WHAT IS A MOISTURIZER ?

    Moisturising is essential to every skincare regimen. Moisturizer are key to a hydrated and healthy skin, moisturizer have been formulated to help keep the skin hydrated and luck in moisture.

     No matter your skin type or skin condition moisturizer is key for every type. They important thing is to find the reason you need a moisturizer before going out to get one. Whether it’s your skin type finding the right moisturizer  with the right formula to settle the situation you have will help you see results faster. 

   WHAT IS A MOISTURIZER?

    In plain terms I will say moisturizer is a solution that gives your skin the necessary hydration and glow it needs while locking in water in the skin.

       BENEFIT OF MOISTURIZER 

DRYNESS,CRACKS AND FLAKINESS: Our skin own it's own can't create enough moisture and hydration. Moisturizer helps with dry skin as it helps hydrated, smooth and soft. With the right moisturizer even in the harsh weather it helps prevent alot of cracks and flakiness.

HELPS WITH INFLAMMATION: Moisturizer come in handy when your skin is inflamed you can easily use a moisturizer. They are some that are specially formulated with anti inflammatory properties which is beneficial for such problems.

A PERFECT MAKEUP BASE: It helps to keep your makeup in place for a long period time at same time reduce the risk of wrinkles and fine lines.

HELP AGAINST SUN BURN: Firstly this is cost effective as it is like killing two birds with one stone. Some moisturizers have been formulated with spf. So while keeping your skin moisturized and all it help keeps your skin safe from uv radiation.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MOISTURIZER 

    A well formulated moisturizer should have the following ingredients or properties to be called a moisturizer.

• Emollient.

• Humectant. 

• Occlusive.

• Emulsifier.

• Active ingredient Such as vitamins such as Vitamin A , Niacinamide and so on

You may  ask yourself what all these characteristics? And, What do they do?

EMOLLIENT: These are fatty acids that have lubricating properties that makes the skin feels softer and smoother. It reduces loss of moisture from the skin surface, it replenish missing Lipids. You might find emollient in the following oil such as

• Castro oil. 

• Rosehip oil.

• Hemp oil.

• Argan oil.

• Jojoba oil.

   There are a lot of emollient that are not listed.

HUMECTANT: This is said to draw moisture from the air into the skin in order words it keeps the skin hydrated and bind moisture into the skin a greater example are.

• Hyaluronic acid. 

• Glycerin. 

OCCLUSIVE: It helps to decrease the level of moisture loss by the skin such as 

• Petroleum jelly.

• Mineral oil.

EMULSIFIER: It holds water based and oil ingredients together such as the 

• Beeswax.

• Vegetable wax.

• Lecithin.

• Cholesterol and many more.

MOISTURIZER AND THE HAMATTAN

 Hamattan is a cool but yet very dry season that takes place in the west Africa region. Usually your skin tend to dry up faster and you will have chapped lips. In these periods a lot of moisturizing  is needed.

    Some people actually go ahead a mix their moisturizers with oil. But choosing the right oil is necessary to avoid skin irritation and reaction. 

    I personally go ahead and use my petroleum jelly  to  give my skin that extra glow in the harmattan period.

DOUBLE MOISTURIZING 

   I personally recommend moisturizing at least twice I day. Like wouldn’t you like your skin to glow but not greasy way, have a smooth. Carrying a moisturizer in your bag when you go out should be a habit and an effort you put in to loving your skin more.

  

TYPES OF MOISTURIZERS AND THE SKIN TYPE 

Moisturizers come in different forms  such as 

• Lotion.

• Creams.

• Gel.

• Serums.

EMULSION 

We can’t talk about the forms of moisturizer without talking about emulsion . You might as yourself what is emulsion. To answer that question. Emulsion is a situation where oil and water are mixed together . These formulations is done when creams and lotions are made so yeah. 

We have two types of emulsion which are

• The water in oil emulsion 

• The oil in water emulsion 

The water in oil emulsion is said to be the one used in making creams and the oil in water is said to be used in making 

LOTION: This can also be referred to as light weight and are best for people with oily  to acne prone skin. Lotion are light and translucent  they have high water content over oil. A good lotion ought to spread evenly and quickly. 

CREAMS: Thiese are thicker than  lotion and have more oil content than water these are great for people with dry to mature skin. Since creams  are heavier and have more fat , oil and wax they are more suitable for nightly use.

GEL: These have more water content than  lotions, they absorb quickly into the skin without clogging the pores. These are great  for oily to acne prone skin and even combination skin can use gels.

SERUMS: They are clear, thin and sometimes runny, Serum are formed with oil and water as they help with intensive moisturizing and are great for people with dry to normal skin.

     FACIAL OILS  AS A MOISTURIZER 

   We have talk about moisturizer, people have confused facial oil as a moisturizer but these is not true because facial oil are emollient and as we have seen emollient are characteristic of a moisturizer. 

    Don’t get it wrong facial oils are not the only emollient we see in our moisturizer. But if you are someone who like a little bit of oil in their moisturizer especially during the harmattan or winter period. Then finding a best facial oil is key ask your self what is it you are buying a facial oil for?

           TYPES OF FACIAL OILS 

• ESSENTIAL OIL: These are oily substances found in plants they come from a group of molecules called terpenes. Essential oils contain vitamins, antibiotics and so on. But it should be noted that essential should not be used directly on the skin they should be diluted in carrier oils. Examples of essential oils 

▪︎ Tea tree oil.

▪︎ Lavender.

▪︎ Lemon. 

▪︎ Rosemary.

          The list is endless most essential oil like the tea tree oil, lemon are good for people with acne prone skin.

• CARRIE OILS: This is a safe way of diluting essential oil. They are derived from nuts and seeds they are also known as based or fixed oil. Carrier oil help to reduce the harshness of essential oils to the skin. Examples of Carrier oils.

▪︎ Squalene.

▪︎ Argan.

▪︎ Hemp.

▪︎ Grape seed.

• SYNTHETIC OIL: These the oil that are produced in labs 

▪︎ Mineral oil.

▪︎ Petroleum jelly.

• TREATMENT OILS: This oil are a blend of both plant oils an active such as Retinol, vitamin C and so on it is advised that you use your treatment oils before applying your moisturizers.

• CLEANSING OILS: This is effective to get rid of makeup and sunscreen residues. They are a mixed with surfactant or emulisifer in their making.

 

All these are facial oil that can be used with your moisturizer but for best results use oil at night as in day  time they can interfere with your sunscreen. 

  With these I hope you have learnt one or maybe two about moisturizers and their many benefits. Leave a comment I would love to hear from you.

NOTE :  Don't forget these should not be taken as professional advice. To be safe visit your dermatologist for the best recommendations.

   Much love 😘