No matter, if your skin is oily, dry or a combination of both; a moisturizer is and should be a must-have product in your skincare routine. Apart from providing hydration, it has tons of other healthy benefits to offer you (that we will discuss later). In fact, it is also said that Cleopatra used to bathe in milk due to its moisturizing properties.
In this post, you will be reading about the benefits of moisturization, its effective application and some least-known tips to hydrate your skin throughout the day while working outdoors.
Why A Moisturizer Matters?
While leaving for work, there is already a lot of stuff to do in the morning, and applying a moisturizer just seems like another chore added to the list. However, this step should not be ignored no matter how late it gets. Read on to know why.
- Moisturizers are being used to enhance the water content of the skin’s outermost layer known as stratum corneum.
- They are considered significant in reducing aging signs and enhancing overall skin quality.
- Act like a barrier and save you from environmental influences that can harm the skin, like dry air, cold, dust, etc.
- Rehydrate skin and enhance its capacity to retain moisture.
- Prevent several skin issues caused by dryness, like acne, increased redness and appearance of tiny bumps.
- They also help in making your skin look plump, firm and young.
- Filling up pores with a great moisturizer is always a good idea than letting the environmental pollutants sit in the space and damage it.
Tips and Tricks To Keep Your Skin Hydrated While Working Outdoors
Generally, people believe that a sunscreen is enough to protect your skin outdoors. However, that’s not completely true. It is a fact that UV rays can harm our skin in so many ways, but environmental pollutants are equally damaging. This is when using a best-quality moisturizer on the face and body can be your savior! It will act as an extra layer of protection under the sun.
Here are a few tips to help you work outdoors with dedication without worrying about your skin getting dehydrated.
1. Choose A Right Product For Your Skin Type
Whether your skin is oily, sensitive, combination, dry or aging; a moisturizer is equally significant for everyone. Luckily, there are different types of nourishing products available in the marketplace these days, catering to the requirements of different skin types and textures. In fact, you can also find a number of moisturizers for men that are specifically formulated according to their skin needs.
Have a look at the given chart to find out more:
| Skin Type | Moisturizer Type | How it works? |
| Oily | Gel | Lightweight, water-based, absorbs quickly |
| Normal or combination | Lotion | More hydrating than gel, absorbs well. |
| Dry or flaky | Cream or soft cream | Oil-based, heavier than lotions |
| Sensitive or inflamed (not acne-prone) | Balm | Pretty much similar to cream but heavier texture, suitable for extremely dry skin |
2. Don’t Shower With Hot Water
Apart from applying a quality product, there are certain other factors that can dry out your skin in the long run. For instance, showering with hot water. Although a toasty shower can relax your body in just a few minutes, but it is not the best choice for your skin.
Hot water can actually strip essential oils from epithelium, leaving it dehydrated. Hence, it is suggested to use lukewarm water instead for the sake of your skin.
3. Apply A Moisturizer Right After The Shower
Don’t rub your face and body with a towel for drying after the shower. It is ideal to apply a moisturizer on damp skin to lock the hydration for longer. Moreover, always pat to dry with a soft cloth or tissue, so that your skin doesn’t get harm.
4. Don’t Forget Your Neck and Chest
It is a common practice for people to think that nourishing creams are only to be applied on the face. Well, that’s not true.
The skin on the neck and chest is mostly exposed to the skin, and lack of hydration is one of the main reasons that it starts aging sooner than the face. To prevent the inconvenience, use a moisturizer on the neck and chest area after applying it on your face.
You can also opt for a product that is specially manufactured for neck, chest or hands in order to experience great results.
5. Invest in Moisturizers With SPF
Applying a sunscreen has to be the last step of your skin care routine in the morning, even if it’s a rainy or cloudy day. The rule of thumb is to layer sunscreen on the moisturizer, but if you don’t want to use too many products at once; there is an alternative for that.
You can invest in a product that has broad-spectrum sunscreen. It will not only protect your skin from the harmful sun rays, but will also hydrate your skin.
6. Don’t Forget To Check The Label If Your Skin Is Sensitive
Skin irritation is a common reaction faced by the people with sensitive skin, especially after using a product with alcohol, fragrance, essential oils, etc. To avoid such discomfort, always check the ingredients before buying any skincare product. The best you can do is; visit a dermatologist and ask for recommendations, according to your skin type.
7. Don’t Overdo It
Excess of anything is bad, and the same rule applies for a hydrating cream. Using a lot of moisturizer on your skin can leave adverse effects instead. It is suggested to follow the directions given on the bottle or leaflet. Typically, a pea size quantity should be enough for the face alone.
8. Switch Products With Changing Season
As the requirements of our body change with the weather; the demands of our skin evolve as well. For instance, we require warm clothes and boots in the winters; similarly, our skin needs a thick or heavy moisturizer in those time as well due to the cold and dry weather.
However, in summers, a lightweight, non-greasy lotion can do the job. Therefore, keep an eye on the changes in your skin with the weather shift and invest in a product accordingly rather sticking to one thing throughout the year.
9. Use Facial Oil
Generally, people having oily skin are afraid of using facial oil. However, there is no harm in doing so as long as the particular product is formulated for oily skin specifically.
They have the ability to lock hydration into the skin without clogging pores. All you need to do is; take a few drops of your favorite face oil and layer it on your moisturizer before applying makeup. Do this every morning and night, and it will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day, especially if you work under the draining sun mostly.
10. Hydrating Facial Mask
After spending an entire day under the sun; our skin needs some rest to replenish its hydration levels. This is why, you need to use hydrating facial masks more often to make your face ready and refresh for the next day.
You can prepare a simple mask at home using basic ingredients, like honey, yogurt, eggs, mashed bananas or cucumbers from your kitchen garden. The other option is to get one from a cosmetic store for a quick fix. Luckily, there are a variety of sheet masks prevailing in the markets as well for your convenience.
11. Follow A Proper Skin Care Routine Religiously
A healthy and glowing skin can’t be achieved overnight. You need to follow a proper routine for that. For instance, if you see rough patches or Milia (tiny bumps on the skin); applying a nourishing cream just once in a while won’t do any good. Cleansing face following up with a moisturizer at least twice a day is significant for a radiant glow.
12. Don’t Forget to Moisturize The Rest of Your Body
Your body needs as much attention and hydration as your face does. Body lotions come handy in this case. To get the most out of it; apply the product when the skin is still damp. Make sure to cover the areas that build up dead cells, like elbows, knees, knuckles, etc. Moreover, it is highly suggested to keep a hand cream with you while working outdoors, so you can conveniently use it after washing your hands.
Besides, hydrating lips is equally important. Carry a lip balm along to prevent dry, chapped lips.
13. Intake More Fluids
Drinking more water throughout the day can help your skin hydrate itself. If you don’t want to drink water often, then add fresh juice or flavored water to your diet. Ideally, every one should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day, regardless of the weather.
14. Use Gentle Cleansing Products
Soaps, shampoos and detergents having alcohol in them can actually strip essential oils from your skin. Always choose a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser with vitamins and aloe minerals for best results.
15. Use Humidifier
Humidifier is an extremely useful device which aids in adding moisture to the air. In winters, our skin get dehydrated and rough because of the dry weather conditions. However, a humidifier can help your body retain the moisture levels in a hassle-free manner. The great thing is that; these machines are compact and lightweight, so you can easily carry them on your workplace too, if needed.
16. See A Specialist
Lastly but most importantly, if you are suffering from dry skin and the given tips are not doing any good to you, then see a specialist ASAP for a thorough skin examination. If any sort of moisturizer is not solving your skin-related issues; that could be a cause of an underlying health problem. Moreover, don’t forget to consult your doctor for any sort of skin allergies or reactions from the ingredients in a particular product.
How To Moisturize Effectively Without Using Any Product
Yes, that’s possible! You can also nourish your skin without any product by simply doing some lifestyle changes. For example:
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing salt consumption
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Eating food with high water content, such as cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, etc.
- Drinking a lot of water throughout the day.
Things To Look In a Moisturizer While Buying
Using a moisturizer every day as a part of skin care routine is essential. However, some products work better than the others because of the quality ingredients used in their formulation. Here are some tips to choose the best one for yourself:
- For outdoor workers; a moisturizer with SPF 15+ is essential.
- The product should be non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and dermatologist tested.
- Vitamin A and B5 build moisture levels and increase firmness of the skin.
- Vitamin C and E fight skin damage and protect the new skin.
- Make sure, the moisturizer has glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides in it.
| Essential Ingredients of a moisturizer | Uses | Example |
| Occlusives | Oily substances that are responsible for blocking water evaporation. | Cetyl alcohol, petrolatum, lecithin, anolin, paraffin, mineral oil and stearic acid |
| Humectants | They pull moisture from the air and preserve it in the outer layer of the dermis. | Honey, panthenol, glycerin |
| Vitamins | Help in production of collagen and reduction of wrinkles and fine lines | Vitamin C and E |
Caution!
Moisturizers are generally mild and don’t cause any negative impact on the skin. However, skin irritation or discomfort can occur due to unsuitable ingredients present in it. To prevent the issue, it is recommended to do a patch test first before trying out something new. If you see any reaction; consult with a dermatologist for further assistance.
Takeaway
Using a moisturizer is a must for everyone, regardless of the gender. It helps the skin retain moisture, provide protection against external or environmental factors and alleviate skin. Especially if you work outdoors most of the time, then hydrating your skin is significant because the scorching sun can actually suck out all the important nutrients from the outer dermis.
The key is too select a suitable product, based on the type and texture of your skin. You can refer to a dermatologist for better suggestions regarding your purchase. Apart from a moisturizer, there are several other ways to hydrate your inside and out while working outdoors. For example, consuming fluids like fresh juice, more water intake, less salt consumption, using humidifier, etc.
So, which one of the mentioned tips are you following?