How to apply lotion

Content

Method 2 of 3: Applying body lotion
Method 3 of 3: Using special lotions
Tips
Warnings
Additional articles

1 Determine what type of skin your face is. Lotions are designed for all skin types, so the first step is to determine what type of skin your face is in order to get the right lotion. If you are already using facial lotion, take a look at the label and check if it is currently the right one for you. The condition of the skin is constantly changing under the influence of factors such as weather and age, so you should choose a lotion according to what kind of skin you have at the moment. There are the following types of skin:

Normal skin. This is not too dry or oily skin, which is not particularly prone to acne formation, increased sensitivity and irritation.
Oily skin often looks shiny or oily due to the increased activity of the sebaceous glands. This type of skin is prone to acne formation and often has large pores.
Dry skin lacks oil and moisture. It often peels off, and reddish streaks and spots appear on it.
Sensitive skin is often confused with dry skin as it is also characterized by dryness and redness. However, irritation of sensitive skin occurs due to certain ingredients in skin care products, not due to a lack of sebum.
Mixed skin is characterized by different areas. Some of them correspond to oily skin, others - to drier or normal skin. Most often, mixed skin is fatter on the forehead, nose and chin, and is normal on the rest of the face.

2 Use products that contain ingredients that are right for your skin. After you find out your skin type, purchase products with the appropriate composition. It is scientifically proven that some ingredients are only suitable for certain skin types, so when choosing a lotion, you should carefully study its composition in order to ensure maximum benefits. The following ingredients are beneficial for certain skin types:

Normal Skin: Choose a cream-based moisturizer that contains vitamin C. This vitamin is an antioxidant and regenerates the skin. Avoid gels that can dry out your skin, and thick, overly saturated creams and ointments.
Oily skin: Use light, water-based gels that absorb faster than other lotions. Look for products that include zinc oxide, Barbados aloe gel, and seaweed extract. Do not use products that contain alcohol or petroleum jelly.
Dry skin: Use thicker, cream-based lotions and rich ointments to create a protective layer thick enough to protect your skin from environmental influences. Choose foods with ingredients such as jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, or rosehip oil. Avoid products that contain alcohol, as it dries out already dry skin a lot.
Sensitive skin: Look for products that contain soothing ingredients such as echinacea, hyaluronic acid, and cucumber extract. Do not use products that contain active chemicals, colors or fragrances.
Mixed skin: Use oil-free products with panthenol, zinc oxide and lycopene. These substances help balance the amount of sebum in oily areas and moisturize dry areas of the skin.

3 Wash your face and prepare your face to apply the lotion. To get the most out of your lotion, you need to properly prepare your skin. You should wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, before going to bed. When doing this, use a facial cleanser that is designed for your skin type. Using clean hands or a clean face washcloth, gently spread the cleanser over your skin in slow, circular motions. Use a scrub instead of a cleanser once a week to remove dead skin cells and remove the keratinized top layer of the skin that is preventing the lotion and its active ingredients from absorbing into the skin. Keep in mind the following:

The water should be slightly lukewarm. Too hot water can damage your skin, while too cold water closes pores, trapping dirt and bacteria inside.
Do not rub your face too hard, as this can cause irritation, redness, and damage to your skin.
Rinse your face thoroughly to remove any detergent residue that can clog pores and lead to irritation and acne.

4 Pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel so that it remains slightly damp.Not dry the skin completely. At the same time, it should not be too wet, otherwise the lotion will not hold and will drain from it. It is necessary that the skin of the face remains moist - in this case, the lotion will dissolve better and penetrate the skin. In addition, when the lotion is applied to damp skin, a layer forms on top of it, which retains all moisture and nutrients in the skin. Remember to change your towel regularly to avoid bringing harmful bacteria onto your freshly washed skin.

5 Apply a generous amount of lotion to damp skin. Because facial lotions are designed for certain skin types, they can vary greatly in consistency. As a rule, the recommended dosage is indicated on the lotions. Typically, you need a little more liquid lotion than thicker one. A single dose can range from a pea-sized droplet to a coin-sized droplet. Squeeze out the correct amount of lotion and gently spread it over the skin in a circular motion with your fingertips (be sure to keep them clean). In particularly dry areas, lightly press with your fingers and rub the lotion into the skin. It is also helpful to adhere to the following rules:

Do not apply lotion to the skin around your eyes, as it is very sensitive and many moisturizers are too harsh for it. This can lead to fluid buildup and swelling of the skin near the eyes. Use an eye cream for these areas.
It is best to use a sunscreen lotion with at least SPF 15 for your face. This will help protect your skin from the sun throughout the day. However, do not apply sunscreen lotion at night, as it can clog your pores and cause acne breakouts.

6 Apply the lotion not only to your face, but also to your neck. Many people regularly use lotion after washing but often forget about their neck. The skin on your neck is more like your face than the rest of your body, so keep it in mind when caring for your face. Each time after washing, apply the lotion to the skin of the neck using gentle longitudinal movements from bottom to top, from the base of the neck to the lower jaw. This will prevent dryness of the neck skin and keep it youthful.

7 Let the lotion absorb. After applying the lotion to your face and neck, wait about 5 minutes before putting on a shirt or blouse, putting on makeup, or going to bed. Allow the lotion to soak into the skin before doing anything that could disrupt the moisturizing layer on the skin's surface. If you start applying makeup too quickly, it can penetrate your skin pores with the lotion and clog them, or lie unevenly. If you start dressing immediately after applying the lotion, or go to bed and touch your face to the pillow, the lotion will be absorbed into the fabric instead of the skin, which will noticeably reduce its effect.

Method 2 of 3: Applying body lotion

1 Determine what type of skin your body is. As with your face, you should use a suitable lotion for your body that is designed for your specific skin type. However, do not assume that the skin on the face and on the body are necessarily of the same type. Sometimes the body skin is drier or more prone to acne formation than the face, so it is necessary to determine what type of body skin is.
2 Purchase a body lotion with active ingredients that are appropriate for your skin type. As with your face, you should choose a moisturizing body lotion that is formulated with ingredients suitable for your skin type. That is why it is necessary to first determine what type of body skin belongs to, since if it is different from the skin of the face, using the same lotion can harm it. Lotions with the following ingredients are suitable for various skin types:
- Normal Skin: Use thicker lotions or moisturizers with ingredients such as vitamin C (an antioxidant) and vitamin E, which help moisturize the skin. Licorice, which is part of some lotions, helps to get rid of age spots.
- Oily skin: Choose light, non-greasy lotions, especially those that are quickly absorbed and contain witch hazel, a very beneficial natural ingredient that unclogs the pores of the skin and thus helps to get rid of excess sebum and acne. Do not use thick, oily lotions or products that contain alcohol or petroleum jelly.
- Dry skin: Use thick cream-based lotions or medicated ointments, especially those containing shea butter or coconut oil. These two ingredients perfectly moisturize the skin and prevent it from drying out. Avoid products that contain alcohol, as it can dry out your skin even more.
- Sensitive skin: Look for soothing ingredients such as echinacea (to relieve irritation) and avocado oil, which are high in fatty acids and high amounts of B vitamins to help hydrate the skin and regulate cell function. Avoid products that contain active chemicals, colors, or fragrances.
- Mixed skin: Use oil-free products with panthenol, zinc oxide and lycopene. Avoid thick creams and gels based on water, as the former can be too thick, and the latter can dry out individual areas of the skin.
3 Prepare your skin to apply the lotion. Although the body skin is less delicate than the facial skin, it should also be prepared for the application of the lotion for maximum benefit. Shower or bathe daily and use a cleanser that's right for your skin type. Gently rub the body with a washcloth or sponge, making circular motions. Use a scrub instead of a cleanser twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells and dead skin and improve the absorption of the lotion. When doing this, remember the following:
- Avoid showering for more than 5 to 10 minutes to prevent the detergent from drying out your skin.
- Wash with warm water. The water should be slightly hotter than the one with which you wash your face. However, it should not be too hot to avoid stripping the skin of its natural protective layer of fat.
- Rinse thoroughly and rinse off any remaining detergent, otherwise it can clog pores, irritate your skin and lead to blackheads.
- Shaving also exfoliates dead skin cells, so you don't need to use the scrub on days when you shave your legs, neck, and other areas of your body.
4 Pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel so that it remains slightly damp. As with your face, do not dry your skin dry. It needs to retain some moisture so that the lotion is completely absorbed and retains this moisture in the skin. Do not open the bathroom door to keep out moist air.The combination of moist, warm skin and moist air will enhance the lotion's active ingredients and improve the condition and appearance of your skin.
5 Apply lotion immediately. Dispense an appropriate amount of lotion into the palm of your hand based on its consistency and directions for use. Do not squeeze out the amount required for the whole body at a time, as you will be applying the lotion sequentially to individual areas. Rub your palms together to warm the lotion, and then apply it to your body. Rub the lotion gently into the skin in a leisurely circular motion. Pay special attention to drier areas such as knees and elbows.
6 Let the lotion absorb into your skin. Wait about 5 minutes for the lotion to soak into your skin before leaving a steam-filled bathroom or putting on your clothes. Moist air will keep the pores open, which will speed up the absorption of the lotion and improve skin hydration. Avoid dressing or throwing on a towel too quickly, as this will rub off the lotion you just applied and prevent it from properly moisturizing your skin.

Method 3 of 3: Using special lotions

1 Think about what your skin needs. The skin is easily affected by factors such as stress, weather and age, so there are many products that are designed for different conditions. When shopping for lotion, think about what your skin needs and choose the right product based on that. In addition to lotions for standard skin types, there are special lotions for the following purposes:
- Improving skin elasticity and tone
- Self-tanning
- Getting rid of acne
- Prevention of skin aging and removal of its traces
- Fight wrinkles
- Treating eczema
2 Apply eye cream around the eyes. Many facial moisturizers are too rich for the eye area, which is one of the most delicate areas on the body. Rough handling of the skin around the eyes or the use of inappropriate products can lead to premature wrinkling and sagging skin. With a light touch of your ring finger, apply a special eye cream to the skin near the eyes, moving from the inner to the outer edge of the eye. The ring finger is weaker than the rest of the fingers, and light touching can help avoid unnecessary pressure and stretching of the skin. Using the same ring finger, gently spread the cream over the skin near the eyes.
3 Moisturize your palms and fingers. You constantly use your palms, and the skin on them is often exposed to various harmful effects and drying. As a result of hand washing and the use of disinfectants, the skin on the palms is deprived of natural oil, which leads to dryness, redness and cracking. To keep the skin on your palms from drying out and staying soft and firm, apply lotion to it several times a day, especially after washing and disinfecting. It is better to use special hand lotions, which are usually thicker than other lotions, as a result of which the skin stays moist longer.
4 Apply the lotion to your feet before bed. Many people forget to do this, although the skin on the feet is subjected to intense stress. Like the palms, the feet work throughout the day, and they also have sensitive skin areas that require care and attention. Dry skin can crack on the heels, which looks ugly and often causes quite severe pain. To prevent this from happening and calluses on your feet, apply a thick lotion to them before going to bed. In this case, the skin on the feet will absorb moisture and beneficial components of the lotion throughout the night. After applying the lotion, you can wear thick socks to keep it on your skin longer and not dry off on the sheets.
5 Don't forget your lips. The lips are also very delicate, dry skin. Smiles, conversations, wind and direct sunlight all dry out the skin on the lips. Many people notice that the skin on their lips is dry only after it begins to peel off.Try not to let this happen and apply lip balm beforehand to keep it from drying out. Look for a lip balm that contains natural ingredients such as coconut oil or argan oil, which are great for softening skin.

Tips

If your skin remains dry after regularly applying lotion, try using a humidifier, especially in winter. Dry air picks up moisture from your skin, and a humidifier will help prevent this.

Warnings

If your skin rashes or feels irritated, itchy, or hot while using the lotion, stop using the lotion immediately. Take a close look at its ingredients to find out which ingredients may have triggered an allergic reaction or skin sensitization.