Once your skin is cleansed and hydrated, the next essential step is nourishing and moisturizing. These two go hand-in-hand to maintain skin health, support repair, and protect your skin’s barrier.

While hydration focuses on increasing water content in the skin, moisturizing seals in that hydration and adds nourishment through oils, lipids, and essential nutrients. This step is crucial for keeping your skin soft, resilient, and protected from daily stressors like pollution, weather, and environmental damage.

Why nourishment is essential 

Just like your body needs vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy, so does your skin. Nourishing products — such as serums, facial oils, and concentrates — are typically rich in antioxidants, vitamins, peptides, and plant-based actives that feed the skin at a deeper level.

Benefits of skin nourishment:

• Helps repair and regenerate skin cells
• Improves tone, texture, and firmness
• Fights free radicals and environmental stress
• Supports collagen production and skin elasticity
• Targets specific concerns like dullness, pigmentation, and fine lines

Pro Tip: Choose serums and facial oils based on your skin’s needs — look for ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, or botanical extracts for targeted care.

Why moisturizing is important

Moisturizing is the final layer of defense in your skincare routine. It locks in hydration, seals in active ingredients, and adds a protective layer that shields your skin from moisture loss and irritants. Even if your skin feels oily or acne-prone, it still needs a moisturizer — just opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas.

Benefits of moisturizing:

• Strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier
• Prevents dehydration and flakiness
• Smooths and softens skin texture
• Enhances the absorption of previous treatments
• Leaves skin looking plump, radiant, and balanced

Pro Tip: Look for moisturizers with ingredients like ceramides, squalane, shea butter, or panthenol to nourish and protect.

Together, nourishing and moisturizing complete your skincare routine by ensuring your skin gets the care, protection, and support it needs to look and feel its best — every single day.

Author: Mariana