Moisturizer is one of the most important anti-aging treatments

First of all, you need to know that a moisturizer does not saturate the skin with water, but slows down the process of moisture loss. Water is produced in the deep layers of the skin, rises upward, thereby saturating all skin cells with moisture, and is lost due to evaporation. The more moisture there is in the epidermis, the more elastic the skin and less wrinkles.

Moisturizers need to work so that there is a complete relationship with the skin's own moisturizer, which is sebum, which supports the skin's protective barrier. It turns out that if our skin were absolutely healthy, then it would not need additional moisture, in other words, the skin is able to maintain water balance by itself. But, unfortunately, everything is not so simple, and we need to help her, but not by removing sebum through "deep" cleansing, but by proper care. And one of the ways of this care is moisturizing. After treating the skin with substances such as hyaluronic acid, the skin's ability to retain moisture is increased.

In order for the moisturizer to help you and to reduce wrinkles on your face, and the skin regains freshness and elasticity, it is useful to know what ingredients the purchased cream consists of and how they act on your skin.

A moisturizer should be composed of emollient and moisturizing ingredients, emulsifiers, absorption enhancers and active ingredients. Now let's consider what kind of substances are hidden under the listed names.

What are the ingredients in a moisturizer as emollients?

Emollients soften the skin, promote its regeneration and retain moisture in the epidermis. If you, using the cream, felt that your skin became smooth even after the first application, then this means that the softeners in it work conscientiously. They lubricate the skin, relieve dryness or tightness.

Lecithin is an excellent emollient, especially naturally derived from eggs or soybeans. Most vegetable oils do not moisturize the skin, or rather, do not directly provide moisture, they simply fill cracks in the upper stratum corneum and block moisture. Vegetable oils are classified as natural emollients. Such as olive oil, jojoba oil, castor or coconut, penetrate deeply into the skin and repair damage to it well.

A few words about a softener like Vaseline. It is a mineral oil that is often used in place of vegetable oils. It does not penetrate skin cracks, but forms a waterproof film, retaining moisture and all dirt on the skin, as well as bacteria, sweat, sebum and dead cells. Therefore, petroleum jelly is not the best remedy.

Let's move on to the moisturizing ingredients. These are, first of all, glycerin and sorbitol (sugar alcohol). What are their actions? They attract moisture from the air by combining with water molecules and release this moisture to the skin. This is why humidified air and walking in the rain are so important.

Emulsifiers. As you know, oil does not mix with water, but beeswax, when heated, turns oil and water into a homogeneous mixture. Natural emulsifiers contain lecithin, cococaprilate (from coconut), seaweed extract, vegetable waxes, cetearyl alcohol.

Absorption enhancers. It discusses how to improve the absorbency of the cream on the skin. Such enhancers, or absorption enhancers, are the same glycerin, water, essential oils, linoleic (rosehip oil), oleic and arachidonic acids. All of these ingredients improve the absorbency of the skin.

Active ingredients. In addition to maintaining the moisture balance of the skin, sunscreen components, antioxidants, antibacterial additives are added to moisturizers.Active ingredients are capable of much - they eliminate inflammation, prevent premature aging, and protect against ultraviolet radiation. They are - plant extracts of aloe or licorice, tea tree oil, green tea, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, various vitamins and minerals.

Some of them can perform several tasks at once - for example, zinc oxide, - it is sunscreen and at the same time eliminates inflammation and irritation on the skin. Many active ingredients enhance each other's actions, for example, vitamins C and E. Fruit acids are also used as active ingredients. But it must be remembered that it is better not to use moisturizers with fruit acids during the day, so that pigmentation does not occur in the sun due to their exposure.

Even if you have oily skin, you still need to use moisturizers, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink at least 2 liters of fluid a day. In summer, it is better not to use fatty nutrients, but to use moisturizing and light consistencies.

Eliminate from your diet foods that dehydrate the body - coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, and fatty and salty foods. The youthfulness of the skin depends on the amount of moisture. Without sufficient moisture, the active components of various cosmetics penetrate the skin with difficulty.