Published: October 30, 2025
It’s no secret that moisturizers are an essential part of skincare, no matter what your skin type may be. They help to boost long-term moisture retention, which every skin type benefits from. After all, moisture is needed by every single cell in your skin – the more moisture you have in there, the healthier your skin will feel.
Most people have a go-to moisturizer that they absolutely love…but what do you do if that trusted cream stops working? Whether you’re simply no longer seeing results or your moisturizer has suddenly turned against you and is causing irritation, dryness, oiliness, or any other skin problems that you don’t want to be dealing with, it’s a setback that can feel frustrating.
The first step to solving this problem is to figure out why your moisturizer isn’t working anymore. Keep reading as Bionyx talks through some of the most common reasons, along with pro advice on what you should be doing instead.
It’s Not Suitable for Your Skin Type
One of the most common reasons behind a moisturizer either not working or causing problems for the skin is that the moisturizer isn’t actually suitable for the skin type it’s being applied to. How does this relate to a moisturizer that you’ve been using for years without any issues? Your skin type can change throughout your life. If your skin type has recently undergone a change, your moisturizer may no longer be right for it.
This is why it’s always a good idea to regularly reassess your skin type. Start by cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser, like the Bionyx Rhodium Mousse Cleanser. Then, wait for 30 minutes before closely examining your bare skin to see which skin type it resembles the most:
- Oily skin – you’ll notice that your skin looks shiny and feels greasy. Your pores will also likely be quite large and obvious. Your skin type needs a lightweight moisturizer that isn’t going to clog pores; otherwise, your skin will end up greasier and more prone to breakouts.
- Dry skin – your skin will feel dry, tight, and uncomfortable. You’ll need a rich moisturizer with plenty of plant oils to prevent the dryness from worsening.
- Combination skin – with some parts of your face being oily and others being dry, moisturizing can be tricky. Find a formula that’s suitable for all skin types.
- Sensitive skin – your skin will look red, blotchy, or inflamed, feel irritated, and may also be quite dry. If your moisturizer isn’t gentle enough, you’ll be exposing your skin to even more irritants.
- Normal skin – this skin type doesn’t experience any of the above issues. However, if you use a moisturizer that’s designed for dry or oily skin, you could throw your skin off balance, causing the problems you’re so lucky to have avoided.
It’s Not Suitable for the Time of Year
If your moisturizer becoming less effective has coincided with a seasonal change, then this could be why your moisturizer is no longer working. Your skin’s needs change with the seasons, and it’s important for your moisturizer to adapt along with this.
With sebum production triggered by heat and humidity, your skin produces plenty of sebum during the warmer months of the year. This goes a long way in keeping your skin naturally moisturized, meaning that the moisturizer you use in the summer should be relatively lightweight.
In the winter, when sebum production slows down, you’ll need a richer moisturizer. A formula that contains plenty of plant oils and waxes, like the Bionyx Platinum Transformative Cream, is perfect for this time of year.
With fall and spring being very transitional seasons, you may need two different moisturizers for these times of year: one that’s fit for summery days and another that’s suited to a cold and dry climate. This way, you can really customize your skincare routine to the environment around you.
It’s Not Suitable for the Time of Day
Ideally, whenever you apply a moisturizer, it should be able to give your skin what it needs at that specific time. This means taking into account how those needs differ in the morning compared to at night…
The mornings see your skin go into defense mode (and yes, it knows the time of day – your skin has its own circadian rhythm) to prevent damage from the environmental impurities it’s going to encounter over the course of the day. While all of your moisturizers should be hydrating, a good day cream will contain plenty of antioxidants to keep your skin cells feeling supported while they defend against damage. A day cream should also be light, so as not to leave your skin feeling heavy during the day. The Bionyx Rhodium Essential Day Cream checks all of those boxes!
In the evenings, defense mode is turned off and repair mode is activated. This enables your skin to deal with any damage that has been inflicted. While this happens, skin barrier function slows down, meaning that your skin is more prone to moisture loss. This is why night creams should be richer than day creams. Like the Bionyx Rhodium Night Recovery Cream, they should also contain ingredients that leave your skin cells feeling fortified as they go about their reparative tasks.
You Haven’t Properly Cleansed Before Moisturizing
Cleansing at the start of your skincare routine is important for a few reasons. Not only does it prevent the dirt and pollutants on your skin’s surface from delving down and causing deeper damage, but it also makes it easier for your skin to absorb any other skincare products that you apply, including your moisturizer. Therefore, if your skin hasn’t been properly cleansed before you moisturize, your moisturizer won’t be able to do its job.
This could mean that it’s actually your cleanser that’s the problem, rather than your moisturizer. Consider switching to a different cleanser that better meets your skin’s needs.
Double cleansing can also help to provide a more thorough cleanse. Start by cleansing with an oil-based cleanser, and then cleanse once more with a water-based cleanser. This technique is a great way to really boost absorption.
You Haven’t Exfoliated in a While
As essential as daily cleansing may be, a cleanser only works to a certain depth. Most cleansers won’t be able to touch any blockages in the pores, which is why exfoliating is important too.
Even if you regularly cleanse your skin, failing to regularly exfoliate could prevent your moisturizer from absorbing into your skin. If you’re guilty of slacking off when it comes to exfoliation, start scheduling it into your weekly routine. Find an exfoliator that you love using – ideally, one that’s gentle enough not to irritate your skin, just like the Bionyx Rhodium Complex Facial Peeling.
Of course, over-exfoliation could also be a problem. It damages the skin barrier, which will make your skin more sensitive to your moisturizer. It also interferes with sebum production, which could affect your skin type and, again, how your moisturizer works. If this is the case, stop exfoliating for a while to give your skin some time to heal. Then, introduce it gradually back into your routine, making sure that you don’t exfoliate as often as you were.
You’re Using Too Many Skincare Products
Has pilling been an issue when you apply your moisturizer? Pilling is when a skincare product forms tiny balls on the surface of the skin, instead of absorbing and disappearing into the skin.
This can happen for a few different reasons. It could be that an oil-based and water-based product are repelling each other, or perhaps you’ve layered your skincare incorrectly. However, the most common reason that pilling occurs is when too many skincare products have been applied to the skin. This not only blocks your moisturizer from working properly, but it will also overload your skin barrier and cause a number of other problems.
The solution is to cut back your skincare routine. Try moisturizing after cleansing – chances are that you won’t have any pilling to deal with. Then, slowly add in more products. If you notice the pilling returning, then you’ll know which product was one too many.
You’re Applying Your Moisturizer to Dry Skin
While applying moisturizer to dry skin isn’t the end of the world, it’s not going to do much to encourage absorption. Your skin is most permeable when it’s wet, meaning that wet/damp skin will do a much better job of absorbing your moisturizer than dry skin.
This means, ideally, applying your moisturizer while your skin is still damp from the previous product that you’ve applied. Yes, you need to give that product time to absorb, but don’t wait so long that your skin completely dries out.
If you happen to get distracted and leave it too long, give your skin a spritz with a hydrating face mist or toner. This will dampen the surface enough for you to then follow up with your moisturizer.
You Aren’t Moisturizing Consistently Enough
Do you sometimes forget to carry out your skincare routine? Whether you’re short on time in the morning or too tired in the evening, a lack of consistency is an issue that many people share.
Unfortunately, many skincare products need consistency in order to actually work. Certain ingredients need to accumulate in the skin before they can take effect, which won’t happen if you regularly skip out on skincare.
If you want your moisturizer to do all that its packaging promises, you’ll need to do your part too by applying it daily without fail.
Summary
It can definitely be frustrating when your moisturizer stops working, but as you can see, there are plenty of possible reasons for this. Figure out which applies to you, put things right, and your skin will soon feel deeply moisturized once again.
Click here to pamper your skin with more bestselling products from Bionyx.