Over the past few years, the most common word we hear when it comes to skincare products is “natural”, but what does that actually mean?! Well, besides being a little better than the mass-produced types of products, natural ones are all about being as pure as possible. This means that no chemicals or fillers should be during the production process and the ingredient list should be as short as possible with the main ingredients being botanically-based.
That clarification aside, according to dermatologists and cosmeticians, incorporating a natural body moisturizer into your skincare regimen is a must for having a hydrated skin that is well-protected from different harmful elements. Except for the usual weather elements like sun and wind, there are some other elements like soap, hot showers, indoor heating, etc., that can literally exhaust the skin, leaving it dry and damaged. So, instead of making a mistake by investing in a chemically treated and mass-produced body moisturizer that can do more harm than good, you can opt for a natural body moisturizer and have a peace of mind.
Generally, they can be divided into two categories, humectant and occlusive moisturizers. Body milks, lotions and creams fall into the humectant category. They contain water and a small quantity of oil and their purpose is to provide immediate hydration. Butters and ointments are the types of products that fall into the occlusive category. The main ingredient in these is oil and their main purpose is to retain water in the skin.
The best way to figure out which type of natural moisturizer you need is by choosing the one for your skin type, because then and only then you will be able to “feed” your skin the right way. Normal skin, for example, needs a moisturizer that can maintain the skin’s natural hydration. Dry and sensitive skin requires moisturizers that can hydrate, repair and soothe the tight and itching skin, while combination to oily skin needs well-balanced hydration and for this type you can alternate between different types of products, depending on the area and current skin condition. The main thing to remember is that humectants are great for dry and combination to oily skin since oily skin is usually just dehydrated skin, much like dry skin, the difference being that it communicates that by overproducing oils. Normal skin, on the other hand is better off with a product that falls in the occlusive category.
Whether you opt for a body butter, a cream or a lotion, what matters is to choose a moisturizer with natural and quality ingredients. According to specialists, if going for butters, oils and ointments you should look for shea butter, mineral oils, beeswax, lanolin and petroleum jelly. Creams, lotions and body milks, on the other hand, should contain urea, vitamin E, glycerine, hyaluronic acid, honey, Aloe Vera, shea butter, cocoa butter and mango oil. Once you choose the right one, it is recommended to use the moisturizer on clean and dry skin, once or twice a day to nourish the skin properly.