A day cream is a light layer of care that softens and hydrates your skin during the day and gives it a pleasant feel. You choose the right day cream by your skin type and by its ingredients, not by its packaging. You will find our full range in the day creams category, for example Štefka or Vráskožrút, and our Advisor can help you choose.
What does a day cream do and what can you expect from it?
A day cream is the first layer your skin feels during the day, which is why it matters that it feels pleasant. It replenishes moisture, leaves a delicate film on the skin that makes it feel softer and smoother, and creates a smooth base for make-up. Do not expect a miracle from it or a change in your skin type; it is regular care that shows mainly in how your skin feels and looks. It is usually lighter than a night cream, so that your skin does not sweat under it and so that it holds well under make-up. If you are interested in how day and night care complement each other, read our article Day and night face creams work best together. What matters is choosing thoughtfully and not being tempted by big promises on the packaging.
How to choose a day cream by skin type
Skin is not the same for everyone, and the same cream will not suit everyone. Drier skin will welcome a richer texture with vegetable oil, combination to oilier skin will appreciate a lighter emulsion, and sensitive skin often tolerates a shorter ingredient list without added fragrance better. To make choosing easier, we have put together a table of a few day creams from our range, each according to the ingredients listed on its product page. It is not a rule, just inspiration you can start from when thinking about what your skin needs today. Skin changes with the seasons and with how you feel, so it is perfectly fine to choose a lighter texture in summer and a richer one in winter. Your choice is not a decision for life.
| What your skin likes | What to look for in the ingredients | Example from our range |
|---|---|---|
| Drier skin, a richer feel | vegetable oil, silk amino acids, hyaluronic acid | Štefka: sunflower oil, linden extract, silk amino acids, hyaluronic acid, acmella |
| Sensitive skin, a cream without added fragrance | shorter ingredient list, rose water, squalane | Vráskožrút: rose water, sunflower oil, squalane, hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10 |
| Combination to oilier skin | lighter oil, niacinamide | Štramanda: rosehip oil, niacinamide, rosehip extract, hyaluronic acid |
| More mature skin, a radiant look | argan oil, pearl powder, hyaluronic acid | Kleopatra: argan oil, pearl powder, hyaluronic acid, acmella |
For each of these creams you will also find the full ingredient list on the product page, which is worth reading. Notice, for example, that Štramanda is built on rosehip oil from Rosa moschata and extract of Rosa canina, while Vráskožrút has no added fragrance, although rose water naturally contains fragrance substances, which are listed on the label. This way you can choose a cream that suits your skin, rather than going only by the name or the picture. If you are unsure, you can first try small samples of day creams and calmly find out at home which texture and scent you like. Skin gets used to things gradually, so give it time and notice how it feels after a new product.
What to look for in the ingredients of a day cream
On the label, ingredients are listed in order from the one with the largest share to the smallest, so it is especially worth reading the beginning of the list. In most day creams you will find water or rose water in first place, then a vegetable oil and an emulsifier that brings them together into a soft cream. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are used in cosmetics for a feeling of moisture. Ingredients such as niacinamide, bakuchiol, a vitamin C derivative or astaxanthin are of interest if you want a cream with a particular content, for example Magic Nature. Fragrance substances such as limonene, linalool or geraniol are marked directly in the ingredient list, so you can find them easily. If your skin is sensitive, try a new cream on a small area first and give it time.
How to use a day cream
A day cream is applied as the last step of your morning routine, after cleansing and any toner or serum. Use it according to the instructions on the label and do not overdo it; your skin asks for gentleness, not quantity. A morning ritual can look like this:
- First gently cleanse your skin and pat it dry with a towel without rubbing.
- If you use a toner or serum, let them absorb briefly.
- Apply a small amount of day cream and spread it with gentle upward movements.
- Do not forget your neck and décolleté, which need the same attention as your face.
- Let the cream absorb for a moment before you go on with your make-up.
Just as important as the application itself is how you feel while doing it. You do not need to rush in the morning; treat yourself to a few calm breaths, the scent of the cream and the touch of your own hands. A small moment of slowing down like this gives the day a good start. Always introduce a new cream gradually and do not try to change your whole routine at once; your skin needs time to get used to a new product. If something does not suit you, leave it out and go back to what you know. A simple rule helps too: one new product, one observation. If after a few days you notice that your skin feels comfortable, you can add another step. If not, you know exactly which product to change and you do not have to guess.
The most common mistakes when choosing
The most common mistake is choosing by packaging, price or a friend's recommendation, forgetting that every skin is different. The second mistake is buying a cream with lots of new ingredients at once, which makes it impossible to tell what actually suits you. It helps to add one product at a time and notice how you feel. The third mistake is expecting a lot from a day cream all at once: hydration, tone and a base for make-up. A good day cream should be pleasant, suitable for your skin type and easy to understand in its ingredients, and it is best when you enjoy applying it every morning. An overview of scientific studies on moisturising creams can be found, for example, through a search for studies on skin hydration (source: PubMed database).
Did you know…
On a cosmetics label, ingredients are listed in order from the one with the largest share to the smallest.