Choosing the right EltaMD facial moisturizer is extremely important. Besides the obvious use—providing moisture to the skin—a good moisturizer can help with collagen production, fortify the skin barrier, and lock in all the products in your routine so that those nourishing ingredients can actively work to treat your skin concerns.

The first step to choosing the right moisturizer, or any skin care product for that matter, is identifying your skin type. A skin type is based on your most pressing skin concerns and generally broken down into five categories: oily, sensitive, dry, mature, and combination. Once you figure out what your skin type is, you can start looking for a moisturizer that will best suit your needs.

So, which EltaMD facial moisturizer is right for you? Read on to learn more about each skin type and which moisturizer goes best with it.

Oily Skin

Everyone has glands in their skin that produce oil, but they can be noticeably more active in some individuals. Signs you have oily skin include a shiny complexion (especially in your T-zone, the area across your forehead and down your nose to your chin), makeup running off on your face quickly, and frequent acne.

To combat oiliness, you'll want to look for ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol; these ingredients are known to help treat acne and control excess oil production. When it comes to looking for a facial moisturizer, it's important to stay away from ingredients that are known to clog pores and cause breakouts. Avoid products containing silicone, petrolatum, or mineral oil. All EltaMD face moisturizers are noncomedogenic and suitable for oily skin.

Sensitive Skin

The most obvious sign that you have sensitive skin is if you regularly experience adverse or unexpected reactions to products that aren't irritants to most people. These reactions include stinging, burning, rashes, bumps, redness, peeling, or itchiness.

For that reason, you'll want to find gentle ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides that are anti-inflammatory and soothing to the skin. Try a facial moisturizer like EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer. It soothes irritation while repairing a damaged skin barrier.

Dry Skin

Dry skin occurs when there isn't enough oil production in your skin. You'll experience dryness, itchiness, or flakiness and sometimes you'll also sense that your skin feels "tight" or starts to have a rough texture.

Your go-to ingredients will be hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, as they are known to help your skin lock in moisture and stay hydrated. For this, consider something like the EltaMD AM and PM Therapy. These facial moisturizers provide ample hydration without weighing the skin down. They both contain hyaluronic acid to increase moisture absorption and retention.

Mature Skin

As you get older, your skin starts to lose its elasticity. Because the skin stops producing collagen and elastin over time, you start to experience fine lines and less firmness, especially on your face.

Turn to ingredients like retinol and growth factors, as these are known for their firming properties and can help collagen production in the skin. Something like the EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex or the amino acid-rich products in the skin recovery system will promote a healthy skin barrier, even out skin texture, and replenish moisture.

Combination Skin

Having combination skin means you have a combination of the different skin types above in different areas of your face. For example, you may have an oily T-zone with some dryness on the cheeks.

You'll want to address each area separately or look for a gentle moisturizer that won't irritate the skin. And regardless of skin type, everyone should be using sunscreen. Something like EltaMD's UV Replenish and UV Restore not only gives skin sun protection from UVA and UVB rays but also restores moisture to dry and stressed-out skin. It's always a win when you can tackle two issues with one high-quality product, especially if you have combination skin.

Once you've identified your skin type, figuring out the right EltaMD facial moisturizer will come easy. So, take the time to learn about your skin and don't wait to begin experimenting with all of EltaMD's Dermatologist-recommended products—it will pay off in the long run.

Author

  • Audrey Noble

    Audrey Noble is a New York City-based reporter specializing in features, celebrity profiles, and beauty topics. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Allure, Vanity Fair, Refinery29, and more. She is a University of Southern California alumna with bachelor's degrees in print journalism and creative writing.