Moisturiser

What is a moisturiser?

No matter if you have oily, dry, normal or combination skin your skin needs moisturiser.

There are three main types of moisturisers formulations:

Humectant
These compounds work to attract water from the dermis and rehydrate the epidermis. In environments with humidity higher than 70% they can also attract water from the environment to rehydrate the skin.

Emollient
Work to fill the crevices between exfoliating skin cells. They traditionally contain fatty ingredients to provide a protective blanket over the skin.

Occlusive Agent
An occlusive agent acts to prevent evaporation and water loss by the skin. To do so it forms a hydrophobic barrier. Occlusive agents are often very greasy and less favourable when applied to the skin.

A moisturiser should be applied accordingly to your skin type and condition. If you are a little drier your skin might suck in the moisturiser versus someone who is an oily skin type may only require a pea-sized amount.

What to avoid when choosing a moisturiser?

• Colouring and perfumes: these can contribute to irritation
• Antimicrobials: unnecessary additions of anti-microbials can strip the skin from naturally occurring oils and can be too harsh for the skin.
• Body moisturiser: tend to be more occlusive and can cause a breakout or flare of acne symptoms.
• Acid overload: using too many products which contain acids can lead to skin irritation and excessive dryness.
• Alcohol: can have a drying effect on the skin.