Paulo Coelho
Before I get into what is a good moisturizer, I need to answer the question of why moisturize. Moisturizers seal moisture into skin. Hydrating the skin is important because as we age, our skin loses its ability to maintain moisture and elasticity of our youth. Using a good moisturizer will help correct many environmental issues and even some self inflicted skin issues.
A good skin regiment including a good moisturizer can overcome poor skin function. For example, say you feel that you have oily skin. Why is it oily? Are the sebaceous glands overproducing oil? Do you have acne or is your skin scaly and dry? Maybe you are using a harsh cleanser and not a moisturizer or maybe your moisturizer is full of ingredients that you are allergic to or are not useful to your skin type.
Your moisturizer should be formulated for your skin type and your skin's needs. My goal is to educate you on the ingredients used in skin care. I will not touch on artificial chemical compounds as I do not use these. We follow ancient beauty recipes that have been time tested for thousands of years. Listed below are some of those ingredients, I will talk about other ingredients in future blogs.
Let’s get started dissecting the ingredients in a great moisturizer…
Oils...there are numerous oils that have healing benefits for skin. I will concentrate on the oils that are used in the products we create at Gifts From the Earth. We research oils that offer the highest health benefits to the skin.
Grapeseed oil: A light weight, fast absorbing oil that is rich in vitamins, minerals and linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that helps to maintain the health of cell membranes, improve nutrient use, and establish and control cellular metabolism.
Jojoba oil: Not actually an oil but a liquid wax and has absorption properties that are similar to our skins own sebum which makes it highly penetrating. It contains myristic acid which is anti-inflammatory and good for sensitive skin and is also an extremely efficient non-comedogenic moisture regulator, penetrating the skin to moisturize without blocking the pores.
Extra Virgin Olive oil: EVOO is high in oleic acid and is therefore a good skin cell regenerator. Olive oil attracts external moisture to the skin and still allows normal functions of the skin to take place (sweating, shedding of dead skin and releasing sebum). EVOO is a very stable oil. In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.
Evening Primrose Oil: Evening primrose is high in gamma-linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid) making it an exceptional skin nourishing oil. The human body does not produce essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids. It, therefore, is important to get these nutrients through diet and topical application. Essential fatty acids inhibit bacterial growth and allow our systems to defend against infection and inflammation. Evening primrose oil is highly recommended for dry skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.
Cocoa Butter: Cocoa Butter contains natural antioxidants. It is naturally rich in Vitamin E as well as a number of other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin E helps to soothe, hydrate, and balance the skin and also provides the skin collagen which assists with wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Cocoa Butter also contains cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP), a substance that inhibits the production of the immuno globulin IgE. IgE is known to aggravate symptoms of both dermatitis and asthma. For centuries pregnant women have used to Cocoa Butter formulations to prevent and treat stretch marks, but this pleasant-smelling substance is added to countless other topical preparations. Lotions and oils containing Cocoa Butter are often used in aromatherapy massage to promote relaxation and the feeling well-being. Research indicates that massaging the skin with Cocoa Butter may help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and even prevent cancer. This is because Cocoa Butter, like chocolate, contains a lot of CMP and there is some evidence that the CMP in Cocoa Butter may also help prevent heart disease and ease arthritic symptoms. Cocoa Butter is mainly used is a thickening agent and is a common ingredient in lipsticks, soaps and emollient creams. It is reported to be antiseptic and diuretic. Cocoa Butter is a superb moisturizer which slows down moisture loss. It is known for its hydrating effects, is gentle on the skin and has a pleasing aroma. Cocoa Butter is excellent when used on dry skin or on wrinkles.
Beeswax: Beeswax works well in cosmetic products because of the “wax esthers” that exist in both beeswax and human skin and it is these compounds which help to bind and emulsify ointments, lipsticks and lotions. As a natural hydrating ingredient that increases essential moisture in skin, it is commonly found in hand and body creams that help retain natural skin moisture and in the relief of itching from sensitive skin. Beeswax has an irritation potential of zero, and a comedogenicity rating of 0 - 2, which means that when formulated and used correctly in cosmetic formulations, beeswax will not cause a problem or clog the pores, but brings a host of very positive attributes, such as general healing and softening, as an antiseptic, and an emollient to cosmetic products. Even after processing, it still remains a biologically active product, retaining some anti-bacterial properties and also contains some vitamin A, which is necessary for normal cell development.
Essential oils: An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word "oil" are not really oily-feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color.
Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.
The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin.
Vibrational essences: Vibrational essences, can come in the form of flower essences which are vibrationally infused flower remedies made from living, organic, wild crafted flowers. Gemstone elixirs are infused with the unique vibrations of specially selected, therapeutic quality, spherical gemstones. Are in a base of activated healing waters gathered from sacred sites around the world. These miraculous essences carry what is known as an "energetic signature" or vibration of the flower or gemstone which can positively influence and balance the body and energetic field when you use them.
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