While moisturizing, people make the mistake of either over-moisturizing or using too little. It ends up giving them greasy and comedogenic skin or making it too dry and flaky. So, what is the ideal amount? How much moisturizer is enough? 

You may buy the most expensive moisturizer, but if you don’t know the correct way to use it, you are wasting the product. And the amount comes as an important factor in correct usage. In this guide, we will break down how much moisturizer you need on each part of the body, how to apply it properly for maximum effectiveness, and how to adjust the quantity according to your skin type. 

Should I Use Moisturizer Every Day?

First things first, most Pakistanis skip moisturizer for almost the whole year due to heat and humidity, under the pretext of oily skin. This is where you go wrong. Moisturizer is an indispensable part of your everyday skincare routine.

Still wondering why?  Your skin loses water throughout the day through a process called transepidermal water loss. Using a suitable moisturizer, your skin type slows down the water loss and protects the skin barrier, like Dermive Sensitive Moisturizer. Therefore, your skin appears healthy, hydrated, and supple. So, the question is not whether to moisturize or not. It is what moisturizer to pick, how to apply it, and how much. 

The Pea-Sized Rule Explained

You may have come across the pea-sized application method in your skincare routine. But it never goes along with all your skincare steps. The pea-sized rule applies only to harsh activities like tretinoin, retinol, azelaic acid, etc. But a pea size is only 0.25ml, which cannot cover your face fully. 

On the other hand, some people use too much moisturizer, which keeps their skin greasy and oily all the time, trapping sweat, heat, and dust. Therefore, using the right amount makes a difference. 

But what is the right amount? The right amount is when your moisturizer sits on your skin for around 30-60 seconds and gets absorbed, leaving your skin supple and smooth. If it does not absorb, you have applied way too much. Or if the skin still feels extremely dry, rough, and bumpy, you have not used enough moisturizer. 

How Much Moisturizer to Use: Area by Area

You must have noticed how your skin feels different on different parts of the body. Therefore, the amount of moisturizer for each part varies. 

Face

For application on the face, the amount must be sufficient for the full face - forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and around the mouth. Thus, you must use at least two pea-sized amounts of moisturizer. Dot it all over your face so the amount covers your whole face. It will allow the product to spread evenly across your face without overapplying at one spot. 

Under Eyes

Your skin under the eye is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, which makes it more prone to dehydration. But, since the skin is thin and delicate, people over-moisturize it, which results in milia- tiny, hard, white bumps under the eyes. So, for the under eyes, less is more. Apply a thin layer of moisturizer around your eyes and let it absorb. 

Neck

Skincare does not end at your face because you have skin below the chin, too. To prevent aging and skin damage to your neck and chest, you should regularly moisturize them. For covering both your neck and your chest, you need to double the amount you put on your face. Let’s say, two pumps of your moisturizer or a coin-sized amount can cover your neck and chest properly. Make sure to apply moisturizer in an upward direction rather than dragging it down. 

Hands

Moisturize your hands while you moisturize your face, and choose an adequate amount that covers both hands, including the back and between the fingers. So, choose a small-sized pump for both hands. 

Body

Always use a moisturizer for your entire body. Buy a body lotion like Dermive Urea Economy Pack to lather your skin with moisture and prevent dehydration. Take one pump for each body part. If the body still feels dry and cracked, apply more. 

Moisturizer for Oily Skin: Do You Need Less?

People often misconceive that oily skin already produces enough oil that it does not need moisturizer. Or, they apply too little to even fulfill the purpose. The fact negates it all, as not moisturizing or using too little results in the skin’s natural reaction of producing sebum to compensate for the moisture loss. 

Therefore, skipping moisturizer can make your skin more oily and not vice versa. So, you don’t need to skip it or use less. Rather, you should choose a product that is built for your skin type. Try lightweight, gel-based moisturizers that are oil-free and contain ingredients like Ceramides or Hyaluronic Acid, like Dermive Oil-Free Moisturizer or Dermive Oil-Free Fragrance-Free Moisturizer. They do not make your skin greasy, over-produce oil, or let it stay dehydrated. 

And, no. You do not need to apply less. When using the right product, you need the exact amount that others need. So, the problem is not with the amount but the ingredients and formulation if your oily skin acts up after applying moisturizer. 

Absorption Time

You all might be aware of patting the moisturizer into your skin rather than dragging it vigorously. Absorption time is a useful signal. A well-formulated moisturizer applied in the right amount should absorb into your skin within 60-90 seconds of gentle pressing. 

If it is not absorbing easily, either you have applied too much, the formula is too thick, or your skin barrier is damaged. So, you should look at the amount you are using, the formula, whether it suits you or not, and whether you are using the right ingredients.

Final Word

Getting a moisturizer is not a complicated thing until you realize the right things, like your skin type, formulation, climate, and specific area. By understanding these basics, you may find your ideal amount and avoid overmoisturizing or dehydration. 

First thing is to start with less, give it time to absorb. If it absorbs well and leaves your skin hydrated, you have used the right amount. IF your skin feels greasy or heavy after application, you overmoisturized. And if your skin feels dry, tight and rough, even after application, you need to apply more. For the right products that suit your face, visit the Jenpharm online website that combines dermatological formulations to treat your skin concerns.