We definitely don’t lack skin care creams and lotions in the market. Point out a treatment, and you will see hundreds of skin care creams, lotions and other products for it.
As a result of ongoing research and due to ever increasing demand, the number of skin care products seems to be constantly raising. Skin care lotions and skin care creams are the most known forms in which these products are available, and there always seems to be a debate on which form is best?
Moisturizing
However, there is no final answer to this. It seems more like a matter of personal choice. On the other hand, greasy creams are surely less popular as compared to the non-greasy (or less greasy) ones. Since the application of skin care creams is easier, they seem to be preferred (over lotions) in the situations where the skin care product is not to be cleaned immediately after application. So, skin care creams are apparently more popular as moisturizers than as cleansers or toners.
Toning
For toners, lotions seem to be preferred over skin care creams. There are some skin care creams that can be used as toners too, but usually the toners are found in liquid form only. For cleansing, lotions and skin care creams are equally popular; however, the tilt seems more towards lotions.
Creams are best known to be most effective in keeping skin moist; which is why, the most popular form of skin care creams is moisturizers. For the same reason, a lot of people tend to connect skin care creams with dry and sensitive skin. Though it is true to a certain extent, skin care creams are not used only for dry skin, but also for making products for oily skin e. g. vitamin A creams and sulfur creams that help reduce the rate of sebum production.
Skin care creams are also used for products that cater to skin disorders especially for disorders that need the application of product over a small localized area. This is again due to the fact that skin care creams are easier to apply (without wastage) on the affected area. However, in cases where skin needs to be washed using a medicine/product, lotion is the best choice. Usually, the manufacturers too realize this fact, making it easier for you to choose between a lotion and a skin care cream.
Eye-creams and anti-aging face creams are other examples where skin care cream is preferred over its lotion counterpart.
No matter what your choice will be (cream or lotion), knowing how to use it effectively, is more important than anything else.