How and why do we care for the skin with creams?
Most skin and beauty products aren't really necessary, but moisturizers don't belong in that group.
If you are confused about how and where to start with your routine, you can always rely on three steps that you absolutely need in your care for healthy skin:
1. Cleansing 2. Hydration 3. Sun protection
Hydration with creams and lotions is something that every skin type requires for a healthy and functional barrier. As the largest organ, in addition to protecting against external influences, bacteria, toxins, it regulates body temperature, the deepest layers store water and fat, produce hormones and vitamin D, and in case of injury, it regenerates and the list goes on.
The skin renews itself, skin cells die and new ones are created. If we did not apply the cream, we would risk dry and scaly skin, and the consequences of that would be:
- accentuated wrinkles and the appearance of new ones
- greater tendency to inflammation and redness
- loss of elasticity
- increased irritation after using active ingredients
- excessively dry skin or excessive production of sebum and acne (depending on the type)
When we don't hydrate the skin with creams and lotions, we allow water to evaporate from it. In addition, creams and lotions provide care to our skin in addition to hydration by nourishing it with added vitamins, antioxidants and soothing ingredients.
Our favorite creams and lotions will primarily contain basic moisturizers: humectants, emollients and occlusives.
We mentioned humectants in the last blog about dehydrated skin and emphasized why they are key in products. They will bind to water - not just water on our skin but have the ability to draw moisture from the environment. It is easiest to describe them as water magnets . These are the ingredients that will retain and preserve moisture so that it does not evaporate, and apart from the fact that we love them in skin care, they are also necessary in hair care, especially if you have dehydrated hair or wavy and curly hair that is prone to it.
The most common examples of such ingredients are : glycerin, aloe vera, honey, propylene glycol, panthenol
Emollients are ingredients that will soften and smooth your skin. They often have 'occlusive' properties and are used as both. These are mainly ingredients such as vegetable butters and oils that naturally have nourishing properties and vitamin E , and due to their fatty acids, they make the skin soft. Products with higher percentages of emollients are ideal for dry skin or a damaged skin barrier and are recommended for conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.
Favorite examples : shea and cocoa butter, squalane, wild rose or rosehip oil, macadamia oil
Occlusives are found in products or can be 100% product themselves. Their task is to "lock" moisture on our surface. As separate ingredients, they are sometimes unpleasant to use because they are hard to spread, waxy and do not absorb completely into the skin. They actually sit on the skin and form a physical layer and barrier through which water will not evaporate. As independent products, they can be used for the so-called the slugging method if you suffer from very dry skin, so you apply, for example, vaseline or oils to certain parts of the skin after moisturizing to ensure the necessary hydration of the skin.
The most popular examples are : mineral oils, rice and beeswax, silicones such as dimethicone
The skin, as our protective and largest organ, has a much greater influence on our body than we think. A recent study from 2019 showed that skin hydration can have an impact on inflammation, i.e. inflammatory processes in the body that are linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer. Although the study was the first of its kind and on a small number of elderly volunteers with only one emollient, the scientists concluded that skin hydration reduced the mediators of inflammatory diseases. In mice, it was shown that a disturbed pH value in older skin can cause inflammatory skin processes and increase the number of cytokines or inflammatory markers. Also, the same changes in the blood can occur in autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis.
Remember that the skin of the body is just as important. Just like the sensitive and thin skin of the lips, which relies exclusively on our creams and balms for hydration because it lacks sebaceous glands for natural hydration. Basic skin hydration is a priority when it comes to skin health.
Let skin oiling be an opportunity for a light massage and stimulation of circulation, and thus a brighter appearance.
You can find moisturizing creams , balms and lotions for face, lip, body and hand care in the Melli shop in the Natureli line!
Fragrant greeting,
Andrea