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EVERYDAY SKINCARE

How to Choose the Best Moisturiser for Your Skin: Moisturising 101

Moisturisers are an essential component of skincare. Applied as one of the last steps in a skincare routine, your moisturiser supports hydration while strengthening and maintaining the skin moisture barrier - protecting skin against external stressors.


Moisturisers come in a range of textures and formulations. The best moisturiser for you will depend on your skin type, skin concerns and the external stress your skin faces. Ahead, learn how to choose a moisturiser and how to implement moisturising into your skincare routine effectively.


Different types of moisturisers address unique concerns and skin requirements. This guide provides moisturising tips to help you get the most from the staple skincare product and attain hydrated and supple skin.

What does moisturiser do?

The primary purpose of a moisturiser is to increase hydration in skin. How does moisturiser work towards this? In a couple of ways - moisturisers deliver hydrating ingredients to the surface layer of skin, whilst creating a barrier to hold moisture in.

The ingredients included in CeraVe’s range of moisturisers support the skin’s natural, hydrating properties and help to improve skin moisture barrier strength. The latter function is essential for lastingly and properly hydrated skin, as the skin moisture barrier is what retains these important properties in the skin. Other benefits of a healthy skin moisture barrier include:

  • Protects against trans-epidermal water loss
  • Helps prevent dry or itchy sensations
  • Improves the appearance of dullness in skin and promotes brightness
  • Helps to increase the appearance of plumped and firmed skin

What moisturiser should I use?

By implementing the best moisturiser for your skin type and needs into your skincare routine, you can support long term radiance and visible skin health. Other skincare products like facial serums and oils will also be able to impart benefits more effectively, as the right moisturiser will help to seal in their ingredients. A few considerations go into how to choose a moisturiser. To find the right formula for your skin, see which factors to consider below.

1. By skin type

There are five overarching skin types – dry, oily, combination, sensitive and normal – and each one benefits from different ingredients and moisturiser texture.

  • For dry types, a thicker-textured formula can provide extra support. CeraVe Moisturising Cream is developed for dry to very dry skin types and sensitive skin types. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are combined in a rich-textured formula to support 24-hour hydration.
  • For oily skin types, a non-comedogenic formula like CeraVe Moisturising Lotion For Dry Skin is recommended. Non-comedogenic means that moisturiser won’t clog pores, whilst still providing skin with essential hydration. Does moisturising work on very oily skin? Though it may seem antithetical, moisturisers help to balance oil levels by promoting healthy moisture in the skin. For normal and combination skin types, a non-comedogenic formula is also recommended.

2. By skincare ingredients

Certain skincare ingredients can help retain moisture already present in skin. When deciding how to choose a moisturiser, we recommend opting for gentle, minimalist formulas. Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe moisturisers contain the following naturally occurring ingredients:

Ceramides: An essential lipid found naturally in skin, ceramides help to support a healthy skin moisture barrier. You can think of ceramides as the glue which keeps the skin moisture barrier intact, which means that moisture stays in skin longer.

Hyaluronic acid: A well-known moisturising agent, hyaluronic acid is also found naturally in skin. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant – which means that it can draw moisture into the skin and help to retain it.

3. By AM & PM

Our skin behaves differently during the day versus while we sleep, which is why AM and PM skincare routines are recommended. Skin loses moisture as we sleep, so in the morning a deeply hydrating formula is recommended.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF 15 is non-comedogenic. Ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are combined with SPF 15 to protect skin against UV radiation, as well as strengthen and hydrate.

Skin naturally replaces old skin cells with new ones as we sleep. To take advantage of this natural regenerative cycle, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion supports the skin moisture barrier strength. 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid are combined with MultiVesicular Technology (MVE) to supply deep hydration to skin.

How to apply moisturiser in a skincare regime

The right moisturising formula still requires specific application methods to work effectively. If you’re unsure how much moisturiser to apply, always seek out the direct instructions on the product. To help maintain skin moisture barrier strength, consistent, daily moisturiser application is needed.

When applying moisturiser, do so onto cleansed and damp skin. This helps moisture to be sealed into the skin. To support your moisturiser, avoid cleansing skin with hot water, as this can remove moisture from skin. A morning and evening skincare routine should generally follow these steps in order:

  • Cleanser
  • Toner
  • Serum
  • Moisturiser
  • SPF (morning)

Found this article helpful? Keep reading to discover which skincare ingredients to combine with ceramides.

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