What makes moisturizers moisturizing? (…say that 10 times!)

Moisturizers contain three categories of ingredients that work together to maintain your skin’s moisture level and prevent dryness: humectants, emollients, and occlusives.

Humectants are water-loving ingredients that extract water from the deeper layers of the skin up to the stratum corneum (which is the outer layer of the skin). Some popular humectants include glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Humectants are so important that your skin naturally makes them also. They are called natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) and some common types include amino acids, sugars, lactic acid and urea.

Emollients, such as oils, soften the skin by filling spaces between skin flakes to create a smooth surface.

Sebum is the skin’s own natural emollient! It is secreted by sebaceous glands to lubricate and waterproof the skin.

Water constantly evaporates from the deeper layers of the skin to the air. This process is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Occlusives form a protective barrier on the skin that prevents or slows down transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keeps moisture locked in.

The most effective moisturizers contain a perfect combination of humectants, emollients and occlusives!