Today I’ll talk you through face creams and moisturizers – products that we use on a daily basis but unfortunately we are not interested in what’s inside them. We should be curious about that – after all the ingredients of a facial cream determine its way of working and make it irritate/not irritate our skin!
Sit back and read on to see my round-up of types of creams and noteworthy ingredients inside them. Because every girl and woman deserves the best moisturizer and a good dose of conditioning!
Face cream. Which one to choose ?
Don’t worry if you don’t know which face cream to pick. Plenty of women face the dilemma. I used to reach only for moisturizers because all other creams seemed to make a bad choice. Now I realize that my skin needs something thicker since it tends to go very dry and an ordinary moisturizer isn’t enough.
Think what your skin is like and choose creams suited to its needs. Don’t listen to your friend because she might have a completely different skin. Never purchase random products, always check the components and customize them to your needs.
Types of face creams
Are you aware of all types of creams?
- Moisturizers are surely the most popular, lightweight, non-comedogenic, featuring moisture-boosting substances. Suitable for combination and oily skins because they need hydration as well.
- Thick creams – a good choice for dry or dehydrated skin. Such creams moisturize and soothe irritations as well as protect skin from loss of water and outside aggressors such as minus temperatures, harsh sunlight, free radicals.
- Anti-wrinkle creams – products dedicated to people who’s got mature skin so those – note! – who’ve turned 30. A quality antiaging cream must feature ingredients that support skin repair and delay skin aging process.
- Creams that treat specific conditions – all creams that have a specific task to fulfil e.g. anti-acne creams, anti-hyperpigmentation creams, creams to lessen spider veins.
What should a good face cream contain?
Of course it depends on a cream and its purpose. Moisturizers must be high in humectants such as hyaluronic acid, honey, aloe. Emollients (oils, lanolin, petroleum jelly) must be added to thick creams for dehydrated skin. Repair creams must be made up of proteins whereas antiaging products must include anti-wrinkle substances such as coenzyme Q10 and retinol.
I know it’s easy to get confused and feel overwhelmed by the information on what the best face cream should contain. That is why I’ve got a cheat sheet for you with the most common ingredients and their purpose.
- Hyaluronic acid – delivers in-depth and long-lasting hydration through binding water in skin, firms up, rejuvenates and soothes irritated skin.
- Vitamin C has a brightening effect so it reduces dark spots, plus it revitalizes, boosts energy in skin and makes it younger.
- Coenzyme Q10 – a brilliant antioxidant and an ingredient making our skin keep youthful appearance long.
- Vitamin E – makes a perfect match with ascorbic acid (vit. C) and is justifiably labeled the vitamin of youth.
- Resveratrol – not popular but it’s a strong antioxidant which prevents wrinkles and strengthens blood vessels.
- Panthenol – pro-vitamin B5 – increases levels of moisture, adds softness and elasticity to skin and has antibacterial effect.
- Collagen – a precious protein that provides skin’s bounce and elasticity so it heads off wrinkles.
- Ceramides – natural ingredients of skin which let it keep hydro-lipid balance and facilitate skin repair.
What shouldn’t be included in your face cream?
Of course there are ingredients that should not be in your cream but they are there… I mean preservatives, parabens, artificial pigments, aromas, silicones, paraffin and alcohols (not all of them, some alcohols are essential for transporting nutrients to inner skin structures). They may cause damage to skin, especially sensitive skin.
All in all, let’s make conscious face-cream choices, avoiding all nasties. Luckily, now it’s easier to find natural formulas that are free from potential allergens and harmful substances.
