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Moisturizer Guide

Choose the Best Moisturizer
for Your Skin Type

Moisturizer Guide: Choosing a Moisturizer by Skin Type

Moisture is an important part and a must-have of a skincare routine. It is one of the essentials for maintaining healthy, better-looking skin. Shiseido provides moisturizers for every skin type as well as moisturizers that help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and more.

For those wondering what do moisturizers do and what is the best face moisturizer, check out this quick guide:

What is Moisturizer?

Moisturizers are a blend of oil and water and other nourishing ingredients. They act as a protective barrier for the skin. Moisturizers eliminate dryness by restoring and locking in moisture.

What are the Benefits of Moisturizer?

Moisturizing the skin often has many benefits, some of which include the following:

Prevents Dryness

Too much cold or too much heat can take the moisture right out of the skin, leaving it dry and rough. Moisturizer helps restore hydration to the face by replacing moisture on the skin and preventing it from dissipating in the future.

Controls Oils

People with oily skin might think that adding moisturizer will make it worse. That isn’t always the case. When the skin is too dry, it causes the glands to produce more oil, which results in clogged pores and breakouts all over the face. With properly hydrated skin, the face will stop producing more oil than it needs.

Protects Skin from the Sun

Aside from sunscreen, using products with SPF helps protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays during the daytime. For those asking, “What kind of moisturizer should I use?” here’s a tip: use a moisturizer with SPF. People might think that moisturizer isn’t necessary just because they stay at home all day or the weather is cloudy. Nevertheless, it’s important to give skin the protection it needs. Try any of the following creams and moisturizers that have SPF in them:

Soothes Sensitive Skin

Some people find their skin with dry, itchy patches that become red and irritated. This is a sign that the skin needs extra care. Sensitive skin benefits from a moisturizer with soothing ingredients like ginseng root extract, yuzu seed extract, and peony extract.

Keeps the Skin Looking Young and Fresh

Hydrated, well-moisturized skin helps the skin look young, plump, and firm. There’s a misconception that people don’t need to worry about wrinkles and fine lines until they are older. Nevertheless, there’s no better time than now to help slow down the appearance of aging. Check out Shiseido's Benefiance collection for more youthful-looking skin.

Lifts and Firms the Skin

Over time, the skin starts to soften and sag—a result of the loss of collagen. To fight this, Shiseido also has a line of wrinkle-smoothing moisturizers with key ingredients to help firm and lift the appearance of the skin. Get skin with renewed firmness and bounce with the help of Shiseido's Vital Perfection collection.

When Should I Use Moisturizer?

Those new to the world of moisturizers might be wondering when to use them and how to moisturize the face. Here are a few tips to get started:

Before Bed

The skin resets itself during sleep. Give it an extra boost by applying some hydrating and soothing moisturizer before going to bed. Use Benefiance Overnight Wrinkle Resisting Cream, so it hydrates, smoothes, and restores the skin during sleep. White Lucent Overnight Cream & Mask contains Yoshino Cherry Extract to recharge the skin at night. For something that firms the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, try Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream, with our highest concentration of anti-aging ingredients.

In the Morning

Upon waking up in the morning, it’s important to wash the face to get rid of any dirt or oil the night before. Even for those who put on moisturizer before going to sleep, it’s best to start the day with a fresh face.

After the usual skincare routine—before putting on sunscreen and makeup—add some moisturizer to prepare the skin for the day. People looking for something that will give them a little more skin protection can opt to use Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream SPF 23.

Pre- and Post-Flight

Most people don’t think about applying moisturizer before or after a flight. Nevertheless, the cabin of an airplane can be very dry. Putting on some moisturizer before taking off and landing will help keep the skin in good condition. Use Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream Enriched, or Essential Energy Hydrating Cream (or Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20), or Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream.

When You’re Breaking Out

Putting on moisturizer when a sudden breakout occurs seems counterintuitive and counterproductive. Nevertheless, if the skin dries out, it can make things worse, such as causing an excess buildup of dead skin cells on the face. It’s best to stick to a skincare routine as closely as possible, even on breakout days, so the skin remains moisturized. Try the Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream which makes the skin feel dewy, soft, and moisturized.

What Kind of Moisturizer Should I Use Based on My Skin Type?

There are four basic skin types:

  • Normal skin - clear, well-balanced, not too oily, and not too dry
  • Dry skin - often flaky, itchy, or rough due to the lack of sebum which helps skin retain moisture
  • Oily skin - shiny and greasy due to overproduction of sebum
  • Combination skin - mixed type where the skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Some products work better on some skin types than others. Some products are even made for a specific skin type and might cause more harm than help when used on another skin type. For the best kind of moisturizer depending on specific skin types, here’s a quick guide to take note of:

Moisturizing in the J-Beauty Routine

The J-Beauty Routine—or the process of skincare beauty from Japan—has six essential steps:

  1. Cleanser
  2. Softener
  3. Strengthen
  4. Treat
  5. Moisturize
  6. Protect

Moisturizing the face falls on the second to last step. After cleansing and softening the skin and treating it with products to address challenges, all that remains is to moisturize and protect it.

The Importance of Moisturizer

Moisturizer is an essential part of a skincare routine. If it isn’t yet, make sure to include it, taking special care to consider skin type when choosing a product.Need help finding out what moisturizer will work? Take Shiseido’s Moisturizer Finder quiz.

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