What to Look for in a Moisturizer
The first moisturizing skin products date back to at least 150 A.D. when Galen, a Greek physician, created the first cold cream with water, olive oil, beeswax, and other floral oils. The industry evolved to include ingredients like lard, oil rig residue, nut oils, and caffeinated moisturizer.
Today, moisturizers continuously evolve to include ingredients backed by science and fillers that are less than comforting for your face. Learn the ins and outs of moisturizers, small-batch skincare, and what to look for before you buy.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid helps the skin hold onto water and hydrate the outer layer of your skin. When your skin is hydrated, it looks brighter and reduces the signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydraulic acid also serves other purposes, like helping the skin repair, wound healing, and protecting from free radicals.
Glycerin
Like hydraulic acid, glycerin is also a moisturizing agent that helps skin hold onto water. It works to pull water from below the dermis, or the air, to bring more water to the surface of your skin. You might also see glycerin listed in foods, like sweeteners or as a preservative. The Food and Drug Administration recognizes the substance as safe when used appropriately.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are essential in a dermatologist-approved skincare routine. They help protect the skin's surface from pollutants and damage caused by free radicals and U.V. rays. Free radicals are unstable atoms that damage cells and lead to illness and aging. When your handcrafted skincare is designed with antioxidants, it's helping protect your skin from damage and keep it looking great.
Peptides
Peptides are a vital part of good skin health. These amino acids help build proteins needed by the skin. For example, collagen and elastin rely on peptides. A quality serum and moisturizer packed with peptides help keep your skin looking firm and fresh.
Vitamin B6 and B3
Just Like the rest of our body, our skin needs vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. You can consume supplements and eat a more nutritious diet; however, you also need topical Vitamin B6 and B3. These vitamins support your skin's natural defenses and protect against environmental damage. They can also help reduce inflammation and redness.
Humectants
Humectants are common moisturizing agents in skincare and help your skin retain moisture. Glycerin and hydraulic acid are two examples of humectants that help your skin lock in moisture. You'll also find humectants used in hair care products, like shampoos.
Environmental Defense Formulas
We have already touched on how antioxidants help protect against pollutants and free radicals. It's also important that your moisturizer contains an environmental defense strategy.
Our small batch skincare uses a proprietary combination of Oryza sativa germ extract from the South of France. We also selected a unique prebiotic heptapeptide to help fight environmental stressors and pollution, including atmospheric particles and blue lights. The defense against blue lights is crucial in a world with electronic screens and artificial indoor light. A naturally-derived biosaccharide provides a clinically shown substantive shield supporting a healthy skin barrier.
Natural Plant Emollients
The addition of natural plant emollients in your small-batch skincare enhances its moisturizing benefits. We include a blend of jojoba, mimosa, sunflower esters, and waxes. The combination helps balance your skin's moisture and keeps it from losing water. Our products also pack in omega fatty acids and natural oils intended to rejuvenate the skin.
For a velvety feel, we included ethyl olivate, a biomimetic antioxidant-rich emollient. They're grown along the Italian Mediterranean coast and assist in ultimate moisturization.
Moisturizers for Specific Areas of Your Face
Moisturizers help stimulate and retain more moisture in your skin. However, it's not always appropriate for areas around your eyes. Or you may need a high concentration of moisture, not just the protective barrier moisturizers ultimately create.
Moisturizing eye cream is one place to start to hydrate the sensitive areas around your skin. Our Vitamin-C Natural Retinol Serum also packs in the moisture with 100% French propolis, anti-aging peptides, essential vitamins and minerals, and safe retinol alternatives.
Small Batch Skin Care Created by Dermatologists
There's a big difference between dermatologist-approved products and products created by dermatologists. Dermatologist-approved just means specializing in skin signed off on the product. It does not mean the product went through testing and contains high-quality ingredients appropriate for various skin types.
Our products are the first truly effective, clinic-grade, anti-aging skincare system for sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. We use a blend of anti-aging peptides, antioxidants, natural emollients, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, collagen peptide, hyaluronic acid, and 15 moisturizers.
Skip the Dyes and Fragrances
Synthetic dyes and fragrances are often FDA-approved, but that doesn't mean they're good for your skin. For example, FD&C Yellow 6 is a synthetic, petroleum-based dye. The additions could trigger allergies, aggregate existing skin conditions like rosacea, and could even act as a carcinogen. Skip them altogether and focus on handcrafted, small-batch skincare created with natural ingredients.
Steer Clear of Parabens
Parabens are a group of chemicals often found in cosmetics and skincare products. Although these ingredients were deemed safe for use, that doesn't mean they are free from issues. Parabens can lead to brittle, crackled, and swollen skin. They can cause rashes and prompt contact dermatitis, a type of inflammation-causing blisters. Parabens are even known to cause the skin to look older than it really is and speed up signs of aging.
How do you identify parabens? Look for methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben on the product label. Then put it aside and move on to higher quality skincare.
Be Cautious of Petroleum-Based Products
Moisturizers may contain petroleum, which could work in small, appropriate doses. However, too much petroleum could trigger outbreaks and worsen problems like acne. Petroleum, like vaseline, can lead to skin redness, itching, and swelling. The inclusion of petroleum may not be evident at first glance. Keep in mind Yellow 6 is a synthetic, petroleum-based dye that is harmful to your skin.
Avoid Over-Moisturizing
Moisturizer is crucial to good skincare, but overdoing it quickly backfires. Over-moisturizing could weaken its purpose to create a skin barrier and clog your pores. It may also prompt your skin to produce less moisture on its own. Over time, over-moisturizing might signal to your skin that it has the water and lips it needs, which could slow its production. In the end, your skin may be worse off than before you started a good moisturizing routine.
What About Long Skincare Labels?
When trying to eat healthier, it's good practice to stick to foods with few ingredients. Yet this isn't the way it works with skincare. Even long labels in your small-batch skincare products aren't necessarily bad. Instead, they may contain the perfect balance of moisturizers and substances you need for a high-quality product that won't irritate your skin.
Next Steps
Take the next step in exercising quality handcrafted skincare with our small batch selection of products. J. Sanchez Skin Care carefully curates high-quality ingredients to create small-batch products in Miami. Choose our Radiance Eye Cream, Radiance Moisturizer, and Radiance Serum to treat your skin with the care it deserves. Browse all of our products here.