What Do The Ingredients in My Moisturizer Do For My Skin?

You couldn’t go a day without water to hydrate your body, so you should hold moisturizer for your skin in the same regard. Both provide hydration for your body and keep you healthy – just in different ways.  Not to mention, it just feels refreshing applying it after getting out of the shower!

Moisturizer Ingredients

Why you need hydration for your skin:

  • To make your skin look healthy – smoother, softer, fresher looking
  • To attract water to your skin cells
  • For your skin to function at peak performance
  • For smoother makeup application
  • To prevent wrinkles and/or slow down the wrinkling process

When you are searching for a moisturizer, the labels can be overwhelming.  Let’s help you get to the bottom of what the different ingredients actually do:

  • Occlusives (such as dimethicone, petrolatum, paraffin, and lanolin) – form a barrier on the epidermis. This prevents the loss of water when skin is exposed to wind or dry air.
  • Emollients – fill spaces between rough or peeling skin cells. This smooths the surface of the skin. Mineral oil, lanolin, and petrolatum are occlusive agents that also act as emollients.
  • Humectants (such as alpha hydroxy acids, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, sorbitol, urea, propylene glycol, and sugars) attract water into the skin cells. This causes the skin surface to plump up (temporarily), which makes it appear smoother.
  • Caffeine – perking and plumping benefits. It helps with circulation and is also a powerful antioxidant, with the ability to calm red or irritated skin from rosacea and sun damage.
  • Vitamin A – encourages healthy skin cell production. Retinol, retina,l and retinoic acid are important to the production and growth or cells. It also stimulates fibroblasts—the cells responsible for developing tissue that keeps skin firm and healthy.

  • Vitamin B5 – stabilizes the skin barrier function, reducing the amount of water lost through the skin. Increases the skin’s hydration and improves its softness and elasticity. Ideal for the dry, scaly or rough skin.
  • Vitamin C –Treats dryness, age spots, wrinkles, and redness. Makes skin feel more firm. Brightens and evens your skin tone. Protects skins and fights skin damage.
  • Vitamin E – Blocks free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the aging process. Reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots. Also known as a wound healer, protects skin, and fights skin damage.
  • PABA-Free SPF Sunscreens – help prevent premature lines and wrinkles by protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

So the moral of the story – moisturize every single day and protect your skin. No exceptions and no excuses! Be sure to read the ingredients before you buy.

Looking for high quality skincare? We carry some great product lines at our cosmetic and facial surgery clinic in Surrey. Call us for more information or come by to check them out yourself!

 

 

12 Tips to Protect Your Skin in the Fall & Winter

Many people think that when the season changes from summer to fall and then winter, your skin isn’t at risk like when it’s 20+ degrees outside. When it’s cloudy, raining, foggy, or snowing, the thought of putting sunscreen on can fall by the wayside.  The truth of the matter is that you don’t just need to use sunscreen when it is sunny – you need to use it year-round in all types of weather. It has to become part of your daily routine.  UV rays do not discriminate – they’re always there.  Read more about sunscreen on our blog: What You Need to Know About Sunscreen.

So now that you know all about sunscreen, we’re going to give you more great tips for keeping your skin feeling soft, glowing, and comfortable during the colder months.

Your skin may feel more dry because of less humidity in the air and also because of the heat in your home, which tends to strip the air of moisture. Excessively dry skin can end up cracking and bleeding. In addition to slathering on more moisturizer and lotion, however, there are other things you can do to prevent this from happening as well as stop it from chapping, itching, getting red.

  1. Moisturize immediately after you wash your face or get out of the shower or bath. This will help seal the dampness into your skin.
  2. Use lukewarm water to wash when possible (especially your hands and face) to help prevent the oils from being stripped from your skin.
  3. Protect exposed skin with scarves and mitts.
  4. Use moisturizer that is oil-based vs. water based to help retain moisture.
  5. If you have sensitive skin, it will be even more sensitive in the winter. Use mild cleansers and moisturizers. Avoid scented products, as they may end up irritating your skin.
  6. Exfoliate your face and body to ensure that dead skin is not blocking the moisturizer from getting absorbed.
  7. Use a toner and serum to seal in your moisturizer.
  8. Put on night cream before you go to bed.
  9. Use hydrating face masks – you can even make your own at home – Google for recipes!
  10. Invest in a humidifier for your home to put moisture back into the air.
  11. Eat foods high in water content, zinc, vitamin C, and omega-3’s.
  12. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You may be tempted to want to only consume hot drinks, but be sure to drink plenty of water.

Do you need a line of great skincare? We can help! We carry amazing products that can protect your skin all year round! Come visit us at New England Oral & Cosmetic Facial Surgery today!