Most people know that lotions can moisturize the skin, but don't know that lotions also have other benefits for the skin. Regular use of lotion on the skin can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, relax tense skin and acne, and protect the skin from environmental influences. In order to get maximum results, there are several tricks and methods that you can use when applying lotion. The tricks in this article include applying lotion to the face, body, and other parts of the body that require special attention.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Applying Lotion on Face
Step 1. Find out your facial skin type
Lotions are formulated differently for different skin types. So, the first step you have to do is determine your facial skin type so you can buy the most suitable product. If you already have a facial lotion, read the label on the lotion package to make sure it is suitable for your skin type. Because skin can change, depending on the weather and age, make sure the lotion you use is suitable for your current skin type. The following are the types of facial skin:
- Normal skin. Not dry and not greasy. Also not easily stained, sensitive, or irritated.
- Oily skin. It looks shiny or oily due to overproduction of the oil glands on the face. This skin type can stain easily and usually has larger looking pores.
- Dry skin. Due to infrequent exposure to oil and moisture, this skin appears to peel off easily with obvious wrinkles and some reddened areas.
- Sensitive skin. Often mistaken for dry skin because it looks red and dry. However, sensitive skin irritation usually occurs due to certain ingredients in the skin care products used and not due to the absence of oil production.
- Combination skin. Oily skin on one side and dry on the other. Combination skin is generally more oily on the forehead, nose, and chin; and normal on the rest of the face.
Step 2. Buy products with the right ingredients for your skin type
After knowing what skin type is on your face, now you need to buy a product with the right ingredients for your facial skin. Certain ingredients have been scientifically proven to help certain skin types. By buying the right product, you maximize the benefits of using lotion. Some of the ingredients that are good for your skin are:
- Normal skin: look for a moisturizing lotion that contains vitamin C and can help repair antioxidant damage. Avoid gels that dry out the skin and creams that are too heavy.
- Oily skin: use a light, water-based moisturizing lotion. Lotion with this basic ingredient can be absorbed into the skin faster than other basic ingredients. Look for ones that contain zinc oxide, aloe barbadensis gel, or seaweed extract. Avoid products that contain alcohol and petrolatum.
- Dry skin: wear a cream-based lotion that is thicker, or a lotion that is hard to remove to give your skin more protection from environmental influences. Look for lotions that contain jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, or rose seed oil. Avoid products that contain alcohol, which will further dry out dry skin.
- Sensitive skin: look for products that contain echinaceae, hyaluronic acid, and cucumber extract. Avoid products that contain chemicals, dyes, or fragrances.
- Combination skin: look for oil-free products that contain panthenol, zinc oxide, and lycopene. These ingredients will balance oily skin while providing moisture to non-oily skin.
Step 3. Wash and clean your face before applying lotion
To get the most out of your skincare lotion, make sure your skin is ready before applying the lotion. You should clean your face twice a day, ie after waking up and before going to bed. Use a facial cleanser that suits your skin type. With clean hands or a clean cloth, gently massage the cleanser into your skin, in slow, circular motions. Once a week, replace the cleanser with an exfoliator to remove dead skin from the top layer. Dead skin can prevent the absorption of lotion and its active ingredients. Also pay attention to the following points:
- Make sure the water you use is warm, but not too hot. Very hot water can damage the skin. On the other hand, cold water can clog pores, trapping dust and bacteria in the skin.
- Avoid scrubbing too hard as this can cause irritation, redness, or inflammation.
- Make sure you rinse your face thoroughly. Residual cleaning products can clog pores, causing irritation and staining.
Step 4. Dry your face with a clean soft cloth/towel until damp
Don't let your face dry. Also avoid skin that is too wet because the lotion will run off if your skin is too wet. Moist skin is good for absorption of facial lotion because moisture can dissolve the ingredients in the lotion and make it penetrate deeper into the skin. Lotion applied to damp skin will also create a kind of protective layer over moisture and nutrients that are good for the skin. Change the towels or cloths you use regularly so you don't spread old bacteria on your freshly washed skin.
Step 5. Apply an adequate amount of lotion on your damp skin
Because the formula for facial lotions will certainly be different based on skin type, the thickness of each lotion will also vary. The recommended amount of use depends on the product, but generally speaking, thinner lotions require more use than thicker lotions. Usually, the amount required ranges from the size of a pea to the size of a 100 rupiah coin. Pour an adequate amount on your hands, then gently apply the lotion to your face, in circular motions with clean fingers. For drier areas, you will need to apply a little pressure to the area when applying the lotion. Some additional tips include:
- Avoid wearing face lotion in the area around the eyes. The skin in this area is very fragile and lotions generally contain too many chemicals. The skin around your eyes ends up containing too much fluid and appears swollen. for eye skin, you need eye cream.
- Ideally, your face lotion should contain SPF 15. The goal is to protect your face from sun exposure. However, avoid using SPF lotion at night because it can clog pores and cause blemishes.
Step 6. Also apply lotion to your neck
Most people wear lotion on the face, but forget to put lotion on the neck. The skin on your neck is more like the skin on your face than the skin on your body. So, you also need to apply lotion to the skin of your neck. Apply the face lotion on your neck in long, gentle upward strokes from the base of your neck to the base of your jaw, of course, after washing your face. This will keep your neck skin looking hydrated and youthful.
Step 7. Allow the lotion to soak into the skin
After applying lotion to your face and neck, wait 5 minutes before getting back into clothes, putting on makeup, or going to bed. Allow enough time for the lotion to create a moisturizing seal on the top layer of skin. If you put on your make-up too soon after applying lotion, the cosmetic products will seep into your pores along with the lotion you're wearing and cover the pores and look streaky. If you put on your clothes too quickly or lie down and put your face on the pillow, your lotion will be absorbed by the pillow fabric and not enter the skin. You will not receive the maximum effect of the lotion.
Method 2 of 3: Applying Body Lotion
Step 1. Find out your skin type
Just like your face, you also have to use a lotion that is suitable for your skin type. Do not carelessly assume that your facial skin is the same as body skin. Sometimes, your skin on your body is drier or more prone to acne than the skin on your face. You need to determine the type of skin that is on your body at this time.
Step 2. Purchase a body lotion with active ingredients suitable for your skin type
Just like facial lotions, you also need to look for body lotions that contain the best active ingredients to moisturize your skin type. Therefore, first determine your skin type. If you assume that your body skin type is the same as your facial skin type, your skin is at risk of damage or acne breakouts. The following are active ingredients suitable for each skin type.
- Normal skin: look for a thicker lotion or moisturizing cream that contains active ingredients such as vitamin C to minimize antioxidant damage and vitamin E to provide hydration to dry skin. As an active ingredient, cinnamon can also help repair damaged skin pigment.
- Oily skin: use a light, non-greasy lotion, especially one that absorbs quickly or contains witch hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora). The flower is a great natural ingredient that can reduce the production of excess oil and acne in the body by opening the pores. Avoid products that are thick and greasy or contain alcohol and petrolatum.
- Dry skin: buy a heavy cream-based lotion, especially one that contains shea butter or coconut oil, two moisturizing ingredients that can improve skin moisture. Avoid products that contain alcohol because it will further dry the skin.
- Sensitive skin: look for lotions that contain skin-healing ingredients like Echinacea and avocado oil. Both ingredients contain fatty acids and many B vitamins that can moisturize the skin and restore cell function. Avoid products that contain chemicals, dyes, or fragrances.
- Combination skin: look for an oil-free formula that contains panthenol, zinc oxide, and lycopene. Avoid thick creams and water-based gels, which will be too heavy or too dry for combination skin.
Step 3. Prepare your body for applying lotion
Even though the skin on your body is not as delicate as the skin on your face, you still need to prepare it properly to get the perfect result. Take a shower or bath every day and cleanse your body with a cleanser suitable for your skin type. Using a clean cloth or foam cleanser, rub your body in circular motions. You should also replace the soap with a body skin exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells so your lotion can penetrate deeper into your skin. Keep in mind:
- Limit your shower time to 5-10 minutes so you don't lose the moisturizing qualities of the cleaning products you use.
- Use water that is warm to hot. Preferably, the water you use is hotter than the water you use to wash your face, but not too hot because it can wash off the natural oils on your face.
- Rinse your body until clean. Don't leave any cleaning products left as they can clog your pores or cause irritation and blemishes on your skin.
- By shaving, you are exfoliating your skin at the same time. You don't need to exfoliate after shaving.
Step 4. Dry your body with a clean, soft towel until it is damp
Just like your face, you don't need to dry yourself completely. Leave a little moisture on your skin so the lotion you wear can seep into your skin and seal in the moisture. In the meantime, don't open the bathroom door, so the damp air can stay inside and hit your skin. Moist, warm skin, combined with moist air, activates the active ingredients in your lotion and helps keep your skin looking beautiful.
Step 5. Apply lotion immediately
First of all, pay attention to the thickness and the instructions on the product packaging label. Then, dispense an adequate amount of lotion into your hands. Avoid dispensing lotion for the whole body at one time; Apply slowly, one body part at a time. Rub your hands together to make them warm, then rub them all over your body. Gently press the lotion into the skin, in a sweeping motion. Focus on use on dry skin areas, such as thighs and elbows.
Step 6. Let the lotion soak in
Before you step out of the steamy, warm shower and put on your clothes, give yourself 5 minutes for the lotion to soak into your skin. The moisture present will open up your pores and allow the lotion to absorb and hydrate the skin faster. If you put on your clothes or towels too quickly, the lotion you just applied will quickly wash off and you won't get any moisture.
Method 3 of 3: Applying Special Lotion
Step 1. Pay attention to your skin's needs
The skin on your face and body is easily affected by several things, including stress, weather, and age. You may need several types of products to cope with these changing needs. When buying lotion, pay attention to what goals you want to achieve and look for lotions that can help you achieve those goals. In addition to lotions that can help you deal with certain skin types, you can also look for products that are sold specifically for:
- Skin tightening
- Make brown skin
- Acne treatment
- Prevention or fight aging
- Reduce wrinkles
- Eczema medicine
Step 2. Apply eye lotion around the eyes
Most facial moisturizers contain too many ingredients for the skin around the eyes, which is the most fragile skin on your body. If you treat this area harshly, or with the wrong products, your skin can wrinkle and loosen prematurely. Using a lotion specifically made for the eye area, rub a drop of cream under your eyes from the inner corner to the outer corner with your ring finger. The ring finger presses the lightest, and the pressure you put on the eye is the least. Still with the ring finger, dab the remaining dots in a dappled motion.
Step 3. Moisturize your hands and cuticles
Every day, you use your hands all day long. The skin on your hands is exposed to many environmental influences that can dry out the skin. Washing your hands with water or an antibacterial waterless hand sanitizer can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing dry, red, and cracked skin on your hands. To fight skin dryness and keep your skin smooth and soft, apply lotion to the skin of your hands several times a day, especially after washing your hands with water or hand sanitizer. Use a lotion that is specifically made for the skin of your hands because the lotion is usually thicker than other products available in the market and is easier to hold on to your hands.
Step 4. Before going to bed, apply foot lotion on your feet
Most people forget to use foot lotion. Just like your hands, feet also experience many things and environmental influences in one day. Your feet also have fragile cuticles that need to be taken care of. Very dry skin of the feet can crack at the heels. These cracks can be very painful or ugly to look at. To fight cracking and dry, scaly skin, apply a heavy moisturizing foot lotion before bed. This way, your feet will absorb the nutrients in the lotion all night long. For best results, also wear a thick pair of socks after applying the lotion, so the lotion doesn't stick to your sheets.
Step 5. Don't forget the lips
Your lip skin is so fragile and easily dry. Smiling, talking, and exposure to wind and sun can dry out the skin on your lips. Most people only notice that their lips are dry after they have become brittle. You need to be extra careful with the skin on your lips and apply lip balm before the skin cracks. Look for lip balms that contain natural oils like coconut oil or argan oil for maximum softness.
