Water VS. Oil

Choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type!

Is anyone else feeling like their skin is extremely thirsty this winter? With the cold temperatures and cold winds, it is very easy for our skin to dry out at this time of the year. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, moisturizer is a very important step that should be included in your skincare routine to keep your skin balanced and healthy. 

Did you know there are two types of moisturizers?

Moisturizers can be either water-based or oil-based. Before choosing a moisturizer, you must take into consideration what skin type you have and what are your skin needs. In order to tell whether a moisturizer is water or oil-based, you need to have a look on the ingredients list on the back of the product. The ingredients are listed in order from the most potent ingredient to the least potent ingredient. A water-based product should have “Aqua/ Water” listed as the first ingredient.  However, an oil-based moisturizer will have other ingredients listed first such as Shea butter, Almond oil, Jojoba oil and Macadamia oil. Water-based moisturizers may also have “oil-free” clearly labelled on the front of the product, and include other ingredients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, or even sunscreen. So, which one is better for you?

WATER-BASED MOISTURIZERS

Water-based moisturizers have a light texture and will absorb faster into the skin. This is a perfect option is you don’t like your moisturizer feeling heavy. They also tend to work better under makeup. Water-based moisturizers help to reduce the chances of breakouts due to its light weight texture. This is because, unlike oil, water does not bind itself to skin as easily, and is inherently less likely to stick inside pores.

Water-based moisturizer is best for oily, combination and acne prone skin types. Using a water-based moisturizer can help balance out combination and oily skin. The reason behind why our skin produces excess oils throughout the day is because the skin is dehydrated or lacking water-based hydration. This causes our skin to over produce oil to help moisturize the skin as our bodies cannot make water naturally. Most people will recognize an oily T-zone as a result of the body’s oil overproduction.

A good example of a water-based moisturizer is Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion. It is an oil free, light weight moisturizer that works perfectly to prime the skin ready for makeup application. The gel-cream formula with hyaluronic acid locks in moisture for all day hydration resulting in a dewy plump complexion. It also doesn’t clog your pores! I love applying water-based moisturizers in layers to really hydrate the skin. You can layer as many times as you want, just leave a few minutes in between to let it soak in and it won’t affect your foundation base. 

OIL-BASED MOISTURIZERS

Oil-based moisturizers are best for dry to super dry and mature skin. As we get older, we lose a lot of moisture in the skin. An oil-based moisturizer is better for skin types that lack natural oils. The texture of the moisturizer can be thicker and heavier than water based but will help keep the skin hydrated for longer as it takes longer for the product to soak into the skin. These products can also give you more of a dewy finish to the skin. Oil-based moisturizers help give us that healthy radiant glow that keeps our skin looking younger and can help repair and protect our skin!

Using an oil-based moisturizer on really dry or flaky skin can help balance out the skin for a smoother makeup application and help with longevity. However, using an oil-based moisturizer on oily or acne prone skin can clog the pores and cause breakouts. It can also cause excess oils resulting in an oily T-zone or patchy foundation.

Not all oil-based moisturizers will clog the pores. Some have other ingredients added in to help prevent this. The ingredient you are looking for should be labelled as “non comedogenic” on the back of the product. An example of an oil-based moisturizer is Glow Recipes Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask. The main ingredient is Avocado Fruit Extract. This is a creamy, ultra-nourishing moisturizer for dry to super dry skin.

It is always good to check whether your foundation and primer are water-based or oil-based as water and oil don’t mix. If you mix an oil-based moisturizer with a water-based foundation you might find the foundation will separate by the end of the day resulting in patchy or “cakey” makeup. Therefore, it is best to have all your products either water or oil-based as this will ensure longevity of your makeup. 

Make sure you know which kind of moisturizer is right for your skin. Determining whether your skin prefers water or oil-based moisturizer will ensure your skin looks hydrated, fresh and youthful!