4 ways that you're applying moisturizer wrong in your skin care routine
Moisturizing is an essential part of skin care routine and should be something you're doing every day. However even if you're a fan of moisturizing and do it daily (twice!) you may not be getting all the benefits you could be.
Why?
Because you might be doing it wrong. There are many things to consider when it comes to moisturizing: what product to use, when to use it, how to apply it, and how much to use. If you feel confused by what you thought was the easiest part of your skin care routine, don't worry, we've got an easy guide to explain how to optimize the use of a moisturizer in your skin care routine.
Mistake #1: You're using the wrong moisturizer
This one is a biggie - make sure you are using a moisturizer that is designed for your skin type. For oily and combination skin, don't skip using moisturizer because you think it will make your skin greasy. Look for oil-free, non-comedogenic products. Sensitive skin should try a product free of parabens and fragrance to avoid breakouts. Dry skin types should look for products that are more nourishing and stave off flakiness and tightness.
Mistake #2: You're Waiting Too Long to Apply Moisturizer
Do you rinse or cleanse your face in the morning, have a coffee, then come back to moisturize? If so, that's a big no no. It's important to apply moisturizer ASAP after cleansing your face - we're talking about within a minute to get optimal results. Once you dry off your skin after cleansing, it starts to dehydrate if there's no protective layer of moisturizer to lock hydration in place. Keep this period of time as short as possible to avoid the feeling of tightness, dry patches and breakouts.
Mistake #3: You're Not Getting SPF Where Your Need it
Most people apply the majority of their SPF to their face and then smooth any leftovers over their neck, décolletage,and ears. These areas shouldn't be an afterthought; you should apply an equal amount of at least the size of a quarter to each area to avoid sun damage. As you get older, the skin on your neck will start to sag and one way to avoid this is by always protecting the area with a broad spectrum SPF. You should use at least an SPF 15 if not higher on all areas.
