Moisturisers - what are they, how do they work and why do you need them?

By Dr Dirk Kremer.

As we go about our day-to-day lives, our skin can become dry, which can lead to spots, blemishes and even scars if the dryness is serious. Dry skin is an extremely common problem, but thankfully, moisturising your skin as part of your daily skin care routine can help prevent skin dryness and leave your skin looking fresh and vibrant.

What are moisturisers?

Moisturisers are oleaginous substances that are applied to the skin on a daily basis either at night or early morning, or both depending on how much your skin needs. It’s important to remember that everyone is different and so your skin routine will be unique to you. By applying moisturisers, you are replacing your natural skin oils and covering any blemishes, leaving a smooth, fresh looking appearance; you are also adding a protective film to your skin. Moisturisers help decrease the rate at which your skin loses its hydration, helping to reduce the appearance of dry, flaky skin.

The most common type of moisturiser is hyaluronic acid, this is because it’s a natural compound found throughout the body, and therefore one of the most effective natural moisturisers.

How do moisturisers work?

All moisturisers contain humectants, emollients, and occlusive agents, which are vital to skin health, and moisturisers work by reducing the rate at which your skin loses water. However, they also work by repairing the skin barrier, increasing the water content of the skin, and restoring the lipid barrier’s ability to attract, redistribute and hold water.

Our skin is made up of three distinct layers, the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (second layer) and the subcutaneous fat layer (third layer), and water in our skin comes from the deeper epidermal layers and gradually moves upward to hydrate our skin, before eventually evaporating. It has been known for many years that water content is crucial for skin plasticity and the prevention of dry skin.

Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in most moisturisers as it works by absorbing water from the air and uses this to protect the skin, this also helps our skin naturally repair and regenerate damaged cells.

If you are suffering from dry skin, this is because your skin cells are being shed too quickly because they are being removed as clumps rather than individually. By repeatedly moisturising your skin, you are increasing your skin’s water content and helping to normalise the rate at which you shed skin cells. This two-pronged approach will help you tackle skin dryness quickly and effectively.

Why should you moisturise?

If you want to ensure your skin remains healthy and good looking, you should make sure that you moisturise every day, either at night or in the morning. It’s not enough to moisturise once a week, as that won’t tackle the problem of dry skin. By moisturising, you are adding vital hydration to your skin that not only helps your skin look fresh, but has huge anti-ageing benefits in the long run. In fact, a study by the British Journal of Dermatology found that people who moisturised their skin on a regular basis were found to develop wrinkles at a lower rate compared to those people who didn’t moisturise regularly. Moisturising isn’t just for women either, it has been proven that men show signs of ageing more than women, so it’s vital they moisturise their skin too.

Here at SkinDoc formula, I am proud of my Aqualuron moisturiser. It combines a low molecular weight and high molecular weight of Hyaluronic Acid in one powerful formula.

Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid penetrates the epidermal layer of the skin and seeps into a deeper region, supplementing the water loss and helping restore the skin’s natural cell regenerative qualities at root level.

High Molecular Hyaluronic Acid works on the epidermal level, offering a more substantial protective benefit, hydrating and healing the skin’s protective barrier. The result is a smoother surface and softer feel, giving you a more youthful complexion and healthier appearance.

A moisturiser should be applied twice daily.

You can also combine my Aqualuron with my Nightshift Reloader for even better results.

Apply my Nightshift Reloader every evening to help hydrate your skin while you sleep. The Nightshift Reloader also stimulates new cell growth, while improving skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Here at SkinDoc formula, we offer a range of skin care products, including everything from moisturisers to anti-pigmentation products and anti-wrinkle creams and serums. To find out more about each product, please browse through our shop, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or need any assistance.