How Your Face Mist Can Actually Dry Out Your Skin!
Why Mist?
A facial mist, when used correctly, can be effective at restoring moisture to your dry skin. The reason your skin becomes dry to begin with, is that the acid mantle (a fine acidic film on the surface layer of your skin which acts as a protective barrier against external elements) becomes weakened or damaged. When this happens, moisture easily escapes and starts to evaporate from your skin. That is when a facial mist can come to the rescue to replenish any water that has been lost.
When a Face Mist Can Dry Out Your Skin
There are 2 ways a face mist can dry out your skin.
- Poor Formula
- Improper Use
Poor Formula
When it comes to face mists, many inexpensive brands use alcohol in their formulations. The alcohol is added to the formula so that the mist evaporates more quickly from your skin. The only problem is, alcohol evaporates any moisture that is found on the surface of your skin, not just that from the mist itself. So spraying the mist will actually leave your skin drier than before!
Improper Use
The only way a mist can work for you and not against you, is to use it the way it was intended to. That means, always applying some type of serum or moisturizer immediately after application. Your skin needs some way to hold onto this moisture. In order for your skin to retain any added moisture it must be accompanied by a humectant (substance that binds to water), or an occlusive (agent that seals in water).
How To Mist Properly
Steps For Application of Facial Mist:
- Cleanse your skin and pat dry.
- Spray facial mist onto your face.
- Apply facial serum or moisturizer onto your face immediately after using facial mist.
Ingredients to Look For
As mentioned earlier, humectants and occlusives are necessary in order for the mist’s moisture to be retained by your skin. Finding facial mists that contain both moisture-binding ingredients and moisture-sealing ingredients is key when it comes to choosing the most effective product.
Examples of Moisture-Binding Ingredients (Humectants):
Hyaluronic Acid
Vegetable Glycerin
Aloe Vera
Lactic Acid
Examples of Moisture-Sealing Ingredients (Occlusives):
Avocado Oil
Jojoba Oil
Squalane
If your face mist does not contain either a moisture-binding or moisture-sealing ingredient, don’t worry, you can still use it! To ensure the moisture you’ve sprayed onto your face stays on your skin rather than evaporating into thin air, just remember; apply serum or moisturizer onto your skin immediately afterward.