Face moisturiser is the skincare product that I’m most often asked about, and the biggest seller in my Skincare Collection.

Even those of us who don’t follow a skincare routine use a moisturiser occasionally.  In this post I share the what, the why, and the how of moisturisers to help you decide which is the best face moisturiser for you.

What is a face moisturiser?

Moisturisers are emollients used for protecting and moisturising your skin. They are formulated to mimic the natural sebum produced by healthy skin.

Why do you need to moisturise?

Moisturising hydrates your skin. Dry, dehydrated skin looks dull and unhealthy. Hydrated skin looks smooth and younger, and feels softer.

When your skin feels tight and dry or looks dull, moisturiser is usually the first thing we reach for.

A build up of dead skin cells on the skin surface not only looks dull, but it also blocks your moisturiser from penetrating and nourishing the newer, fresher cells below.

The solution is to exfoliate regularly!

Better yet, exfoliate, shower, and then apply moisturiser immediately, before the dampness on the skin evaporates, to help lock in that water content.

If you're not sure where to start with a daily skin care routine I have a cheat sheet for you. Download my free guide to Simple Daily Skincare Routines.

How do I use my moisturiser?

Avoid rubbing your moisturiser too vigorously as this creates friction between your hands and your skin, which can cause some of the water content in the moisturiser to evaporate before it even gets a chance to work. Tugging and pulling on your skin can also cause damage that may lead to premature ageing and wrinkles.

Apply your moisturiser in small circles, with an upward motion, leaving a light sheen of moisturiser. Leave it for a few seconds to absorb before applying makeup.

If you feel that your moisturiser isn’t really working for you - you're probably right!

If you're not seeing the results you want from your moisturiser, you may think that the product wasn’t right for your skin, or that it didn't have the right ingredients to address your individual skin concerns. If it didn’t cost the same as your mortgage payment, it could feel that it’s not a quality product.  

This may be true. There’s a lot of products to choose from and a lot of good marketing around them.  BUT it also could be that you aren’t using it correctly.

If your skin is oily, it could be because it’s unbalanced from using harsh products that cause excessive dryness. Your skin will react to a lack of moisture by producing even more oil to try to restore its natural moisture balance!  

Avoid mineral oils and look for a light and gentle moisturiser that’s formulated to prevent clogging and restore balance to your skin.

Use your moisturiser daily for the best results. Inconsistent use will give an inconsistent effect!  We all get off track now and then, but the more consistent you can be with your products, your application, and your frequency, the better your skin will respond.

Look for natural ingredients like plant extracts, natural plant oils and essential oils.

Skincare products can contain damaging ingredients. Synthetic fragrances and parabens can harm your health, so you're better off avoiding them. Some companies still test on animals, so if cruelty-free is important to you check before you buy.

Some toxic chemicals to avoid are:

Parabens – often found in deodorants & moisturisers, parabens are hormone inhibitors and are believed to accelerate tumour growth.

Artificial fragrance and colour – may trigger allergies, asthma, and some colours contain lead & harmful dyes.

Toluene – found in nail polish, hair colour products, and some fragrances, this chemical has been linked to kidney and liver damage, which may affect fetal growth

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate – a foaming agent found in shampoos and body/facial washes, it dries out the skin and is linked to eczema, hair- loss, rashes, and dry and scaly skin.

Formaldehyde – used as a preservative, formaldehyde is known by several different names and should be avoided at all costs, as the side effects are numerous.

PEG’s – found in many skin and personal care products, this is antifreeze and should be used for your car, not your skin!

Paraffin/Mineral Oil/Petrolatum – clogs pores, causing toxic build-up.

Using a moisturiser daily will help your skin to feel smoother and softer, and look younger. A natural, plant-based product is the best option as it won't contain chemicals that may harm your health.

Exfoliating a couple of times a week to remove the dead skin layer will help your moisturiser to absorb into the deeper skin layers.

Apply your moisturiser with a gentle upward circular motion so that you don't pull or drag on your skin.

Restore Jasmine and Tamanu Moisturiser is a pH-balanced, instantly hydrating facial moisturiser, packed full of nourishing nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants to maintain healthy, hydrated and radiant skin.

Email me if you have any questions, and I'll get back to you ASAP.