7 Reasons For Moisturizers To Be Your Friend

Moisturizer! Moisturizer! Moisturizer! The first skin product to be applied on skin when we suffer from dryness. A moisturizer is a cosmetic product that lubricates the skin. It keeps the skin hydrated. The human body needs water and water constantly evaporates from the body. Water loss from deeper layers of the skin and this process is known as trans-epidermal water loss. When there is water loss from the skin, the skin becomes dry. Retaining water and keeping the skin hydrated improves the skin’s quality of life.

Types Of Moisturizers

There are different types of moisturizers available in the market to serve different skin needs and Petrolatum being the most effective one. It is less popular in the market because of its oily texture. Understanding and choosing the right moisturizer that suits our skin is a crucial point to decide on. There are 3 common types of moisturizers 

1. Humectants 

They are usually in gel form. Its main function is to retain moisture in the inner layers of the skin as well. As they maintain moisture levels, improves the skin texture by smoothing the rough patches. 

2. Emollients 

These are designed to soften and smoothen the skin texture by filling in the cracks formed in between the skin cells. These act like a barrier over the skin surface and retain moisture and protect against environmental invaders. It reduces dryness, flakiness and improves overall skin appearance. 

3. Occlusives 

These act as a physical barrier on the skin’s surface and prevent water loss and thus protect the skin from external aggressors. It locks the moisturizer and keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dryness for longer time. As the moisturizer is locked it accelerates the healing process of damaged and irritated skin, repairs and rejuvenates.

How To Choose Moisturizer

Choosing the moisturizer is a bit confusing and challenging. We must choose the moisturizer depending on our skin type whether it’s dry, oily, normal or sensitive. As the skin type decides the change of ingredients to keep the skin hydrated. Also depending on season, the type of moisturizer varies as the skin must combat with dryness or coldness.

Humectants

Humectants have the capability to moisturize the skin by drawing moisture from the surrounding environment into deeper skin layers. Humectants are used in conjunction with emollients and occlusives to get the maximum benefit from them. Humectants usually attract moisture from surroundings, while emollients have the capability to soften and smoothen the skin, and occlusives create a barrier to avoid loss of moisture from skin surface. Ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, urea, aloe vera, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids are used to maximize hydration. Regular usage helps to smoothen the skin surface, removes dullness and generates a brighter, more radiant complexion.

Emollients

Emollients restore cracks in skin barriers, and they help smooth and soften the skin. With these qualities they are important to moisturize normal, dry and combination skin types. They provide a lubricating effect by minimizing the water loss from the skin and keeping it hydrated. These are useful for almost all skin types with a caution on naturally oil skin type.

Occlusives

Occlusives form a protective layer on skin’s surface by forming a protective layer. It minimizes moisturize loss and protects from external irritants like wind, cold, pollen. Shea butter and petrolatum are common occlusives. As they are thick, very suitable for dry, dehydrated skin tones and used mostly in winter seasons as skincare routine. Because of thick texture and strong protection layer, it is less suitable for oily skin as it clogs pores and leads to acne. We must incorporate moisturizer into their skin care routine to make the skin hydrated and healthy look.

7 Reasons For Moisturizer To Be Your Best Friend

Boosts Hydration

The main purpose of moisturizer is to keep the skin hydrated. Hydrated skin looks plumpy and maintains skin moisture and comfort.

Barrier For Skin Protection

Moisturizer protects skin and acts as a natural barrier. It repairs damaged skin, allows skin to heal itself and replenishes the skin.

Improves Skin Texture

When moisturizer is applied to skin regularly, it removes the skin’s rough patches and improves skin texture. It gives a smooth complexion.

Prevents Dryness

During the winter seasons, our skin becomes parched and looks dull. Using moisturizer makes the skin hydrated and avoids dryness.

Reduces Fine Lines & Wrinkles

As keeping the skin hydrated makes it plumpy, anti-aging problems like fine lines and wrinkles tend to reduce and finally fade away. Thus, keeping the skin moisturized makes it healthy.

Comfort & Relief

Moisturizer relieves the skin from dryness, irritation, tightness and skin feels pampered with hydration. It comforts and relieves the skin from dead skin cells.

Balanced Oil Production

For oily skin, using apt moisturizer helps the skin to balance the oil production. When we balance the oil secretion, we can avoid clogging the pores and acne problems. Adding moisturizers to everyday skin care routine solves multiple skin concerns.

When To Apply Moisturizer

The foremost time to apply Moisturizer is immediately after bathing, shaving and exfoliation. Using a moisturizer immediately after shower must be prioritized as using hot water for shower strips away oils and moisture from the skin leaving the skin parched. Applying a moisturizer after shower relaxes the skin. Moisturizer in general must be applied in the morning after shower and before bedtime. It must be applied more frequency when skin feels irritated or dried as well.

Conclusion

Moisturizer must be applied on the face and sensitive parts like ears, neck and chest as well as these sensitive parts also get exposed to sun and shed the moisture. Massaging with proper moisturizer will improve the blood circulation and in turn improves new cell generation. Daily moisturizing reduces skin blemishes. Consuming more water every day adds moisture to the skin as skin receives moisture from our body as well. Using mild soaps and shampoos will not stripe off the skin’s moisture and natural oils. Lips must also be hydrated, using lip balms will keep the lips hydrated and avoid chapped lips.