MOISTUREISERS

Whatever their skin type everyone suffers 

water loss from their skin so moisturisers are 

essential to prevent drying. They work in two 

wats. One type. Oil over the skin to prevent the 

skin’s essential water. Content from evaporating. 

Another type, water based, adds water to the skin 

and holds it there with a small amount of oil. On thr 

whole this is less effective being less occlusive, i.e, it 

offers less protection. The effect of both id only 

temporary, of course, so moisturiser can be applied

more than once a day if you feel dried out by central 

heating, air conditioning, sun or wind. You may not 

need to put it all Over your face- many people have a 

T-zone. Consisting of forehead, nose and chin, which is 

oilier than their cheeks. It’s better to let the oil be freely 

secreted here, rather than trap it under a cream. Ladies 

past the menopause, however, may find that even these 

areas are quite dry, and so should moisturise their whole 

face. Otherwise apply just to the neck, cheeks and eyes.

Creams are not so good for oily skins. They have a slighty 

higher fat content than other types of moisturiser, which 

makes them especially suitable for dry skins.

Creamy liquids are more popular, especially for day wear, 

and under make-up. Then come in tubes or bottles and suit 

all skin types. Again people with sensitive skins should look 

for one of the hypo-allergeni moisturusers. Some modern 

moisturisers collagen- part of the ‘building’ structure of our 

skin which gives firmness and elasticity – and often suggest 

that this ingredient can help replace sopme of the skin one

lost through ageing. In fact, collagen cannot penetrate the 

skin to have any effect on its structure, but it can from a film 

on the surface of the skin which helps prevent water loss.