A good moisturizer is essential for healthy-looking, pleasant skin. If you have dry or oily skin, the appropriate moisturizer will seal in hydration and keep your skin supple and smooth without leaving it feeling greasy. A creamy moisturizer will relieve tight, parched skin on dry and sensitive skin; if your skin is normally oily, a light moisturizer will keep it fresh and balanced.

Dry skin develops when the skin does not retain enough moisture. This can be caused by excessive washing, the use of harsh soaps, age, or certain medical disorders. It can also be caused by cold, dry winter air in colder areas.

Hydration is essential for a healthy, glowing complexion, and there are several alternatives available, ranging from heavier creams and balms to lighter gels. Choosing the finest moisturizer may be a difficult undertaking due to the marketing hype around the newest breakthrough ingredients.

How does moisturizer works?

A moisturizer aim is to prevent water loss in our skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum, but it also helps to prevent environmental harm to your skin by acting as a protective barrier. Moisturizers improve skin hydration and increase stratum corneum water content by directly supplying water to the skin from their water phase and increasing occlusion to reduce trans-epidermal water loss. Moisturizers also cover small skin fissures, provide a soothing protective film, and protect skin from friction.

What are the ingredients that can moisturize your skin?

1. Humectants

Water-loving, or hydrophilic, chemicals that attract water are referred to as humectants. If the outside air is dry, they achieve this by pulling moisture from the air to the stratum corneum, or from deeper layers of the dermis if the outside air is wet. A humectant is a typical moisturizing component used in lotions, shampoos, and other hair and skin care products. They are well-known for their capacity to retain moisture while keeping the overall characteristics of the product.

2. Occlusives

Because occlusives contain big molecules, they reject water rather than attracting it. They, like emollients, will seal moisture into your skin where it belongs; however, occlusives are thicker and hence better for drier skins, whilst emollients work best for oily skin.

3. Emollients

To keep the two from separating, these products comprise oil, water, and an emulsifier. They are less heavy and less difficult to apply than petrolatum or oils. Many commercial moisturizers contain linoleic, linolenic, and lauric acids, which act as both an emollient and a humectant.