Look in nearly any medicine cabinet, and you’ll probably find some form of lotion, hand cream, face cream, or another moisturizer. But what exactly are moisturizers? Who needs them? What do they do? And how do you choose the right option for your skin?
The Three Basic Types of Moisturizer, Explained
Moisturizers fall into three primary classes: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. All three have different actions on the skin, and they work to soften, hydrate, and seal moisture into the skin.
This is why moisturizing products usually include a combination of ingredients rather than just one or two. What does each type of moisturizer do?
Humectants draw water into the outer layer of skin — which is the layer that gets dehydrated — from down in the deeper layers and even from the air. Humectants “plump up” the skin. Common humectants include:
- Propylene glycol
- Glycerin
- Lactic acid
- Urea
- Hyaluronic acid
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- Glycerol or sorbitol
Emollients work to fill in tiny spaces between skin cells and seal in moisture. Emollients help make skin appear smoother and keep it from drying out once it’s hydrated. Common emollients include:
- Vitamin E
- Jojoba, coconut, and other plant-based oils
- Lanolin
- Dimethicone
- Colloidal oatmeal
- Isopropyl palmitate
- Mineral oil
Occlusives are similar to emollients in that they seal moisture into the skin, but they are heavier and more suited to dry skin than to oily skin. Products containing occlusives are often intended for severely dry or damaged skin. Common occlusives include:
- Shea butter
- Petrolatum
- Beeswax
How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin
The best moisturizer depends on your skin type, skin condition, and what part of your body you what to treat. While moisturizers for the hands and body may have the same ingredients, moisturizers for your face may have a completely different formula than moisturizers intended for your feet.
It’s important to know what ingredients to look for when choosing a moisturizer. A good rule of thumb is to avoid moisturizers containing alcohol (you want to moisturize, not dry) and avoid fragrances if you have sensitive skin.
A good moisturizer will include not just humectants but, depending on the type of skin it’s intended for, also emollients, occlusives, or both, and be paraben-free.
- For dry skin: Dry skin craves hydration, so choose a formula heavy on the humectants. You’ll also want an emollient to keep hold of the moisture in your skin once it’s hydrated.
- Avoid products containing oils and fats. Choose products in gel or serum form instead. Look for moisturizers containing humectants and non-oil emollients such as dimethicone.
- For mature or aging skin: Mature skin has often been stripped of its protective lipids and will benefit from an emollient product. Choose a product containing shea butter, dimethicone, or petrolatum.
If you have “normal” skin, it’s a matter of personal taste which product to choose. And regardless of your primary skin type, it’s a good idea to have more than one type of moisturizer on hand so that your extremely dry heels and elbows don’t get the same treatment as your more-hydrated hands and face.
Shop Simply Medical today to find all the moisturizing products you need for any skin type.