Looking for a mid-summer project? Why not take some time to review your skin care products? Let’s start with an essential one for us here in the desert: moisturizer.

Moisturizing your skin is not just about slathering on skin care products. Just like you read labels before buying any food products for healthy eating, knowing what skin care ingredients do is essential  for skin health. Depending on the ingredients, different products accomplish different tasks. Some hydrate, some facilitate cell turnover, others encourage collagen production. Knowing how skin care ingredients work will help you choose the moisturizer that is right for your skin.

Humectants

If your skin is perpetually dry, try humectants. They draw water to the skin, acting like water magnets. Look for ingredients like lactic acid, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid, urea and sorbitol. These ingredients typically draw water from the deeper epidermal layers and move it up to the upper epidermal layer, thereby hydrating the visible skin cells.

Emollients

Has your skin lost its elasticity? That may be due to spaces in between skin cells created by various culprits such as harsh weather conditions, sun exposure, pollutants in the air, or the natural aging process. Emollients act to fill up the spaces to smooth skin out. If your skin needs some plumping up, look for lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, fatty acids and ceramides.

Protein Rejuvenators

Under the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) is the dermis, which comprises mainly collagen and elastin fibers. Made of skin proteins, they provide structural support and elasticity to the skin. It’s here that wrinkles start. To reduce wrinkles and sagging skin, look for collagen and elastin boosters such as copper peptides, vitamin C, rose hip oil, hyaluronic acid and retin-A.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants exist plentifully in colorful fruits and vegetables and are well-known for reducing damaging free radicals. When antioxidants are used in skin care, they help to prevent cellular damage to the skin. Research showed that antioxidants work on different levels, from protecting the skin from sun damage and skin cancer to reversing skin discoloration to preventing wrinkles. Examples include vitamin C, vitamin E, B vitamins, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, retinoic acid and flavonoids found in green tea and chocolates.

Contact us today for a skin analysis to determine the kind of moisturizers that work best for your skin type.

www.privyskincare.com

702.496.2066