This Is Why Your Moisturizer Feels Like It's Doing Nothing

Call us impatient, but we like to see fast results with our skincare. If the label says it'll be a few weeks before any noticeable changes, we tend to get antsy. Case in point: our moisturizer. Particularly in the cold winter months, we find ourselves slathering on more product than we would in the greasy months of summer, and then feeling defeated when dry, flaky skin still happens. After going through countless bottles and tubes of different formulas, our emotions—and bank accounts—start to feel drained.

But we come bearing goods news: There are things you can (and should) be doing to ensure your moisturizer performs way better. Top skincare experts gave us some incredible advice for having the softest, most hydrated skin by just changing the way we moisturize.

You're Applying Incorrectly

#1: You're Applying It Wrong

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First order of business: Stop rubbing and wiping. If you normally just slather your moisturizer all over your face like it's sunscreen, Christine Chang and Sarah Lee—co-founders of Glow Recipe—say that's a key reason your moisturizer isn't working: "Instead of your usual application method, try gently patting your skincare in. This action increases pressure and also heat, both elements that help your skincare to absorb better." Chang and Lee add that "patting" in your skincare products is a time-honored tradition in Asia (and we can't get enough K-beauty, so we're taking this patting method as gospel). Additionally, Dr. Ava Shamban of Beverly Hills says to apply moisturizer right after washing your face, when your skin is still damp, for best results.

You're Not Exfoliating Enough

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Chang and Lee explain that the buildup of dead skin cells over time doesn't allow your products to properly penetrate the skin. We're big fans of these exfoliating pads from Go-To, which use natural AHAs to give you a quick exfoliation when you don't have time for a mask.

You Aren't Being Ingredient-Conscious

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"'Moisture magnet' ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, ceramides, and natural alternatives to hyaluronic acid such as tremella are good places to start—these create a moisture 'reservoir' of sorts in the skin and anchor moisture where the skin needs it the most," say Chang and Lee. We're currently obsessed with these ceramide capsules from Elizabeth Arden that you can just break open, squeeze out, and apply to your skin for a seriously softening experience before hitting your moisturizer.

You're Not Using the Right Formula For Your Skin Type

Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer $120.00

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As you could probably guess, if you have oily skin, you'll want to avoid thick, heavy, greasy moisturizers—not to mention the fact heavy creams might actually turn your skin immune to their effects! Says Shamban, "Overuse or overly thick creams can cause the skin to become dependent on the moisturizer and not work as well. Excess moisturizer can suffocate the skin." Noted. So if your skin is particularly greasy, even in dry winter months, Shamban suggests a light, oil-free moisturizer.

On the flip side, "Some people have oily skin because they do not moisturize enough," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Julia Siegel, MD. "The body overproduces oil to try to compensate. Because of this, I always recommend that my patients with oily skin use a thick moisturizer at night and a thinner moisturizer during the day. Using a thicker moisturizer at night actually decreases oil production during the day.

For combination skin, Shamban suggests using two different moisturizers: a light, oil-free moisturizer for oily areas and a richer cream for dry skin.

You Aren't Being Consistent

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream $15.00

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Last but certainly not least, Shamban says it's crucial that you get into a groove and stick to a moisturizing routine. "It is so, so important to have a daily skincare routine—and use your skincare! We have all these great moisturizers sitting in our medicine cabinet, but if we don’t use them, they won’t work! Using moisturizers in tandem with an effective cleanser, toner, and other topical treatments can also help accentuate the power of your products." Be consistent with your moisturizing routine; if you're not and then wondering why your moisturizer is ineffective, you have your answer right there.