How to choose the right moisturiser for your skin type

It’s the single most important product a man can have in his grooming armoury – protecting skin from environmental assault, minimising wrinkles and keeping skin soft, supple and hydrated. But in the same way that a car only works when you fill it with the right type of fuel, a moisturiser will only work well if it perfectly matches your skin type. Choose one that’s not hydrating enough when you have dry skin and it’ll still feel dry, parched and flaky; opt for one that’s too rich and heavy when you have greasy skin to begin with and you’re just asking for an oil slick.  So here’s how you match the moisturiser to the man…

Best for dry/normal skin…

If your skin is dry or normal, chances are it occasionally feels tight or sore after washing, is easily irritated and sometimes appears dull and flaky. Everything from dehydration, central heating and poor diet can exacerbate the problem as can using a moisturiser that doesn’t provide enough hydration for your skin’s needs.

If you’ve particularly dry skin you need rich, hydrating creams and balms that provide maximum hydration so look for moisturisers specifically formulated for dry skin and check the label to ensure it contains hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that draws moisture to the skin like a magnet and holds it there.

If your skin’s very dry keep a spare tube in your work bag, office drawer or car glove compartment and re-apply whenever skin starts to feel dehydrated.

Best for oily skin…

If you’ve skin that’s naturally on the oily, shiny and spotty side you probably don’t think you need a moisturiser. After all, you’re producing enough of your own oil to keep skin in tip-top condition, right? Wong. Oil and water are two different things remember and even oily skin can still be dehydrated.

The trick here is choosing a moisturiser that hydrates but doesn’t add oil so look for products designed for your skin type (they’re often labeled  ‘oil control’ or ‘oil-free’) and ones that promise to mattify skin. These contain microscopic sponges that mop up the oil and leave skin with a healthy-looking matte finish rather than an oil-slick shine.

Look out, too, for moisturisers marked ‘non-comedogenic’ – a fancy term which means they won’t block pores. That’s essential because oily skin is particularly susceptible to blocked pores which, in turn, can lead to spots and blackheads.

Best for sensitive skin…

Like rock stars who don’t get the rider they want before a gig, skin that’s sensitive is easily irritated. Everything from very hot water and certain ingredients found in skincare products to pollution, over-scrubbing and allergies can cause skin to become red, itchy and sensitised.

To keep skin hydrated but minimise the risk of unsightly flare-ups, look for products that are free of potential irritants like fragrance, colourants, lanolin and mineral oil.

Luckily, most skincare ranges now include moisturisers specifically designed of sensitive skin – something that’s usually flagged up on the packaging.   Other key words to look out for include ‘anti-irritation’, ‘anti-redness’ and ‘soothing’ and ‘hypoallergenic’ which means they’re less likely to irritate.

Best for combination skin…

As the name suggests combination skin is a mash-up of both dry and oily skin types. In most cases the oiliness appears in a ‘T-zone’ formed of the forehead, chin and nose, with the skin around the cheeks the driest.

Finding a moisturiser that tackles both the dryness and the oiliness at the same time is a bit it like finding a pet food that feeds both cats and dogs so you’ll need to experiment a little and see what works for your skin. Generally speaking, though, moisturisers designed for oily complexions will be better on combination skin that ones formulated for very dry skin.

The best option, of course, is to use two separate moisturisers – an oil-control one for the greasy areas and a rich, hydrating one for the dry ones. It might be a drag having to use two products but, ultimately, your skin will thank you for it.

A word about sun protection

Regardless of you skin type it’s a good idea to arm yourself with two separate moisturisers – one featuring a built in, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen, which you can apply in the morning to help minimise daily sun damage, and another without a sunscreen which you can apply last thing at night.