Moisturizers & Face Creams

Why a face cream is more than just the last step

A serum delivers active ingredients into your skin, and a face cream keeps them there. It forms a thin layer that slows down water loss and tops up the barrier with lipids your skin doesn't make enough of on its own.

Without a cream, the serum evaporates along with the water. Your skin then defends itself with even more oil or a tight feeling. That's why oily skin needs a cream too, just in a lighter texture.

Which face cream to choose for your skin type

Your cream should match your skin type, not a trend. The basic rule is simple:

• dry skin: a cream with ceramides, squalane or panthenol and a richer texture;
• oily skin: a lightweight, water-based gel cream without heavy oils, ideally with niacinamide;
• combination skin: a light cream all over the face, a richer one only on dry cheeks;
• sensitive skin: a fragrance-free, alcohol-free cream with centella or panthenol;
• dehydrated skin: a light cream with hyaluronic acid, because it lacks water, not oil.

For very dry skin, apply a thicker layer in the evening. For oily skin, a thin layer of gel cream is enough.

Ingredients that are actually worth looking for in a cream

The claim on the packaging tells you less than the ingredient list. Five groups make the difference in Korean creams:

• ceramides, which fill the gaps in the skin barrier; the first choice for dry, tight or irritated skin;
• hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which bind moisture and suit every skin type;
• niacinamide, which balances oil, calms redness and gradually evens out skin tone;
• centella and panthenol, which soothe irritated skin and speed up its recovery;
• retinal, PDRN and collagen, which in a night cream support skin renewal and firmness.

You don't need all of them at once. One good face moisturizer with two or three of these ingredients does more than five creams in your cabinet.

Where cream fits in your routine

Morning:

• a gentle cleanser, or just water if your skin isn't oily in the morning;
• toner or a serum for your main concern;
• a lightweight day cream;
• SPF, which is a separate step and not an ingredient in your cream.

Evening:

• double cleansing if you wore SPF or makeup;
• a targeted serum, or a retinal cream or serum for wrinkles;
• a richer, nourishing face cream as the last step, in a thicker layer for very dry skin.

You don't need a special night cream, a richer version of your day cream is enough. For the eye area, choose a dedicated eye cream. The skin there is thinner, and a face cream settles into fine lines faster.

Cream for acne, wrinkles and dark spots

For acne-prone skin, your cream should be non-comedogenic and light, with niacinamide or tea tree, and free of pore-clogging oils. A heavy cream makes acne-prone skin worse, even if it calms it for a moment.

For wrinkles, choose a cream with ingredients that have proven results. Retinal at night supports skin renewal, while PDRN and collagen support firmness.

For pigmentation, choose a cream with niacinamide or vitamin C and pair it with SPF, or the dark spots keep coming back. For redness, soothing creams with centella, panthenol and ceramides are the first choice.

What to avoid when choosing a cream

• skipping moisturizer because your skin gets oily; without it, your skin gets even oilier;
• a thick layer of rich cream on oily skin; all you get is clogged pores;
• switching creams every week; your skin needs four to six weeks to show a response;
• using a cream instead of SPF, even if it says "with SPF";
• using face cream around the eyes, where it settles into fine lines faster.

Face creams at dglow

At dglow you can choose from gel creams, classic moisturizers and rich barrier creams from DR. ALTHEA, BEAUTY OF JOSEON, COSRX, SKIN1004, TORRIDEN, PURITO, CELIMAX and MEDICUBE. The most searched-for Korean face cream in Slovenia is the soothing Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream with niacinamide, ceramides and tea tree. It suits almost every skin type. For wrinkles, the most searched-for product is the Celimax retinal shot.

Korean creams are made for layering, so don't choose them by popularity. First figure out your skin type, then the texture, and only then the ingredients for your specific concern. Once you find a cream that works for you, stick with it for at least a month before you judge the results.