Moisturizers

1. Water

Healthy skin is soft and pliable because of its water content. According to Harvard Medical School, the ideal water content is 20% to 35%—with 10% as the minimum. That level is maintained naturally by sebum. Sebum is a waxy compound produced by your sebaceous glands that lubricates, moisturizes and protects your skin and hair. 

Nevertheless, sebum can’t totally stop water from constantly evaporating from the deeper layers of the skin. For this reason, the first item on any moisturizer’s ingredients list is water. In fact, the optimal method to resupply skin’s moisture is to soak the affected body part in water, and then cover or wrap it with plastic wrap. However, that’s messy and inconvenient. A more efficient way is to just use a moisturizer that contains water.

2. Occlusives

An occlusive is a substance that blocks the evaporation of water. One of the most effective occlusive agents is petrolatum or petroleum jelly; your grandparents probably know it as Vaseline. The problem is the texture can feel unpleasant for many people, especially in hot or humid weather. Still, the best agents for retaining moisture usually have a greasy consistency, such as lanolin, paraffin and mineral oil.

To replace traditional occlusives, some skincare companies use silicones—synthetic polymers such as dimethicone and cyclomethicone—in their moisturizers. Such products are considered “oil-free” because they don’t contain animal, vegetable or mineral fats.

3. Humectants

The Indian Journal of Dermatology defines humectants as hygroscopic materials. They absorb water into surface skin from two sources: the air and the deeper layers of your skin. In low humidity, though, almost all of the moisture is being pulled from the dermis and not the surrounding air. That’s one good reason why you should always drink plenty of water, to hydrate your skin from the inside out.

Some examples of humectants are glycerin, panthenol, sorbitol and urea. One of the oldest natural humectants is honey. Nowadays, many “ultra-hydrating” skincare products also list hyaluronic acid or its more potent variant sodium hyaluronate as their main humectant.

4. Emollients

The main purpose of an emollient is to make the skin feel smooth by filling in the gaps between skin cells. They can be oil-based or water-based. Oil-based emollients feel heavier and could leave a residue on the skin. In contrast, water-based ones are less greasy and “disappear” into the skin.

It’s a popular belief that alcohol is drying, so you might be surprised to see it in a moisturizer. But, ta few types of alcohol have emollient properties, such as octyldodecanol. Other examples of emollients are dimethicone and lanolin which function as occlusives as well.

1. Normal Skin

All normal skin, which is neither oily nor dry, needs is proper maintenance of its natural moisture balance. A light water-based moisturizer works well, but you might need the additional hydration of an oil-based product in arid environments.

4. Combination Skin

Many people who believe their skin type is normal actually have combination skin. This is characterized by an oily T-zone (forehead, chine and nose) and dry cheeks. There are many products especially formulated for combi skin, but you should conduct some testing on your own to figure out which ones address your needs the best.

2. Dry Skin

Dry skin feels tight and looks dull. It tends to be itchy, flaky and rough. To replenish skin’s moisture, choose a product that is rich in humectants. For extra dry skin, an occlusive such as petrolatum provides longer-lasting benefits.

5. Sensitive Skin

For sensitive skin that is predisposed to irritation, pick a gentle moisturizer that’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. Also, anti-inflammtory ingredients such as chamomile and oatmeal soothe itchiness and calm down redness.

3. Oily Skin

If your skin is oily, then it’s also prone to acne breakouts. Excessive oil production could lead to blocked pores that result in whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Therefore, you should look for a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. Avoid using heavy ingredients like petroleum jelly or oils.

6. Mature Skin

The term “mature skin” refers to skin that has lost its luminosity and elasticity. This normally occurs due to metabolic changes as you get older, but a stressful lifestyle could cause it, too. In addition, taking medication, smoking, lack of sleep and an unhealthy diet all take their toll on the skin. An anti-aging moisturizer can correct some of the damage if it has retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids. Antioxidants could also help to slow down the onset of mature skin.