?
Dry skin
If you have dry skin, you probably get areas of redness, and it will feel tight after showering or washing your face. There could also be flakiness. So, thick moisturizers, especially those that are fragrance-free with nourishing and hydrating ingredients, work well for dry skin. If you have skin irritation or skin concerns, all of the following moisturizers could work amazingly.
Thick Moisturizers
Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream- $82
This is a thick moisturizer for the nighttime. It tents up a lot more, stands up on Cassandra’s fingers, and it has its own shape and form. It’s very dense, but it’s still hydrating.
Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream (fragrance-free) - $64
This has a pro ceramides cica cream. The ceramides help to replenish the outer layer of your skin barrier. When you pump it out, it tents up. Cassandra can’t use this on her oily skin on a day-to-day basis because it’s too thick. But, she uses this as a night mask, and it works so well.
After using it, Cassandra wakes up with the most hydrated and supple skin. You could even use it every single day on dry skin, especially if it’s more mature.
Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream - $72
This is another fan favorite that constantly sells out at Sephora. It’s the Skinfix barrier plus Triple lipid peptide cream. This is so good. The pump top gives you the perfect amount. It’s so thick, but at the same time, it hydrates and smooths.
Pure’Am Authentic Barrier Cream Balm - $37
This feels like a memory foam mattress on your skin. It’s fluffy, but when you apply it, the texture feels a little more dry. But, it still gives you that thick hydration and protection.
Oily Skin
Our skin makes its own moisture, and the outer layer is made up of these beautiful ceramides. We naturally have hyaluronic acid and squalane as well, but with oily skin, you might feel greasy as the day goes on or after the shower because the skin is producing these components in excess. So, you’ll want to find one that truly complements oily skin type without adding to the oil.
Gel moisturizers
The reason why gel moisturizers work so wonderfully for oily-prone skin is because they give the skin light hydration, and they truly soak into the skin as opposed to sitting on top of it. Normally, thick moisturizers that sit on top of the skin are what create more grease for oily skin. Moreover, actives such as niacinamide or zinc PCA can help improve oily skin, but in this blog, we’re simply talking about the basics of moisturization and texture.
Isntree Onion Newpair Gel Cream
This is a fantastic gel cream, especially if you have oily and acne-prone skin.
iunik Centella Calming Gel Cream
If you have oily skin that is more prone to redness, this helps to bring that redness down.
Bubble Level Up Balancing Gel Moisturizer- $16
This is a lightweight moisturizer, but it’s very clear and stringy, and it has a high water content.
Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer - $54
This is a very lightweight and water-based gel. It feels gorgeous on the skin, and it soaks right into Cassandra’s oily skin.
Combination skin
Cassandra has combination skin, meaning she has oily skin, but she also experiences dry patches. For combo skin, you can layer different moisturizers, but the most convenient option is a medium-weight moisturizer.
Medium moisturizers
These moisturizers have an even balance. They have watery and liquidy components, but they also have oily lipids. They tend to be a little bit more stringy. But, they’re not clear like gel moisturizers.
Bubble Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturizer- $10
This one has a medium to thick texture and has more oils and lipids.
OLEHENRIKSEN Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer - $52
Cassandra loves this so much, and it has one of the most beautiful textures. This has peptides, and it is so fantastic for the skin. Cassandra loves this. It’s medium weight, and it also smells wonderful.
Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream
Cassandra loves this texture, and she uses it on some of the dry patches around her lips. She loves using this during the evening, especially if her environment is a little more dry. Overall, this is a fantastic option.
This is a Bean Cream from Mixsoon, and it’s inexpensive. It has the hydrating and moisturizing texture of a snail mucin moisturizer without the snail mucin.
As for balanced skin, all of these suggestions work well with makeup and layer well under sunscreen. They will also give your skin the ingredients your skin naturally loves.