I’m a firm believer that a solid, reliable moisturizer is the most important component of any skincare routine (behind sunscreen, of course). But while the goal of every moisturizer on the market is pretty much the same, not every moisturizer does its job in the same way. When shopping for a moisturizer, it’s likely you’ll notice that most of the ones available have different consistencies and textures—some are thin, wet, and milky, while others feel bouncy like a gel. Others are super-thick, and feel rich and pasty like butter. It’s easy to assume that the type of moisturizer you add to your skincare routine won’t matter so long as it's getting the job done, but in reality, your skin type and the overall health of your skin should determine the kind of moisturizer you should use day in and day out.
If you’ve been considering making some minor changes to your moisturizing routine but you’re having trouble deciding what kind of product works best for you, read ahead for a short breakdown on all the key differences between skin milks, gels, and creams.
What Is Skin Milk?
Don’t panic—buying a skincare product that’s categorized as a milk doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be putting actual milk from an actual cow on your face. It’s really just a term that’s used to describe products that are white, opaque, and, well, milky in appearance. In terms of texture, milks usually sit on the middle of the spectrum, since they’re not nearly as thick and rich as lotions but they’re also not as watery as toners.
Real milk has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s why you’ll see people drinking milk or eating ice cream after consuming painfully spicy foods, or even applying it to rashes caused by poison ivy and poison oak. In a similar sense, milky skincare products can also soothe irritation because they feel cool to the touch. In most cases, they’re hydrating as well, though you’d typically have to follow it with an actual moisturizer that’ll act as a sealant.
What Is a Gel Moisturizer?
A gel moisturizer will most often be a water-based formula that has a see-through, jelly consistency and features hydrating key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane. These work best for people with oily or combination skin types since they’re non-comedogenic (that means they won’t clog your pores) and can moisturize without making the skin feel too heavy or greasy due to the lack of oil in the formula. The cooling sensation that they can provide means that you can also use one of these if your skin is on the more sensitive side or prone to irritation and redness.
What Is a Cream Moisturizer?
Where a gel moisturizer is typically light and has more of an airy texture that absorbs fairly quickly because of its water content, creams are usually thicker because they’re rich in emollients. Some creams have the consistency of lotions while others tend to feel buttery, which is why these are often recommended for people with normal or dry skin, or skin that’s not prone to acne and breakouts. You can also opt to wear these if you live in a cold or dry climate and you want to finish off your daily or nightly skincare routine with something that’ll act as a sealant behind your hydrating serums and toners (or milks!)
Cream moisturizers can also benefit more mature skin types, since everyone’s skin tends to dry out with age, which can lead to a loss of elasticity over time (that’s your skin’s ability to snap back after being pulled and stretched), rough texture, or a weakened skin barrier.
Between Milks, Gels, and Creams, Which One Is Best For Me?
This all comes down to personal preference and what your needs are. Milks have a very loose consistency, so if applying a product that feels watery and has potential to be slightly messy isn’t a sensorial nightmare for you, consider adding a skin milk to your routine for extra hydration. Our Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence is a good place to start, since it moisturizes without making the skin feel sticky or weighed down. It’s filled with ingredients that provide barrier support (like ceramides) and others that trap moisture in the skin (like panthenol or vitamin B5). After cleansing and applying the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner (a hydrating toner featuring hyaluronic acid and fermented black rice) as the second step in your routine, pat a few drops of the essence onto your face and neck using just your hands for best results. You can also mix a few drops into your foundation to loosen up the product and make your makeup look less cakey.
If you have oily, combination, or acne-prone skin, you’re better off using a gel moisturizer, especially if you plan on applying complexion products like foundation and concealer on top of it. These can also be lighter on the skin if you live in a climate with high humidity. At the center of our Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream sits a cocktail of noteworthy hydrators like niacinamide, squalane, and panthenol, and they all work together to moisturize the skin without making it feel heavy or icky. Centella leaf water is also thrown into the mix to address irritation and redness. All you have to do is massage it into your skin in the morning or at night to feel its magic.
Lastly, if you notice that your skin feels drier due to age, climate, a compromised barrier or all of the above (if you just want your skin to look bouncier and plumper), a thicker cream will be your best bet. Our Black Rice Facial Oil has a silky texture that moisturizes and softens the skin using vitamin E and jojoba oil, but perhaps its best quality is that it doesn’t feel like a heavy oil when you apply it. Add a few drops of this to your favorite cream moisturizer on days when you feel like your skin needs a little extra umph.
Should I Be Using a Milk, Gel, or Cream Moisturizer?
I’m a firm believer that a solid, reliable moisturizer is the most important component of any skincare routine (behind sunscreen, of course). But while the goal of every moisturizer on the market is pretty much the same, not every moisturizer does its job in the same way. When shopping for a moisturizer, it’s likely you’ll notice that most of the ones available have different consistencies and textures—some are thin, wet, and milky, while others feel bouncy like a gel. Others are super-thick, and feel rich and pasty like butter. It’s easy to assume that the type of moisturizer you add to your skincare routine won’t matter so long as it's getting the job done, but in reality, your skin type and the overall health of your skin should determine the kind of moisturizer you should use day in and day out.
If you’ve been considering making some minor changes to your moisturizing routine but you’re having trouble deciding what kind of product works best for you, read ahead for a short breakdown on all the key differences between skin milks, gels, and creams.
What Is Skin Milk?
Don’t panic—buying a skincare product that’s categorized as a milk doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be putting actual milk from an actual cow on your face. It’s really just a term that’s used to describe products that are white, opaque, and, well, milky in appearance. In terms of texture, milks usually sit on the middle of the spectrum, since they’re not nearly as thick and rich as lotions but they’re also not as watery as toners.
Real milk has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s why you’ll see people drinking milk or eating ice cream after consuming painfully spicy foods, or even applying it to rashes caused by poison ivy and poison oak. In a similar sense, milky skincare products can also soothe irritation because they feel cool to the touch. In most cases, they’re hydrating as well, though you’d typically have to follow it with an actual moisturizer that’ll act as a sealant.
What Is a Gel Moisturizer?
A gel moisturizer will most often be a water-based formula that has a see-through, jelly consistency and features hydrating key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane. These work best for people with oily or combination skin types since they’re non-comedogenic (that means they won’t clog your pores) and can moisturize without making the skin feel too heavy or greasy due to the lack of oil in the formula. The cooling sensation that they can provide means that you can also use one of these if your skin is on the more sensitive side or prone to irritation and redness.
What Is a Cream Moisturizer?
Where a gel moisturizer is typically light and has more of an airy texture that absorbs fairly quickly because of its water content, creams are usually thicker because they’re rich in emollients. Some creams have the consistency of lotions while others tend to feel buttery, which is why these are often recommended for people with normal or dry skin, or skin that’s not prone to acne and breakouts. You can also opt to wear these if you live in a cold or dry climate and you want to finish off your daily or nightly skincare routine with something that’ll act as a sealant behind your hydrating serums and toners (or milks!)
Cream moisturizers can also benefit more mature skin types, since everyone’s skin tends to dry out with age, which can lead to a loss of elasticity over time (that’s your skin’s ability to snap back after being pulled and stretched), rough texture, or a weakened skin barrier.
Between Milks, Gels, and Creams, Which One Is Best For Me?
This all comes down to personal preference and what your needs are. Milks have a very loose consistency, so if applying a product that feels watery and has potential to be slightly messy isn’t a sensorial nightmare for you, consider adding a skin milk to your routine for extra hydration. Our Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence is a good place to start, since it moisturizes without making the skin feel sticky or weighed down. It’s filled with ingredients that provide barrier support (like ceramides) and others that trap moisture in the skin (like panthenol or vitamin B5). After cleansing and applying the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner (a hydrating toner featuring hyaluronic acid and fermented black rice) as the second step in your routine, pat a few drops of the essence onto your face and neck using just your hands for best results. You can also mix a few drops into your foundation to loosen up the product and make your makeup look less cakey.
If you have oily, combination, or acne-prone skin, you’re better off using a gel moisturizer, especially if you plan on applying complexion products like foundation and concealer on top of it. These can also be lighter on the skin if you live in a climate with high humidity. At the center of our Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream sits a cocktail of noteworthy hydrators like niacinamide, squalane, and panthenol, and they all work together to moisturize the skin without making it feel heavy or icky. Centella leaf water is also thrown into the mix to address irritation and redness. All you have to do is massage it into your skin in the morning or at night to feel its magic.
Lastly, if you notice that your skin feels drier due to age, climate, a compromised barrier or all of the above (if you just want your skin to look bouncier and plumper), a thicker cream will be your best bet. Our Black Rice Facial Oil has a silky texture that moisturizes and softens the skin using vitamin E and jojoba oil, but perhaps its best quality is that it doesn’t feel like a heavy oil when you apply it. Add a few drops of this to your favorite cream moisturizer on days when you feel like your skin needs a little extra umph.