Moisturiser for Dry Skin: Cream vs Lotion and Which is Right for You
No matter what your skin type is, moisturising is an essential step in any skincare routine – even oily skin needs to stay hydrated. If you’re not sure what to look for in your moisturiser though, we’ve broken down the main benefits and differences of our two favourite kinds. Here, we'll look at their respective benefits and who they're most suitable for, considering our skin's needs on the face and body.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOTIONS & CREAMS?
When you're comparing the different moisturisers available, you'll probably notice right away that they're broken down into two main categories: lotions and creams. But what separates one from the other?
Here's our handy cheat sheet:
Lotions are more lightweight, making them a great option for normal to dry skin types
Creams are thicker and richer, meaning they're perfect for dry to very dry skin
Of course, this doesn't mean you're bound by your skin type. If you find you get better results from a lotion despite having very dry skin - maybe you prefer the feeling, or find it dries more quickly - then you can find an intensely hydrating lotion that works for you!
And if dry skin isn't a huge concern for you, but you like the thick luxury of a moisturising cream, then you're just as welcome to stray from these guidelines. Just be sure that if you tend towards oily, you look for something non-comedogenic.
The ingredients to look for:
Once you've decided on the formula that's best for you, it's time to look a little more closely into your options. The crucial place to start is the ingredients in your moisturiser.
After all, a good moisturiser doesn’t just provide instant hydration but also maintains your skin’s protective barrier to help keep moisture locked in. A weakened barrier can often prevent your skin from regulating its normal moisture level and leave skin feeling tight, dry and often uncomfortable.
Hydration is key to your skin barrier’s healthy look, so you’ll want to choose a moisturising cream or lotion packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. When used in skincare products, this moisture can be gradually released into the skin, helping to keep it plump and hydrated.
You'll also want to look for ceramides, which are lipids that make up to 50% of the skin composition to form the natural skin barrier. With CeraVe it's easy to find what you need: all our CeraVe moisturisers include three essential ceramides.
Most of our formulas also feature our patented MVE Delivery Technology, which is a structure of concentric layers that trap and hold in ingredients such as ceramides and fatty acids, and slowly and sequentially dissolve to release them in phases. For most of our moisturisers, that means moisture is sustained for at least up to 24 hours.
Is CeraVe’s lotion different from its moisturising cream?
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion and CeraVe Moisturising Cream have the same active ingredients and offer all the benefits we've just discussed. Where they differ is in their texture, which may determine when and where you use them.
So when should you opt for the dry skin lotion, and when is a moisturising cream more suitable?
Our Moisturising Lotion is a lightweight moisturiser perfect for layering on normal to dry skin in the morning to keep it hydrated all day long. If you have oily skin, you’ll also appreciate its lightweight hydration that won’t make your face feel greasy or oiler.
Weather and season can also be a factor here: lighter creams like this help to avoid clogged pores in the summer months when warmer weather and hot, humid days can cause skin to produce excess oil and you probably sweat more. During summer, you’ll also want to be extra sun safe, so make sure you choose a moisturising lotion with SPF 50 and protection against both UVA and UVB radiation, such as the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF30 & 50.
On the flip side, our thicker CeraVe Moisturising Cream with its velvety texture is a winter hero if you have dry or very dry skin. It’s also a great night-time moisturiser if you want to flood your skin with hydration when it’s in recovery mode and at its most receptive.
Both our lotion and our cream are suitable for use on the face and body. If you want to nourish and soothe dry elbows, knees and other dry patches, you have the perfect body moisturiser or body lotion for dry skin here!