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Do you really need to moisturise your skin?

<p>Moisturisers are an essential step in everyone’s skincare routine, but are they really necessary? With so much misinformation out there, it’s important to listen to the experts, but even then, each industry professional has a different opinion.</p> <p>Some dermatologists say you should never skip it, while others say you can go without it. So, which one is it? Speaking to <span><em><a href="https://www.beautycrew.com.au/do-you-need-to-moisturise-your-skin">Beauty Crew</a></em></span>, Olay’s head scientist Dr David Khoo says that moisturiser will help make your skin look and feel healthier.</p> <p><strong>Why should we moisturise?</strong></p> <p>“Imagine a raisin,” says Dr Khoo. “The skin cells shrivel up like a raisin from lack of moisture, but when they’re full of moisture, they become plumper – and that improves the elasticity of your skin, the bounce of your skin and the overall radiance,” he told <em>Beauty Crew</em>.</p> <p>“We know that there are certain enzymes in your skin that are critical for renewal. You have all the skin cells on the surface of your skin, and those particular enzymes will help clear away dead skin cells. If those enzymes do not have water, they don’t work, and your skin accumulates dead cells. So, we know that water is absolutely critical for the healthy appearance and functioning of the skin.”</p> <p>According to Dr Khoo, any skin type can benefit from hydration including oily skin. So just because you aren’t dry, doesn’t mean you should skip out on the moisturiser.</p> <p><strong>What happens when you don’t moisturise?</strong></p> <p>Dr Khoo says skipping out on moisturiser can cause some serious long-term damage to the skin.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>Beauty Crew</em> he said, “If you don’t use a moisturiser, your skin can very quickly go into what we call the ‘dry skin cycle’.”</p> <p>And if your skin hydration levels reach dangerously low levels then, “your skin takes on this vicious cycle where it rapidly builds up dead skin cells on the surface. And because there are more layers of dead skin cells, it’s even more difficult to hydrate your skin. Any skin care products that you’re using will then just stay on the surface of your skin.”</p> <p>He adds, “The other thing that can happen is that if your skin doesn’t feel like it has the energy and nourishment it needs; skin renewal slows down. Therefore, your skin becomes less radiant and sometimes dark spots become more noticeable and a bit more prominent.</p> <p>“The converse is – it’s kind of like asking yourself, ‘Can I get by with just a piece of bread on a daily basis? Or a cup of water?’ when there’s all of these other great foods and nutrients available. Consequently, why wouldn’t you do things for your skin that would enhance your skin’s health? Moisturising your skin will make it look more radiant and give it a finer texture.”</p> <p><strong>What moisturisers should we be reaching for?</strong></p> <p>According to Dr Khoo, the best kind of moisturisers are ones that are packed full of vitamins. “You have the well-known ones, like vitamin A (delivered through retinol), vitamin C (both an antioxidant and a collagen stimulant), and vitamin E (also an antioxidant that helps to seal in moisture).</p> <p>“One of my favourite ingredients is niacinamide. Olay have actually been leaders in discovering the use of niacinamide – in fact, we’re one of the first to use niacinamide in a skin care product. It took decades for people to recognise its value.”</p> <p>“However, we’re not the only ones talking about it these days. You’ve got a lot of other universities – including the University of Sydney and their professors there – that have devoted their careers to understanding the impact of niacinamide in terms of protecting the skin from UV damage,” says Dr Khoo. “I <em>highly</em> recommend niacinamide in your skin care.”</p> <p>Do you ever ditch the moisturiser? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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8 DIY natural moisturiser recipes to hydrate your skin

<p><em><strong>Amelia, from FixYourSkin.com, has a lot of experience with skin health and has written several articles on the topic. </strong><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://fixyourskin.com/" target="_blank">FixYourSkin</a></span></strong><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></strong><strong>has plenty of tips, health advice and DIY recipes which can give you great-looking skin without any side effects.</strong></em></p> <p>The main reason that wrinkles occur is due to a lack of hydration of the skin. As people get older they are unable to keep as much moisture in the skin, mainly because skin cells cannot produce enough coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a substance similar to a mineral found in every cell of the body. There is a correlation between aging and a decline in CoQ10. Key skin care nutrients are fatty acids, antioxidants, CoQ10, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and beta carotene.</p> <p><strong>1. Oatmeal mask</strong></p> <p>Oats are very effective at healing skin damaged with acne and eczema. Combined with yogurt it can be very effective in offering a wholesome skincare recipe. It also helps with sunburn, redness, dry skin, and itchiness. The great thing about this is that the recipe for eating is as delicious as the recipe for topical application. Cook the oatmeal until the oats thicken and absorb the water. Add a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of plain organic yogurt. If applying topically it would be best to blend thoroughly for maximum absorption.</p> <p><strong>2. Orange peel and honey</strong></p> <p>This can be used as a face mask to hydrate the skin. Oranges contain considerable quantities of vitamin C. To use this recipe, peel the orange, dry it out in the sun for a whole day, grind it up in a blender, add honey and use it as a face mask.</p> <p><strong>3. Avocado</strong></p> <p>Avocado has several key skin nutrients which are vital to skin health. As well as fatty acids and antioxidants, it has vitamin B6, vitamin K, fibre, vitamin C, and folate. It can be used as an oil or as a puree for vibrant skin. To use as a puree, slice the avocado open, use a mill to process it into a puree, and place it into the fridge to harden it. Use as a face mask to remove wrinkles.</p> <p><strong>4. Coconut oil</strong></p> <p>The benefits of coconut oil cannot be understated. Coconut oil has many benefits and is the best natural moisturiser for skin loss. The oil spreads well and is an excellent skin moisturiser. For oily skin, it can be left on for 10 to 15 minutes. This can reduce sebum secretion, the main cause of oily skin. After a week or so the skin should have a healthy, vibrant glow. Coconut oil also doubles as a makeup remover among many other things, including a food source and insect repellent. It also protects the skin from bacterial pathogens, prevents premature aging, offers protection from sunburn and boosts collagen production. For best results with coconut oil add topically to face. Get a high-quality brand, apply it and allow it to sink in. Alternatively use it instead of regular oils.</p> <p><strong>5. Olive oil</strong></p> <p>Olive oil has many fatty acids and is teeming with antioxidants. It is particularly effective for keeping moisture in the skin. It is also thought to be the secret to longevity within the Mediterranean diet. The only issue with olive oil is that it tends to take a while to dry into the skin as opposed to coconut oil. If applying this topically to the body is too messy simply use the oil instead of butter for bread and pour it raw over pasta, salads, and other dishes.</p> <p><strong>6. Jojoba oil</strong></p> <p>This oil has several benefits for the skin. It has the ability to penetrate deeply into the skin and has antimicrobial properties. The recipe is also quite simple. Combine a couple of drops of jojoba oil with a teaspoon of lemon juice. This can have astounding effects as it sinks into the skin naturally with no trace of oiliness.</p> <p><strong>7. Aloe vera combo</strong></p> <p>Aloe vera is the best substance available for moisture retention in the skin. This method may be a little more complex than the earlier remedies but the effects could be worth it. Put jojoba oil, beeswax, and almond oil in a double boiler. Heat all these ingredients until melted. Combine and move to a bowl. Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for two hours. Meanwhile, mix your favourite essential oils and high-quality Aloe Vera. Pour this mixture in the beeswax mixture and blend it using a hand blender to make it consistently thick. Store it in an airtight container. While it takes a few hours to make the mixture lasts for quite a while and can have outstanding results.</p> <p><strong>8. Best BB cream</strong></p> <p>BB creams are a not exactly a “DIY” natural skin care remedies, but can be a practical alternative. They can save time and add more to the skin. A BB cream is a cross between a foundation and a tinted moisturiser. There is now a wide variety of BB creams available. The best BB creams will be completely organic. Always look for items that have fewer ingredients with no long chemical names. Look for the essential skin care ingredients and select plant-based formulas only. There are different BB creams to cater to specific skin needs and many are not that expensive. The <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://fixyourskin.com/best-bb-cream-for-acne-prone-skin/" target="_blank">best BB cream</a></strong></span> is the one that caters to your needs and preferences. </p>

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