What could be simpler than moisturizer? You just slap it on, rub it in, and sit back and expect more moisturized, radiant skin, right?
Well, not exactly.
You may have noticed that your moisturizer isn’t working like you expected it would. Perhaps your skin is still dry, dull, or maybe even breaking out from it. You may have assumed it was the product itself—that it didn’t have good ingredients or wasn’t a quality formula.
That could be true. There are a lot of sub-par products out there. But it’s also possible that your moisturizing technique needs work.
Huh? There’s a moisturizing technique?
We all know that moisturized skin is younger-looking skin. Dryness exacerbates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and makes skin look dull and lifeless.
If your typical routine is just to apply moisturizer when it crosses your mind, you’re most likely wasting your money on that product, because there are actually many ways to apply moisturizer properly such as using with face serum for maximum benefits like improving skin smoothness.
7 Most Common Moisturizing Mistakes — And What to Do Instead?
Don’t worry—we’re bringing you this post so you can adopt healthier habits right away that will leave your skin looking a lot more refreshed.
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Take Quiz1. Applying Moisturizer to Dry Skin without Preparation
One of the biggest moisturizing mistakes is applying moisturizer directly to dry skin without any preparation. However, dry skin often has a buildup of dirt and flakes on the surface, creating a barrier that prevents moisturizers from properly penetrating the skin.
How to Use Moisturizer for Dry Skin?
To allow your moisturizer to better nourish dry skin, it's important to exfoliate first. Try using a gentle face scrub with exfoliating ingredients such as ground up herbs (like our Ayurvedic Facial Scrub) or a hydrating alpha hydroxy acid (like our Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant). You can also make a homemade scrub with raw honey and yogurt.
Once you've removed the top layer of buildup through exfoliation, your moisturizer will be able to nourish more effectively and deliver proper levels of moisture where your skin needs it most.
Tip: Shower Then Moisturize Damp Skin
An easy way to boost the effectiveness of your moisturizer is to apply it immediately after showering. The water content left on your skin after cleansing will help “lock in” some hydration into the skin.
After exfoliating and showering, gently pat your skin dry while it is still damp. Then apply your moisturizer within 3-5 minutes. This helps trap the water on your skin before it evaporates, allowing maximum hydration.
Alternatively, use a hydrating serum before your moisturizer for a supercharged version of this effect. Serums are aqueous-based and often concentrated with activated ingredients (like hyaluronic acid or saccharide isomerate), so they deliver a high dose of hydration, which then gets sealed once you layer your moisturizer on top!
Skipping this step is one of the most common moisturizing mistakes. Prepare your skin properly with exfoliation and moisturize while damp for visible results. Your skin will look plumper, smoother, and more radiant.
2. Rubbing Your Moisturizer Too Vigorously
If you’re rubbing in your moisturizer—particularly if you’re in a hurry to have it vanish—you’re robbing yourself of many of its benefits. And this way of applying can even be a bit abrasive to the skin, potentially leading to the look of wrinkles and premature aging over time.
First, you’re creating friction between your hands and your skin, which can end up wasting some of the moisturizer before it even gets a chance to work on your face. If you find that you have too much oil to work with, pump a little bit less product out and dot the main areas of your face first—like forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin—to evenly distribute, then gently blend in. Tugging and pulling on the skin—whether with your hands or a towel—can also bother the skin.
Remember, facial skin is delicate (and becomes more sensitive with age), so you don’t want to apply your product too vigorously.
How to Apply Moisturizer Properly?
To avoid these issues, apply moisturizer gently in small, light circular motions using your ring and pinky fingers, which exert the least pressure. Another option is to pat in your moisturizer to further minimize unnecessary stretching and tugging.
Focus on moving upward rather than downward on sag-prone areas. Leave a light layer of moisturizer on the skin and give it time to fully absorb before applying makeup or other products.
This gentle technique maximizes moisturization while avoiding damage to the facial skin from vigorous rubbing. Your skin will retain moisture better and stay smoother for years to come.
3. Choosing the Wrong Moisturizer for Your Skin
You may suspect that your product isn’t working for you, and you may be right. In addition to avoiding potentially damaging ingredients like chemical fragrances, petrolatum, parabens, and the like, you need a natural product that works right for your unique skin type.
Dry Skin
Drier skin types usually do well with coconut oil, whereas those prone to oily skin may favor grapeseed or avocado oil. Make sure to avoid products with alcohol which can be overly drying. Instead, look for facial oils or nourishing creams that support the skin's moisture barrier.
Oily Skin
Choose lightweight formulas free of oils that are too heavy for your skin type. Ingredients like white willow bark and neem help unclog pores and balance the skin’s natural oils. Look for fast-absorbing, herb-infused moisturizers like our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin.
Sensitive Skin
Avoid fragranced products which can cause redness and irritation. Even essential oils may be hard to tolerate, so opt for essential oil-free moisturizers with base oils that nourish, revitalize, and soothe sensitive skin, like our Herbal Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin.
Mature Skin
Anti-aging moisturizers with antioxidants keep skin strong and resilient while diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Look for facial oils with oils like biocompatible jojoba. Another option is to use a creamy retinol-alternative serum (for the revitalizing benefits without the harsh side effects) in conjunction with your moisturizer for a smoother, more supple complexion.
Combination Skin
Use a moisturizer that is specially formulated to provide sufficient moisturization while still being lightweight and fast absorbing, like our Herbal Facial Oil for Normal & Combination Skin.
Another option is to play around with application—use a lighter weight oil (like the Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin) on your T-zone, where oiliness concentrates, while applying slightly richer products on the cheeks and other dry areas. Look for products that are tailor made for balancing the skin’s natural oils.
Remember to avoid products with mineral oil and other pore-clogging ingredients. Stick with light and gentle moisturizers. Our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin is designed to prevent clogging while balancing your skin's own oils using all natural ingredients.
4. Is Moisturizer Necessary for Oily Skin?
Those with oily skin often feel like the last thing they need is more moisture. After all, their skin already feels so greasy! However, oily skin still needs both hydration and moisture, even though it appears shiny. Without proper moisturization, the skin may become insufficiently moisturized underneath, which triggers increased oil production as the skin tries to overcompensate.
And if you’re using harsh products, your skin can react even more to the lack of moisture. Over time, it may actually produce more oil to try to balance itself out.
The key is using a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer designed for oily skin. Look for oils like that of hazelnut, black cumin seed, and grapeseed with cleansing botanicals, such as neem and white willow bark. Natural formulas that incorporate these ingredients help in unclogging pores.
So, as you can see, contrary to popular belief, moisturizer is necessary for oily skin. Skip heavy creams and use a formula specifically made for oily skin.
5. Applying Moisturizer Inconsistently
Like the rest of your body, your skin falls into a routine. If you apply moisturizer twice a day, for example, and then go for several days applying only once a day, expect your skin to react. It may get dry, your pores may clog, or respond with more oiliness.
Try to maintain a consistent moisturizing routine morning and evening. Use the same techniques and formulas day after day. Of course, life happens. If you need to miss an application here or there, just get back on track as soon as you can.
Your skin will look its best when it can expect a steady routine. Maintain regular moisturizing for optimal nourishment
6. Should You Moisturize Your Whole Body?
Are you a face-only moisturizing person? If so, you may want to expand your repertoire. The skin is the largest organ we have, and works as a unified system. If you’re neglecting a large part of it, you’re requiring it to compensate, which can rob you of your best-looking skin.
Apply moisturizer over the entire body after every shower or bath. You’ll likely want to use different types of moisturizers for your body than you do for your face. Use a body lotion or body butter specifically designed for the thicker skin on the arms, legs, and torso.
7. Never Changing Moisturizer
You may be loyal to one type of moisturizer, but if you’ve been using it for ten years or more, your loyalty may be misplaced. Skin changes as we age. A moisturizer that worked perfectly in your 20s may not provide enough moisture in your 30s or 40s as the look of plumpness and elasticity naturally declines.
If you move to a different climate, your skin may require less or more moisturizer. If you’re going through hormonal changes (menopause, pregnancy), your skin will change, too. Even if you change your diet, you will likely notice a change in your skin. To do: In general, be aware of your skin.
So When Should You Switch Moisturizer?
Pay attention to how your skin reacts over weeks and months of using a product. If it starts to get too dry, dull, or flaky, step up your moisture with a richer cream or with hydrating masks. If it’s too oily or your pores are clogged, try a different product.
As a general rule, reassess your moisturizer every 6 months to a year to ensure it is still working optimally for your skin's condition. Consider rotating through different natural moisturizers suited to your skin type. Just don’t be afraid to change and try something else if what you’re using isn’t working great.
Have you tried our body lotion? We call it Radiant Skin Silk because the benefits that come from consistent care like using anti-aging facial products can have a tremendous impact on the health of your skin later on in life. Or, take a look at our herb-infused moisturizers that deliver results without any of the toxic chemicals.
Have you been making some of these moisturizing mistakes? Please share any tips you have with our readers.
Have you been making some of these moisturizing mistakes? Please share any tips you have with our readers.
Beth @ Hooked on Health
Just ran across your site when I was researching fractionated coconut oil. Thanks BTW. I love your posts. The simple, clear presentation is a welcome change from so many blogs and sites. I will return here whenever I need new facts about items related to skin care made with natural ingredients.
Charlotte
Thanks for this, I think I have been making some of these mistakes, particularly no.1 as I have super dry skin (almost eczema) even though I put coconut oil on every day. I actually stopped exfoliating a year ago because my skin is so sensitive, I thought it was making it worse… Should you exfoliate even with very sensitive skin? (I can’t use honey or yoghurt as I’m vegan.) How often should you exfoliate? Also, what kind of body brush do you recommend (the ones I’ve seen in shops don’t look very soft!)? Thanks so much!
Jolene
I am ‘guilty’ of ALL the above – oh my! Now at least I know & can change it.
Thank you all & the few months I’ve had your products are showing great differences ( to the good 😉 I now have to get more moisturizer as I really LIKE vanilla smell, is there a specific reason your changing it? i.e. purer ingredients etc.. Just wondering.
People don’t know what their missing so I’ve been ‘sharing’ small amounts for friends to try & they are loving it too. YAY!
Blessings & continued success in helping us keep in line so we can SHINE to our best ability!
Jolene
Brenda hill
You are great to give us simple home recipes for skin care. The coconut oil mix works very well. Thank you. Brenda — travel writer
Ashlynn
Oh thank you so much! I haven’t seen moisturizing talked about in detail before! I am guilty of some of these which might explain why my skin has been quite inconsistent in texture. Keep up the wonderful posts!
Laura
I loooooove your page! Keep up the amazing work! I am so lucky i got to know your products. Love them i honestly think they are some of the best out there and i just discovered your blog has such amazing tips too ???? greetz from germany ????????????????????????
Annmarie Skin Care
Hi Laura,
Thanks so much!! Glad you found us, too!!