In the skin care process, moisturizing and locking in moisture are two basic but extremely important steps to maintain smooth, vibrant skin. Understanding the concepts of moisturizing and locking in moisture will help you choose the right product, optimize skin care effectiveness and minimize problems of dryness, cracking or dehydration.

What is moisturizing?

Humectants, also known as humectants, are skin care ingredients that have the ability to absorb moisture from the environment and retain water on the skin’s surface, helping the skin stay smooth and soft. Common humectants such as Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Urea work strongly in conditions of high humidity (over 70%), helping the skin absorb and maintain natural moisture.

Moisturizing and locking in moisture helps keep skin hydrated and reduces wrinkles.

However, when the weather becomes cold and dry and the humidity decreases, moisturizing ingredients can accidentally dehydrate the skin. At this time, instead of taking water from the environment, these active ingredients begin to absorb water from the deep layers of the skin, leading to dry, tight skin, and can even cause peeling. This is one of the disadvantages of moisturizing ingredients, especially in dry climates.

Moisturizing products are often the ideal choice for all skin types, including sensitive skin and are especially suitable for oily skin. Oily skin often lacks water, causing the skin’s natural mechanism to secrete more oil to compensate for the lost moisture. Using products containing moisturizing ingredients helps to hydrate the skin, maintain balanced moisture and limit sebum secretion.

Some common moisturizing active ingredients in skin care products include: Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin (Glycerol), Lactic Acid; Mandelic Acid, Sorbitol, Honey, Urea, Sodium PCA,…

What is an occlusive?

Occlusives are ingredients commonly found in moisturizers, working with humectants to prevent the skin from losing water from the inside. Considered a protective layer, occlusives help prevent the evaporation of moisture on the skin, keeping the skin smooth and plump.

Using cosmetics to lock in moisture and hydrate the skin must be suitable for the skin condition to avoid irritation.

Occlusives act as a shield to protect the skin from external pollutants, such as cold winds, bacteria, pollen, and other irritants. It is often recommended to always use occlusives during the winter or when in cold, dry environments.

However, for oily skin, occlusive products can be a challenge. Because their texture is often thick and rich in nutrients, they can cause skin irritation, clog pores, leading to acne and oiliness. Therefore, those with oily skin should consider carefully when choosing products containing occlusive ingredients to avoid harming the skin.

Occlusive ingredients are often in the form of oils such as: Argan oil, avocado oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, shea butter, squalane, etc.

Recognizing dehydrated skin

To know if your skin needs to be hydrated and occlusive, you need to recognize what a dehydrated skin condition is. Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that occurs when the skin lacks water. It can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type. That is, people with oily or combination skin can still be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin often looks dull and can show signs of premature aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

Moisturizers are usually creams or oils that prevent water from evaporating from the skin’s surface.

A good way to tell if your skin is dehydrated is to pinch it. While this test is not definitive, it is a good way to start paying attention to your skin when it first starts to show signs of dehydration. Some signs that may be noticeable include: Dark circles under the eyes or fatigue, dull skin, increased sensitivity, and the appearance of wrinkles.

It is also important to distinguish between dehydrated and dry skin. In dehydrated skin, water is the main problem. Conversely, in dry skin, water is not the problem. Dry skin is a skin type, like oily or combination skin, where the skin lacks oil or lipids, making it drier and flaky. Signs to look for include: white flakes, redness or irritation, and susceptibility to psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis.

Choosing the right moisturizing and locking products

To choose the right moisturizing and locking cosmetics for your skin, you need to pay attention to the factors that help optimize the moisturizing effect without causing irritation or clogging pores. Although drinking enough water is the basic way to keep the skin hydrated from the inside, for those with dry skin, adding moisturizing products will help the skin quickly solve skin problems.

For dehydrated skin, providing water by drinking is a must because it will replenish water for the skin from the inside. You can also incorporate water-rich foods into your diet, such as watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers and celery.

Drinking enough water every day is also the best way to hydrate your skin.

When choosing to buy hydrating cosmetics, you should pay attention to the following factors:

• Product form: Hydrating products are often in the form of gel, emulsion, lotion/essence, which helps the skin absorb easily without causing a sticky feeling.
• Ingredients: Choose products containing natural moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, honey, AHA, urea, or seaweed extract.
• Suitable for all skin types: Natural and artificial moisturizing ingredients can dissolve in water, penetrate deep into the skin without clogging pores.
• Alcohol-free: To avoid drying or irritating the skin, choose alcohol-free hydrating cosmetics, which help keep the skin soft and smooth, without peeling.

For moisturizing products that can be flexibly adjusted according to the season and skin type:

• Hot season: You should prioritize choosing light gel moisturizers, or creams/lotions with a thin texture, which help the skin breathe while still maintaining the necessary moisture.
• Cold season: Use products containing ceramides, coconut oil, and shea butter to nourish the skin, protect against dehydration, and effectively prevent aging.

For acne-prone skin, prioritize light, oil-free lotion moisturizers to avoid clogging pores and reducing the risk of acne.

Choosing the right hydrating and moisturizing products will help you maintain smooth, healthy skin, regardless of weather conditions.

So through the above article, you have a clear understanding of hydrating and moisturizing in the skin care process. Hopefully it can be useful for you, helping you to always have healthy and beautiful skin.