Matching a moisturizer to your skin
Most complaints about moisturizers come down to texture, not ingredients. Dry skin needs occlusives that hold water in. Oily skin needs hydration without the heavy oils, which is a different product, not a smaller amount of the same one.
Dry and dehydrated skin
Look for ceramides, which are the lipids your barrier is made of. The CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion (Rs 5,500) is the straightforward daily option, and the St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Lotion (Rs 1,670) covers body at a lower price per ml.
Irritated or over-exfoliated skin
If actives have left your skin stinging, stop them and repair first. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ (Rs 7,999) is the one dermatologists in Pakistan reach for most often, and it works on cracked hands and lips too.
Under the eyes
Thinner skin, so a lighter formula. SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream (Rs 3,460) uses bakuchiol rather than retinol, which is the gentler route if the area reacts easily.
When to apply
On damp skin, within a minute of washing. Moisturizer works partly by sealing in the water already on your skin, so applying to a fully dry face gives you less out of the same product.
Moisturizers FAQs
Do oily skin types need a moisturizer?
Yes. Skipping it often makes oiliness worse, because skin stripped of water can produce more oil to compensate. Use a gel or lotion rather than a cream.
What are ceramides and why do they matter?
Ceramides are the fats that hold your skin barrier together. Skin low in them loses water faster and gets irritated more easily, which is why ceramide creams help dry and sensitive skin.
Can I use the same moisturizer summer and winter?
Most people in Pakistan switch. A cream that is comfortable in December can feel heavy in June, so a lighter gel through the humid months usually works better.
Moisturizer before or after sunscreen?
Moisturizer first, let it settle for a minute, then sunscreen as the last skincare step in the morning.