It has been a very hard thing to do. Find a day moisturizer that does the following: smells good, feels good, or looks good. There are so many options out there, but it’s hard to know which ones are best for you.
Most people will opt for a moisturizer when they are experiencing dry skin. That’s understandable. After all, your skin is dry. But when your skin is too dry, the wrong moisturizer could have the reverse effects than what you’re looking for.
What should you look for in a moisturizer?
The first thing to look at is the ingredient list. There should be a moisturizing ingredient in the first Glycerin-based lotion. The next thing to look at is how the product actually feels. The best moisturizers slip into your skin without leaving a greasy feeling. They should absorb quickly, but not indefinitely. Finally, the best moisturizers should have a fragrance profile that isn’t too strong. You want people to think, “Wow, I’m wearing a really great moisturizer.”
Glycerin
Glycerin is great for attracting moisture to the skin, and preventing too much of the escaping of water. It tends to rival lotions for moisture content, and is a little less greasy.
Many moisturizers contain an alcohol base. The more alcohol this base contains, the more it tends to dry out the skin. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to avoid alcohol bases altogether.
Alcohol tends to remove the water that’s necessary to help repair the skin. Instead of getting the water that moisturizes your skin, you’re left with dry skin. That’s why lowering the temperature in your home or office can help. Lowering the temperature will help the water to penetrate your skin more quickly.
Sodium Palmate
Sodium Palmate is chemically similar to glycerin, but it’s too alkaline. It’s used because it’s really effective at attracting and holding water to the skin. However, it should never be used for deep conditioning.
Too alkaline, on the other hand, will cause an unnatural dullness. It can also be described as having a slight vinegar smell.
Silicones
When you hear the word silicone, what comes to mind? likely it’s those plastic surgeries from your childhood. But, silicone is actually a strong moisturizer. It’s used in “l Cognores” and “solid moisturizers” (solid being a stoveplug-sized cake of translucent silicone). It tends to weigh down fine hair, giving it a shucky appearance. However, silicones should be used sparingly.
Silicones are good for use as analdehyde absorber in nail treatments, bathroom cleaners, and car parts. It is also toxic to breathe in air. If you want to rid your body of it, look for a sulfate-free formula.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a powerful detergent and emulsifier used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, and toothpastes. It and other surfactants are used in engine degreasers, car washes, and garage floor cleaners. The reason sodium lauryl sulfate is used is because it is both inexpensive and very effective.
SLS and its close derivatives are only safe in a gentle shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. Hair SLS, SAG, and SLES are harmful and are always a sign of present day salon products. If you want hair that will make SAG’s and SLS’ look shiny, comb through tangled hair first before shampooing and rinse with cool water.
You can become aware of products that contain SLS by watching for the sodium lauryl sulfate ingredient. On product labels, sodium lauryl sulfate is listed under various names. Sometimes it will be listed simply as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. Because these detergents are so powerful, shampoos and other products that contain them are often almost impossible to rinse out. They are then absorbed by the scalp and hair follicles and hair becomes stained.
You can sometimes try to avoid shampoo by using shampoos made from sulfate-free natural products. In this case, you should see that shampoo only lists the SLS- shampoo with -1 or -2. But beware, there is no such thing as an SLS-free shampoo. SLS- shampoo and SAG- shampoo are both extremely harsh. What’s worse, they are all around us, every time you wash your hair! They are not the shampoo that your grand mom used.
