| Who would not want to have silky smooth and baby-soft skin? The way to attainment of such lovely skin is not arduous or impossible. All it takes is to keep your skin cared for as you would care for your baby—protection, nourishment and the right diet. Skin being one of the largest organs in the body, it also derives its nutrition from the mechanism of local absorption. Agents such as moisturizers then begin to be vital aspects of healthy skin care. | | What are moisturizers?
Moisturizers are complex mixtures made up of chemical agents and are specially designed to make the external layers of the skin softer and more resilient, by increasing its water content by replenishing moisture as well as reducing evaporation. Commercial skin moisturizers can comprise of humectants, natural oils, emollients, lubricants and other skin lipids and plant sterols. Although usually available commercially for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, they can even be prepared at home based on one’s knowledge about the ingredients and one’s skin. There are a host of common pharmacy ingredients that can be used to develop these moisturizers. |  | | How moisturizers act
Moisturizers work at multiple levels to provide soft skin. These include: - Treating dry skin.
- Preventing dry skin.
- Protecting sensitive skin.
- Improving skin tone and texture.
- Masking imperfections by replenishing fluid content of skin.
What moisturizers contain
The most basic ingredients of moisturizers are those that help moisturizers hold water in the outermost layer of skin. In addition, they act as a temporary barrier thus providing damaged skin Cells time to repair themselves. Most moisturizers contain some combination of humectants and emollients, as well as other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals. - Humectants: (e.g., urea, glycerin, alpha-hydroxy acids, lactic acid, others). These are substances that absorb water from the surrounding air and hold the moisture in the skin. Humectants need very high humidity levels to be effective. They are also useful in softening thickened or scaly skin.
- Emollients (e.g., butyl stearate, glycerin, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, etc.): These ingredients help replace lipids and thus smooth and lubricate rough skin. Emollients are either oil based, which means that a small amount of water is dissolved in oil, or water based, which means they are primarily water and are light and non-greasy. Oil-based creams leave a protective residue on the skin and tend to act longer than water-based creams do. Water-based creams are easier to apply and do not leave much of a residue and are better used in oily skin types.
- Fragrances: As with most other cosmetic products, moisturizers contain fragrances, which primarily cover up the smell of other ingredients and also give the cream or lotion a fresh odor. These fragrances are most likely to be the cause of skin irritations or contact allergies. Fragrances that commonly cause skin reactions include cinnamic alcohol, hydroxycitronella and isoeugenol.
- Preservatives: These are part of all products that contain water and oil as they help prevent bacterial contamination after the product is opened. These ingredients are also agents that can sometimes cause skin reactions. Preservatives that seem to have a predilection for causing problems include quaternium-15 and imidazolidinyl urea.
| | In addition to the above, moisturizers may include other ingredients as well. These include vitamins, minerals, plant extracts and sunscreens. Some moisturizers are specially designed to reduce stretch marks, smooth out wrinkles, unblock pores and to exfoliate dead skin Cells. |  | Risks of moisturizers
Although moisturizers seem straight forward products made with basic and derived chemical substances, recent studies have demonstrated that certain moisturizers are capable of inducing skin cancer. | | The incriminating ingredients in most common moisturizers have been identified as mineral oils and sodium laureth/lauryl sulphate, a known Carcinogen. Sensitivity or skin allergies to certain ingredients of the moisturizer can cause skin irritation and breakouts. In addition, moisturizers that come in jars are at increased risk of bacterial contamination introduced by the user’s hands. It is for this reason that most cosmeticians and dermatologists recommend that moisturizers be discarded after a specific duration of time. It is also ideal to use moisturizers that are dispensed from bottles with nozzles and prevent the contamination of the product within the bottle by the entry of external pathogens. |  | | The right moisturizer
Factors deciding which moisturizer is right for you include: - Your skin type.
- Your age.
- Your skin conditions and problems
Normal skin does not require intense moisturizing. A water-based moisturizer with a non-greasy feel containing light oils or silicone-derived ingredients should suffice.
Dry skin requires more intensive moisturizing and oil-based moisturizers work best for these skin types. The ingredients of such moisturizers work to keep skin moist and act longer to prevent moisture evaporation from the skin.
Oily skin, though having a surplus of oil, still needs moisture after cleansing routines that remove oils and moisture from the skin. Oil-free, water-based products that do not clog pores are ideal for moisturizing oily skin.
Sensitive skin is prone to skin irritation, redness and itching and requires a moisturizer that is free of potential allergens and is designed specifically for sensitive skin.
Mature skin tends to be drier and needs oil-based moisturizers that contain ingredients such as Alpha-hydroxy acids that help to hold moisture within the skin and also remove dead cells, thus preventing flaky or scaly skin.
| | Optimizing your moisturizer
Making the most of your moisturizing routine involves: - Getting a moisturizer that is right for your skin type.
- Not picking a moisturizer just on the basis of its cost; cost need not mean that the product is more effective.
- Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing and patting skin dry.
- Hands may need more frequent moisturizing as they tend to become drier because of frequent washing.
- Heavy oil-based moisturizers are best avoided for facial skin and are more suitable for the hands, feet and legs.
|  |
|