Creams and Lotions (moisturiser)
Contrary to the belief of many as the skin cannot distinguish between day and night the creams that one selects should be chosen according to the following criteria: your skins genetic disposition, the current condition of the skin, meaning how your skin is influenced by, lack of sleep, stress, diet, medication etc (because these “lifestyle” issues cause your skin to react in a specific manner and this needs to be taken into account when considering what products are most suitable.)Naturally personal preference and comfort are also important i.e. what does one prefer a light texture of a lotion? Or a richer textured cream?
Most importantly one needs to understand the function of a cosmetic cream, at least what the function should be-namely an effective protection on the surface of the skin.
What is a good cream?
Consider this, nature is quite remarkable and has created a natural hydra lyphidic (sebum layer) barrier on the surface of your skin in order to protect it from environmental damage, bacteria and from excessive moisture loss within the skin. In time the skins ability to maintain this layer in a balanced way reduces, as a result of natural aging, environmental and“lifestyle” damage.
If one wants to maintain a perfectly protected, well moisturized, youthful, healthy looking skin it is essential to support the skin with a cream or lotion that contains only skin compatible, (similar) ingredients or skin identical ingredients: In other words a cream or lotion that will mimic the ingredients that exist naturally in ones hydra lyphidic layer. Any other ingredients are irrelevant, damaging or both. Paradoxically, when cosmetic products are referred to as “Anti Aging” one just has to look at the ingredients to discover to ones amazement that the ingredients present in the products are in fact aging ingredients because they irritate and stress the skin, cause dehydration, allergies and damage to cell membranes, all of which result in an “older” looking skin. To make it clear every ingredient that is not recognised by the skin as part of itself/compatible, skin friendly or skin identical causes unnecessary stress and damage to the skin. Therefore logically those types of ingredients must be avoided.
What are positive and indeed essential ingredients for a healthy cream/lotion? Macadamia nut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, palm oil, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Evening Primrose oil, Hyaluronic acid, Liposome’s, ceramides, vitamins to mention but a few. It must also be clear that even if these relevant ingredients are present in a cream or lotion the positive effects of these ingredients will be completely negated by one, even only one negative, unfriendly ingredient. All the good will is tainted by the bad. Some of the ingredients to absolutely avoid in personal care products are: parabens (Chemical preservatives), mineral oils, chemical sunscreens, fragrance colorants ,oxygen and ingredients of animal origin.