Depending on who you talk to and which sources of information you seek out, you might hear different answers when it comes to the perfect time to wash your face, do a mask or moisturize. Everybody claims to have the perfect regimen with the right steps in the right order at the right time, and sometimes you ve got to wonder if there even is one right answer! Though it can feel frustrating, the answer to your questions is actually very simple. When it comes down to it, all you need is a little bit of awareness and flexibility.
For most people, the best time to moisturize is after they ve washed their face. It can be in the morning, evening, middle of the day- it really doesn t matter! What does matter is that you moisturize after you cleanse because when you use a facial cleanser your skin is stripped of its naturally protective lipid layer called the acid mantle. By applying your moisturizer (along with your favorite serum if you choose) you help to protect your now vulnerable skin from the outside world.
Additionally, if your moisturizer is an oil based product, those oils will actually help to rebuild and restore your skin s acid mantle. This includes oils like jojoba, rosehip seed, shea butter and argan. The key here is to make sure the oils are as intact as possible, meaning they have been processed at low temperatures without the use of chemicals and other adulterants like deodorizers.
It s also important to moisturize after you cleanse because your skin will be warm from the water and free of any debris that would prevent the moisturizer from properly soaking all the way into your skin. Instead of layering a private label skincare product on top of dead skin cells, dirt and oil, your product will go onto clean skin and contribute to its overall wellness instead of further clogging it up.
As you can see, when it comes to the best time to moisturize, the only rule is try to do so when your skin is clean and ready to absorb the private label skincare product you re applying. The time of day is not as important as whether or not the moisturizer actually benefits your skin, so allow yourself to be flexible and do what feel right for you.