I have been obsessed with skincare since I was a little girl. While most girls played with their mothers' lipstick or mascara, I swiped jars of Noxzema and Ponds Cold Cream. Picture it: a ten-year-old girl with her face and neck covered in thick cream, then gently wiping it off with warm water before dipping my face in a sink full of ice, drying, and applying moisturizer. At 42, I have great skin. I wear very little makeup, but I still take excellent care of my face and body with soaps, scrubs, creams and other skincare products. And sure, maybe I just have good genes, but I cannot help but think that prepubescent girl was on to something. Lately, I have found myself wondering how much moisturizer I should use. What is the perfect sized amount? Can I use too much? And if so, what is the downside? 

Table of Contents:  

1. Top Five Skincare Tips  
2. How Much Moisturizer Should I Use? 
3. What Should a Good Moisturizer Contain?  
4. Products for Moisturizing Your Face 

Top Five Skincare Tips 

Before we get into how much moisturizer you should use, let us discuss your routine. A few essentials exist to keep your skin looking young, vibrant, and healthy. Especially when it comes to your face and neck, you always want to err on the side of looking younger, not older, and proper skin care is critical to ensuring your youthful appearance.  

1. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. 

Anyone who has ever discussed health with me knows how much water I drink, and how much I promote hydration. More than half of the population does not drink enough water each day. Remember, your body is 60 percent water, and your skin is your largest organ. Drink water! 

2. More Sleep. More Moisturization. 

“You look tired.” How many times have you heard that? If you are a mom, if you are busy, if you are stressed, you have probably heard that many times. Which means your skin is suffering! For soft, supple skin, you need your face on your pillow for 7 to 8 hours a night.  

3. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

Carrots, spinach, berries, apricots, avocado, watermelon - you name it - fresh fruits and veggies are packed with the vitamin and nutrients that quite literally feed your skin. Eat your way to healthy skin. 

4. Wash Your Face Before Bed 

Do not go to sleep with makeup on. Do not even go to sleep with a day’s worth of living on your face. Invest in a gentle facewash you can scrub on and off before you hit your pillow, so you do not leave dirt and grime on the linens to rub your face into.  

5. Moisturize! 

Finally, because it is necessary to wash your face at least once a day, and preferably twice, you should be moisturizing after each wash. Washing your face with any cleanser will naturally dry your skin out. You want to replace any moisture lost with an all-natural, protective cream.  

How Much Moisturizer Should I Use? 

Because you do not want to lose moisture in your face, you do not want to overapply moisturizer. Doing so will teach your skin to become reliant on a product instead of producing its own natural oils. So, technically, yes, you can moisturize your face too much. But don’t worry. Most people don’t. 25.5 million Americans use moisturizer for their faces 14 times per week, or twice a day, which is the perfect amount. Wash and moisturize once before you start your day and then again before hitting the sack. Since you are likely using a top-quality skincare product, you can rest assured that you only need about a teaspoon of lotion or cream, or a pea sized amount if you use a face oil, to get good moisturization.  

What Should a Good Moisturizer Contain? 

Now that I am no longer that ten-year-old girl, I know better than to use Noxzema or Ponds, which were great for a tween, but not so wonderful for a grown woman well past puberty. Now, I follow the dermatologist’s recommendations. I look for washes, lotions, oils, and creams that contain hydrating and exfoliating ingredients. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin hydrate skin, and Vitamin C, activated charcoal, and aloe vera work to keep skin clean and protected. And, of course, I cannot forget about my trusty apple cider vinegar, which is good for virtually everything. In the end, you should always look for products that contain active ingredients you have heard of or that resonate with you. It is also helpful to remember that your skincare routine is and should be always evolving. As you age, your hormones change, and as your lifestyle changes, you will stop using old products that no longer work for you and try new ones that excite and invigorate your skin. Bottom line: be fearless when it comes to trying new products! 

Products for Moisturizing Your Face 

Now that you know how to moisturize your face, and how much moisturizer you should be using, look at a few products that might help you build a solid skincare routine to keep your face looking fresher than ever.  

Hyaluronic Acid Gel 

Like a superfood, hyaluronic acid is one of those super ingredients for your skin. Your body produces it naturally, keeping your skin soft and supple, and as you lose it over time and with age, you can replace it with a product that contains it. Click the link and read more about this skin gel.  

Face Wash Collection 

Click and browse above to see a range of face wash options that not only clean but promote hydration for your skin type. While you expect your skin to be a bit dry after any wash, it can only be helpful to use a facewash that works overtime not to dry you out too much. It will make any moisturizer you apply afterward that much more effective.