Yesterday, Cristen guided us all through how to wash our faces. I know that I personally was surprised to learn that the Dermatology Times frowns upon daily exfoliating formulas — that’s what I currently have taking up space in my shower. I was immediately suspicious of my previously beloved cleanser, which forced me to cast a new eye on all the face products in my home. Could it be possible that I was doing other things wrong?

Cristen mentioned moisturizers only briefly in her article yesterday, but she’s quite the guru on the topic, as I discovered when I read her article Top 5 Tips for Choosing a Daily Facial Moisturizer. As it turns out, good face washing is only half the battle. Somewhat counter intuitively, washing with water strips the face of hydration (along with all the dead skin, dirt and bacteria). To keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free, you have to put all that water back in, which is how we come to the humble moisturizer. And if you think you don’t need to read this blog because you have oily skin, think again — putting moisture in the form of water onto the face is much different than putting more oil onto the face.

So that brings us to our first tip: Know your skin type. If you do have oily skin, look for something labeled non-greasy or non-comedogenic, and stay away from products that are heavy on the mineral oil or the glycerin, which are better suited for dry skin. Normal-skinned folks will do fine with a water-based moisturizer. Your skin’s needs may change according to the season, so as we head into the colder months, you may need something much richer than what you’ve been using during the summer.

No matter what kind of skin you have and no matter the season, though, your moisturizer should have sunscreen. It’s the No. 1 ingredient to be on the lookout for, far above anything fancy that the manufacturers try to sell you on. Price doesn’t really matter when it comes to moisturizers. Be wary of any outrageous marketing claims — since the FDA classifies moisturizers as cosmetics, the products can’t really create much biological change to your face without being subjected to years of testing and classification as a drug.

If you do want to splurge, you might consider looking for ingredients like retinol, hydroxy acids and soy compounds. And once you’ve found something that you like, stick with it. Apply your favorite moisturizer daily, when skin is still damp, and don’t forget the neck!

We’re all about the face this week on How-to Stuff, and Cristen will be back tomorrow to talk about some of the more unsightly aspects: blackheads. I can’t wait to find out what I’m doing wrong there! Until then, check out these articles from HowStuffWorks:
How Daily Dry Skin Care Regimens Work
How Daily Oily Skin Care Regimens Work
How Daily Acne Care Regimens Work