Are You Moisturizing Your Face Too Much?

Regardless of your skin type, moisturizer should be a part of your daily skincare routine. The right product doesn’t just hydrate and nourish your skin, but also fights wrinkles and reduces your chances of having skin problems. It can also even out blemishes, as well as help your skin stay young.

There is no doubt about the benefits of moisturizer, so does this mean that using more can lead to better results? Not necessarily. Too much of a good thing can sometimes do more harm than good. It is also possible to over-moisturize your face and this can lead to skin problems.

What’s the problem with over-moisturizing?

When you moisturize too much, this signals the skin surface that it has enough water and moisture. This can slow down or halt the production of your skin’s water reservoirs and other important nutrients. The result is a dry skin appearance, with some tightness, congestion, and dullness.

The sad part is since your skin is not producing enough moisture or nutrients, you may be prompted to use more moisturizer or reach for creamy formulas. This can exacerbate the problem, leading to clogged pores and blemishes. Over moisturizing can also make your skin lazy over time, as it causes it to produce less moisture on its own. 

Are you moisturizing too much?

We all want to have hydrated or moisturized skin, but using too much moisturizer is not the solution. Moreover, facial moisturizers today are concentrated, which means that applying more can only lead to skin issues or exacerbated skin problems.

Here are the immediate signs you are overdoing it with facial moisturizers:

• Clogged pores
• Blackheads
• Bumpy skin
• Breakouts
• Accumulation of dead skin cells
• Excess oil production

How can you avoid over-moisturizing?

One important tip to avoid moisturizing too much is to make sure that there is no buildup of dead skin cells on your skin’s surface. This is because dead skin only makes it difficult for your face to absorb the product. Make it a point to exfoliate at least once or twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells.

When applying moisturizer, use a small amount and make sure that the formula you’re using is right for your skin type. The right product can benefit your skin and make it look healthy and glowing. You can also check out our previous post for five ways on getting the most out of your moisturizer. 

Choosing a moisturizer that won’t clog your pores

The right moisturizer can go a long way in making your skin healthy, while the wrong one can leave your skin dull and blemish-prone. This is why if you have normal, oily, or sensitive skin type, be sure to choose a formula that is non-comedogenic (product formulated to not clog pores) or doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients. 

Some of the ingredients you should avoid and look out for include:

• Coconut oil – This oil is about 80 to 90% saturated fat and is absorbed by the skin longer or slowly. It only means that it lingers on the skin surface and does not allow the skin cells to breathe. Coconut oil can also clog your pores and exacerbate some skin conditions. 
• Petrolatum – While petrolatum or petroleum jelly provides a host of benefits, it shouldn’t be used on the face. This is especially true if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Petroleum jelly can clog your pores and tamp dirt, triggering breakouts.
• Lanolin – This greasy substance, which is an animal-derived product (oil secretion from ship’s skin), helps prevent dry skin and soothe some skin irritations. Lanolin is highly conditioning, but can also be pore-clogging. This can potentially cause comedones.

What we recommend

If you have oily, sensitive, mature, or blemish-prone skin, we recommend Deep Hydrating Moisturizer from Dr. Sylvia Skin Care. This formula can hydrate and strengthen the skin without the use of oil-based ingredients. This only means that it provides superior levels of hydration without clogging the pores. 

Our Deep Hydrating Moisturizer contains seaweed extract and hyaluronic acid. Both ingredients work together to offer moisture and protection needed for healthy skin. This formula, furthermore, provides water locking benefits and helps strengthen the skin’s epidermal barrier. 

Say no to over-moisturizing! Browse through our website to avail our moisturizer or for other medical-grade product recommendations. You can also contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor today to learn more about our treatments for keeping skin looking young and healthy.