A Dermat’s Advise On Finding Your Ideal Moisturiser

By Anupriya Jamuar

Your first one was probably the cult classic Nivea cream from your mum’s vanity. Though we’ve all grown up loving a good creamy formulation, did you know that not all moisturisers suit all skin types?

Just like any other product, moisturisers also need to be handpicked based on your needs. The efficacy of a moisturiser depends on your skin type, hormones, the environment and climate that you’re in, as well as the products you use on your skin.

To help you choose the right moisturiser for your skin type, we asked Bollywood’s favourite dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad for a quick guide.  

 
For normal skin 
“If you have normal skin, you can use a moisturiser which is a humectant, which means something that absorbs water from the environment and from the deeper layers of your skin to hydrate the skin,” explains Dr Jaishree. So, normal skin types can look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, urea and glycerine.

For dry skin 
“If you have dry skin, then you need something to occlude the skin like almond oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil or petrolatum,” says Dr Jaishree.

For oily skin 
For very oily skin, you need something lightweight, like an emollient. So, look for products with ingredients like dimethicone, which is a silicone-based ingredient that gives a silky-smooth texture to your skin. You can also look for an essence that has ingredients like Centella asiatica (also known as gotu kola) and hyaluronic acid. These won’t be heavy on your skin while keeping it hydrated.

For mature skin 
“If you’re above 35, you can use moisturisers with ingredients like peptides and CoQ10 that also have anti-ageing benefits. Also, make sure that your moisturiser has SPF in it if you’re going to be outdoors a lot,” advises Dr Jaishree

Tip: pairing moisturiser with active ingredients 
If you’re using active ingredients like retinol that could dry your skin, then look for a moisturiser with both humectants and emollients in it. So, look for ingredients like dimethicone in them.