How to Moisturize Your Skin: A Dermatologist’s Guide
By Heather D. Rogers, MD, FAAD, Double Board-Certified Dermatologist
You don't need a day cream, a night cream, an eye cream and a neck cream. Those differences were created primarily to sell more products, not to give you better skin.
Healthy skin comes from getting what it needs: hydration, barrier support and protection from moisture loss. One well-formulated moisturizer can do just that.
The tricky part is finding that product that your skin loves and using it consistently.
The Best Way to Moisturize
The best way to moisturize your skin is to use a well-formulated moisturizer consistently, apply enough product for your skin type and adjust your routine based on climate and season.
- Dry skin needs richer creams and more product
- Oily skin still needs moisturizer, usually in lighter layers
- Combination skin benefits from applying different amounts to different areas
- The neck and eye area are usually drier and need more moisture
- One high-quality moisturizer is often enough for the face, eyes, neck and chest
Step 1: Choose the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
Take your time when choosing a face cream. A moisturizer formulated with high-quality ingredients that truly support your skin is far more important than owning multiple products that deliver minimal benefits.
The Best Moisturizer Ingredients for Healthy Skin
A well-formulated moisturizer should contain four essential types of moisturizing ingredients: humectants, emollients, occlusives and skin barrier support. The best moisturizers combine
- Humectants to attract water
- Emollients to soften skin
- Occlusives to prevent moisture loss
- Skin barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and niacinamides
Humectants: Draw Moisture Into the Skin
Humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid attract water to the skin, helping keep it plump and hydrated.
Emollients: Smooth and Soften the Skin
Emollients like squalane and jojoba oil help restore the skin barrier and prevent dryness.
Occlusives: Lock in moisture
Occlusive ingredients like shea butter and petroleum create a protective barrier that helps reduce transepidermal water loss and lock moisture into the skin.
Skin Barrier Supporting Ingredients
Ingredients like ceramides, centella asiatica and niacinamide (vitamin B3) help strengthen the skin barrier by reinforcing the skin's protective layer to reduce inflammation.
What Makes a Good Moisturizer?
An effective moisturizer should include a balanced combination of ingredients to hydrate, protect and nourish the skin. A good moisturizer should
- Hydrate the skin
- Reduce moisture loss
- Support the skin barrier
- Contain humectants, emollients and occlusives
- Feel comfortable enough to use consistently
- Avoid unnecessary irritants for sensitive skin
People with oily skin usually do better with lightweight lotions or gel-creams, while dry skin benefits from richer, thicker creams with more occlusive ingredients.
Doctor Rogers Face Cream and Doctor Rogers Face Lotion are formulated with many of these high-quality, skin-supporting ingredients at effective levels to hydrate the skin, replenish lipids and support the skin barrier.
They are formulated without unnecessary fillers, fragrances, or irritants and can be used on the face, eyelids, neck and chest.
So many of the popular moisturizers marketed to us are formulated with petro-based ingredients that are effective at occlusion but do little else for our skin. Learn more about key ingredients in our guide What to Look for in a Face Moisturizer.
Step 2: Find the Right Moisturizing Routine
Once you find the right product, using it consistently and applying enough product matters just as much as the formula itself. Consistency and using enough product is key.
How to Apply Moisturizer Based on Your Skin Type
The right moisturizing routine depends on your skin type, climate and the thickness of your moisturizer. Dry skin usually needs more product and richer creams, while oily skin often does better with lighter layers.
Here’s how to apply moisturizer based on your skin type:
| Skin Type | How Much Moisturizer to Use | Best Application Approach |
|
Dry |
Don’t skimp. Apply generously. | Cover the face, eyelids, neck and chest with a rich layer of moisturizer |
| Oily | You do not need much. Apply just a light layer to keep skin balanced. | Use less on oily areas but still moisturize drier areas like the eyelids, neck and chest. |
| Combination | Adjust by area. Apply more product to dry areas and use less on oilier areas. | Use more on dry areas like cheeks, eyelids and neck. Use less on oily areas such as the forehead, nose and chin. |
| Eyes and Neck | These areas are usually drier, so apply a generous amount. | These areas are usually drier and benefit from a thicker moisturizer. |
How Often Should You Moisturize
Most people should moisturize twice daily after cleansing. In dry climates or cold weather, reapplying moisturizer throughout the day may help reduce dryness and irritation.
Step 3: Adjust Your Moisturizer for the Changing Seasons
Your skin’s moisture needs change based on climate, humidity, travel and season. Cold, dry air increases water loss for the skin, while humid weather usually requires lighter moisturizing.
Moisturizing in Cold Weather
When the air is drier, your skin needs more cream with fatty acids and oils to help maintain the skin barrier and hydration.
During colder months, apply generously and reapply as often as needed to keep your skin lipid replenished and hydrated despite cold wind and dry heated air.
Moisturizing in Warm or Humid Weather
When humidity levels rise, your skin loses less water as the air is moist, so you can scale back and use a lighter application.
In warmer weather, many people prefer lighter moisturizers instead of heavier creams.
Do You Need a Separate Eye Cream?
Most people do not need a separate eye cream. A well-formulated moisturizer can usually be used safely around the eyes as long as it is non-irritating and moisturizing enough for the thinner skin in the area.
The skin around the eyes is thinner and often drier, but it does not require a completely different product. If you have dry skin and use a thick, moisturizing cream you can and should use it around your eyes.
If you have oily skin and are using a light weight lotion on your face, then yes, you want a thicker cream around your eyes.
My Face Cream is what I use around my eyes twice a day. For those who use the lotion during the day and the cream at night, they should still use the Face Cream around their eyes in the morning and the Face Lotion on the rest of the face.
The Bottom Line
Better skin does not come from more steps. It comes from using fewer, well-formulated products consistently and correctly. Once you find a moisturizer that is able to hydrate, replenish lipids and support the barrier it can take care of your face, eyes, neck, and chest.
About the Author: Dr. Heather D. Rogers, MD
Dr. Heather D. Rogers, MD is a double board-certified procedural dermatologist and Mohs surgeon and the co-founder of Modern Dermatology in Seattle, where she sees patients full-time. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in skin health, aging and skin cancer prevention, and for her clear, evidence-based skincare guidance. Dr. Rogers serves on the American Academy of Dermatology Media Team, the Credo Beauty Council, the Sorette for Motherhood Scientific Advisory Board and the NewBeauty Brain Trust.
She is the founder of Doctor Rogers Skincare, a dermatologist-developed line reflecting her less-is-more, science-backed approach to healthy skin. Dr. Rogers is a graduate of Stanford University, the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed her dermatology training at Columbia University Medical Center.
Instagram: @drheatherrogers
Practice: mdinseattle.com
Skincare: doctorrogers.com
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