Moisturizers are products meant to add moisture to the skin. This explains why they are often recommended as an essential component in addressing skin dryness. Moisturizers work to keep the skin barrier intact in addition to improving the texture and appearance of healthy skin. A moisturizer can achieve all these skin benefits by not only adding water to the skin but also by preventing water loss through the skin and preserving existing water stores.
With so many different types of moisturizers to choose from, it can be helpful to understand their key differences when trying to make an informed decision in choosing the right one. Although it may seem overwhelming to walk down drugstore aisles filled with several moisturizing products to choose from, there are three general types of moisturizing ingredients to look out for.

Depending on the product formulation, these are:

  1. Emollients
  2. Humectants
  3. Occlusives

Emollients fill in any small cracks present in the skin that can soothe and soften skin to result in an overall smoother appearance. They are useful when dealing with dry, cracked and rough skin. Ingredients that are common emollients are collagen, elastin, glycerin, and shea butter.

Humectants work by drawing water into your skin to increase existing water stores. They are best for use in dry skin but are often avoided in fissured skin. Examples of such ingredients include glycerine, hyaluronic acid, urea, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and salicylic acid.

Occlusives form a protecting layer over the skin to help prevent water loss. Moisturizing products high in occlusive ingredients can be used to retain skin moisture and avoid losing its hydrating benefits. Ingredients that work as occlusives are petrolatum, dimethicone, mineral oil, coconut oil and lanolin.

Choosing the right moisturizer will mean finding the one with ingredients that are most suitable for your unique skin needs. A dermatologist can help provide personalized product recommendations after thoroughly evaluating your skin characteristics. Below are examples of some general recommendations:

  • Oily or acne-prone skin: Oil-free hydrating moisturizers that are non-comedogenic such as gels contain water in addition to humectants like hyaluronic acid. These water-based gel moisturizers can draw moisture in without bringing excess oil.
  • Normal/combination skin: Moisturizing products such as lotions with more occlusive ingredients.
  • Dry skin: Moisturizing products like creams containing both humectants and occlusives. In thicker skin areas with more scale, products such as ointments with more occlusive ingredients are a preferred choice.

The next time you find yourself choosing between different moisturizers, remember that the right one will have a formulation based on a balance of ingredients that work in different ways to achieve your desired skin results.