One of the first aspects you will need to consider when buying a face care cream – and any other skin care product, for that matter – is its compatibility with your skin type. Then, you will need to factor in things like your skin's needs, your expected goals, the reputation of the manufacturer, and finally yet importantly, cost.
Among the thousands of types of skin care cream lines available in the market these days, you can consider yourself lucky if you stumble across more than a dozen products that match your needs perfectly. When shopping for a skin care face product, keep in mind that the size of the price tag isn't necessarily a relevant indicator of the benefits of using that product.
Although manufacturers in the cosmetic industry want you to believe that products in a higher price range are by inherence superior to cheaper alternatives, sometimes those overly priced fancy products can't even guarantee quality, let alone positive results. In light of that, avoid going for the first "brand" product you see on the counters and focus more on the ingredients specified on the label.
The skin care cream that you choose should contain more of the "right" ingredients, and less of those known to irritate the skin (preservatives, fragrances, dyes, and so on). For instance, if you are prone to breakouts, rashes and sunburn, you will need to use a mild product, preferably entirely organic. In addition, you might want to choose products containing plant extracts with a soothing action, such as aloe and chamomile.
Going back to your skin type, remember to select products based on the level of dryness or oiliness of your skin. For dry skin, it is advisable to use a thick cream that will help nourish the skin and restore its moisture. Key ingredients to look for are olive oil, jojoba oil, and/ or Vitamin E. For oily skin, you will need a lighter cream that will help control the amount of oil that your skin produces, while still providing it vital moisturizing ingredients. If your skin is more on the oily side, try using a skin care cream containing tea tree oil.
Many people have combination skin, which means they have both dry patches and oily patches, while others have skin that is neither dry nor oily. Plenty of creams specifically address one of these two categories, and include the specification "for combination skin" and "for normal and/or balanced skin", respectively.
Apart from addressing sensitivity and the overall level of oiliness within the skin, some skin care products specifically target certain skin conditions. Some creams, for instance, be they dermatological or cosmetic products, are formulated for people who are fighting acne. Other creams are aimed at fading wrinkles or at reducing the appearance of age spots. Along with other proven active ingredients, powerful natural antioxidants (like Vitamin C, for instance) are commonly found in skin care products addressing hyperpigmentation, superficial scars, or marks caused by minor blemishes.