What do moisturizers do for your skin

Food and Drug Administration has found evidence that parabens in skin care products cause cancer [source: National Cancer Institute ]. Many people with oily skin avoid using moisturizers because they think it'll just make their skin oilier. However, the oil on your skin seals in moisture -- it doesn't replace the moisture you lose, especially as you age [source: Bouchez ]. In addition, many people with oily skin also have acne -- which occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog pores -- and acne treatments can often dry out skin [source: WebMD ].

If you want to maintain a clear complexion and keep your skin moisturized, use an oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizer [source: WebMD ]. Noncomedogenic moisturizers won't clog your pores and are less likely to cause acne breakouts than regular moisturizers. Their name comes from the word "comedones. When comedones become inflamed, they can turn pink or red and fill with pus -- these are the pimples normally associated with acne.

Noncomedogenic moisturizers may also be called nonacnegenic moisturizers, especially if they're specifically designed to treat acne [source: SkinCareGuide. Noncomedogenic moisturizers have a lighter feel than regular moisturizers, and many are oil-free, so they won't leave additional oil on your skin.

Most labels will advertise if a moisturizer is noncomedogenic or oil-free. If you have acne, doctors recommend using all noncomedogenic products, including moisturizers, cleansers, shampoo, makeup and sunscreen. Moisturizers help keep skin smooth and healthy, but they also provide protection from harmful irritants in the environment.

Read on to learn how moisturizers protect your skin. Whiteheads are hair follicles that have become clogged with oil and dead skin cells -- they're covered by a thin layer of skin, which gives them their white appearance. Blackheads, on the other hand, are impacted pores in which material pushes out through the follicles -- the bacteria's reaction to oxygen causes the black color [source: WebMD ]. In a way, all moisturizers work to protect your skin: They add moisture to the stratum corneum, and they form a thin barrier designed to retain that moisture.

Still, there are some moisturizers that are more effective at creating that protective barrier. As the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum protects your skin from irritants such as chemicals, free radicals and the sun's ultraviolet rays. This part of your skin works hard to protect you, and using a protective moisturizer can help keep your stratum corneum healthy [source: Elias ]. Protective moisturizers often contain occlusive emollients, antioxidants and sunscreens.

Occlusive emollients are ingredients that add a layer of oil to the top of the stratum corneum to prevent water loss and protect skin [source: New Zealand Dermatological Society ]. Antioxidants fight free radicals, the unstable molecules that occur from sun exposure and pollution that can destroy skin's collagen [source: Bouchez ]. Protective moisturizers typically contain sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 to protect skin from the sun's UV rays [source: Clark ].

These rays can cause sunburn, wrinkles and skin cancer. Subscriber Account active since. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and the first line of defense against harmful microbes, pollution, and UV rays.

That's when you're most likely to smother yourself in body lotion. Cracked, flaky, and dry skin — which tends to occur when humidity drops in the chilly months — goes by a mouthful of a scientific name: transepidermal water loss, or TEWL.

At its simplest, TEWL is a measure of how much water seeps from the inside of the body through the different layers of the skin and out into the atmosphere. Especially dry, irritated, or inflamed skin is also called xerosis, which is usually a minor and temporary problem that can be solved with good moisturizing lotions. There are three different layers of the skin: the outer layer epidermis , middle layer dermis , and lower layer hypodermis or fatty layer.

Moisture is delivered to the skin via blood vessels, but they only supply moisture to the middle layer of the skin — the dermis. From there, water travels upward and outward through the epidermis before evaporating into the atmosphere. This evaporation causes skin to crack and flake. This process happens constantly, but skin isn't always dry. That's because the dryer the air the more moisture it will pull from your skin.

With the glut of lotions and creams on the market, it can be easy to get lost in the sea of brand-named jellies. Even Cleopatra was said to bathe in milk for its moisturizing qualities. There are plenty of reasons why.

However, with a huge array of moisturizers on the market, it can be hard to know which one to use or how to do it correctly. Read on for expert tips for dewy, supple skin. Moisturizers should be applied to clean skin after you cleanse your face, as they prevent skin from drying out post-wash. Ellen Marmur, board certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare , prefers an all-in-one product.

You can also use overnight masks when your skin is feeling particularly dry or dull. A study found that freeze-dried aloe vera extract is an effective natural ingredient for improving skin hydration and reducing dryness. Plus, moisturizing immediately after bathing or showering will help seal in moisture.

This occurs because of environmental influences, frequent cleansing or bathing, or medical conditions. Moisturizer creates a barrier between your skin and the climate, including cold, dry air that can further dry out skin. Moisturizing also helps to rehydrate and enhance the capacity of the skin to hold water. This is through the use of products designed to rehydrate the outer layer of the skin, seal in moisture, and protect against external factors.

Some moisturizers have some tint or self-tanner that can work with any skin tone. Moisturizing helps your skin stay young. The most sensitive areas of your skin - the face, ears, neck, and chest - replace themselves more often than any other area on your skin. This daily loss of skin cells leaves these areas vulnerable to the dryness and the elements - in fact, they are highest-risk areas for skin cancer.

Moisturizing can help give your sensitive skin the boost it needs to repair itself and stay healthy.