Hydrating cream and moisturizer are two types of skin care products that share the same goal of keeping the skin hydrated, but they work in different ways.
Moisturizing cream helps keep the skin hydrated by creating a protective layer on the surface of the skin. These products often contain ingredients that retain moisture in the skin and prevent it from evaporating. However, hydrating cream deliver moisture to the deeper layers of the skin. These products usually contain ingredients that attract water to the skin and help increase its moisture level. Both types of cream are essential for maintaining healthy and beautiful skin, but choosing between them depends on the specific needs of each individual’s skin. In this article, we will discuss the difference between hydrating cream and moisturizing cream.
Key Ingredients of Hydrating Cream
Key ingredients in hydrating cream usually include ingredients that are able to absorb and retain water in the skin. These ingredients include:
Hyaluronic acid: One of the most effective ingredients for absorbing water, which can absorb up to several times its weight in water.
Glycerin: A humectant that helps absorb moisture from the air into the skin.
Aloe vera: A natural moisturizer that has healing properties and helps maintain skin moisture.
Urea: Helps absorb and retain moisture in skin cells and has softening properties.
These ingredients help the skin absorb and retain the water it needs, thereby helping to improve hydration and the appearance of the skin.
Key ingredients in moisturizing cream
Key ingredients in moisturizing cream mainly include ingredients that help maintain moisture in the skin. These ingredients include:
Emollients (softeners): such as vegetable oils and ceramides that help soften and smooth the skin.
Protectors: such as Vaseline and some oils that help create a protective layer on the skin’s surface to prevent water evaporation.
Humectants (moisture absorbers): such as glycerin and urea that absorb moisture from the environment into the skin.
These ingredients, along with other ingredients in moisturizers, help maintain the skin’s moisture balance and are very suitable for caring dry and sensitive skin.
The difference between hydrating cream and moisturizing cream
The most important differences between hydrating cream and moisturizing cream are as follows:
Hydrating cream usually contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid that help absorb and retain water in skin cells. This cream is suitable for hydrating skin that needs more water and help improve the texture and clarity of the skin.
Moisturizers usually contain ingredients such as emollients and occlusives that help retain moisture in the skin. This Cream is more suitable for people with dry skin and help maintain skin softness and suppleness.
As a result, Hydrators focus more on hydrating the skin, while moisturizers focus on retaining the moisture in the skin.
How to Use Hydrating and Moisturizing Cream
To use hydrating and moisturizing cream, keep the following points in mind:
When to Use: Both types of cream can be used in the morning and evening after cleansing the skin. Applying moisturizer after bathing or washing the face is effective because it helps retain moisture.
How to use: Moisturizers should be applied thinly and evenly to clean skin. Moisturizers should also be gently massaged into the skin for proper absorption.
Sequence of use: If using both types of cream at the same time, apply the hydrator first, followed by the moisturizer. This will significantly help maintain maximum moisture and hydration of the skin.
Moisturizer or Hydrator first?
In your skin care routine, you should apply your hydrator first, followed by your moisturizer. A hydrator helps hydrate the skin more deeply, while a moisturizer helps maintain surface moisture and prevents moisture loss. Applying your hydrator before your moisturizer ensures that your skin is well hydrated, and then your moisturizer will lock in moisture.
When to use your moisturizer and when to use your moisturizer?
The use of moisturizers and hydrators depends on the skin’s needs. Hydrators are suitable for dehydrated skin and deep hydration, while moisturizers are suitable for maintaining surface moisture, especially for dry and sensitive skin.
