If you want to achieve healthy and youthful skin, moisturising should be an essential part of your everyday skin care routine.
However, this step is even more important in the summer months.
Want to know why? Keep reading.
The Importance of a High-Quality Moisturiser
Before you fail to moisturise your skin daily, bear in mind the following.
1. It Keeps Your Skin Hydrated
First things first, your body is more dehydrated in summer because of excessive exposure to the sun, heat and chlorine.
This can then cause your skin to dry out, which makes you look older.
Moisturising your skin at least twice a day post-cleanse remedies this. It keeps your complexion looking and feeling healthy, whatever the weather.
2. It Creates an Even Tone
The main job of any moisturiser is to combat a dry or oily complexion.
It aims to trap water and hydrate your skin, which can then create a smooth and even skin tone.
However, because your skin gets extra dry during the summer, you may want to use a heavier cream or gel to achieve the same benefits.
3. It Helps Your Skin Repair Itself
The most sensitive areas of your skin, such as the face, neck, chest and ears, replace themselves more than any others.
These areas shed skin cells daily, which makes them vulnerable to dryness.
Moisturising all year round encourages younger, healthier skin cells to rise to the surface. This is especially true if you use the massaging technique to stimulate blood circulation and new cell generation.
4. It Improves the Appearance of Wrinkles
According to the British Journal of Dermatology, people who properly moisturise their skin and ensure it doesn’t dry out in summer accumulate wrinkles much slower than the average person.
How come? Well, when you apply a high-quality moisturiser daily, the skin absorbs it.
This then causes the skin to puff up and make wrinkles and fine lines appear less deep.
5. It Makes Skin Look Glowy
As a result of trapping water in the skin, moisturising also has a brightening effect all year round.
It makes your complexion look more glowy and youthful — and, consequently, healthier.
The Perfect Anti-Ageing Skin Care Routine
Use moisturiser twice a day as part of your morning and evening skin care routine, no matter the season.
And look out for excess oil on your face. This is a sign that your skin is dehydrated and your body has stepped up its production of sebum to combat this.
To prevent your skin drying out, follow this anti-ageing skin care routine:
- Wash your face with a cream cleanser that has a low pH. This type of cleanser is more nourishing as you get older and actively preserves your skin barrier.
- Moisturise post-cleanse. Look for ingredients such as antioxidants (Vitamin C) and cell regulators (retinol) that try to increase the amount of collagen in your skin.
- Use an eye serum. This will target dark circles, wrinkles, fine lines and under-eye bags to rejuvenate your eye area.
- Apply sunscreen. Make sure the one you use is broad-spectrum and water-resistant with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure for optimal protection.
Be sure to moisturise after a hot shower, too.
Why? Well, hot water strips all the moisture and natural oils out of your skin, which can leave it parched.
The Takeaway
Even though it’s tempting to skip the moisturiser when you’re cleansing your face and short on time, you must resist the urge!
After all, moisturising frequently and consistently can lead to brighter, firmer and younger skin.
Just make sure that you choose one that’s high in quality and works for your complexion, whether it’s dry, normal or oily.
This is the second post in the “Summer Skin Care” series. Look out for the next post, “The Importance of Drinking Water”, coming soon!
