What is the difference between lotion and cream?

Many people have this question about lotion and cream products: what is the difference between the two products? There are various types of lotions and creams on the market, and we are also entangled when choosing: should we buy both lotions and creams?

Are lotions and creams essential skin care steps for us who are pursuing simple skin care? Is the lotion not essential for us? With these questions, today's article on the difference between lotion and cream will answer your questions.

Difference Between Lotion and Cream

1. Different texture

Essentially, there is no difference between lotion and cream. Their product systems are the same, and the main difference is reflected in the product texture.

Emulsion products usually have a strong moisturizing feeling and good product fluidity; cream products have a thicker texture and are easy to shape. Even if a cream with a light and thin gel texture, the fluidity of the product is not as good as that of the same type of lotion.

Many people have a misconception about lotions and creams: creams are more nourishing to the skin than lotions.

In fact, when the functional ingredients are the same and the formula system is the same, the efficacy of lotions and creams are comparable. It's just that the lotion and cream products we see on the market usually have less functional ingredients and nutrients than creams, and the price difference between the two products is relatively obvious.

It is worth mentioning that a new face has appeared in the skin care market recently: essence milk. Although the name is similar to the lotion, the essence milk still has its own characteristics. There are two types of essence milk products: lotion and essence.

Emulsion-type essence milk is equivalent to ordinary lotion-type products, and the product specifications are consistent with lotion; essence-type essence milk has a stronger moisturizing effect than common essence products, and the specifications are the same as those of essence products.

2. The use experience is different

Typically, lotions are lighter on the skin than creams. In particular, the comparison between the two types of products of the same brand and the same series is more obvious, which is the use characteristics of the two types of products currently on the market.

In fact, the lotion can also be moisturizing like a face cream.

Should lotion and cream be used together?

Since the essence of lotion and cream is the same, their skin care effect is actually the same, so there is no need to use them together.

Many people apply a layer of cream after the lotion because they feel that using the lotion alone is not enough to moisturise the skin, but after applying the lotion, an oil film has formed on the skin surface, and using the cream again will increase the burden on the skin.

Our skin's absorption capacity is limited, and the nutrients of skin care products cannot be absorbed, and they stay on the skin for a long time. On the one hand, the product is wasted.

If your skin still feels dry after using a lotion, you can choose to apply a moisturizing cream after the serum, or use an essential oil product before the lotion.

If the skin is not moisturised enough after applying the cream, you need to change the product and choose a cream with a higher oil content and a strong sense of sealing. It is not a reasonable skin care method to use lotions and creams on top of each other.

Lotion and Cream Product Usage

For these two products, how should we choose and use them?

Choose products according to the season

Lotions are usually light in texture and are more suitable for spring and summer than face creams. Some skin types still feel that they are not moisturizing enough after applying lotion in summer, so they can choose gel cream and gel cream products to enhance the moisturizing degree and make the skin feel more comfortable.

Choose products according to skin care time

The skin care products that the skin needs in the morning and evening will have different skin care effects. At night, the skin is "destroyed" by the external environment all day long. After removing makeup and cleansing the skin, the skin feels dry structure.

In the last step of skin care at night, using cream products can lock the nutrition of skin care products in the skin and help the skin to repair itself. Daytime skin care can ensure that the skin is moisturizing, and more emphasis is placed on anti-oxidation and sunscreen skin care. Under normal circumstances, you can use lotion products.

Choose products according to skin type

For oily skin, the skin itself secretes a lot of oil, and the skin itself is moisturizing enough. Daily use of lotion products can lock the nutrition of skin care products, and there is no need to emphasize the moisturizing feeling of the skin. For dry skin, dryness is a normalized manifestation of the skin. In addition, the skin barrier 

structure of dry skin is unstable, and a moist skin environment is needed to complete self-repair. So dry skin is more suitable for using cream products.

In addition, for men's skin care, it is more suitable to use lotion products. Men's skin care products are based on two types of water and emulsion, and hydration and moisturizing can be completed through the men's skin care set. Men’s skin usually has more active sebaceous glands. The texture of the lotion is light and thin, and it has strong ductility. After absorption, the oily film on the skin surface is weak. It is more suitable for men’s daily moisturizing care.

Through this article on the difference between lotion and cream, is everyone's understanding of the two products a lot clearer? I hope that it will be much easier for you to choose products in the future!