The ESK blog
What’s the best moisturiser for hormonal skin?
19 August 2024
Dr Anne Thomson
Best moisturiser for hormonal skin?
If your aim is to navigate the skincare world like a pro, especially when you’re dealing with those annoying hormonal breakouts, look no further! Let’s break it down: what exactly are hormonal breakouts, what should you look for in a moisturiser, and how do superstar ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide come into play? Let’s dive in!
Hormonal Breakouts: The Lowdown
First things first - what are hormonal breakouts? These pesky pimples can appear all over your face, or stand out around your jawline, chin, and lower cheeks. They’re triggered by fluctuations in hormones, particularly androgens, which increase oil production and oestrogen which drops off before your period. In fact 85% of women say their acne flares in the lead up to their period.
They can be stubborn, but with the right skincare routine, you can keep them in check!
If you're dealing with hormonal acne, you might be tempted to skip the moisturiser, thinking it'll just make your skin oilier or cause more breakouts. But hold up! Moisturising is actually super important, even for acne-prone skin. Let’s chat about why your skin barrier and inflammation need that extra love.
The Skin Barrier: Your Skin’s BFF
Think of your skin barrier as the ultimate bodyguard for your face. It’s made up of cells and lipids (fats) that work together to keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. Here’s why it’s crucial:
Locks in Moisture: A healthy skin barrier keeps your skin hydrated by locking in moisture. Without enough hydration, your skin can become dry, flaky, and more prone to irritation.
Shields Against Inflammation: A healthy skin barrier protects your skin from inflammation. Most inflammatory skin conditions have an underlying disrupted skin barrier function.
Helps Prevent Pimples: Poor barrier function seems to increase the retention of old dead skin cells that clump, blocking pores and causing pimples.
Your moisturiser to the rescue!
A moisturiser can do more than add wetness to your skin. With the right ingredients, it can help combat acne as well!
Here’s how to pick the best moisturiser for your skin;
- Hero ingredients. Ingredients like niacinamide in your moisturiser can help reduce inflammation, calm redness, and soothe irritated skin. This makes your acne less noticeable and less painful. Ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide also help repair that poor damaged skin barrier which in turn reduces acne and settles inflammation. Ceramides have been specifically studied in acne and been found to help reduce inflammation and pimple counts.
- Non-Comedogenic: This is your golden rule. Non-comedogenic products won’t clog your pores, reducing the risk of breakouts. That means looking for an oil-free, light formulation that won’t cause that dreaded shine or cause further breakouts.
B Calm is formulated to support irritable and blemish prone skin while maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Ceramides strengthen resilience, Salicylic Acid exfoliates and calms the skin, and Niacinamide helps regulate oil and reduce the appearance of blemished skin.
B Calm
Featuring:
- Ingredients to support an improved skin barrier
- Helps manage excess oil production
- Supports a clearer-looking skin
How to Moisturise Like a Pro
Cleanse Gently: Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and oil without stripping your skin.
Apply Moisturiser: After cleansing, apply your moisturiser while your skin is still damp to lock in hydration. If you’re using a leave-on hydroxy acid serum, pop your moisturiser on after this step at night.
Stay Radiant!
Finding the right moisturiser is key to managing hormonal breakouts. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be on your way to clearer, smoother skin in no time. Until next time, stay fabulous and keep glowing!