Treatments specific to the face have been a routine part of skincare, and today modern skincare is a widespread phenomenon. With Tik Tok trends sur-face-ing each day, the debate of what to use in taking care of your face is fascinating. Oils and serums spring up here and there, but nothing says staple like the moisturizing “face cream”. 

In this article, we are going to explore: why you need a special cream for your face, what to look for in a face cream, what ingredients you should avoid, and how often you should moisturise your face.

Why do you need a separate cream for your face?

From crushed pearls & egg whites to donkey milk, women who made history, all the while looking beautiful, have paved the way for the facial skincare trends we follow today. As Picasso once said; “Who sees the human face correctly? The photographer, the mirror, or the painter?” We suggest the esthetician!

But skincare is more than just aesthetics. The relationship between skincare and healthcare couldn’t be expressed enough, and as we have vital organs, we have vital parts of the skin that need special attention.

Using a separate cream for the face is beneficial because the skin on the face is different from the skin on the rest of the body. Facial skin is more delicate, sensitive, and prone to issues like acne, dryness, and aging. Specialized face creams are formulated with ingredients that address these specific concerns, providing hydration, protection, and targeted treatments that may not be suitable for the thicker skin on the body.

The skin on your face differs from the skin on your body in various ways. Some of them include:

Thinner skin

Even though the thickness of your skin varies all over your body, the skin on your face is thinner than on your body. This is why wrinkles appear more visible on the face and neck, a quality face cream helps to improve visible skin firmness. Additionally, the skin around your eyes and eyelids are the thinnest of all and can be highly sensitive, so must be treated with care.

Smaller skin cell size

Since one of the main functions of your skin is to act as a barrier, smaller skin cells mean a smaller barrier area and less of a route through which chemicals going in and water going out. This explains why skin sensitivity on the face is more common than on the body as less barrier protection is provided. The right face cream nourishes and stimulates skin cells leading to intense replenishment and elasticity.

More hair follicles

There are a lot more hair follicles on the skin of your face, compared to the rest of your body. With your follicles so close together on your face, it is important to avoid clogging them as it can lead to pimples and acne breakouts. With the right list of ingredients, face cream protects against free radical damage that could lead to pimples and acne breakouts.

More oil glands

You have a lot more oil glands on your face than on your body. Over-cleansing your face can strip your skin of these natural oils and it can also cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness. A good face cream fixes this by restoring the skin’s natural moisture balance.

What to look for in a Face Cream

If you’re into skincare as much as we are at Ri na mara, you probably fancy yourself as a  scientist with all that knowledge about “key ingredients”. And if you’re at this point of the article you already understand the importance of face cream. So whether you’re looking to restock, or purchase your first special jar, here is what to look for in a face cream:

Hyaluronic acid

A clear and moisturising substance naturally produced by the body. HA is usually found in large amounts around the skin, connective tissue/joints, and eyes. With its tendency to bind to water, its primary function is to help the skin stay hydrated, making the skin look & feel more supple, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Rí na mara products formulated with hyaluronic acid include our intensive regenerating facial serum, deep conditioning eye cream & moisturising face cream. 

Essential oils

Essential oils are basically plant extracts in a highly concentrated oil form. In combination with carrier oils, such as olive, jojoba, or coconut oil, an added benefit of essential oils to face cream includes: reducing inflammation & killing bacteria. Rí na mara products formulated with essential oils include our renewing facial oil, moisturising face cream & deep conditioning eye cream.

Ceramides

Ceramides are essentially the glue that holds our skin cells together, keeping your skin barrier intact and healthy. Ceramide-infused face cream helps boost hydration, rejuvenate aging skin and protect against UV damage. Rí na mara products formulated with ceramides include our moisturising face cream, deep conditioning eye cream & intensive regenerating facial serum.

Sunscreen

Lengthy exposure to harsh UVA rays can develop premature signs of aging on the face like crow’s feet, wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin. The benefits of sunscreen in your face cream include well-rounded protection from these problems, which will keep your skin young and healthy for a long time.

Ingredients to avoid

Similar to food and your body, there are quality skin-care ingredients that can improve your skin and harmful ingredients that you should avoid. Ingredients you should steer clear from in your face cream include:

Synthetic fragrance: These are engineered scent agents, and can be anything from known allergens to hormone disruptors. When it comes to skincare for your face, going fragrance-free is always a better option.

Parabens: These are a family of preservatives that manufacturers use in skincare products to help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. The danger of Parabens is that they cause skin irritation.

Polyethylene glycol: Wildly used as a thickener and moisture carrier in many skincare products. The danger of PEG is that it could act as a carcinogen. (a cancer-causing agent).

Retinol: This is a synthetic form of Vitamin A and is popular in anti-aging skincare. The danger of retinol is it is known to cause skin irritation.

Oxybenzone & Abobenzone: Widely used in sunscreens. These ingredients are linked to skin irritations and sensitization.

Should you moisturize your face daily?

Yes! 

In fact, experts advise you moisturise your face twice daily: every morning and every night. This routine use is very popular because it ensures that the moisture content of your skin remains at peak throughout the 24-hour period.

Regardless of what other steps you take in your skincare routine, you should ensure a daily moisturizer is on the list when you awaken and at bedtime. 

In the morning, facial moisturizer should be applied after any serums and toners, but before sunscreen and makeup. 

In the evenings, moisturizer should be applied only after properly cleansing your face to make sure you are not sealing in any dirt and debris with its application.

Rí na mara face cream

With a lovely blend of seaweed & botanical extracts, Rí na mara face cream is infused with a unique formula created to minimize the appearance of fine lines, help protect the skin from harsh environments and reveal a more glowing complexion.

What sets us apart is the one key ingredient we saved for last: Seaweed!

The Atlantic Ocean off Spidéal, Connemara, is not just spectacularly beautiful, it is also the source of the world’s most nourishing natural skincare solutions. Nurtured by the purest marine waters in Europe, a perfect habitat to produce the rich natural sea algae that go into every Rí na mara skincare product.

So, what do you look for in a face cream? simple: seaweed and botanical extracts! 

Rí na mara face cream is formulated with sensitive skin in mind, and the soft velvety texture is enriched with vitamins, minerals, protective antioxidants, and amino acids which hydrate, nourish, and stimulate skin cells leading to intense replenishment, elasticity, and radiance thanks to the widely recognised benefits of seaweed.

But don’t take our word for it, read a number of our glowing reviews and order some rich daily moisturizing face cream today.