Humectant Moisturizers
"Humectants are best used on the face of people with acne prone or oily skin," says Patel. "This type of moisturizer helps pull water into the skin without occluding pores or making the skin oilier." She also adds that they work especially well around the delicate eye area since it won't block pores or cause milial cysts.
Since they're generally more lightweight, humectants work especially well as daytime moisturizers or even as hydrating boosters or serums.
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Since it's formulated with hyaluronic acid, this eye serum from Patel's skin care line adds lightweight, breathable moisture to your eye area without being overly greasy. The humectant properties also help to make your skin appear a bit more plump and dewy.
With three sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules included in the formula, this humectant moisturizer helps hydrate your skin like a dream. And though it packs a major punch, you'll still find that its quick-drying texture makes it a great moisturizer for oily skin.
Vitamin B5 is another humectant that's been growing in popularity lately. You'll notice it's the hero ingredient of this popular Drunk Elephant serum, which also uses emollient pineapple ceramides to help increase your skin's moisture retention. You've probably also noticed that it's often used in conjunction with hyaluronic acid, as in the Glossier Super Bounce Serum and the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel.
Emollient Moisturizers
"Emollients can be used on all skin types for both the face and the body," says Patel. Since they're made to help prevent water loss and keep your skin soft, there are a lot of options in this category that should work on a variety of skin types, including popular face oils and a few of our favorite moisturizers.
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