Explained: How to moisturize your face, the right way

Why is moisturizing important?

When it comes to beauty, our face gets the maximum attention. It is subject to most experiments, different products, and let’s not forget the dramatic panic when a little zit pops up. With all of this and the threading, tweezing, painting, and powdering our face goes through, it is important to treat it well.  Moisturization is simply the most important step in doing so.

Dry as well as oily skin on the face can change the overall impression of one’s looks. Dry and dull (sometimes peeling) skin makes you look tired. On the other hand, overdoing the moisturizing process may lead to pimples, acne, blackheads, and more. Therefore, one must not just know the importance of moisturizing your face, but also how to do it right and what product should be used. 

What is moisturization and why is it important?

Many people see dryness as a trivial irritation that does not need attention. What they don’t realize is that dry skin is not good for you in the long run. This is why moisturizing agents like lotions, creams and face serums/oils like kumkumadi oil, are required as they keep our skin away from infections, and preserve its youth. Extremely dry skin can in the long run lead to saggy skin, wrinkles, infected patches, peeling, and so on.

Our skin is supposed to be naturally hydrated and moisturized; which is why it produces sebum on its own. The epidermis (outer layer) of our skin makes up for its appearance and wellbeing - it is the barrier that protects our skin from losing its soft texture. When this layer of the skin gets damaged, it leads to Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL), which refers to the loss of water from upper skin layers.

TEWL ultimately leads to dry, cracked, and chapped skin. We are all familiar with how uncomfortable that can feel. This is where the process of moisturization comes in. Moisturization refers to the process of using external ingredients/products to protect, hydrate, and add moisture to dried skin. While our skin is capable of being healthy on its own, sometimes weather conditions, exposure to the sun, poor diet, or dehydration can lead to TEWL. Of course, different types of skin need different types of moisturizers. If you cannot figure out what moisturizer to use, you can always try Kumkumadi oil as it is a unique serum which is suitable for all skin types. It is renowned for its moisturizing properties. It also doubles up as an overnight repair serum.

When to moisturize your face? 

Apart from the question of “why”, when to moisturize your face is equally important. Ideally, if you have dry skin, it is a good idea to moisturize your skin at least twice a day. You can go two ways with your moisturizing skincare routine - daytime and overnight. Your skin might need either or both. The key to proper moisturization lies in consistency. It is a bad habit to wait until your skin gets very dry to lather on bottles of moisturizers. If you have questions about what moisturizer to use, know that there are plenty available in the market right from ones which only answer your moisturization needs to ones like Kumkumadi oil, which does much more for the skin than just moisturization. Compensation is not enough for weeks or months’ worth of neglect.

Here are our tips and tricks based on the time of the day you may apply moisturizers.

Applying moisturizers during daytime

When it comes to moisturizing during the daytime, there are a lot of ways one can opt. Some prefer to moisturize right after they wake up, in the morning. The most optimal way to retain moisture in your skin, however, is to moisturize it every time it comes in contact with water. This means, right after a shower, or swimming, and ideally even after you wash your hands after a meal. The last suggestion is given because our palms tend to get dry after handwashing. 

 Here are general tips to keep in mind:

• For the face, a typical daytime skincare routine involves cleansing (washing), toning, moisturizing, SPF, and then make-up. 
• The amount and ingredients of the products you use depend on your skin type. For example, people with dry skin should use a product which provides deep moisturization. On the other hand, an oily face should not be subjected to lotions that are too greasy.
• Skipping on sunscreen application is a big NO. This goes especially for people who spend too much time outdoors. Make it a point to make sunscreen part of your everyday daytime skincare.
• It is advised that you apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face/ showering. This helps the humectants in your moisturizer to keep optimal water content on the surface of your skin. Sunscreens or occlusives are applied after humectants. They play the role of creating a barrier so that the moisture in your skin is trapped and external rays or pollution cannot harm your skin. Most importantly, one should opt for moisturizer which is natural and has herbal ingredients like aloe vera, saffron, sandalwood or even kumkumadi oil which is a combination of 21-26 vital herbs and is catching on as a favorite ingredient in the range of natural moisturizers and cream.

Applying moisturizer overnight 

Night time is the best time to take care of your skin. You are in a protected environment in your bedroom, safe from harsh sun rays, dirt, and pollution. At night, your body is resting and restoring its functioning after a tiring day. The same goes for your skin. Skin regeneration is the fastest when you are in deep sleep. Old skin is gradually exfoliated and new skin cells start to take their place. Thus, whether it’s moisturizers, kumkumadi oil or any cream - they do their job optimally overnight.

Here are a set of general tips to keep in mind when moisturizing overnight:- 

• Make sure to clean your face properly with a mild face wash. Toners are recommended after washing for a more thorough cleaning, along with the restoration of the regular pH of your skin. This step is essential because our skin goes through a lot during the day. Cleaning and grooming at this stage prepare and pamper your skin for good rest during bedtime.

• Night time is ideal for the application of face oils. Use natural face oils such as almond oil, argan oil or even kumkumadi oil and any such face oil made with natural herbs. If you use oils during the day, they can attract dirt particles and make your skin look greasy. Fortunately, these drawbacks are eliminated during bedtime. Therefore, if your skin requires an application of oils for a long time, overnight is the way to go.
• kumkumadi oil being a versatile oil, can be used as a moisturizer at night time even if you have oily skin. Let it absorb into your skin well, leave it on for about 2hrs before washing it off. You would wake up with soft and radiant skin in the morning if you make this a regular night routine.

• Apply moisturizer in little circular movements all over your face. Avoid rubbing it onto your face harshly. Let your skin absorb the moisturizer for 2-3 minutes before adding a layer of face oil or any other thicker products.

What to look for in a moisturizer

To understand the moisturizing process, one must be aware of the four types of ingredients that you can find in moisturizers. Skincare experts suggest that moisturization should be thought of as a combination of all four:-

• Humectants are ingredients that modulate water content in your skin by increasing surface-level water availability. In other words, their application draws water from your body and adds it to the skin surface. Examples of humectants include glycerine, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, yogurt, honey, and much more.

• Occlusives control water content on the skin’s surface by slowing TEWL. They create a barrier that makes it difficult for water to evaporate from your skin. If you apply an occlusive over a humectant, you get the best moisturizing effects. This could however be too much grease and oil for oily skin. Examples of occlusives include mineral oil (petroleum jelly), natural oils (olive oil, jojoba oil, kumkumadi oil, coconut oil), beeswax, lanolin, and so on.

• Keratolytic agents stimulate cell renewal by removing dead cells from the surface and encouraging new cells to develop for a better and healthier barrier. These enable the absorption of humectants and occlusives deep into your skin. Many humectants like AHAs also act as keratolytic agents. Examples include lactic acid, urea, and glycolic acid. Kumkumadi oil also has the ability to remove dead skin cells and promote skin cell regeneration.

• Emollients improve the appearance of soft, smooth skin by providing surface-level lubrication. They help with mild TEWL improvement on the skin's surface. Many occlusives also serve as emollients. Some of the best loved emollients include lipids and oils like shea butter, jojoba oil, kumkumadi oil, colloidal oatmeal, ghee etc.

Knowing about these ingredients along with knowledge about your skin type and needs may help you pick the best moisturizers for yourself. Always do a patch test before trying out a new product for your face. Do take into consideration how the moisturizer feels on your skin and if you are comfortable/happy with it. Avoid moisturizers that are too high on alcohol or perfumes, rather use natural ones with ingredients moisturizer like saffron, sandalwood, shea butter, kumkumadi oil.

How to moisturize your face naturally

For the lovers of home remedies and au natural skincare routines, we have good news. Your moisturizers do not have to be store-bought formulas. Instead, you can use natural ingredients to moisturize your skin. And if you want to delve into ancient ayurvedic beauty recipes, you may even try your hand at making the prestigious Kumkumadi oil the authentic way. 

Let’s look at some of the ingredients available in your home right now that could serve as fabulous skin hydrating agents! Here are a few ways to moisturize your face naturally: 

Honey is a skincare favorite for good reason! It is a natural humectant that is largely suitable for all skin types. It does not make oily skin greasy and leaves a hydrating effect even after it is washed off! You can use honey by applying it and leaving it on your face for 10 minutes before washing it off to get smooth, supple, and hydrated skin. However, if your skin is too dry, it would be a good idea to mix  kumkumadi oil with honey or other occlusive ingredients, especially in winter.

Natural oils

We all have some or the other natural oil in abundance in our homes. Whether it is castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or ghee - all of these ingredients can do wonders for dry skin. They act as both emollients and occlusives, giving you smooth, shiny, and supple skin. If your skin is too dry, consider leaving kumkumadi oil on it overnight. 

Kumkumadi oil can be used by any gender and age group. It is recommended that kumkumadi oil is best to be used at night for moisturizing skin.

Drink more water

Humectants and moisturizers act as helping ingredients to retain moisture in your skin. However, your skin needs hydration from the inside to stay healthy nonetheless. Make it a habit to drink over 10 glasses of water every day and you may be surprised to find that most of your skin problems are reduced.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is another skincare favorite that happens to be an excellent humectant. Not only is aloe vera effective in hydrating your skin, but it has also been found to have qualities that help in skin regeneration. It is anti-inflammatory, high in vitamin E and vitamin A. Keeping an aloe vera plant at your home can be the ultimate fix to several of your skin problems. All you have to do is cut its leaf and squeeze out the naturally occurring gel-like moisturizer. You can use this gel-like regular moisturizer overnight, or rinse it off after 15-20 minutes. Aloe vera is very versatile and can even be mixed with Kumkumadi Oil or other natural oils for better hydration.

Final takeaways

Moisturizers, in many ways, are the protagonist of our skincare regimens. While choosing the right moisturizer with natural ingredients like kumkumadi oil, coconut oil, aloe vera is the first step; knowing how to optimize it is the secret key to ever-glowing healthy skin. Therefore, it is essential to be consistent with moisturizers and to adjust them according to seasonal needs. So, waste no time! Try out what works for the needs of your skin the best and come up with the best skincare regime for yourself. We hope this blog gives you more insight into how to go about it.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar: 

Shubhr Dark Spot Corrector Cream with Natural Vitamin C for Glowing Skin (Women)

 Shubhr Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Dark Spot Correction and Glowing Skin