Fashion
What Can Happen When You Don't Moisturize Is Crazy
Clear, hydrated skin is by no means impossible to get, and moisturizing can help make that happen no matter what your skin type is. But when you slack off, there are some seriously weird things that happen to your skin when you don't moisturize enough. If these tips below don't convince you to get into the habit of giving your skin a little hydration love each day, I don't know what will!
And if you're over there thinking, "But I have oily skin and can't use moisturizer!" it's time to reconsider. I spoke with Dr. Eric Schweiger, founder of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, who tells me, "Even if it seems counterintuitive, don’t stop moisturizing if you have oily, acne-prone skin ... By skipping the moisturizer, your skin will dry out and in turn rebound with more oil production, which can actually cause more breakouts." That's right, not moisturizing could lead to more breakouts. Madness, right?
For even more weird things that happen to your skin when you skip moisturizing, I reached out to Dr. Sandra Kopp of Schweiger Dermatology Group, and also pulled some facts from the good old Internet. Luckily, as long as you remember to moisturize, you can happily avoid all these funky things.
1. Itchy Skin
Dr. Kopp tells me that without moisturizing, "Your skin will feel tight and itchy, almost as if you've put on a mask that's too small." Ouch.
2. Dull Skin
"Forgoing moisturizer can lead to lackluster, dull skin [and] worsen the appearance of wrinkles," says Dr. Kopp.
Even though wrinkles can be gorgeous, if they aren't a part of your body you've grown to love, some extra hydration can help to plump up your skin.
3. "Cakey" Makeup
Dr. Kopp notes dry skin can "cause your makeup to appear more 'cakey" because your skin will be more patchy, making smooth application harder to achieve.
4. Potential Sun Damage
If you're skipping moisturizer, there's a fair chance you're also skipping sunscreen, which is a huge no-no if you want soft, healthy, and skin cancer-free skin.
Look for a moisturizer with SPF to hydrate and protect your beautiful face.
5. New Wrinkles
Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe told GoodHouseKeeping, "When the skin barrier is compromised, which is what we see when it becomes dry, there's actually a low-grade chronic inflammation that occurs in the skin ... Low levels of ongoing inflammation ultimately lead to a breakdown of collagen and accelerated aging."
Is saving yourself a few seconds in the morning by skipping moisturizer worth the new wrinkles you'll get?
6. Irritated Skin
Dermatologist Dr. Jeremy Fenton of Schweiger Dermatology group told me how certain acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinol "can be helpful when used in the proper doses, [but] they can irritate and overly dry the skin." His key tip for preventing this dryness struggle is "putting on a thin layer of moisturizer first."
7. Blotchiness
After a month without moisturizer, Dr. Mona Gohara told Allure, "Your skin barrier is officially compromised [and] you'll see inflammation on the skin, like redness and blotchiness when you apply makeup, or irritation from your clothes." This does not sound fun, people!
Luckily, there's like a million different moisturizers for every skin type out there, so you can definitely find one that's perfect for you.
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