How does Moisturiser Work?

After seeing so so many beauty blogs reviewing so many different kinds of moisturiser, I couldn’t help but wonder how does moisturiser work?

Those of you who have followed this blog for some time know that I love doing kind of sciencey-things-made-fun posts. If you have any ideas for posts, please let me know in the comments!!

As for moisturizer, it’s one of the few beauty products I use. Moisturiser and eyeliner is pretty much my whole morning routine.

But I have to say, from what I’ve experienced with the different moisturizers I’ve been trying, I haven’t been left disappointed. My friends had been telling me for ages to try some of the many different skincare products from somewhere like dr aspect because apparently, they do wonders for your skin (as well as making you look younger in the process), so though I don’t do much when it concerns my skincare, this is something that I will definitely be carrying on with.

So, how does it work?

WHAT

Your skin has three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and a layer of fat. The top layer, the epidermis is usually made of 15% water and when it falls to around 10%, your skin starts to feel dry.

We all know what that feels like yucky.

Drying out sometimes happens when you use strong soaps that reach down deep and clean out stuff. That’s a good thing but they sometimes take too much water and good oil with them, leaving skin dry.

Drying out can also happen when your skin sheds cells too quickly and in white flakes.

This is when the question of how does moisturizer work comes in.

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HOW

Moisturiser is basically drops of oil suspended in water and held together with stabilizers (doesn’t that make it sound cool?!). It both restores oil and water in the skin and also helps regulate cell turnover (that’s why its important to keep using moisturiser). Even people with oily skin should moisturize. With there being products like bee naturals oil free moisturizer, there shouldn’t be any excuses as to why some people do not incorporate moisturizer within their skincare routine.

Now-a-days, a bunch of other things are often added to moisturisers. From anti-oxidants for anti-aging to UV-protection, the moisturiser has started doing so much more than just, well, moisturizing.

There are generally three things in moisturisers that all work in different ways.

Humectants absorb moisture from the air and hold it (sounds like sorcery right?!).

Emollients fill the spaces between cells to smooth skin.

Preservatives, well, preserve the moisturiser.

It’s pretty easy to find a moisturiser for just about anything. Depending on the additives, they can be used for:

+ anti-ageing
+ sun protection
+ evening skin tone
+ clearing acne & blemishes
+ foundation (gotta love a good BB or CC cream)
+ making skin look less shiny

… and oodles of others along with combinations of all the above.

So clearly, how moisturiser works isn’t a simple answer but it’s definitely still one of my favourite products.

What’s your favourite? What science-y post do you want to see?