Since I was in the midst of finishing the facial cleanser from my dermatologist, I decided to begin my skincare journey by finding a moisturiser. Previously, I had thought moisturisers were meant for people with dry skin and hence did not consider getting it as my skin is on the oily side (I even thought it would make my skin oilier). However, I have since learned that people with oily skin need to moisturise and doing so can actually prevent excess sebum production!
Process of finding a moisturiser
While on the hunt for a moisturiser, I kept in mind two things. First, it needs to be suitable for oily skin and second, it has to be Fungal Acne (FA)-safe (check out my previous post, Introducing My Skin, to find out more about FA). In order to check if the products I came across met these conditions, I relied on SkinCarisma, a website that details the ingredients found in cosmetic and skincare products by including their functions and effects.
Let me introduce you to CeraVe Moisturising Cream. From the photo above, I can already imagine some of you questioning why I even bothered trying this when it clearly states on the front that it's meant 'For normal to dry skin'. I myself was quite skeptical of trying this product, especially since it states in SkinCarisma that it contains Petrolatum, an ingredient that might clog pores and lead to acne on oily skin. However, upon digging deeper online, I found some people with oily skin claiming that the product worked for them. Moreover, Petrolatum may not be as bad as it seems as it can prevent moisture loss, or in other words, it is an Occlusive. Hence, I decided to give this product a go, it being affordably priced and FA-safe only motivated me further.
Key ingredients and their functions
Besides Petrolatum, two other ingredients I found worth mentioning, especially since they are on the front of the packaging, are Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides. Before this, it is essential to understand what Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) is. TEWL is the process of water leaving our bodies and in excess, it can cause wrinkles and dry skin. In order to maintain a good level of TEWL, a combination of Occlusives, like Petrolatum, and Humectants are required. This brings me to the first ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid. It is a Humectant and for those like me who have no idea what that means, it is basically able to draw moisture from the surroundings to hydrate the skin. With a Humectant drawing moisture and an Occlusive trapping it, this cream helps to prevent excessive TEWL. Similarly, the second ingredient, Ceramides, also prevents excessive TEWL by repairing the skin barrier. For more information on the ingredients, you can refer to the link found at the end of this post!
Packaging and application
For packaging, this product can be found in few sizes. The one I bought is 56ml and comes in a tube, which I have no complaints about. After using it for over 6 months and going through about 5 tubes, I'm most probably going to purchase the tub that comes with a dispenser. Moving on to the application, as stated on the packaging, the moisturiser is indeed rich. Because of this, I found that it was difficult to spread and I ended up using more than the recommended quarter-sized amount. Rather than applying it to a completely dry face after cleansing, a friend of mine recommended applying it on my face while it was damp. This certainly worked better, I found that I did not have to use as much product as before and by patting in the product after applying it, my face felt plumper. In terms of fragrance, it is very mild and reminds me of vanilla. Besides this, my skin absorbs this product fast and does not feel greasy after, in fact, I find it to be less oily throughout the day. Currently, I apply this product in the morning and evening after cleansing.
Final thoughts
Overall, I find that the CeraVe Moisturising Cream serves its function and I will continue to use it. I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience! I would like to point out that I am not a dermatologist or a doctor but am here to share my experiences and what I have learned on my skincare journey. Feel free to share yours with me or let me know if I have misrepresented any information. In my next post, I will be sharing my experience using two facial cleansers from Simple, the micellar facial wash and refreshing facial wash. Naturally, I do prefer one over the other. Stay tuned to find out which!
Link
Information on CeraVe Moisturing Cream (find out more about its ingredients amongst other useful information)