Moisturisers that will help you retain your wedding glow!

It’s hard to find good moisturisers that actually do what they promise to in their descriptions. When you’re planning to look your best at your wedding, your skin needs to be as flawless as your makeup. This also means that you need to have a good skincare routine in place for months before your wedding, so that you can ensure that you won’t have any unwanted surprises on your big day. Everyone doesn’t have the same type of skin, and gone are the days when every moisturiser was advertised and used by everyone. This list of moisturisers is curated based on the 5 most common skin types. A reminder that even though these are our cult favourites, they may not work for some, so always patch test before you invest!  

Normal Skin

L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Face Cream, ₹3,300

The most balanced skin type, and also the rarest, is not too oily or dry, with small pores that don’t get irritated easily. For this type of skin type, you need a lightweight type of cream that won’t weigh down your skin. This moisturiser by L’Occitane has ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E, and is curated with 98 per cent natural ingredients. Shea butter has many antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties that are said to help keep the skin moisturised, along with helping with acne breakouts and anti-aging. Shea butter is also said to have regenerative properties that help with scar tissue and wrinkles as well. Vitamin E has similar properties that help support the immune function of the skin and keep the skin from drying out or cracking. Also said to reduce UV damage, the skin will be well kept and protected. The only thing to keep in mind—aside from the good ingredients, this moisturiser contains multiple natural fragrances that may oxidise, so you might want to be careful if your skin is sensitive. 

Dry Skin

Clinique Moisture Surge Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, ₹4,300

This type of skin is the least hydrated of all. With either flakiness or scaliness, this skin needs the most amount of moisture. To keep it hydrated, a moisturiser that penetrates deep in the skin to keep it hydrated is definitely the way to go. This Clinique moisturiser claims to keep your skin hydrated for 100 hours. With ingredients like trehalose, sucrose, and hydroxythyl urea that have been said to have water binding properties, these ingredients are considered good for the skin in terms of hydration. The product also contains camellia sinensis or green tea leaf extract, which is great for your skin in terms of its antioxidants and soothing properties that help with many skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and acne. The only ingredient to watch out for is the added colour, which could possibly be allergenic for someone according to the FDA in the United States of America. 

Oily Skin

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Gel Cream, ₹4,900

This type of skin gets acne quickly, has larger pores, and, well, produces more oil. It needs a moisturiser that would hydrate but control the oil build-up on the skin. Kiehl’s as a brand has been reputable for decades, and this product seems to have caught the attention of a lot of people leaving raving reviews. Reading the ingredient list, there are components like tocopheryl acetate, a pure form of vitamin E, as well as imperata cylindrica root extract that comes from a water-based plant that research has shown has anti-inflammatory as well as water retention properties. Being a gel-based formula, carbomer is the main ingredient that helps with the non-tacky and non-greasy feeling on the skin. This product does contain alcohol denat, a debated ingredient, since it can be very drying for the skin but it also has other benefits like being deeply penetrative and anti-microbial. 

Combination Skin

LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream, ₹3,050

A combination of oily and dry, this skin has properties of both skin types in different parts of the face. Usually with this skin type, the oily properties affect the T-Zone (the nose and forehead) whereas the dry skin appears on the cheeks. The LANEIGE Water Bank made for combination-to-oily skin, claims to give a shine-free moisture that’ll keep your skin hydrated while repairing it. The star ingredient mentioned right in the name is blue hyaluronic acid, which research shows, helps retain water in the skin. Hyaluronic acid is also said to help increase UV-protection. Ingredients also include limnanthas alba or meadowfoam seed that has a unique fatty acid that is a stabiliser for the skin. Although an oil, it is not greasy and absorbs easily and deeply. Also containing glucose, it helps the skin stay hydrated with water binding properties. Another popular ingredient known by many, is jojoba esters, derived from jojoba oils that have a great stability factor and absorb into the skin easily much like the meadowfoam seed. This is great for the parts of the face that are dry, and won’t leave you shiny either! Unfortunately, among all the good ingredients, one thing the company fails to mention are the specified fragrances added in the ingredient list, so we definitely recommend a test patch in case of allergies. 

Sensitive Skin 

Calm water gel face moisturiser, ₹3,900

This type of skin reacts easily to a lot of products, leaving the skin irritated or inflamed. It needs something calming and soothing, with barrier protection that will help the skin steer clear from any type of allergens. This Dermalogica gel-based moisturiser claims to protect the skin, whilst keeping it moisturised and soothed. Ingredients include aloe barbadensis, basically aloe leaf juice, that is a great moisturizer and helps calm the skin. Great for inflammation, it reduces redness and is said to be helpful in scar treatment. Also containing pyrus malus or apple fruit extract, the ingredient is full of acids, vitamins, proteins, and starches that give it soothing and antibacterial properties. Another ingredient that pops out in the list is dipotassium glycyrrhizate that research shows helps in wound healing, thickening of the dermis, and building collagen production in the skin. It is also sebum regulating so it's considered great for sensitive skin. However, the fragrance used in this product is linalool that oxidises and can potentially become an allergenic over time. This ingredient makes the use of the moisturiser only good for a certain period of time, so maybe buying smaller sizes of the product may help in making sure your results stay consistent. 

Feature Image: Ananya Panday