Many people incorrectly assume that the majority of moisturisers presently on sale are basically the same. The same ingredients, mixed and blended in a similar way. The same thickness. The same consistency.
The truth is, these assumptions are not only incorrect, but they can also lead to unnecessary inconvenience and needless on-going dry skin problems.
Moisturisers differ a great deal from brand to brand, and for sound reasons. It is impossible to manufacture a moisturising product that is equally beneficial for all situations and all skin types. There is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to skin care and choosing a barrier cream for the hands.
People come in all shapes, sizes and ethnic origin. What may be appropriate for one person will certainly not be the most appropriate for someone else with a different background or genetic makeup.
Also, each one of us has our own unique set of circumstances and requires a different approach for their skin irritation treatment.
Working environments and circumstances will differ from individual to individual. Someone employed in an industrial complex with dusty, hot air will have very different skin moisturising needs to someone else who spends most of their working day out of doors tending to plants.
Even the changing weather conditions that naturally ebb and flow as the year progresses from spring to summer and then from autumn to winter will effect the efficacy of different moisturising products. A moisturiser that is appropriate for the Spring or Summer is unlikely to be the most effect moisturiser to use during the colder winter months.
When selecting to purchase a moisturising product you should understand that they are loosely segregated into 3 main groupings Namely, creams, lotions and the newer innovation of the mousse based products. So, what are the main differentiating factors that divide these groupings? Further, for each grouping, what are their main benefits and drawbacks?
Creams are usually petroleum jelly based.
The father, metaphorically speaking, of petroleum jelly, or Vaseline as it more commonly known, is the dregs of the oil industry. It derives directly from “rod wax”, a sticky waste product that has a tendency to collect around the head of the pump rods in traditional oil wells. This very same rod wax was the foundation of a barrier cream that was originally patented by chemist Robert Chesebrough in 1872. Indeed, at the time, Chesebrough claimed that his product was something of a wonder “cure all”, suggesting that it should be ingested regularly to ward off and protect against all kinds of bodily ailments. The name Vaseline was used because, during his experimentation with rod wax, Robert Chesebrough use to store the various formulations in common household vases. Hence “vase – line” – “elaion” being the Greek word for oil.
It is this petroleum jelly that makes most creams heavy and greasy. Whilst providing a thick coating for your skin, creams may be unsuitable, especially on the hands, as they can leave your skin slippery. Heavy moisturising creams also have the tendency to clog the pores or your skin. These characteristics also make the use of heavy moisturising creams inadvisable on any area of skin that displays symptoms of acne. Heavy creams used on the hands can also prove to be problematic if your occupation necessitates wearing gloves for prolonged periods.
Thick and greasy moisturising creams are often thought to be more suited to winter use when dry skin can be a major concern.
Lotions, on the other hand, consist of little or no petroleum jelly at all. For this reason they are generally not so heavy as creams and tend to spread more easier and are therefore easier to apply. The next ingredient, in terms of percentage content, will usually be a natural oil product. Sunflower or Olive oil are popular choices. Indeed, the use of Olive oil by civilised societies dates back at least 5,000 years. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used Olive oil in various ways to improve and enhance their skin.
Perhaps the main drawback of using a lotion is that, after applying, a feeling of stickiness often endures. The high oil content can be slow to dry and this leaves many people with an unpleasant slimy feeling. The relatively high oil content can also be problematical for people already blessed with a naturally oily skin.
Hence, moisturising lotions are generally regarded as more suited to use in the warmer months of the year and are a great help in combatting heal cracked fingers.
Mousse formulations are a relatively new development in the area of skin moisturisers. Many people hold the opinion that mousse based products have superseded traditional creams and lotions. It is true that mousse based products are very light and easier to apply than their cream and lotion counterparts. Resulting directly from this, mousse based products usually spread more smoothly and consistently over the epidermis. For this reason, a smaller quantity is needed per application. This results in your epidermis being able to breathe naturally and perspire normally. People with dry skin, or skin that is sore or chapped may also find that a mousse is less painful to apply as it does not need vigorous rubbing in.
On the negative side, most mousses come as aerosols which has traditionally received a bad press as they were linked to ozone destroying CFC chemicals – this, however, ceased to be a problem with technological advances that were implemented some ten years ago. Further, aerosols usually employ Butane as a delivery agent and this has been connected to the issue of teenage substance abuse.
Mousse barrier and moisturising brands are widely used by people as a year round solution to their dry skin problems.
Whichever moisturising product you eventually settle upon, never forget to apply it regularly. Your skin is yours for life, look after it and it will serve you well.