Creams, lotions and oils can offer temporary relief for dry and flaky skin. Likewise, if your skin is feeling tight, they can give it a cool and supple feeling. There are differences between the various lotions and oils for skin, which mainly come down to ingredients, consistency, strength and staying power.
Strength
If you need to keep your skin moisturised for a long time, use skin creams or oils. These will last longer than a lotion and are thicker in consistency. Creams have more oils and petrolatum bases, which stay longer on the skin. Some creams can leave behind an oily residue; these may not be suitable for people who work with their hands a lot during the day.
During the winter, your hands may need a heavier moisturiser; heavy hand cream is good for this. To find what works best for you, experiment with different products and read helpful reviews.
Consistency
Lotions are thinner, feel lighter on the skin and can be watery in comparison to creams. This can explain why there is a difference in the staying power of lotions and creams. Water is usually the first ingredient listed on the lotion bottle.
Lotions aren’t heavy or greasy and therefore do not have a lasting moisturising effect. If you have oily skin on your face, you may wish to choose an oil-free moisturising lotion or gel applied at bedtime only.
Ingredients
If you’re looking to lightly moisturise your skin, opt for a lotion or skin cream with water as its first ingredient. For a heavier coverage, choose a cream or body moisturiser that has oil or petrolatum as the first ingredient. You can also buy oil free moisturisers.
