When it comes to skincare, hydration is key to maintaining healthy and glowing skin. There are three main types of hydrators that are commonly used in skincare products: humectants, occlusives, and emollients.
You need a combination of these three types of moisturisers to help with; repairing and strengthening the skin barrier, increase water content in the skin, reduce water loss, and restore the lipid barrier.
However, each type plays a unique role in keeping the skin moisturised and nourished.
Humectants: Drawing Moisture into the Skin
Humectants are ingredients that attract water molecules from the environment and draw them into the skin. They draw water from the dermis (deeper layer of the skin), up to the epidermis (top layer of skin) where dehydration happens. Once the water has been attracted, humectants help to bind and retain this moisture within the epidermis, preventing and slowing water loss from the skin that leads to dehydration and impaired skin barrier function.
Common humectants include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, and hydroxy acids (including lactic acid, glycolic acid and gluconolactone).
These ingredients help to hydrate the skin by increasing its water content, making it look plump and healthy. This increase in water content helps to decrease the appearance of fine lines and improve skin barrier function. Humectants should be paired up with either emollients or occlusives to help them carry out their role.
Lucy Bee products that contain humectants:
- Reviving Cleansing Cream
- Exfoliating Tonic
- Radiance-Boosting Face Cream
- SPF 30 Face Serum
- Naturally Glowing Self-Tan Drops
- Vitamin C Illuminating Serum
- Vitamin A Anti-Ageing Eye Serum
- Hydrating Foam Face Wash
- Moringa & Pineapple Enzyme Face Mask
Emollients: Smoothing and Softening the Skin
Emollients are ingredients that help to soften and smooth the skin by filling in the gaps between skin cells, as well as replacing lipids, helping to create a barrier to lock in moisture. They stay on the surface of the skin and help to retain humectants.
Common emollients include squalane, jojoba oil, vitamin E, rosehip oil, olive oil, calendula and ceramides.
These ingredients improve the skin's texture and appearance, leaving it feeling soft, nourished and supple.
Lucy Bee products that contain emollients:
- Moringa & Pineapple Enzyme Face Mask
- Brilliant Balm
- Hydrating Foam Face Wash
- Reviving Cleansing Cream
- Radiance-Boosting Face Cream
- Exfoliating Tonic
- Vitamin A Anti-Ageing Eye Serum
Occlusives: Sealing in Moisture
Occlusives are ingredients that create a barrier on the skin's surface to prevent water loss and protect the skin. They help to seal moisture into the skin. Occlusives are heavier than emollients and are more suitable for dry skin, whereas emollients work well with oily skin.
While petrolatum/petroleum jelly are traditional occlusives, other effective occlusive ingredients include shea butter, cocoa butter, candelilla wax, other butters/waxes, beeswax and lanolin.
These ingredients help to seal in moisture and protect the skin from external environment including pollution. They are beneficial for those with dry, sensitive and damaged skin.
Lucy Bee products that contain occlusives:
- Reviving Cleansing Cream
- Radiance-Boosting Face Cream
- Brilliant Balm
Final Thoughts
How to layer these three types of moisturisers: You go from thinnest to thickest, humectants first, then emollients and finally occlusives.
You don't need to be using three different moisturisers to get the benefits of each one, typically most moisturisers use a combination of 2 or 3 of these types in them to keep your skin hydrated. By using products which use a combination of humectants, emollients and occlusives, it provides your skin with protection and nourishment. All three work together to create a balanced skincare routine for a healthier complexion.
