One of the benefits of working with people who share a passion for skincare is we constantly debate stuff. Ingredients, what works, what doesn’t. Because we have different skin types, everyone comes into the conversation with a different perspective. From time to time, there will be an article that blows up on social media (remember that article how all skincare is a con?). Same happens with moisturisers. Along comes a dermatologist who claims no one needs to use a moisturiser. Is that true? Is it all a massive conspiracy to get us to buy more stuff our skin doesn’t really need?
Do you need a moisturiser?
We go back to the old skincarereddit rule of YMMV (Your Mileage Might Vary). In short – what works for you, might not work for someone else.
From the perspective of someone with oily skin (like our founder), she can comfortably go without a moisturiser. In fact, some people with oily/combination/acneic skin have legit moisturiser-phobia (yes, we are aware it’s not even a word). It is easy to appreciate why. It can be challenging to find a moisturiser that won’t break them out or regulate the sebum production.
That said, long gone are the days when our sole option was a cold cream and an alcohol-laden toner. There is a proliferation of products (for example treatment serums, lotions, essences, and emulsions). These are not technically a cream (or what we consider a moisturiser in a traditional sense), but it doesn’t mean they won’t moisturise the skin. It is easier than ever to skip that step and just go straight to SPF. If you found a nice hydrating serum and a good SPF that works for your skin, that’s fantastic! Don’t get bogged down with labels.
From a perspective of someone with dry skin (waves hand in the air), a moisturiser seems like an essential part of my routine, especially during winter. My skin is soft and just looks better. But there are days in the summer when even I with my dry skin can easily skip a moisturiser, apply some SPF and be done with it. There is a study that shows a long term moisturiser use can lead to Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL). Keep in mind that the participants in the study were people with normal skin (whatever that might be).
Should you skip your moisturiser?
As always – listen to your skin. If it is uncomfortably dry or dehydrated, look for serums and moisturisers that contain skin-replenishing ingredients like ceramides, glycerine, and Hyaluronic acid. If you have oily or combination skin the same applies.
Don’t get too focused on the labels. And by this, we don’t refer to the ingredients. If you have oily or combination skin products like serums, boosters, hydrating toners, lotions, or fluids might work better for you. Check the texture and see if it works for your skin. And remember, you can always layer lighter products to get enough hydration to keep your skin comfortable.
Consider the internal factors (like your genetics and medical conditions) as well as the outside factors (like the levels of pollution, the weather, and your lifestyle). Age also plays a part.
If you are game for an experiment (even with dry skin), you might want to skip moisturiser for a couple of weeks to see how your skin responds. And do let us know how you go on with it!
