In thinking about the components of a basic skincare routine, two steps seem pretty intuitive — Cleanse and Moisturize. Cleanse basically means, you have to wash your face…right? You can’t just be dirty. And “moisturize” also seems rather intuitive. If your skin is dry, you need to apply a face cream or lotion. But, for individuals with oily or acne prone skin, using a moisturizer isn’t always so intuitive. “Even those with acne prone skin should moisturize, but with a light lotion and not a heavy cream," says Dr. Mona Gohara, Dermatologist in Hamden, Connecticut. The purpose of face cream, facial moisturizer, or facial lotion is simple — to deliver and seal in moisture. Dr. Gohara adds, "Moisturizer is important because it keeps the skin barrier healthy. The barrier keeps irritants out and water locked in.”

Typically the last product applied in a skincare routine, moisturizers can do more than just lock in hydration. Moisturizer can also deliver key skincare benefits to improve texture, brighten dark spots, soften fine lines, and protect against the environmental effects of the sun, pollution, free radicals, and more.

All face creams are not created equally, so select the best cream to support your skincare needs. Sometimes this means that the same essential cream for the day may also work for the night. But for mature skin, dry skin or skin with specific skin care challenges, one might opt for a particular cream for daytime use and a different, more targeted cream dedicated to night time.

Dr. Gohara shares, “Vitamin C serums are a fantastic way to combat discoloration from the sun. Mix that in with collagen-producing retinol, and it’s a win-win for tone and texture. Another favorite is hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and adds an immediate plump factor. I don’t leave my house without it.”

Sun protection is a critical day cream feature because it shields the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. But if you’re looking for one moisturizer to serve both day and nighttime use, keep in mind that you don’t need a cream with sunscreen to go to bed.