An antioxidant moisturizer serves the basic purpose of keeping your skin hydrated and soft. A good antioxidant moisturizer prevents water loss through the outer layers of skin and complements the protective oils found naturally within the skin. As skin ages, it loses the ability to retain moisture, and everyday activities like washing, strip the natural hydrators from its surface. It is essential therefore to include moisturizing in your daily skincare routine. You need moisturiser regardless of your skin type. But the kind of moisturizer you should use depends on your skin type.
Oily Skin:
Water-based options like gel moisturizers are best suited for oily skin as they are lightweight and are absorbed quickly into the skin.
Normal or Combination Skin:
Any lotion made for normal skin should be used. There is some more lubrication level than gel but it also absorbs well.
Dry Skin:
For dry skin, creams and soft creams are the best choices. They are more oil-based and generally heavier than normal lotions.
Inflamed and Sensitive Skin:
As long as your skin is not prone to acne, the balm is good for such extremely dry types of skin. Balms are like a cream but they have a heavier texture.
Day and Night Creams:
Day creams are used to protect your skin from the harsh environmental factors you are exposed to during the day. Day creams usually have a lightweight consistency and contain antioxidants to protect your skin from pollution and ultraviolet radiation. On the other hand, night creams are used to repair the damage, speed up cellular regrowth, and fade dark spots. Night creams usually have a rich thick texture and serve to refurbish the moisture levels lost during the day.
Which Moisturizer is better?
Cetaphil and Cerave are the two most recommended brands of moisturizers in 2021. Many beauty influencers have been recommending either Cerave or Cetaphil for skincare. Both brands are quite similar to each other in that they both focus on basic skincare needs, however, each has pros and cons. In a nutshell, Cetaphil is better to reduce redness but Cerave is more suited for dry skin while. Both are good at combatting acne but Cerave has a wider range of products to battle breakouts.
The main characteristics of Cetaphil and Cerave are as stated below:
Cetaphil
- Includes glycerine in addition to the basic ingredients
- Excellent for minimizing redness and inflammation
- Contains non-comdogenic ingredients that don’t irritate skin
- Great results at combatting acne
- Shows good results for mild eczema
- Non-greasy formula that dries matte
- Best suited for sensitive skin
Cerave
- Includes ceramics and hyaluronic acid in addition to hydrating ingredients
- They are non-comdogenic which won’t clog pores
- Better line for anti-aging products
- Better than Cetaphil for acne prone skin
- Non greasy moisturizer that absorbs into skin easily
- Great for people with dry skin
- Shows good results even for extreme cases of eczema
- Dedicated line of products for oily skin
While there is no clear winner between the two, you should do your research to pick an option better suited for your skin.