Is Your Winter Moisturizer Doing Its Job?
Trying to age gracefully can be a challenge with cold temperatures, lack of the moisture in the air, and scarves wrapped around your face up to your eyes. The light flowy materials of summer maxi dresses and blouses are exchanged for heavier sweaters and socks with thicker textures and threads, and that richness should be reflected in your skin care regimen.
One of the key components of maintaining your glow-up during the colder climate includes maintaining hydrated skin with these essential ingredients that you should be looking for on your product packaging:
Humectants
Humectant agents attract water. When applied to the skin they draw moisture from the dermis (the second layer of skin) to hydrate the epidermis (the top most layer of skin). They can also draw moisture from the environment. They are important in both dry and oily skin types because they help to maintain this skin’s natural moisture balance.
Whenever the skin is extremely dry (during the winter season) it will try to make more sebum to compensate for the deficit in hydration. Humectants help to stop the skin from making excess sebum (oil production).
Great humectants that should be listed in your moisturizer include Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (lactic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid).
Glycerin is another great component that travel’s through the skin’s “water channels” to increase hydration within the cells.
Occlusive Agents
Occlusive agents are a class of ingredients that form a film on the exterior of the skin to avoid moisture loss. They work in conjunction with humectant ingredients and create a barrier to keep moisture within the skin.
Silicone (dimethicone and cyclomethicone) are a great type of occlusive because of their light feel and they are not prone to cause acne/pimples.
Ceramides
Ceramides are one of the components naturally incorporated of the top layer of skin. If your moisturizer is lacking in this product then you may be losing hydration from your skin surface resulting in drier skin.
CeraVe© Moisturizing Cream is packed with moisture-boosting ceramides as well as Hyaluronic Acid humectants
The bottom line is that your moisturizer should trap water in the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, make your complexion look brighter and younger, and keep the skin soft and smooth.
A united group of skin care specialists from Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Austin's leader in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery. Articles posted under WD staff are authored through combined contributions from our entire team, including Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Aestheticians, Physician Assistants, Aesthetic Nurses, and Patient Coordinators.
First comment of 2020! Great post, very helpful