Do we really need a moisturiser in our skincare regime?
The beauty industry has long sung the praises of the mantra “cleanse, tone, moisturise” but is there a better way? Dermatologist and founder of ZO Skin Health, Doctor Zein Obagi, has a wealth of skincare knowledge and decades of experience in the industry. He believes that moisturiser is a product that we should all remove from our routines. But why?
Most of us can agree that we have been brought up and taught that we should follow a strict ritual of ‘cleanse, tone and moisturise’ when it comes to our skincare routines. We have been told by doing this, we will have clear and perfect skin. However, by moisturising our skin daily, we could be causing more harm than good. In this blog, we explain more about ZO’s theory and why it might be better for your skin to ditch your moisturiser.
Why should I get rid of my moisturiser?
Put simply, our skin becomes an “addict” to the moisturising properties of moisturiser. In turn, the skin stops producing its own natural hydrating oils. In fact, it only takes 3 weeks of moisturiser use for the skin to become lazy and rely on external moisture.
Moisturisers interfere with your skin’s natural hydration and oil balance. This can cause dryness, dullness and sensitivity. Moisturiser acts like a barrier that sits on top of dry skin. It can clog your pores and cause damage to the texture of your skin. Perhaps you have come out of the shower and your skin feels tight? This is because it's lost its own natural internal hydration; this has been effectively put to sleep by the moisturiser. Does this mean that you should avoid moisturiser altogether? Maybe not. Let us explain.
Who needs moisturiser, and who doesn't?
Only around 15% of us actually need moisturiser. This is the category of people who have clinically dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Zein Obagi does offer some products catering for a dry skin within the ZO Skin Health range, but for the most of us, we should be avoiding moisturiser.
If you get dry skin but do not have a clinically dry skin condition, you might actually just be “plugging the hole” rather than “fixing the leak” when it comes to your skincare.
So what's the cure? What we need to do is waken our skin up, stimulate our skin cells and encourage out skin to produce its own internal hydration. By ensuring our skin barrier is healthy, our skin will also retain hydration rather than it escaping from the surface.
A lot of people who feel they have dry skin are actually just using incorrect products. Their skincare products can actually make their dry skin and skin tightness worse. For example, your skin may feel dry but it may simply be dead skin cells sitting on top of your skin. Add an exfoliator into your skincare regime and your skin should feel soft and smooth. If you don’t exfoliate, your skin can feel rough to the touch and feel dry.
How to stop using moisturiser
Are you convinced that maybe you shouldn't be using moisturiser? Or at least up for giving it a try? The best way to come off moisturiser is to just stop now and go cold turkey. Especially if you have been using it your whole life. During the first 4-6 weeks, your skin may feel tight, irritable and dry. However, it will wake up your skin’s natural oil function. The skin’s oil and hydrating properties will kick start and go into work again. Your skin will thank you and you’ll stop needing to rely on your moisturiser.
If you don't need moisturiser in your routine, and you stop using it, you can then either save that extra money you've just pocketed, or invest in some skincare products more targeted to your concerns.
If you'd like some more information on medical-grade skincare products and what might be suitable for your skin type or concerns, you can get in touch with us at hello@myfacedr.com or book a free consultation with a Face Dr Skin Expert below. If you're familiar with ZO, you can also reorder your ZO Skin Health products online below.
What should I be switching my moisturiser for?
ZO Skin Health's Daily Power Defense Serum
Daily Power Defense is a lightweight facial serum that contains ceramides to aid water and moisture balance. It supports your skins natural hydration system and helps to restore your skin’s barrier function, without over-moisturising the skin.
Suitable for all skin types, ZO’s Daily Power Defence contains powerful antioxidants and Vitamin E. This protects your skin from free radicals and combats any damage caused by them. Daily Power Defence tightens and firms the skin using a small amount of retinol. This encourages collagen and elastin production in the skin. As a result, the product makes an ideal replacement product for your moisturiser.
You can find out more information about ZO's Daily Power Defense by reading our blog article, or order yours online using the form below or by booking a free consultation.
In summary
If you’d like to find out more about ZO Skin Health and why you should ditch the moisturiser, why not speak to one of our Skin Experts?
If you’re suffering from dry skin, we can help, without masking the problem at hand. Our Skin Experts will be able to identify the root cause of your dry skin, and recommend the appropriate treatment without leaving your skin relying on thick and heavy moisturisers to function. You may already be familiar with our brands and simply need to replenish or add to your regime, and you can also replenish here.
Our Skin Experts will carry out a thorough analysis of your skin and assess any problems you are having. We take into account your medical history and provide a recommendation for professional, medical-grade products to be used at home. Your chosen products will be delivered with free postage and packaging for orders over £75, or just £2.95 for those under.
Whether you're brand new to the world of medical-grade skincare, or very familiar and would like to reorder ZO or have a quick, free skincare review, we've got you! Click the button below to get started with Face Dr.
Finally, if there is anything you’re unsure about, pop us a message! To find out more about the ZO Skin Health range and prices, simply email us at hello@myfacedr.com
