Skin Moisturizers

Moisturizers (also spelled as moisturisers) are used to limit moisture loss from our skin, particularly from the epidermis. While they do not reverse or undo the damage done by overexposure to the sun, they prevent further dryness to your skin. Most moisturizers in the market are made up of chemical ingredients; however there are naturally occurring moisturizers as well. Whether chemical or natural, moisturizers work by promoting hydration of the skin and locking the moisture onto the skin surface.

Aside from the above benefits, moisturizers may also improve one's skin quality, protect sensitive skin and hide minor facial flaws.

Risks of moisturizers

Moisturizers, like other commercially available cosmetics do have its own set of risks that consumers have to consider:

•  Safety of moisturizer components

There are substandard moisturizers manufactured by unknown producers that did no undergo safety testing. These moisturizers are often sold dirt cheap, usually in fly-by-night markets. These products were not tested safe for use and there's no guarantee that the manufacturers were accredited to produce products that are safe to be used on human skin. Moisturizers of this kind are inferior in quality; they may not give any beneficial result at all or worse, may cause damage to your skin.

•  Bacterial infection

Some commercial moisturizers include detergent and detergent-like agents that may remove the protective lining of the skin, thus making it at risk to infections. There are also those ingredients that can alter the natural flora of the skin, ruining the natural antibacterial property and making use prone to bacterial skin diseases later on.

•  Allergic reactions

Preservatives in moisturizers may cause allergic reactions in some users. One has to take note of the preserving agent used in these products. Another ingredient that can cause allergies is fragrance incorporated in most moisturizers.

There is a study on mice that led to the discovery that some moisturizers can actually increase the risk in having skin cancer. There were five popular moisturizers involved in the study and four of them were revealed to have caused skin cancer in the animal subjects. While this study was not done on human beings, still whatever these moisturizers did to the mice's skin may also apply on ours.

Picking a Suitable Skin Moisturizer

Getting the best moisturizer for you requires a bit of trial and error. Not all moisturizers work the same way on different people; hence you need to shop around until you find “The One.”

These are helpful tips on how to select the right moisturizer for you:

•  Know you skin type.

Do you have oily, sensitive or dry skin? Are you acne prone? Ask yourself these questions and you will narrow done the moisturizers that can work for you. There are moisturizers designed to work for dry skin, some are for oily and so on.

•  Choose a moisturizer that is appropriate for your own skin type.

There is not such thing as “one type fits all” kind of moisturizer. If your friend raves about a particular moisturizing cream, think twice before hitting the pharmacy to buy the same brand. If unsure, you might want to consult with a skin doctor first so they can recommend an appropriate moisturizer for you to try.

•  Look out for ingredients that can be harmful for your skin type and avoid moisturizers that contain them.

For instance, moisturizers containing rose hip oil may cause clogging of pores and are not recommended for acne prone skin. Likewise, fragrances may irritate sensitive skin so it is best for people with this skin type to choose unscented moisturizers.

It would also help to take note if there are ingredients in the moisturizer that can adversely interact with another skin product you are using. For acne prone individuals who use topical acne ointments, they should avoid moisturizers with exfoliants as this would cause further peeling and flaking or your skin.

•  Look for moisturizers with added benefits.

There are some moisturizers that offer SPF (Sun Protection Factor) as well. This would be helpful for those who are constantly outdoors and exposed to the sun. Instead of buying sunscreen and moisturizer separately, you can have the benefits of both with just one product.

Best Moisturizer For Oily Skin

Finding the best moisturizer for oily skin may not be an easy feat. Often, skin experts would have contradicting opinions on which ingredients to look for and avoid by people with oily skin.

Some of the ingredients “claimed” to best suit oily skin are the following:

•  Cynergy TK

Cynergy TK is a relatively new skin care product ingredient manufactured by Keratec, a company in New Zealand . This product was derived from sheep's wool. It was once regarded as the “wonder ingredient” in skin care products and caused quite a stir in the cosmetic industry worldwide.

This agent claims to add glow to the skin, reduce wrinkles and other signs of skin aging, makes the skin firmer---all these benefits on your skin while moisturizing it.

One sure good thing about Cynergy TK is that it is all-natural and with further tests and more clinical evidence to back up its developers' claims, it may be indeed the wonder ingredient that the skin experts were hoping for.

•  Jojoba Oil

This oil was extracted from the Jojoba plant and was first used by the Native Americans as an additive to their beverages. Eventually, they found various uses for this oil, including medical applications for treatment of sores and burns and as skin conditioner.

Eventually, skin care companies used jojoba oil as replacement for the banned sperm whale oil because of its similar properties suitable for skin product application. Nowadays, jojoba oil is widely used as a skin cleanser, moisturizer and treatment for acne as well as other skin problems.

Now, why use an “oil” product on oily skin? This may seem ridiculous at first but studies show that jojoba oil may reduce sticky buildup and remove excess sebum in the skin.

•  Babassu Wax

Babassu wax is another natural product like the previous two that we discussed. It is best used on oily skin since it is effective in removing dirt and moisturizing the skin without making it oily.

Best Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

People with sensitive skin should be extra critical in selecting skin care products to use. Effects of some agents on sensitive skin may range from rashes to sores or may even evolve to other skin diseases.

3 Secrets to finding the best moisturizer for sensitive skin

•  Chemicals - People with sensitive skin should avoid moisturizers with chemical ingredients like parabens, DEA, fragrances, mineral oils (paraffin wax and petrolatum) and detergent-like substances. These will most likely cause skin irritation and may damage the natural defense mechanism of the skin. It is best to stick with products with mostly natural ingredients. Look for moisturizers that use avocado oil, olive oil, shea butter and jojoba oil---these substances are known to moisturize the skin well without causing damage.

•  Light plant oils – As said earlier, natural oils like jojoba oil moisturize well without causing adverse effects on the skin. In fact, these natural oils were in use for cosmetic purposes long before chemical moisturizing agents were invented.

•  Special ingredients – There are newly discovered special additives to moisturizers like Cynergy TK and Phytessence Wakame. Cynergy TK has been discussed in this text earlier.

Phytessence Wakame is a form of seaweed and has been used as a moisturizer in Japan since ancient times. This ingredient is rich in nutrients like calcium and Vitamin B that are both known to benefit the skin well. The nutrients in phytessence wakame enable it to keep the skin hydrated and elastic as well as prevent inflammation---traits that an ideal moisturizer should have.