The skin on your face, hands, and body goes through the same process of aging as the rest of your body. As you age, your skin can become wrinkled, dry, and prone to damage from the sun’s UV rays. Moisturizing daily with a quality moisturizer can help keep your skin hydrated, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and protect against damage from the sun. If you have any doubts about how important moisturizing is to your skin health, keep reading to find out why you should be moisturizing with our eight reasons why you should be moisturizing right now!
1) Excellent Skin Protectant
Your skin is vulnerable to the harsh effects of UV radiation, dry air, and pollution. Apply a good moisturizer before leaving your house to ensure that your skin remains protected from any potential damage. It will also keep your complexion clear and blemish-free. Keep in mind that a moisturizer’s waterproof formula doesn’t actually prevent water loss through your skin; it only prevents evaporation. If you want to seal in moisture, apply a layer of lotion directly after showering or bathing.
2) Reduce Signs of Aging
Sun exposure is one of your skin’s biggest foes. It can cause premature aging and uneven pigmentation, not to mention wrinkles. That’s why it’s important to always wear sunscreen—regardless of where you go or what you do. Choose a formula with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every few hours as needed. If you aren’t wearing sunscreen, consider moisturizers with built-in SPF protection like Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion Sunscreen ($29).
3) Do it For Your Hair
Chances are you put moisturizer on your face every day, but what about your hair? Hair is porous and absorbs products quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to use products for dry hair to keep your locks moisturized. In addition to adding moisture, applying a product specially formulated for dry hair will seal in moisture and lock out frizz. For frizzy hair and dry ends, you can also opt for a leave-in conditioner (or spray).
4) Reduces Rough Skin
Dry skin, or xerosis, can occur when the skin is dehydrated. Whether your skin is naturally dry or you live in a very dry climate, moisturizers will help lock in moisture and keep your skin soft and supple. Even if you don’t have a severe case of xerosis, moisturizers are still good for getting rid of rough patches that could cause irritation and discomfort.
5) Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Topical skin creams and gels with ingredients like vitamin E, green tea, and aloe can reduce inflammation. As a result, they’re thought to improve acne. A 2013 study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology found that after 4 weeks of use on 45 people with mild-to-moderate acne, two types of moisturizers were equally effective at reducing pimple size by about 30 percent compared to no treatment.
6) Restore Elasticity to Collagen in Skin
Collagen is what gives skin its plumpness and firmness. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin. To keep skin looking young, it’s important to restore elasticity by using moisturizers that contain these two ingredients. Use your regular moisturizer as well as a facial moisturizer to ensure your whole face gets hydrated every day. This helps keep both types of collagen healthy, so you can look younger longer.
7) Replenish Hydration From Within
The body is naturally more apt to retain water when dehydrated. This means that if you’re drinking less liquid than normal, your skin will start to show signs of dryness and dehydration quicker. It’s important to get in your daily water intake—but it’s also crucial to keep those high-quality, moisturizing ingredients on hand. These are just a few reasons why you should be moisturizing!
8) Improve Barrier Function and Provides UV Protection
Our skin barrier is essential to keeping water in our skin. If you’re not keeping it moisturized, your natural hydration levels decrease, resulting in dry and flaky skin that lacks elasticity and firmness. Healthy and plump skin looks younger than its true age as a result of good barrier function. (Source: The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology)
Final Thoughts
The skin is our body’s largest organ, and keeping it moisturized is important to our overall health. Find out why moisturization isn’t just for dry skin; when you know how to moisturize properly, your skin can look younger and healthier.
