If you are an American
woman, chances are that you grew up watching your mama apply lotion to her face
and body, but if you hail from Europe or Asia, you are more likely to be
familiar with using oils to hydrate and nourish your skin.
There are many pros and
cons to using each of these, but the main physical difference between them
comes down to percentage of water content.
Lotions need water to
emulsify (combine oils and liquids that normally resist being mixed together) and generally require heat to bind the ingredients so that
they won’t separate. The downside of this process is that exposure to high
temperatures can destroy whatever therapeutic properties are contained within
the natural oils. Lotions are also looser in consistency, giving them a
lighter, less-greasy feel on the skin. If you tend to have an oily complexion
this may not be a concern, but a lighter weight also means that the lotion’s
moisturizing effects may not last very long.
If you have dry skin, live
in a cold or arid climate, or spend most of your time working indoors in an
artificially heated or air-conditioned office, you probably want to use a
moisturizer that will last all day. Creams tend to be thicker than lotions,
usually contain a higher percentage of oil, and their moisturizing effects last
longer. A cream that contains a well-balanced combination of carrier (oily) and
essential oils (dry oils) can not only moisturize skin and alleviate dry flaky
patches: it can also offer significant antioxidant and health benefits while
creating a gentle moisture barrier between your skin and the elements.
Whether you prefer to use a
lotion, cream or oil, another important consideration is permeability: whether
or not the moisturizer will just sit on top of the skin, or be easily absorbed
within a short period of time. In order for a moisturizing agent to do any
good, it must be able to penetrate the top layer of skin. Oils in general have
a good history of doing this but can be a bit too oily for some people’s
personal tastes. Lotions, on the other hand, usually won’t leave behind an oily
residue, but their moisturizing benefits seem to evaporate within ten to
fifteen minutes, leaving your skin as bone dry as it was before you applied the
lotion.
If you are concerned about
oils being comedogenic (causing acne or breakouts), you may be surprised to
learn that many natural oils can actually be helpful to acne prone skin and
will not cause clogged pores. It is the type of oil that determines the
likelihood of breaking out, so it is a good idea to read product labels very
carefully and research any ingredients that you are not familiar with. Even when
a product is labeled non-comedogenic, it is not a guarantee that it is free of all comedogenic ingredients. Retin-A
cream contains Isopropyl Myristate, a highly comedogenic and occlusive
substance, yet in spite of this, many dermatologists prescribe it for
acne-prone skin.
(By the way - if you tend
to break out on your neck and back, the true culprit might be residue from your
shampoo or conditioner. Make sure to rinse all hair products off your body to
reduce the likelihood of irritating skin and clogging your pores).
Ultimately, the best way to figure out
what will work for your individual needs is to buy small trial sizes or –
preferably – samples of the products you are considering. Be sure to use them
one at a time until you find the brand that suits you best. This method of
trial and error takes a little time and patience, but is the most sure-fire way
to discover which type of moisturizer and brand name will ultimately help
protect your skin and keep it young-looking and healthy. Looking beautiful
requires dedication and consistency, but when you consider that you have only one
body to last an entire lifetime, it is a labor of love that is well worth the
effort!
