Hydrating and Moisturizing Ingredients List and Dictionary

There are several categories of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients found in moisturizers. There is not one best moisturizing ingredient in face and body creams. The best moisturizers have a combination of several types of moisturizing ingredients.

Different types of moisturizers contain various combinations of ingredients from these categories. The best moisturizing ingredients for you depends upon your Baumann Skin Type, so take the skin type quiz before buying any moisturizers so you know what ingredients to look for on the products moisturizing ingredients list.

There are 5 main categories of moisturizing ingredients. The best moisturizers include a combination of ingredients from different categories.

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are best at hydrating your skin quickly, but results are short-term.

For longer-term results, you need moisturizing ingredients that will repair the skin barrier.

The best moisturizing ingredients for you depend on your Baumann Skin Type. Take the quiz for personalized recommendations.

List of Moisturizing Ingredient Categories

These are the five main categories of moisturizing ingredients:

Emollients

Humectants

Occlusives

Oils

Fatty acids

emollient ingredients

Emollient Moisturizing Ingredients

Emollient moisturizing ingredients coat the skin’s surface. This has several benefits:

Smooth skin

Make skin radiant

Allow skin to reflect light

Coat and hide fine lines and wrinkles

Think of emollients as a Snap Chat filter for your skin- making it look better temporarily.

Emollients can have a dual function and also be humectants and occlusives.

What are humectants

Humectant Moisturizing Ingredients

Humectant moisturizers pull water into themselves. If you are in a humid climate this will have several effects:

The area will swell

Fine lines will improve

Skin will get a dewy appearance

Shiny glass- like skin may result

In a dry climate, humectants can pull water from skin and dehydrate it. Combining the moisturizer with occlusive moisturizing ingredients will solve this issue.

occlusive moisturizing ingredients

Occlusive Moisturizing Ingredients

Occlusive moisturizing ingredients form a protective layer on the skin’s surface. These are usually made of:

Oils

Fats

Fatty acids

Fatty alcohols

Butters

Wax

Petrolatum

Silicone pads, plastic wrap and wound dressings can also provide occlusion and skin protection. Essential oils are not considered occlusives.

Natural Moisturizing Factor

Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) is a crucial element that regulates the hydration of our skin by providing moisturizing ingredients inside skin cells.

NMF is made up of a mixture of low molecular weight and water-soluble substances derived from a protein called filaggrin, which is found inside our keratinocyte skin cells. Filaggrin plays an interesting role in maintaining the skin’s barrier function and hydration. In the lower layers of the skin, it serves a structural purpose, but as it moves higher up, it breaks down into amino acids and is known as NMF.

Natural Moisturizing factor is made up of these amino acids:

Histidine

Glutamine

Arginine

All of these amino acids have hygroscopic properties, meaning they attract and bind water effectively. (They are humectants.) Through specific chemical transformations, these amino acids give rise to compounds such as trans-urocanic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and citrulline, which collectively form the NMF.

Can Natural Moisturizing Factor Be in Skin Care Products?

Despite efforts by researchers, it has been challenging to replicate the exact composition of the NMF found naturally in our skin. The NMF’s unique ability to adapt to different environments and its individual variation among people make it difficult to replicate in a skincare product. Nevertheless, the amino acids from which it is derived continue to be used in moisturizers to provide effective hydration for the skin.

While the NMF itself is not found in most moisturizing skin care products, the amino acids derived from filaggrin, such as histidine, glutamine, and arginine, are commonly used ingredients. These amino acids act as humectants, helping the skin retain moisture and remain hydrated.

How to Find NMF on Product Labels

NMF itself is not found in products, but the components it is made of can be. Look for these moisturizing ingredients on product labels:

Pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA)

Urea

Lactate

Histidine

Glutamine

Arginine

The best moisturizing ingredients

What Is the Best Moisturizing Ingredient?

Glycerin is the best moisturizing ingredient to moisturize the skin quickly. Hyaluronic acid is the second best to give fast but temporary results. These are both humectant ingredients. They do not repair the skin barrier and they do not give long-term results. Results may only last one day.

What Is the Most Hydrating Ingredient for the Skin?

Water is the most hydrating ingredient for skin. However, water tends to evaporate off of the skin, so it needs to be combined with humectants to hold it on the skin’s surface, and occlusives to keep it from evaporating away.

Oils are also wonderful hydrating ingredients for the skin. Some oils hydrate better than others. However, using too many occlusive ingredients such as oils and petrolatum can clog pores. Beware of moisturizing ingredients that are comedogenic if you have acne-prone skin.

oils as moisturizing ingredients

Natural Moisturizing Ingredients

Many moisturizers like propylene glycol are chemicals made in the lab. But there are many good natural hydrating ingredient options. The fastest way to hydrate skin naturally is with glycerin, but oils are a natural way to deliver hydrating fatty acids to the skin.

Which natural moisturizing ingredients are best depends upon your skin type. Some skin types need saturated fatty acids, while others need unsaturated fatty acids. Some skin types will prefer light humectant moisturizers, while very dry skin types will prefer greasy oils.

When looking for the best natural oils in moisturizers, remember that essential oils are not good moisturizing ingredients.

What Is an Example of a Moisturizing Ingredient?

Ingredients that you can look for on a skin care product label that are moisturizing include:

Argan oil

Cocoa butter

Evening primrose oil

Glycerin

Glyceryl stearate

Grape seed oil

Hyaluronic acid

Macadamia oil

Shea butter

Squalane

Sunflower oil

There are many more moisturizing ingredients. Learn how to find the best moisturizer for your skin here.

Take the quiz and we will give you examples of skin care brands with the best moisturizing ingredients.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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